He'll play the old guard until it becomes obvious they can barely breath in that climate ...... then, when we're almost out, he'll chuck in the younger players. I had very little interest before I saw the squad, now it's taken a dip. If Fletcher was left out because of Man Utd's poor season it makes you wonder about Welbeck & Rooney.
I agree as I said on another thread that weather forecasters are predicting a 'El Nino' weather phenomenon - that'll increase the heat and humidity in Brazil during the WC, I cannot envision any of the senior players lasting long in atmospheric extreme conditions - quite likely the younger players will be used from the off
Will the yank plank be going? He's in the first squad. SUNDERLAND striker Jozy Altidore has been included in the USA’s 30-man preliminary squad for the World Cup. Altidore has endured a miserable maiden campaign on Wearside after netting just one Premier League goal for the Black Cats following his £7million move from AZ Alkmaar last summer. But the 24-year-old’s stock on the international stage remains high after setting a national team record of scoring in five consecutive games last year. As expected, Altidore has been included in USA boss Jurgen Klinsmann’s plans for next month’s tournament in Brazil after the former Germany striker named an initial 30-man squad. The party will be cut to a final 23 players before June 2.
The england squad is decent, but why smalling, lampard and welbeck get in the starting squad is a mystery. I think Barry is injured, but i'd have him instead of lamps, let along carrick and not so cleverley. Stones for smalling and carroll for welbeck. We'll still be ****e.
I reckon that is a good mix of experience and enthusiasm, for Roy's sake I hope it comes off. If he can get Fulham to a Euro final then who knows.
The bold ones - seriously? Are you having a ****ing laugh? Did you know that only one English player has scored a hat-trick this season - anyone know who that might be? Now I'm not touting them for an England call up as such, but since Roy named the friendly squad, Johnson has been very inconsistent (coincidence?) but if Carrick, Cleverley and Carroll deserve a standby spot then Johnson, Cattermole and Wickham all deserve one too - arguably, over the course of the season, they have actually been better than the three mentioned. Lambert has been ****e recently according to most Southampton fans - but still gets his call up! Having seen John Ruddy and Ben Foster over recent weeks, I am 100% certain that Ruddy is a far better keeper than Foster Edit: I hope they get shown up in the group stages and knocked out on 0 points. That is how little I care for the national game
The team selection was always going to upset a few, but I reckon it's about as good as we could have expected. Hart: Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines: Gerrard, Lallana, Barkley: Sterling, Rooney, Sturridge in a 4-3-3 would be how I'd set the side up so the controversial players in the 23 wouldn't get a place in the starting 11. Welbeck was worse for United last season than he was for us in this season yet he was a totally different player for England, totally understand this and Woy might even opt for him over Sturridge vs Uruguay simply for his defensive work which is far better than what Sturridge offers, not to mention he's familiar with Rooney. I can see Jones and Cahill being the future of the England back four, not Jagielka, so this experience will be vital for him if he can shake off his injury. As for Smalling, he's unlikely to get a game at all being 4th choice CB, unless Johnson (who is also ****ing poor by the way) gets injured and Smalling needs to sit in at RB. Oxlade Chamberlain and Wilshere for me are two players who are lucky to be in the 23. I'm a big Rickie Lambert fan, glad he got the nod. Powerhouse who's also good with his feet and can link up with Lallana, hope to see him in the 3rd game vs Costa Rica by which time we'll undoubtedly already be eliminated from the competition.
there you go mate - looks pretty good I reckon - Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid, on loan from Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (Hoffenheim), Silvio Proto (Anderlecht). Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid), Laurent Ciman (Standard Liege), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit St Petersburg), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), Daniel Van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Anthony Vanden Borre (Anderlecht), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham). Midfielders: Nacer Chadli, Mousa Dembele (both Tottenham), Steven Defour (Porto), Kevin De Bruyne (Wolfsburg), Marouane Fellaini, Adnan Januzaj (both Manchester United), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Kevin Mirallas (Everton), Divock Origi (Lille), Axel Witsel (Zenit St Petersburg). Forwards: Romelu Lukaku (Everton, on loan from Chelsea), Dries Mertens (Napoli). Standby: Sebastien Pocognoli (Hannover), Radia Nainggolan (Roma), Thorgan Hazard (Zulte Waregem, on loan from Chelsea), Guillaume Gillet (Anderlecht), Michy Batshuayi, Jelle Van Damme (both Standard Liege).
English scorers only. Prem table http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...icmst=1388552400000&bicmet=1420088400000&_r=3
Pleased for Hendo. Come on leaps and bounds. Great engine for a rumble in the jungle early doors too!
