please log in to view this image England Starting XI v Sweden in Stockholm tonight: Hart J Johnson G - Cahill G - Caulker S - Baines L Gerrard S - Cleverley T - Osman L - Sterling R Young A - Welbeck D England v Sweden Full International Record & Statistics 1923-2012
Great new's,he deserves it,the only reservation i have is, i hope he comes through it without Injury,and is 100% fit for the NLD
Definitely deserves it. His potential is so exciting. Glad Osman has got a chance too, amazed he's never had an England call up until now. Always been one of them players that's done well yet gone unnoticed. Similar to Kevin Nolan.
Always great to see one of our old Academy youngsters get a full England cap. There have been quite a few over the years... Steven Caulker Jake Livermore Luke Young Peter Crouch Nick Barmby Ledley King Ian Walker Sol Campbell Glenn Hoddle Steve Perryman ...I've probably forgotten a few more!
In my time I think you've covered it, not sure about yesteryear though. Vinny Samways and Stephen Clemence made the U21's, but I can't think of anymore.
I wasn't going to bother watching as usually friendlies bore but now I will. Congrats to Caulker, hope he plays well and comes through injury free.
I've mentioned this before and I'll mention it again, when we signed Anthony Gardner, our coaches at the time rated him to be a better prospect than Ledley King . Very pleased for Caulker, he has done well for a number of years now and stepped up everytime he has been asked to. If I am honest, I feel he has just about done ok for us this season, but it can't be easy for him playing alongside an ageing has been and an out of form full back.
Hi SC , glad you're here now for back up on this. I think too that Caulks has been sold too many dummies and wrongfooted at crucial moments. On Sunday for example he sold himself for Aguero's goal. Before anyone scream's, not in anyway do I blame Caulks solely for the goal, but I think standing his ground is an area he needs to work on, he commits himself a little too early, and strikers of Aguero's quality will find it easy to sidestep him, and have done a few times this season.
Hi notso, the thing is mate that everyone is so desperate for him to be the new Ledley that it's almost routine to push aside when he has made mistakes. I read someone on here the other day say he has been outstanding this season. He hasn't been outstanding, he's been steady enough and hasn't let us down, but for me that's all he has been. I also noticed him on the goal on Sunday and was surprised it hasn't been mentioned before now. It's not the first time this season either and he got given the run around in one of the games in the Olympics. It probably sounds as if I don't like the player, which is wrong, I rate him highly, just don't think he's been as impressive as I thought he would be.
We can also be proud that under our development, Huddlestone, Dawson and Lennon also won their first senior caps. AND lets not forget, Adam Smith and Andros Townsend have U-21 caps. Tom Carroll's had an U-21 call up. Can also count Danny Rose as we bought him to join our academy, he's gone on to get a shed load of U-21 caps.
I agree with you on that. I noticed the otherday you were criticising Vertonghen's lack of interest in tracking back too, which I mentioned after the Chelsea game <whistle Good players, playing well but not faultless by any means.
Its good when great minds think alike! Hadn't noticed your comment after the Chav game, I chose to leave it another game to see if he did the same...and he did! I'm not sure if the same has happened in games prior to the last two, but its something I'll keep an eye on from here.
LEDLEY KING ON STEVEN CAULKER: please log in to view this image Ledley King believes earning a first senior England cap will do wonders for Steven Caulker. Our legendary former captain and now Club Ambassador knows exactly how Steven is likely to feel after joining the full England set-up for only the second time this week for the friendly against Sweden in Stockholm. Ledley walked an identical path from the Academy at Spurs to the centre of England’s defence. He won 21 caps in total – surely it would have been more, but for injury – and remembers the feeling winning that first senior cap gave him over 10 years ago, against Italy in March, 2002. “Steven’s been fantastic, he’s slipped into the team seamlessly and is so composed for one so young,” said Ledley. “Quite rightly, his form has been recognised and it’s brilliant for him that he’s been called into the England squad. “Having been there myself, it’s a big confidence-booster when you first go into the England squad. “You come back to your club with your head held high, so confident, really believing you are a player. I remember it was a brilliant feeling for me and it will be beneficial as well for Tottenham he he goes on to win that first cap.”
Two pieces of good news for me: Caulker getting his first cap, and finding out King is "club ambassador". I like the sound and spirit of that, and think it's a great way to honor the best English defender of his time. I also think he's the right man for the job. I defer to greater knowledge concerning Caulker's flaws. What I've noticed is that he's fantastic in the air, and a huge threat at set pieces. Two goals scored in only a few games. (I know, one was an accidental deflection, but he was robbed of a great header vs. Lazio.) I'd want him on the field if at all possible just because he makes our set pieces so much more dangerous.
