Just in case you missed their post match interviews on sunday. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18072296 Also, I don't think wedding insurance can be taken out if Ruddy was to say I'm playing for England.
Surely now Foster has remained unavailable Ruddy has to be in squad. I like Roy and hope he picks the squad on merit rather than reputation.
Ruddy must surely be in line for a call. Other than the very obvious fact that he's had an excellent season, it would be extremely odd to have him watched in the last game of the season if the intention isn't to give him a call. Sadly though, I think Holty doesn't have a much better chance than me. It would be to big a gamble for a new manager going into a major tournament to call up an untried striker. While I'd love it to be Holt, it's likely to be Crouch.
Why not take Crouch AND Holt and leave out Welbeck and Bent who both have possible ankle injuries? No point taking both of them when you have two able-bodied goalscorers who are fit and ready to go. Why take the risk with injured players?
Just seen Ruddy's off on holiday. Does that mean he knows already he's not been picked? Or am I just putting two and two together (not like he doesn't deserve a holiday!!)
Injuries could still have a significant bearing on this, coudn't they? I guess we'll take five strikers, won't we? But Rooney is the only one that I would say is an absolute definite. However, I just have this uncomfortable feeling it will be too much for Hodgson to go with Holt. Simply, if England fail with say Bent and Sturridge (or any combination you pick) there'll be less of a mauling from the press than if he went with Holt. It shouldn't be like that, but it probably will be. I'd love to be wrong though, and if I were picking the squad I would go with Holt, and that's not just yellow tinted glasses. He would, to my mind, bring greater options than any other posible choice.
Don't know Rob, though I think they don't get a call until quite close to the announcement in case of leaks or late changes.
I think you're right Exile. I know it doesn't mean a huge amount, but Ruddy's odds ahve been slashed to 1-7 http://www.oddschecker.com/football.../england-euro-2012-specials/to-make-the-squad He's now the eleventh most likely player to get called up. Considering how many players, that's basically the odds saying he is a dead cert...
Linekar has come out on the bbc with the usual ****e saying crouch should be called up Typical Linekar really and not suprising 1pm tomorrow it's being announced - do we build ourselves up for dissapointment!?
I like Peter Crouch, but in a straight fight between Holt, Carroll and Crouch, Crouch would be the last one I'd choose. As I said, I like him but he's something of a 'halfway house' as a player. Despite the well worn cliche about 'good feet for a big man', the fact is with the ball at his feet he's not as good as the likes of Defoe or Bent. In the air he's less than impressive and, I would argue, a lesser player than either Holt or Carroll. Given the balance we'll want to make up with our striking options, I don't see Crouch being the best option, or actually what the point of him in the national side is... but I bet we take him.
http://m.guardian.co.uk/ms/p/gnm/op...2/may/15/euro-2012-england-squad&cat=football Guardian article - has both our boys as long shots. Worth a read not much of the media is backing them
