Townsend called up for England

[Dier Hard]

Massive congratulations to Andros. Was great last season for QPR, on fire this pre-season and has started the new season like a man possessed.

Great to see Ross Barkley included too, big fan of his, glad he's getting the game time now to prove what a talent he is. Him and Will Hughes will be a future England CM pairing in my opinion.

 

[No Kane No Gain]

I think Dawson is seen to lack the pace needed for international football whereas Smalling has it.

It might not make a huge difference when playing of the lesser teams, but against the top ones, I lack of pace will be exposed. It's more likely that England will back a promising young player and give him experience with the squad (he's versatile too as he can cover at right back) than pick an almost thirty year old who won't get any quicker.

When we play top teams we play a reserved, counterpunching style which doesn't require much pace across the back line, which is why Cahill seems to be able to be a starter. I'm sure if he was a Liverpool player you'd be tearing into Hodgson's decision to pick him over Dawson.

 

[humanbeingincroydon]

Massive congratulations to Andros. Was great last season for QPR, on fire this pre-season and has started the new season like a man possessed.

Great to see Ross Barkley included too, big fan of his, glad he's getting the game time now to prove what a talent he is. Him and Will Hughes will be a future England CM pairing in my opinion.

Meanwhile, Jack Rodwell is nowhere near the squad. If he was playing first team football occasionally he'd probably have a few caps under the current England regime.

 

[JamesPGreaves_357]

You're not saying that Dawson reads the game like Moore are you? Moore's ability to take up the right position made up for a lack of pace; Dawson is a typical blood and guts English defender. Apart from the World Cup win on home soil, England have been found out in every major tournament by quick, mobile forwards.

EDIT: Whilst not in Moore's class, Terry has been a great ability to read the game and be in the right place, but has been found wanting at times - Germany running rings round the whole England defence in the 2010 Euros springs to mind.

I'm saying LDL you got it wrong, just admit it, and it will be easier than trying to backtrack and pretend your original post was correct

 

[littleDinosaurLuke]

When we play top teams we play a reserved, counterpunching style which doesn't require much pace across the back line, which is why Cahill seems to be able to be a starter. I'm sure if he was a Liverpool player you'd be tearing into Hodgson's decision to pick him over Dawson.

I think Smalling is seen by club and country as the next Rio and everything is being done to aid his progress. He has the attributes, but he is raw and inexperienced. How good he becomes, only time will tell. But England do not have an abundance of defenders of international class - we never have - so the policy is to nuture those who might make it.

 

[Dier Hard]

Meanwhile, Jack Rodwell is nowhere near the squad. If he was playing first team football occasionally he'd probably have a few caps under the current England regime.

Yeah without a doubt. Joining City was a massive mistake. Could also argue that Scott Sinclair may have had a cap or two had he stayed at Swansea. Sinclair more so than Rodwell though deserves to kick himself, he already experienced what it was like being a young English player with promise at a big, money orientated club (Chelsea) who never really look at giving young talent a chance, so why make the same mistake and join the other club doing similar? Silly, silly lad.

 

[No Kane No Gain]

I think Smalling is seen by club and country as the next Rio and everything is being done to aid his progress. He has the attributes, but he is raw and inexperienced. How good he becomes, only time will tell. But England do not have an abundance of defenders of international class - we never have - so the policy is to nuture those who might make it.

Since when was it an international team's duty to nurture the future? You pick the best players available to you to give the best chance of winning a tournament, there's no need for a 10 year plan. And when was the last time a youngster got picked for the international side and improved? Nurturng talent is a hollow excuse.

 

[littleDinosaurLuke]

The question was posed why would Smalling be picked ahead of Dawson. As neither would be in the first XI at present, the answer is clearly a preference for young players who are considered prospects to make up the numbers - not just Smalling, but Sterling, Barkley, Townsend, Jones.

 

[Dier Hard]

The question was posed why would Smalling be picked ahead of Dawson. As neither would be in the first XI at present, the answer is clearly a preference for young players who are considered prospects to make up the numbers - not just Smalling, but Sterling, Barkley, Townsend, Jones.

Won't really make a difference, Hodgson will still select a boring tried and tested XI that'll no doubt fail to impress.

 

[No Kane No Gain]

The question was posed why would Smalling be picked ahead of Dawson. As neither would be in the first XI at present, the answer is clearly a preference for young players who are considered prospects to make up the numbers - not just Smalling, but Sterling, Barkley, Townsend, Jones.

And what if Cahill or Jagielka pick up an injury, we play a lesser player because it's good practice for him? I just think it's poor practice and not something anyother significant footballing nation would tolerate during the middle of a difficult qualifying campaign. I said the same about Barkley and even that Townsend shouldn't be brought into the England squad when we're potentially one bad result away from going out at the qualifying stage.

 

[littleDinosaurLuke]

And what if Cahill or Jagielka pick up an injury, we play a lesser player because it's good practice for him? I just think it's poor practice and not something anyother significant footballing nation would tolerate during the middle of a difficult qualifying campaign. I said the same about Barkley and even that Townsend shouldn't be brought into the England squad when we're potentially one bad result away from going out at the qualifying stage.

There is an argument that you should pick players in form, but clearly Hodgson picks players he thinks have international quality even if a work in progress.

 

[AshfordGill]

I think Smalling is seen by club and country as the next Rio and everything is being done to aid his progress. He has the attributes, but he is raw and inexperienced. How good he becomes, only time will tell. But England do not have an abundance of defenders of international class - we never have - so the policy is to nuture those who might make it.

We Never have? How About Ferdinand, Terry, King and Carragher all available at the same time (and one who shouldn't be mentioned here) or 1990 when we took Butcher, Walker and Wright to the world cup and left behind Adams, Bould and Mabbutt we have had plenty of top class defenders throughout the years and personally I think Dawson should be in the squad for these type of matches he is playing well and is a leader as well something we are currently short of, but I do also think Smallling is one for the future who we should be nurturing

 

[Quill]

If he is looking at young prospects, why not also consider Livermore?

 

[THFC6061]

England Combined Full & U21 Squads (50 players)

Manchester United 12
Liverpool & Tottenham Hotspur 6
Chelsea 5

Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Fraser Forster (Celtic)
Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Todd Kane (Blackburn Rovers, loan from Chelsea), Nathaniel Chalobah (Chelsea)
Will Hughes (Derby County)
Leighton Baines (Everton), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Ross Barkley (Everton), John Stones (Everton)
Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jack Robinson (Blackpool, loan from Liverpool), Andre Wisdom (Liverpool)
Joe Hart (Manchester City), James Milner (Manchester City)
Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), Nick Powell (Manchester United), Tom Thorpe (Manchester United), Michael Keane (Manchester United), Jesse Lingaard (Manchester United), Wilfried Zaha (Manchester United)
Sammy Ameobi (Newcastle United)
John Ruddy (Norwich City), Nathan Redmond (Norwich City)
George Long (Sheffield United)
Rickie Lambert (Southampton), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Luke Shaw (Southampton)
Eric Dier (Sporting Lisbon)
Jack Butland (Stoke City)
Connor Wickham (Sunderland)
Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City)
Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Ezekiel Fryers (Tottenham Hotspur), Tom Carroll (Tottenham Hotspur), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Jonathan Bond (Watford)
Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion)

 

[Spurm]

Happy Dawson isn't in it, wish other spurs players weren't. Have grown to really despise the England football team. Hodgson's 1st game gave me hope when he picked kids, but he's since reverted to fat ****ing frank, Steve gbh Gerrard, Gareth "slow-ass" Barry, James "no talent" Milner and theo "dogshit" wallcott.
The team is dull and talentless, the manager is dull uncharismatic and for that reason, I'm out

 

[SpursDisciple]

Not Barry, been dumped a while ago.

 

[PleaseNotPoll]

Do England sides pick so many Man Utd players just to guarantee that some of them turn up?
Be a good run out for those that haven't played any football at all for several months.

 

[littleDinosaurLuke]

Do England sides pick so many Man Utd players just to guarantee that some of them turn up?
Be a good run out for those that haven't played any football at all for several months.

Or because Utd, unlike many clubs je pourrais citer, have a policy of recruiting and developing young English players. Some clubs would need a squad of 120 players to find 12 for England.

 

[SpursDisciple]

AVB's point about whether the players are called up with a strategy for the future is interesting. I think THudd, Lennon and Daws were very badly treated by England and each of them has a value at that level. Huddlestone would be a top class player in the less intense world of international football, could see him alongside Wilshere being a very effective midfield.

 

[PleaseNotPoll]

Or because Utd, unlike many clubs je pourrais citer, have a policy of recruiting and developing young English players. Some clubs would need a squad of 120 players to find 12 for England.

Nope. Zaha was never good enough at Palace, yet he was in the squad as soon as he signed for Man Utd, despite not having played a single minute.