Roy Hodgson names 30-man England squad to face Denmark

Poor squad and unbalanced imo.
More keepers than centre backs and a lot of players that are in poor form or don't play for their clubs seem to be favoured over in form ones.

Cleverley over Huddlestone is a joke. I also feel sorry for Adam Johnson, not sure how Townsend is ahead of him.

--------------
http://www.thefa.com/news/england/2014/feb/roy-hodgson-announces-squad-to-face-denmark

Roy Hodgson has named a 30-man squad for the game with Denmark at Wembley next week.

The Three Lions get their 2014 campaign underway on Wednesday evening as Hodgson begins the countdown to this summer’s World Cup Finals in Brazil.

And there is a first senior call up for Southampton left-back Luke Shaw, who makes the step-up from Gareth Southgate’s Under-21 squad.

He is joined in the squad by Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling, whose recent form in the Premier League has seen the Reds in contention for the title.

There is also a recall to the squad for Cardiff City defender Steven Caulker, who last featured for England in the game with Sweden in November 2012 when he scored a goal on his debut.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Cardiff City), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).

Forwards: Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC), Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Jay Rodriguez (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Daniel Welbeck (Manchester United).

 

how has cleverly been called up? he's utter ****e.

 

I know, i'd rather see Barry in there than Cleverly.

 

Because he plays for Man Utd. If they sell him, he'll stop receiving caps (just like Wes Brown did)

I can't be alone in thinking they called up Luke Shaw to say that, if he signs anything Chelsea or the Manc clubs put under his nose, he'll be in the squad a lot more often.

 

Graham Taylor said at lunchtime he would probably name a 30 man squad,with 4 keepers,he said it's inportant ,even though he can't play all of them, he can have a look at how they are

 

A lack of balance in a massive squad for a friendly is fine, as it let's him have a look at multiple players in the weaker areas.
Don't agree with some of those that have been selected, though. Walker and Defoe are injured and Cleverly's ****, for a start.

Same old England. Picking players based upon who they play for, rather than how well they're playing.

 

Cleverley and Welbeck are absolute jokes, why are they in there?

 

Because Hodgson is determined to pick the group he has settled on and relied on in qualifying. He's not going to start looking at making widespread changes three months before a WC. Both are picked for workrate, I think. Hodgson wants energy and running; he's not going to pick ageing legs for a tournament in a hot climate in addition to those he already has in midfield in Gerrard and Lampard. I don't think Cleverley has done enough to get picked, but Welbeck has had some reasonable games for England and chipped in with a few goals. But the truth is that whoever is picked, England are rubbish.

 

Huddlestone is perfect for international football and its really pathetic how he's overlooked, especially when last euros, when Italy completely dominated England, it was clear we needed players who can pass and distribute the ball.

Tom cleverly has failed to develop after his early promise and has done nothing to deserve being called up.

 

England may well be rubbish, but at international level we know ball retention and slow build up is key to success. England instead still run around like headless chickens chasing the ball and thumping it long.

At least if Hodgson made an attempt to pick a system and set of players to keep the ball in midfield, we could get some pride back.

Gerrard, Carrick, Huddlestone. They are three superb passers of the ball. We have players who can pass the ball, it's just our manager doesn't understand how to change the mentality.

Glenn Hoddle made England a decent passing side, so it can be done.

 

I disagree. Pick Huddlestone and three or four of the fastest/most talented players, say Sturridge, Lennon, Chamberlain, Lallana, Stirling. Put Walker and Shaw as fullbacks. They might not get out of the group, but they'll play attractive football, with a good playmaker and fast targets. Hodgson plans to pick a dire team that won't get out of the group instead.

It might work to have Gerrard somewhere, but I wouldn't want Carrick. He always seems to fail at the international level. The biggest problem is lack of a DM. Barry has been outstanding at Everton this year (and I never rated him before), but having a DM as slow as he is has been embarrassing in the past and will be embarrassing again.

 

They play for Man Utd, which apparently overrules any questions of form, fitness, or being any good in the first place.

 

The problem is that they'd never get the ball. England do well to get 35% possession against the better international sides when playing a pressing game. Against Italy at the Euros in 2012 England had little possession, but did a lot of running around to try to press the Italians and managed an uninspiring 0-0. At the WC in 2010 England gave Germany a lot of time and space and got run ragged after looking competitive in the first half when the players were fresh. Whichever way you look at it, Hodgson knows his best chance of any kind of success at a tournament is to play a typically English game of pressing and harrying the opposition without the ball and getting forward quickly through willing runners in wide areas with the ball. England don't have the ability to play a Spanish style short passing game or a German organised, powerful "gegenpressing" style.

 

One comment today made me laugh:
"England squad ......same old same old ,pick your players who don't get a start for their clubs."
It was from Huddlestone's mum!

 

But that's why I think England should pick a team to counter quickly. If the defending holds up well enough, they can score when Huddlestone finds Sturridge, Lennon, Stirling in open field--and win with that 35% possession. I'm actually a little confused where we're agreeing and where we're disagreeing...

 

And Welbeck and Cleverley are gonna help with this how? By giving the ball away, blazing the ball into the stand and running around like lunatics?

 

Its no surprise is it, I've no idea why hodgson goes round watching games really, form is irrelevant, as is even being picked for your club.

Workrate Luke???....what, chasing around "cluelessly" in the wake of the worlds best midfielders?....great! that should be his name instead of Cleverly....he's anything but clever!

 

Juan Mata's been omitted from the Spain squad for their friendly against Italy. Cleverly > Mata.

 

Or Spain > England?

 

You missed a few >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>s.