OK it's a very quiet week on the Saints fronyt so looking ahaed to the International weekend who do we think Roy will pick against Montenegro on Friday? Will Rickie start or come off the bench? Roy will probably opt for Sturridge but I live in hope! Here's my 11. Hart Walker Jagielka Cahill Baines Carrick Lampard Wilshere Gerrard Rooney Lambert
I have my doubts that he'll start but like you I live in hope. It seems like Lambert is being judged on virtually every kick of the ball and one bad game and he'll be gone forever. The likes of Rooney and Gerrard are never judged in that way. A bad game here or there doesn't seem to affect their England selections. In the case of Rooney, more bad games than good ones.
I can tell you now that unless there are a sudden spate of injuries to attackers Rickie will not start, and rightly so. Sturridge and Rooney are in much better form and are proven at international level.
If fit, Rooney and Sturridge are presumably certain starters. I'd also expect Welbeck to be ahead of Rickie in the pecking order, although I wouldn't be surprised in both find themselves starting from the bench. Roy may well go with Milner again, or even Townsend.
Lambert will be an impact sub. This could be the best thing for his international career...the other option as he appears to have been told (as he keeps repeating the phrase). The media may make snap judgements, but Roy will rewatch matches again and again...he won't miss the important things that SRL does.
Hart Walker Jagielka Cahill Baines -----Carrick-------------------- ---------------Lampard-------- --------Wilshere--------------- Rooney-----------Welbeck---- ---------Sturridge------------- Gerrard should be retired gracefully (if its not already too late) because he is just embarrasing himself now. Should have been retired last year whereas Lampard seems to go on forever like Giggs.
There's absolutely no way SRL will start ahead of Sturridge and Rooney, and to be quite honest, there's absolutely no way he should start ahead of either of those.
What a season for Welbeck, eh? In the scoring form of his life (all relative, remember), and can't get in the United or England starting 11s.
And best thing for us as Saints fans too, in terms of maintaining his fitness. Important too that if we are lose, he does not make it on to the pitch. Got to maintain his talismanic record of never losing in an England shirt, and not being asociated by the fans with a losing team. As much as he will appreciate Rickie's contribution, Roy, unfortunately, will also be influenced by media judgement, which in turn shape fans' views. There will only be so long that Roy will be able to comfortably justify Rickie's inclusion if he doesn't score imo. Was the same with MLT.
One of the issues Matt faced, that thankfully Rickie doesn't, is that Venables was almost forced to play him by media pressure. He never, ever liked him and so played him 'to fail' - ie, out on the left wing etc.
Don't think Roy will be affected by the media in selecting a team. It's results he needs...the media create the water cooler moments, but they are not as important as they think they are.
Sturridge is proven at international level? 6 caps (only 1 start) and 1 goal (against San Marino) counts as proven these days? We are in trouble!
Rooney just said on Sky that he thinks we have the best attacking options that he has played with. Not sure about that, but he mentioned Rickie (so that's okay).
Lambert up top, Rooney number 10 and Sturridge on the wing? Unlikely, you're right, but probably would work.
