An "experimental" squad containing the same old faces has been named by Roy for the Brazil friendly this week. No sign of Rickie Lambert, whose England chance appears to be a pipe dream. England squad to face Brazil: Jack Butland, Joe Hart, Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Joleon Lescott, Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Leon Osman, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Daniel Welbeck. Meanwhile, Luke Shaw & Nathaniel Clyne have been called up to the U21 squad to face Sweden
An experimental squad with no new caps? Riight. Good to see the U21 boys getting recognition though. Butland in the full squad again I see, obviously someone can see potential in him...
It doesn't matter who is manager, if we don't have a manager who's capable of picking players from more than six teams (plus Butland), England are always going to be the same old ****.
Snore. It shouldn't annoy me that Sturridge and Welbeck get in the squad ahead of Lambert anymore but it still does. Sturridge sits on the bench for Chelsea all season, plays a few games for Liverpool and scores a couple of tap-ins and gets straight into the squad, and then Welbeck has scored one goal all season but that is also enough. Meanwhile joint highest English goalscorer Rickie Lambert gets to sit at home and watch on TV... Great stuff.
Such a strong case there, but I guess he doesn't want to upset these players ego's - they might protest by retiring from the international scene as has happened before.
And would anyone notice? Defoe and Rooney are still great players, but no-one else on their list would be missed from international football.
I'd say Joe Hart would be missed dearly. One of the best keepers in the world. But the rest are certainly replaceable.
Sorry I didn't make it clear I was talking about the strikers they were comparing Lambert to in the article I put the link for: that is Defoe, Rooney, Crouch, Carroll, and Le Fondre.
Would love to see Lambo get a call up as I think he is up there with any of the strikers selected if not better this season but then I also think good I am glad he is not as he can concentrate on us and has 1 less game to pick up an injury.
Lambert and Lallana destroyed Man Utd's defence (which includes the called up Chris Smalling) last night but ignored...again.
We scored one goal due to a defensive mix-up, other than that their defence was extremely solid. We dominated possession in the second half but to say we destroyed their defence is complete fantasy.
Why is it seemingly so difficult to give untested and in form players a go in friendlies? He has nothing to learn about the players he's picked and nothing to loose by giving others a go. Frustrating.
Well he had nothing to do with our goal and they didn't concede any others, so he can't have done too badly. Regardless of whether or not he played well though, no-one can reasonably assert that their defence was "destroyed", sorry.
If Lambert wasn't called up for this friendly, I don't think he ever will; this was the perfect time for someone like him to get a chance. I can't help but feel that some of the younger players have been included in the squad to keep a little bit of consistency to help improve the squad as a group, but as it stands I don't think Welbeck or Oxlade-Chamberlain really deserved their places; neither have been starting regularly or performing very well when they have.
Alright, fair comment. I thought Smalling looked a bit dodgy yesterday and I don't particularly rate him anyway. I'm not going to complain too much about the England team as everyone is always wanting a different team themselves. I do feel though if the likes of Lallana were to be playing for a bigger club that he wouldn't be so overlooked as he is.
