thing is, why would you compare holt to another nations strikers? you only need to compare him with the english strikers, as thats who he's up against! you can compare him to the french, swedish and ukrainian defenders if you like, seeing as thats who he'd be up against too. also, why does leon osman never get a mention? been playing extremely well for everton all season. only 30, coming to the peak of his career, better than walcott, versatile too. get him in there
These pundits clearly base opinions on briefs MOTD highlights and whether or not they play for a big club. If they are going to pass opinion I wish they would just watch a few games first. If they have not seen much of a player I would much rather they say so and that they need to see more before making an informed opinion. Don't just omit them outright. Another player who is never mentioned for England is Osman from Everton. Very decent player, gives his all and is quite skill-full. Also all the calls for players who have been out injured for months (Bent) are stupid. Do they think they are just going to turn up after not playing a match for 6 months and be world beaters? He was not even that good when he was fit!
One the the most ridiculous rumours of last summer was that we were trying to sign Osman. I'd absolutely love to, but there was absolutely zero chance of that happening at this stage of his career so I've no idea where it came from.
hate to tell you this munky but i've been led to believe this was no rumour! lambert did try to sign leon osman last summer but everton immediately and understandably said 'no way'. great player though and would offer far more to the right hand side than walcott would or even lennon. he is a very talented ball player, has pace, can dribble, gets his head up and has an eye for goal. clearly people will say 'he's 30 - too old' but for me thats the perfect age - he's at his peak and would be a great squad player if nothing else.
This whole age thing regarding the England squad is ridiculous. If a players good enough age should be irrelevant. As with all good squads you require a mix of ages to give the squad balance, a few older players maybe who read the game well and can show the youngsters the ropes etc and youngsters with the enthusiasm and no fear attitude. Its all about balance, a team with only young players would fail as would a team with only older players. Plus its a tournament, you go to win not just so youngsters can gain experience, thats pointless if they are going to lose every match
With older players the thought tends to be; if they think they're no good - they're too old, if they think they're good - they're experienced.
I think basing a tournament squad selection on youth is the complete wrong thing to do. How can you expect young players to have all the countries expectancy on them to perform, to get results and expect them to develop with that pressure. Way too much to put youngsters, that's why I think the "golden generation" didn't work. Failed at a young age and it became a habit for them. There needs to be a balance and the young ones need to learn off hard working experienced players. I think Grant Holt offers that to the youngsters, they can look at him, see how hard he works for an England shirt and hopefully the effort in future generations will at least match what the England fans expect. I am not saying just Grant Holt but that's why I think how hard players work needs to have a consideration in selection.
right, i've put a bit of thought into this, and this would be my 23 man squad and why: joe hart - first name on team sheet and would be my captain too john ruddy - easily one of the top three english keepers this season david stockdale - in the absence of foster or robinson, it has to be him or maybe even fraser forster. i don't believe either are good enough but i'll go with the fulham stopper micah richards - an absolute beast of a player. can also fill in at centre back and this gives him the nod ahead of johnson kyle walker - pace and power, defensively suspect but so is johnson! leighton baines - close call for starting, good set pieces ashley cole - still one of the best left backs in world football joleon lescott - outstanding and commanding season gary cahill - pace, solid, a threat in the opposition box too john terry - no matter what anyone thinks about him he's still a quality centre half gareth barry - underrated, had a great season scott parker - average season in my opinion but important player michael carrick - england need a ball player, he's one of the best around frank lampard - play him as far up the pitch as possible and he still gets goals steven gerrard - don't think he deserves to go on form but who else is there? i really struggled to find someone better adam johnson - great feet, you never know what you'll get, good sub to throw on, offers balance ashley young - very good player leon osman - would offer alternative options out wide and in the middle, strangely overlooked for years, skilful, scores goals oxlade-chamberlain - wildcard selection, and i'd play him. exciting, edge of the seat player, could light up the tournament wayne rooney - best outfield player england have danny welbeck - rangy, good pace, not clinical but different option to the other forwards grant holt - proven himself week in, week out, scored goals against all top 8 sides, old fashioned striker, a handful andy carroll - wildcard selection, not based on anything other than his past four or five games, but with the right service could be a nightmare for defenders, good impact sub if nothing else --- so this is how i'd set up to face france: hart richards cahill lescott cole carrick parker oxlade-chamberlain lampard young holt --- notable exclusions: no jack wilshere - injured, otherwise would have been a shoe-in no phil jagielka - fitness concerns no stewart downing - do i really need to give reasons why??? no darren bent - injured and wouldn't pick him if he was fit no gabby agbonlahor - cos he's been rubbish this season no bobby zamora - not been good enough for 18 months now no theo walcott - nowhere near consistant enough no aaron lennon - ditto walcott no jermain defoe - too lightweight, not enough action this season no rio ferdinand - in and out this season no chris smalling - injured no phil jones - form has been patchy no daniel sturridge - no form shown for 6 months no peter crouch - one wonder strike isn't enough no jack rodwell - injured, would have had a chance no tom cleverley - not enough games no paul scholes - not sure he'd want to go to be honest no james milner - useful player, nearly included him but doubtful would play no fraizer campbell - **** off! he's **** no joey barton - sorry joey... don't hit me joey... no mark davies - i like him but not quite good enough yet no glen johnson - very strong in the right back position, went for richards adaptability no danny simpson - unlucky that there are so many good right backs no ryan shawcross - underrated in my opinion cos of who he plays for and their 'style' no anthony pilkington - considered him, eligible for ireland too - should have been called up by them no swansea players - caulker, britton, dyer, sinclair and graham - sinclair misses out by miles and britton too but the other three were all very close to getting the nod no andrew johnson - i seriously considered him. nobody has really mentioned him but he's had a great season, love him or loathe him no rickie lambert - good player but needs to show how good next season, which i think he will
If young players are always the answer then why not just send the U-21's and be done with it. I cannot understand why someone like Oxlaide-Chamberline is in the frame. Wenger doesn't rate him good enough to play for Arsenal and picks him after Walcott (who also got picked for a tournament at a young age and didn't even grace the bench). Surely the point of having a squad is to be able to use different players for different tactical situations. If you have 20 minutes to go and need a goal then Holty has got to be worth a shout against tiring defenders who may not be able to deal with his physicality. Having two or three young strikers from big clubs with "potential" is a waste of time - I certainly don't see Sturridge and Wellbeck as offering anything different from the like of Defoe. Pick them when they have scored against the calibre of opposition Holt has. I really hope that Holt gets a chance in the friendlies and if he doesn't take it then fair play, maybe he's not good enough but to discard the top available English goalscorer for the first two matches of the Euros seems somewhat blinkered.
my decision to include oxlade chamberlain is based purely on balance rather than how many minutes he's had. whenever he has played he's been one of arsenal's best players. wenger, for some reason, refuses to use him regularly but i don't think its cos he isn't good enough. he'd be a wildcard choice, as i say, partly on gut instinct but also cos i'd play him from the start - its still a pretty old side so the injection of pace and youth out wide could be a massive help. when i assessed who was available for selection, it shows just how few options there actually are! it was very difficult to find any talented young players to include - thats a worrying sign, but it also means holt should be even more likely to be included. honestly, when you start delving a little deeper into the forward options, england are extremely weak. good at the back but poor everywhere else.
A very good article arguing why Grant Holt rather than Andy Carroll should go to the Euros. Did Superman dictate the penultimate paragraph? http://hereisthecity.com/2012/05/07/steven-gerrard-wants-andy-carroll-at-euro-2012-holt/
I think if Wilshere and Rodwell were fit they would improve quite a weak spine. I think Gerrard and Lampard are too old, not that they done much for England anyway. In Sturridge I think we have a great upcoming player, but he needs to learn it's a team game, but we've seen extremely positive glimpses. Think Oxlade- Chamberlain is going to be brilliant player, I would take him to. Instead of Carroll I would take Graham, think he has been fantastic this season and there are similarities between him and Holt although Holt has been more consistent in for us.
Am I the only one who would take Howson? He, Holt and Ruddy would all go in my book. Regarding the competitor discussion, Welbeck is clearly above Holt but I'd definitely have him before Carroll/Zamora/Crouch. Also Osman is an excellent thought, I blame the media for making me forget him.
