Yes, read that earlier myself, during a lull in the entertainment of last night's match. Can't remember whether I actually grinned or not. Probably inwardly. What did Roy say earlier in the season..? Nathaniel Clyne is often in our thoughts..? Well think of him now, Roy. He won't let anyone down.
Shilton (Hart instead if Shilts is injured) Johnson----Cahill-----Jagielka------Baines ------Gerrard--------- Henderson-------- ----------------Lallana------------------ -------Milner--- Rooney---------Welbeck That is what I think Roy will probably start with. This is how I suspect the TV experts will show the line up even though Roy will obviously have Lallana playing floating and Milner more restrained on the right. Pretty sure he'll start Milner as his 'safe pair of hands' because whilst he doesn't offer that much threat he always gets through the ugly stuff without mistakes. The Subs will be...........the rest of the squad.
We'll scrape through the group and get knocked out by first half decent team we play. Shaw and Lambert will go unused, and Lallana won't play a full 90 min once.
Plus, he'll be uncharacteristically poor. It was ever thus in an England shirt. I think the last player to play really, really well [I mean playing upto their maximum], while playing for England, was Geoff Hurst.
Are Smalling and Jones even right backs? I thought they were central defenders primarily. I can't think of anyone better than Clyne right now.
Brazil squad been announced: Gk: Julio Cesar Jefferson Victor Def: Alves Maicon Herinque David Luiz Thiago Silva Dante Marcelo Maxwell Mid: Gustavo Fernandinho Paulinho Ramires Oscar Willian Hernanes For: Neymar Jo Fred Bernardo Hulk
If Clyne wasn't injured and then suffered a loss of form/Chambers playing so well, then I think he would be going. Cork needs to add goals to his game but both have got to be in Roy's mind. If some have a bad world cup and they continue to impress then the Euro's would be strong possibility.
Why does Cork need to add goals? Carrick is the most similar player currently in the England squad and in 31 caps he has no goals. With Walker's injury I think Clyne has to be strongly considered, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he was at least among the standby players.
Carrick made his debut in 2001, so 31 caps in that time is not a great return. If he had scored more goals then he would surely have had more caps. Granted he was always going to be behind Gerrard and Lampard, but with those retiring shortly England will want a CM player that chips in with some goals. All i'm saying is that Cork needs to score some goals and then he could edge ahead of someone like Carrick in the England reckoning. Not to mention increasing his game time with us.
