D'oh, knew I forgot someone! And Micah Richards, for that matter. Defoe would be on the reserve list in case of injury, suspension, or the unlikely event of half the squad refusing to represent England until John Terry was reinstated to the squad...
If I were Arry I'd go to Levy and say 'put yer money where your mouth is' Go out, sign a couple of top class players and then I will stay. Show me intent. Show me you are serious about winning the Prem/CL.
Think Defoe should definitely go to Euros. He's England's best goal poacher/ penalty box predator. Think there's too many wingers in your squad - Lennon, Milner, Young, Etherington and Oxo Cube - one is bound to not get a minute of football out there, would have JD in place one of them, Milner for me, don't rate him one bit.
Even if that is true about him being the best poacher (and his goalscoring record is not that great tbh), he offers so little apart from that, that I wouldn't have Defoe near my England squad. I agree with your comments about Milner as a winger, but I think he has good all round skills so might have him in a two man defensive midfield slot
1 in 3 isn't bad at international level. Lets not forget, Defoe never usually gets 90 minutes either. Personally I just wouldn't take Milner. Offers nothing better than other options available. On the wings we need/ should have pace which he hasn't got and in the centre, our options of Parker, Barry, Gerrard, Lampard and Wilshere (although I don't rate Wilshere as highly as everyone else) offer far more than him.
I'd go for a three man midfield of Parker/Gerrard/Wilshire with Barry/Milner/Cleverly as back up. Milner is better than Lampard now, surely. Front three of Sturridge/Rooney/Young with Oxlade-Chamberlain/Welbeck/Johnson as back up. Lennon or Walcott very close to being in and wouldn't argue with either of them.
The Parker, Gerrard and Wilshere combo could work well. Three entirely different midfielders. Would have Barry, Lampard and Cleverly as back up for that. I still rate Lampard, might not be as influential but can still grab key goals. Milner for me, just has no impact on a game, type of player that justs drifts by if you know what I mean. Front three for me would be: Sturridge/ Defoe, Rooney (when eligible), Young.
If Wilshere and Cleverly are still injured in the summer we've got no-one with any flair to replace them. I'd go for Thudd but he's injured too.....
Would easily have Milner before Barry or Lampard personally (although Uncle Harry may disagree). Don't forget Scholes will be in the squad if Harry gets his way?
Defoe has never played an entire 90 minutes for England. Isn't he England's record goalscorer from the bench or something?
Done this one before, but if I was Harry I wouldn't touch it. It's a lose- lose situation. The only way you'll ever get any good press is to win a major championship, and that ain't gonna happen because we're not good enough. Otherwise the tabloid press will turn you into a root vegetable. The problem is that Harry is old fashioned and still believes it's a honour to be England manager. So, I wouldn't be surprised if he accepts.
None of the papers have considered him taking over as England coach, getting flak for failing to win a tournament, so quitting - and returning to the WHL dugout within 48 hours...
Didn't know he never got 90 minutes. Blimey. Record is definitely good then in my opinion and if what you say is true PNP in regards to the bench record, then surely he has to go? So true! England just isn't a powerhouse anymore in my opinion. We live off the Prem's reputation (which probably has more foreigners - though can't prove that) to make the national team come across stronger than what it is. Doesn't matter who takes charge, at the end of the day we won't come home with the trophy.
Some days this would come across as poignant and thoughtful but today it's just ****ing annoying...stop intruding on others angst!
And who knows what the next few months will bring. Enjoy Man U's golden days when SAF retires it will be a very hard act to follow.
You remember when SAF said he was going to retire? and he changed his mind, if he had gone all them years back when he said he would, what would be of Utd now? its hard to imagine. No doubt when SAF does go, it will be the hardest job in football to follow.
I think we have spoken of this before but when SAF goes it will be far harder to follow him than it will be for AVB to follow Harry. Twenty years or so following Busby before it was properly sorted, different game now but the task will be just as difficult.
