Wilshere starts 1 game all season and get's called up. Other English midfielders must wonder why they even bother.

 

Rashford is another who shouldn't be anywhere near that team. 

 

If you play for one of the big name teams it seem's like all you have to do is either be fit or show one of two moments of good football and you get a call up.

 

England are a joke really, the same mistakes are made in the build up to every international tournament.

Wilshere is everything that's wrong with England under Roy.

Form players get left behind so he can make room for his favourites despite them being injured for most of the season and rusty.

Even when fit I think he's a bang average footballer so god knows what he will be link at the Euro's

I forgot to mention someone else who shouldn't be in that team too, Fabien Delph. What the hell has he done this season ? he's played 20 games all season and most of them have been late subs. It's a total piss take.

 

All Hodgson has to do is sit and watch football games, it can't be that hard to find players more deserving than Wilshere. Delph, and Rashford.

 

Rooney will no doubt start too which will just slow us down and make us easy to defend against. The guy has lost his legs, he's not worth the risk.

Wiltshire, for f**ks sake. Our young players get us all excited, then Rooney, wilshire, Henderson etc will come right back in. Same old same old.

Must read

 

The picture it paints of Wenger is priceless.

 

 

One of the relaxation methods we used was to lie on our backs and raise our legs up against the wall, leaning them like that for a couple of minutes or so. Completely silent. Arsène used to do everything with us. On one occasion we were in this large room in a hotel and he put his legs up against a partition wall rather than a solid one. He went straight through it. He just rolled over and went into the other part of the room. We were supposed to be being serious and calm but it was impossible not to laugh..... I used to call him Inspector Clouseau. He’d fall over the nets, get tangled up, couldn’t get the balls out.

 

 

In the summer of 2000 a player turned up on trial at our pre-season tour. He was a tall centre-half. Now, Martin Keown was always worried about people coming in to steal his position. If we had a centre-half on trial, Martin would say he was useless. This big guy from Latvia, Igors Stepanovs, turned up. He was a unit, but seriously, he was not up to standard.... Stepanovs is out there and every single pass he made, the boys started applauding, just because we knew Martin would be getting a bit steamed up by it. Dennis Bergkamp was sitting behind Arsène and kept doling out these compliments about this defender. “Great header! Unbelievable tackle!” Igors kicked this one ball 20 yards away from where it was meant to go but it still went to one of our players so we all stood up clapping...... When we got back to the training ground at London Colney a week later we had a surprise though. Igors was sitting there. I said: “What are you doing here?” “They signed me. Four-year contract.”

Incredible. Arsène didn’t know we were just trying to tease Martin. He just kept listening to us heaping praise on this player. And if Dennis Bergkamp stands up and says: “What a player,” Arsène would be entitled to take a bit of notice. I suppose it looked like a bargain at around £1m. No disrespect to anyone from the lower leagues but Igors was a yard behind us on the pitch, it was like taking my brother to training.

 

Wiltshire, for f**ks sake. Our young players get us all excited, then Rooney, wilshire, Henderson etc will come right back in. Same old same old.

personally I think it is a pretty good squad and I think it is good that those three have been picked.

 

I'm a bit worried about the latter two because of their injuries, but more and more I don't believe national sides should be a meritocracy based on club form.

 

jose said if you are a national team manager you pick the players you like and trust and you stick with them. I used to think that it should be the 23 'most deserving' players that should go.  if you think of representing the nation as a reward in itself, that would be true. and whilst it is in some way a reward, actually that is the way fans think. if you look at it through the eyes of a manager then really you need consistency of selection. you get so few training sessions over the cycle of an international tournament and its qualification so it makes sense to pick the players who have established on pitch relationships with one another. if he's fit I'd pick henderson over drinkwater every time for example. 

 

put it another way- I don't see any outstanding omissions that upset me hugely. I might've personally been tempted to take carroll, I still am unconvinced by the spurs fullbacks but overall I don't have too many issues with it. the nucleus of a decent side is there, building around the likes of alli, kane, dier etc is good. I think it is quite an exciting squad. we won't win the tournament but we could do fairly well as outsiders. 

personally I think it is a pretty good squad and I think it is good that those three have been picked.

I'm a bit worried about the latter two because of their injuries, but more and more I don't believe national sides should be a meritocracy based on club form.

jose said if you are a national team manager you pick the players you like and trust and you stick with them. I used to think that it should be the 23 'most deserving' players that should go. if you think of representing the nation as a reward in itself, that would be true. and whilst it is in some way a reward, actually that is the way fans think. if you look at it through the eyes of a manager then really you need consistency of selection. you get so few training sessions over the cycle of an international tournament and its qualification so it makes sense to pick the players who have established on pitch relationships with one another. if he's fit I'd pick henderson over drinkwater every time for example.

put it another way- I don't see any outstanding omissions that upset me hugely. I might've personally been tempted to take carroll, I still am unconvinced by the spurs fullbacks but overall I don't have too many issues with it. the nucleus of a decent side is there, building around the likes of alli, kane, dier etc is good. I think it is quite an exciting squad. we won't win the tournament but we could do fairly well as outsiders.

Rio Ferdinand was on Radio 5 yesterday and made the good (imo) point that we should regard the Euros as preparation for the next World Cup. I think he was making a point about managing our expectations. I don't think we'll win in the summer. Partly due to the same old issues (not playing our natural game, pressure to perform, other teams raising their game when they play us, etc) and partly due to the caution of Roy. I'd be happy to see us improve in the course of the tournament, however.

personally I think it is a pretty good squad and I think it is good that those three have been picked.

 

I'm a bit worried about the latter two because of their injuries, but more and more I don't believe national sides should be a meritocracy based on club form.

 

jose said if you are a national team manager you pick the players you like and trust and you stick with them. I used to think that it should be the 23 'most deserving' players that should go.  if you think of representing the nation as a reward in itself, that would be true. and whilst it is in some way a reward, actually that is the way fans think. if you look at it through the eyes of a manager then really you need consistency of selection. you get so few training sessions over the cycle of an international tournament and its qualification so it makes sense to pick the players who have established on pitch relationships with one another. if he's fit I'd pick henderson over drinkwater every time for example. 

 

put it another way- I don't see any outstanding omissions that upset me hugely. I might've personally been tempted to take carroll, I still am unconvinced by the spurs fullbacks but overall I don't have too many issues with it. the nucleus of a decent side is there, building around the likes of alli, kane, dier etc is good. I think it is quite an exciting squad. we won't win the tournament but we could do fairly well as outsiders. 

Do you think we will build around those 3 though? I doubt it, only Kane will start in all likelihood. If Wilshire and Rooney are in then (and I`m almost certain they will be) then that means no space for Alli and Dier, throw in his other favourites like Milner and Henderson and we lose that dynamism and pace we have seen in the past few games. Then we look at the defence, incredibly mediocre at best, I honestly cant find a single combination that wouldn't have me worrying, especially in front of Hart. Have we ever been so weak at the back? Not as far back as I can remember. So to recap, very poor and worrisome defence, slow and ponderous midfield severely lacking in creativity, a striker up front thats in form. Thats what I expect to see.

I think alli and dier are certainties to start.. if wilshere shows he is fit he MAY start ahead of alli but I doubt it. lets not forget he picked alli very early in the season and got criticised heavily for it. 

 

I like hart, I think in him and forster we've got two good keepers but I agree, each of those three central defenders worries me and they don't seem natural partners. I bet hodgson asked JT or seriously considered asking him to come back.

 

I think we'll see either a 4231:

 

hart

 

clyne/walker

cahill

smalling

bertrand/rose

 

dier

henderson/ wilshere / other

 

then he'll certainly be starting rooney in the front four whether you like it or not, plus kane, so it will be two from lallana, sterling, townshend and I suppose milner.  I'm not sure he sees wilshere playing this far forward, but that is one way to accommodate him. as I say, I think alli starts. maybe he has his discipline in mind to not pick him, but I think he'll put him in.

 

alternatively you have a diamond with dier at the base and then there is space for henderson, wilshere and alli in the same team plus rooney and kane up front with vardy off the bench (or indeed rooney behind those two).

 

the defenders, compared to the previous generation, are rubbish. I think if you go five-ten years back you could probably name four seperate partnerships better than smalling/ cahill. sadly we don't have anything better at the moment.

Weird he's picked 4 fullbacks but only three CBs, two of whom have both played RB fairly recently (Smalling and Stones). I'd have thought 4 CBs would be essential, and am surprised he's not picked Jagielka. Not that he's particularly good, but I can't think of a sensible alternative.

points to him taking an extra striker I think.

 

I think he views dier as an emergency fourth central defender. I think I'd have left a RB out instead given milner and stones could both do a job there and neither will be starting.

I think alli and dier are certainties to start.. if wilshere shows he is fit he MAY start ahead of alli but I doubt it. lets not forget he picked alli very early in the season and got criticised heavily for it. 

 

I like hart, I think in him and forster we've got two good keepers but I agree, each of those three central defenders worries me and they don't seem natural partners. I bet hodgson asked JT or seriously considered asking him to come back.

 

I think we'll see either a 4231:

 

hart

 

clyne/walker

cahill

smalling

bertrand/rose

 

dier

henderson/ wilshere / other

 

then he'll certainly be starting rooney in the front four whether you like it or not, plus kane, so it will be two from lallana, sterling, townshend and I suppose milner.  I'm not sure he sees wilshere playing this far forward, but that is one way to accommodate him. as I say, I think alli starts. maybe he has his discipline in mind to not pick him, but I think he'll put him in.

 

alternatively you have a diamond with dier at the base and then there is space for henderson, wilshere and alli in the same team plus rooney and kane up front with vardy off the bench (or indeed rooney behind those two).

 

the defenders, compared to the previous generation, are rubbish. I think if you go five-ten years back you could probably name four seperate partnerships better than smalling/ cahill. sadly we don't have anything better at the moment.

I would love to see him start Alli, Dier, Vardy etc but he hasnt shown any reason to believe that will happen in the past, the only time hes left out his favourites is through injury. Clyne has been godawful this season too, and Walker is an idiot who is a walking mistake/red card. I would rather he had taken Simpson.

I think clyne has been decent. he'd be my first choice. I think danny simpson is the worst regular starter to win the league I've ever seen. I think he's a terrible player. 

 

I guess we'll see- I don't think vardy will start but otherwise I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I guess the squad numbers might be an indicator, england usually start 1-11 from what I can remember.

I'd have thought 4 CBs would be essential, and am surprised he's not picked Jagielka. Not that he's particularly good, but I can't think of a sensible alternative.

 

Dier can play CB can't he? Fwiw 4 FBs perhaps suggests Roy will go with a narrow midfield with the fullbacks supplying the width;

 

                       Hart

Clyne -- Smalling -- Cahill -- Rose

                       Dier

        Milner -- Alli -- Lallana

                    Rooney

                          Kane

 

I'm happy with the squad... certainly can't complain the squad lacks adaptability. Hopefully we'll do a Leicester... 

Edited May 16, 201610 yr by the special one

Dier can play CB can't he? Fwiw 4 FBs suggests Roy will go with a narrow midfield with the fullbacks supplying the width;

Hart

Clyne -- Smalling -- Cahill -- Rose

Dier

Milner -- Alli -- Lallana

Rooney

Kane

I'm happy with the squad... certainly can't complain the squad lacks adaptability. Hopefully we'll do a Leicester...

There's a good blend of youth and experience there. Good starting 11.

What I never get about England is it's a squad of Premier League players and it's well known certain teams can't handle the pace of the PL yet we don't play PL pace.

What I never get about England is it's a squad of Premier League players and it's well known certain teams can't handle the pace of the PL yet we don't play PL pace.

That's the key issue BWH. We go abroad and abandon our style of play.

Dier can play CB can't he? Fwiw 4 FBs perhaps suggests Roy will go with a narrow midfield with the fullbacks supplying the width;

 

                       Hart

Clyne -- Smalling -- Cahill -- Rose

                       Dier

        Milner -- Alli -- Lallana

                    Rooney

                          Kane

 

I'm happy with the squad... certainly can't complain the squad lacks adaptability. Hopefully we'll do a Leicester... 

 

If Milner starts, i'm going to lose it. He hasn't had one great game in an England shirt yet and every single tournament game he has played in, he has been dreadful. How can someone who plays so poor continue to get games ? It's almost like us playing Ivanovic at RB no matter how bad he plays, the only difference is that Ivanovic will at least put in a good performance now and again.

Come on Brighton !

 

Fantastic atmosphere at the game by the sounds of it ( R5L commentary ).  Brighton just gone 1nil up, losing 1-2 on aggregate.

Edited May 16, 201610 yr by WeatherMan

I don't see the problem with Rashford being picked. He's done well this season.

Whilshere shouldn't be anywhere near the squad. Players who are returning from injury just don't work at major tournaments. We've been there with Rooney.

I want Weds to go through and win the playoffs, be great to have them back in the Prem

I don't see the problem with Rashford being picked. He's done well this season.

Whilshere shouldn't be anywhere near the squad. Players who are returning from injury just don't work at major tournaments. We've been there with Rooney.

 

He's only played 16 games, 10 in the league, and only a handful of these games i would say he has performed well in. I don't see how it merits a call up to a major competition. Maybe a qualifier or a few friendlies but not a major tournament. Every time a youngster breaks through, we add them to the senior team instead of letting them grow and make an impact at lower levels first. It's something that England needs to stop doing.

Hopefully see England have a go this summer. We need to come out swinging because that defence looks shaky. I'd go with:

Hart

Walker Cahill Smalling rose

Drinkwater dier alli

Rooney

kane vardy

Brighton really unlucky. 15 points higher during the season than Wednesday, missed automatic promotion through goal difference, suffered 4 injuries first leg.

My money is with Hull. Steve Bruce is good at two things: getting them promoted and getting them relegated. Like Burnley, they seem to be too good for the Championship but not good enough for the Premier League.

Edited May 16, 201610 yr by offside

Biggest issue with England is back four, it's sh*te...the worst crop of defenders we have had in years...can see us losing games 2-1, 3-2 etc