Some more balanced views on BBC sportsday ticker - There's still no agreement over whether or not to take Andy Carroll to Euro 2012... Sam Crichard on Twitter: "How many players have been described as unplayable on their day? Not many? Carroll has been unplayable two games in a row." Max O'Collins on Twitter: "Talk of Carroll going to the Euros is just absurd. Six goals in 41 league starts is a laughable ratio for a striker."
Newcastle fan here weren't pundits unsure Holt would be good enough in the championship then they said the same about the premier league. i'd say pick him for the friendly's and see how he does no harm in trying him.
I'd take them both and would rather start with Holt if that was to be the plan A and would rather bring Carroll on as a more effective plan B. If Hodgson really only wants to take one and for that one to be used from the bench then I'd go with Carroll. Given Rooney is out I think Holt is the best option with Sturridge and Young, as much as I dislike them both, either side of him.
Lets face it even if Holt goes on to score a hat-trick against Villa and finishes his first Premier League season with 19 goals to his name he won't be in the squad for the Euro's. Hodgson might experiment for the the friendlies and against the smaller sides in the World cup qualifiers but the squad he names for the Euro's will be tried and tested players with one maybe two suprises as he won't want to risk trying players in a big tournament.
I'm not so sure. It seems quite possible that Terry won't be going so he won't just pander to the big names. I think he'll give Holt a chance in the friendlies and training and base it on that.
It's supposedly being announced on the 16th, so this time next week. Wednesday seems a strange time to announce it, but that seems to be the common date in the media
Andy Carroll Premier League appearances 82, goals 20 = 24.4% strike rate playing half those games for one of the biggest clubs in the league Grant Holt - Premier League appearances 35, goals 14 = 40.0% strike rate playing for Norwich Frasier Campbell - 50/6 - 12% Enough said!
this season, all minus 2! and he was up against John Terry in those two games - holt ripped him to shreds too
Add to that, Holt has actually started third of those games on the bench, scoring three when he's come on
i think its irrelevant to a degree that carroll was poor for most of the season. sturridge was pretty good at the start of the season but i wouldn't have him anywhere near an england squad on current form. likewise, carroll has been garbage most of the season but the past month has hit a good run of form - still not excellent but good i'd say. holt has been fabulous ALL season - thats why he should go - he's still in form even now, but why dismiss carroll because he was out of form early this season? surely all that matters is that he's hit form at the right time for england. i say stick them both in there - we'd have some real strength in the centre forward role with those two, unlike with crouch, welbeck and sturridge
Good discussion on Talk Sport this evening. Adrian "Ginger Whinger" Durham has picked Holt for one of his 4 strikers that he would take to the Euros. Adam Drury chatted with Durham & Goughie and agreed with it!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18006881 Its a provisional squad on the 16th, then the Norway friendly, then the confirmed squad is named, then the Belgium friendly. So that means he can't really risk experimenting in the friendly and will have to go with whoever is in the provisional squad.
I can see it happening but it all depends on how big Hodgsons Bollocks are Theres no doubting Holty has the ability for England in my mind, but your average Fleet Street hack thats never been to a game in his life would doubtlessly use it as ammunition because the FA mugged off their paper when they didn't get 'Arry. This pressure, I believe, would only spur Holty on. It'd be Swansea all over again, shirts off and "Look how fat I ain't!"
Even if Hodgson WANTED to "play the Barcelona way" he can't, because the players available to him aren't capable of doing it. But that doesn't mean he will play the many-times failed "English" way either. OK, if our players can't play any other way, so be it; but we won't have a hope in hell of winning the tournament. Did Chelsea beat Barcelona by playing the English way? No! Will they play the English way against Bayern? No!
i disagree. ok, i think chelsea played more of an italian-style match but there were english elements in the way they defended deep and produced quick, direct counter attacks. english football, when played well in a direct manner with pacy wide players and midfielders bombing into forward positions can be very effective. i'm a bit fed up with the barca way. the germans play direct football - nobody moans about that! even brazil play more direct than most these days!! they play very deep and are more focused on defending than attacking. i don't believe we will win the tournament because i think there are at least four better teams with better players, but its not impossible to make england hard to beat and organised, and make them a real threat up front by using a bit of brawn.
Balance is the key, sometimes you go short, sometimes you go long. You field a balanced team that enables you to play in different ways and you probe the opponent until you find a weakness. And if all else fails, do a Lambert and put every striker you have on. You'll usually win.
