The Three Lions

Who are these players?

The lack of real talent is shocking.

There are a couple of circumstances outside of Hodgson's control right now: Forster, Carrick and Chamberlain are injured, while Chambers, Stones, Berahino and Kane are with the U21 squad. If those players were available Heaton, Mason, Vardy and Austin etc. don't make the squad.

I think Austin's call-up is justified, since he's scored 17 times this season. He probably deserves a friendly cap. But Vardy has had about five good games all season and is living off some good performances for Leicester in the last month or so. Mason hasn't been good for Spurs since January or so. Delph I just don't think is good enough for this level despite him being involved in the last few squads.

Unfortunately, there aren't any better options currently playing the Premier League. Jonjo Shelvey would be one, maybe, but beyond him there's a real lack of depth.

Anyway, hope this is the team:

Conference level footballers being called up

Wtf is this

Roy is going to try Wilshere as the Regista again. I hope he has adequate support around. Alone he will suffer the same fate as Pirlo.

Why did Welbeck get called up at all? Hopei t's Theo and Sterling on the wings

why is Sterling called up ??

His form in the last 3 months has been every bit as bad as Di Maria's if not worse.

GoonerJay29 wrote:England senior squad announced:

Keepers: Joe Hart (City), Rob Green (QPR), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

Defenders: Phil Jones (Man Utd), Chris Smalling (Man Utd), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton)

Midfielders: Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Ryan Mason (Spurs), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Ross Barkley (Everton), James Milner (City), Andros Townsend (Spurs), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal), Charlie Austin (QPR), Jamie Vardy (Leicester)

Heaton, Mason, Delph, Vardy

The most shocking part of that squad is Robert Green, oh good heavens, he's League Two level, an absolutely shocking call-up, no matter who is unavailable.

I guess it's all right to call up guys like Mason and Vardy for friendlies to fill the spaces in the squad.

England's center-back situation has gotten pretty bad, btw. Cahill is nowadays the only one I rate to be good enough to play for England. Jagielka is past it (and I never rated him that high anyway), Jones and Smalling not good enough and the young guys Stones and Chambers, I don't think they're good enough, either, at least not yet.

England team to play Ireland:


Jones RB ugh

Wilshere is class above the rest.

Townsend and Vardy

When can Woy be sacked?

When the team has another shit tournament... so 2016, probably. Though they want him to take the team to the 2018 World Cup.

Things are going okay right now, though, albeit they haven't played many good teams. The style of play is better; there's more pressing, and more combination play. The Ireland game wasn't great but I didn't have many issues with the way England were playing or trying to play.

I don't have many issues with Hodgson in general right now, beside the odd weird call-up e.g. Jamie Vardy and Ryan Mason.

Art Morte wrote:

GoonerJay29 wrote:England senior squad announced:

Keepers: Joe Hart (City), Rob Green (QPR), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

Defenders: Phil Jones (Man Utd), Chris Smalling (Man Utd), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton)

Midfielders: Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Ryan Mason (Spurs), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Ross Barkley (Everton), James Milner (City), Andros Townsend (Spurs), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal), Charlie Austin (QPR), Jamie Vardy (Leicester)

Heaton, Mason, Delph, Vardy

The most shocking part of that squad is Robert Green, oh good heavens, he's League Two level, an absolutely shocking call-up, no matter who is unavailable.

I guess it's all right to call up guys like Mason and Vardy for friendlies to fill the spaces in the squad.

England's center-back situation has gotten pretty bad, btw. Cahill is nowadays the only one I rate to be good enough to play for England. Jagielka is past it (and I never rated him that high anyway), Jones and Smalling not good enough and the young guys Stones and Chambers, I don't think they're good enough, either, at least not yet.

Agreed.. I think the CB situation is probably the most concerning area for Euros at least.

There is no getting around the mediocrity of this squad and we are relying on the speedy development of a handful of players there who aren't even all guaranteed regular first team time for their respective clubs.

I think they will let Roy stay on til 2018 even if we have a bad Euro 16... I don't think this squad will be ready in time and the FA will be aware of that.

The expectation would be to qualify from the Group stage of course but does anyone seriously expect that's a given with this squad?

I don't see how Roy could be doing anything more atm.

Qualifying from the group stage should be easier this time since there are more teams, so even finishing third could be enough to get you through. And they got out their Euro 2012 group (with France, Ukraine and Sweden) with an even worse squad (the midfield then was Scott Parker and Gerrard, flanked by Young and Milner).

Completely forgot about the changes! OK, you're right, providing we arent robbed in the draw.. if we don't qualify Roys head should roll. But anything beyond R16 is good news.

England 2012 had a prime Gerrard, Cole and Terry.. I wouldn't say this squad is unquestionably better. 2012 squad had a more accomplished defence on paper at least. Having said that, I am more excited about this tournament as there's definitely a little more flair and creativity in this squad.

That being said, another year of solid development for the younger players and I may change my tune by next year.

Gerrard wasn't in his prime in 2012

What you on about? I think we may have different definitions of what prime Gerrard, Cole and Terry means. For a player like Gerrard, 32 is still within his prime years. I didn't say that he was playing the best football he ever has in his career.

He was easily the player of the tournament for England.

Peccadillo wrote:What you on about? I think we may have different definitions of what prime Gerrard, Cole and Terry means. For a player like Gerrard, 32 is still within his prime years. I didn't say that he was playing the best football he ever has in his career.

He was easily the player of the tournament for England.

That's exactly what I define 'prime' as. So prime Gerrard was from 2004-2010.

Stevie in 2012 was still very very good, but unfortunately plagued by injuries and NOT in his prime.

I agree that he was the best English player in 2012 Euros.

OK, for the avoidance of doubt, by your definition I meant to say "not past it".

"Jonjo Shelvey set for England call tomorrow according to reports"


What a time to be alive

Shelvey, Vardy, Puncheon, Kane and Townsend.

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Shelvey has started the season well, in fairness, and he does actually bring creativity to our midfield which will be needed since Wilshere won't be involved.

The others are scrubs, though. Yes that includes Kane.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CNrcN9VWsAMrEnw.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CNrcOs6W8AEwjqh.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CNrcP2tWEAAh4s2.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CNrcP2mWUAAIm_W.jpg

depressing

You know it's a sad state of affairs when you're relying on Jonjo Shelvey for midfield creativity. Ryan Mason and Jamie Vardy have no business being there, either. They don't add anything to the squad.

Also, it's 2015 and we're still relying on Carrick and Milner. That's the most depressing thing.

It's a very average collection of defenders, too.

Oh well, there should be enough there to get us six points against San Marino and Switzerland. My team:


What we'll see:

Love how Roy calls up Gibbs when he has like 10 minutes of gametime so far


That first team is really good. But Carrick might require Shelvey to stay deeper. Barkley is in great form and should be played as a CAM

That 2nd team

Shelvey

Carrick, Shelvey, Delph, Mason, Vardy

England's NT really is in dire straits.

GoonerJay29 wrote:You know it's a sad state of affairs when you're relying on Jonjo Shelvey for midfield creativity. Ryan Mason and Jamie Vardy have no business being there, either. They don't add anything to the squad.

Also, it's 2015 and we're still relying on Carrick and Milner. That's the most depressing thing.

It's 2015 and you don't want Garrick and Milner, but on the other hand you don't want new faces like Shelvey and Mason? Hard to have it both ways.

Both Shelvey and Mason have started the season brightly. If they played for Man United no one would bat an eye at the call-ups. I think Shelvey especially could surprise a few people yet.

Ps. I hope Jagielka isn't starting any more.

I wanted Shelvey in the squad. I think he adds something other midfielder don't. But the fact remains that other than Wilshere he's the only England midfield capable of creating something, which isn't a great position to be in.

I don't see what Mason brings. He's an average player, regardless of who he's playing for. My complaint was about how, in the last few years, not enough midfield talent has emerged to kick the likes of Carrick and Milner out of the squad. I would still rather rely on them then handing out caps to average players just because they're a new face.