The England Thread

[Ash]

Why would you get called up based on league position?

 

Because our fantastic defensive record was a big reason why we finished 5th and we often had 2 or more English players in the back 4.

 

That still doesn't automatically mean they're good enough for international football.

 

They've played many, many games in the Premiership and yielded fantastic results last year. That should mean more than being young and from London.

 

Again though, that doesn't mean they're automatically good enough to play international football. They're helped by having top-class players alongside them who offered a lot more to those fantastic results. The last point is daft really.

[Ash]

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Jack Butland (Birmingham City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).

 

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

 

Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Jake Livermore (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Ashley Young (Manchester United).

 

Forwards: Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

 

Those three should be nowhere near being a Senior England International.

 

Why have you highlighted Caulker?

[Mole_Toonfan]

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Jack Butland (Birmingham City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).

 

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

 

Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Jake Livermore (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Ashley Young (Manchester United).

 

Forwards: Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

 

Those three should be nowhere near being a Senior England International.

 

Why have you highlighted Caulker?

 

Gonna say that, i was impressed with Caulker last season might be a bit early but his performances makes me think he deserves a chance.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Pleased to see Carrick back in.

[SirLes9]

Jack Rodwell.....always injured and when he does play what does he do? Neil? 1878?

[ponsaelius]

The only player we have who is good enough for England is Steven Taylor and he's been injured for 9 months.

 

Ryan Taylor and Williamson for England

[aussiemag]

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Jack Butland (Birmingham City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).

 

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

 

Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Jake Livermore (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Ashley Young (Manchester United).

 

Forwards: Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

 

Those three should be nowhere near being a Senior England International.

 

Why have you highlighted Caulker?

 

Gonna say that, i was impressed with Caulker last season might be a bit early but his performances makes me think he deserves a chance.

 

Think he is a promising player, but no where near ready for international level football.

[Jack Flash]

Why would you get called up based on league position?

 

Because our fantastic defensive record was a big reason why we finished 5th and we often had 2 or more English players in the back 4.

 

That still doesn't automatically mean they're good enough for international football.

 

They've played many, many games in the Premiership and yielded fantastic results last year. That should mean more than being young and from London.

 

Again though, that doesn't mean they're automatically good enough to play international football. They're helped by having top-class players alongside them who offered a lot more to those fantastic results.

 

You could say that about many of the players in the squad though. Look at the strikers for example.

[Mole_Toonfan]

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Jack Butland (Birmingham City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).

 

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

 

Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Jake Livermore (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Ashley Young (Manchester United).

 

Forwards: Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

 

Those three should be nowhere near being a Senior England International.

 

Why have you highlighted Caulker?

 

Gonna say that, i was impressed with Caulker last season might be a bit early but his performances makes me think he deserves a chance.

 

Think he is a promising player, but no where near ready for international level football.

 

Might as well get the promising players in now, if we are to have any success in future tournaments we need to start giving chances to these promising players.

 

Obviously there's more to it than that as far as future success goes, but you get the point.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Difference is, with the strikers we don't have anyone else.

 

Don't see the problem with picking younger players like Caulker, he's just giving them a taste of the setup for the future.

[Jack Flash]

The only player we have who is good enough for England is Steven Taylor and he's been injured for 9 months.

 

Ryan Taylor and Williamson for England

 

15 clean sheets last year, was it?

 

The fact is if Simpson got called up we'd all be proud of him and want him to do well. Why be so negative and mock our players chances of getting into a poor squad?

[ponsaelius]

Delighted with the number of clean sheats we kept last season as a team. As individuals though, those 3 are not good enough for England.

 

Seems an absurd victim mentality to claim that the reason they're not in is that 'they're not young or from London'. They're probably not in because as players they aren't good enough.

[Jack Flash]

Delighted with the number of clean sheats we kept last season as a team. As individuals though, those 3 are not good enough for England.

 

Seems an absurd victim mentality to claim that the reason they're not in is that 'they're not young or from London'. They're probably not in because as players they aren't good enough.

 

Aye, the rest of the squad is just so full of talent. You need to be something really special to get a call up these days.

 

If that Caulker lad plays he'll have played more for England than Tottenham btw.

[ponsaelius]

He's looked superior to Williamson when I've seen him play.

 

Full season in the Prem behind him, 20 years old, highly rated. Seems exactly the kind of player that should be getting chances.

[Tooj]

Caulker looks quite a decent prospect and is on the back of having an excellent season for Swansea. Pleased for the lad.

[SEMTEX]

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

 

proven players who are not good enough, but slightly better than the younger players

 

or

 

unproven younger players with potential

[Tooj]

Seems we keep on saying the same thing about every England manager about how we need to build for the future and the qualifiers are the perfect environment to get players some experience under their belt so they are ready when tournaments come round.

 

It's a shame that we tend not to take the U-21 tournaments seriously, as they are great ways to give young players that experience of being in a tournament environment.

 

Still find it a shame that Gerrard is captain mind, as his legs are clearly going and I can't see him being very effective in two years time in Brazil, if we qualify that is.

 

He got loads of praise about his performances at the Euros but I don't think he was anything special, he just grabbed a few assists but that's about it.

 

Hopefully Wilshere can make a full recovery from his injury problems as he's the type of midfielder that we have needed for years.

[Jack Flash]

Being unproven in the top league means nothing these days 

 

I'm not against giving the youngsters a chance but they're simply not playing enough top level games for their clubs to be considered worthy. Bertrand is 23 and has started about 4 games for Chelsea. Livermore is almost 23 and, bar 1 sub appearance, just started playing for Tottenham last year. Caulker hasn't yet played for his club. Are these players the future of England when they can hardly get in their club teams?

[Dokko]

Not many candidates for a long term captaincy though (do agree Gerrard was a short sighted appointment - and said so at the time) really our best player is at the right age for the job, but Rooney struggles to inspire himself most games never mind a whole team, plus there is his lack of personality in front of a camera. Just doesn't work for me, it could make him a better player like it did Beckham, but even Beckham seems to have more about him mentally than Rooney.

 

Terry is by far the best captain we've got, but the politics around him is just crazy. Rio is past it, Cole is the right quality and age, but doesn't have enough presence to be a captain. If Roy takes it off Gerrard I'd see him giving it to Barry or Lampard, who again share the same flaws as Gerrard and need to be phased out ASAP.

 

Would be great to see several big names and never hasbeens gone by 2014, personally I'd like to see the back of Gerrard, Lampard, Rio, Barry, Defoe, Crouch, Downing, Green, Glen Johnson and Carrick - a player with half a good season in 4 years, who didn't want to play for England and has done feck all at international level.

 

 

[leffe186]

Livermore should be nowhere near that squad, but Caulker makes perfect sense. "Are these players the future of England when they can hardly get in their club teams?" Well if they're young, looked good playing a full season of Premiership football, and did well in the Olympic tournament, then of course. I mean, Williamson? Simpson? I could understand Taylor, but he's not exactly set the Premiership alight either. He's played about the same number of Premiership games in the last three seasons that Caulker managed last year.

 

Seems a reasonable squad, but frankly beggars can't be choosers.

[Legacy]

Being unproven in the top league means nothing these days 

 

I'm not against giving the youngsters a chance but they're simply not playing enough top level games for their clubs to be considered worthy. Bertrand is 23 and has started about 4 games for Chelsea. Livermore is almost 23 and, bar 1 sub appearance, just started playing for Tottenham last year. Caulker hasn't yet played for his club. Are these players the future of England when they can hardly get in their club teams?

 

To be fair, Caulker had a good season with swansea?

[Martin Lol]

Livermore should be nowhere near that squad, but Caulker makes perfect sense. "Are these players the future of England when they can hardly get in their club teams?" Well if they're young, looked good playing a full season of Premiership football, and did well in the Olympic tournament, then of course. I mean, Williamson? Simpson? I could understand Taylor, but he's not exactly set the Premiership alight either. He's played about the same number of Premiership games in the last three seasons that Caulker managed last year.

 

Seems a reasonable squad, but frankly beggars can't be choosers.

 

Totally agree with that.  Livermore was a decent improving squad player who got opportunities last season but no more than that.  Caulker has impressed in the U21's, the Olympics and on loan at Swansea, if Hodgson wants to look at a few youngsters, Caulker would be a realistic pick, as would Bertrand who I think is a very talented full back.  Being stuck behind Ashley Cole has done him no favours at all.

[LiquidAK]

Not many candidates for a long term captaincy though (do agree Gerrard was a short sighted appointment - and said so at the time) really our best player is at the right age for the job, but Rooney struggles to inspire himself most games never mind a whole team, plus there is his lack of personality in front of a camera. Just doesn't work for me, it could make him a better player like it did Beckham, but even Beckham seems to have more about him mentally than Rooney.

 

Terry is by far the best captain we've got, but the politics around him is just crazy. Rio is past it, Cole is the right quality and age, but doesn't have enough presence to be a captain. If Roy takes it off Gerrard I'd see him giving it to Barry or Lampard, who again share the same flaws as Gerrard and need to be phased out ASAP.

 

Would be great to see several big names and never hasbeens gone by 2014, personally I'd like to see the back of Gerrard, Lampard, Rio, Barry, Defoe, Crouch, Downing, Green, Glen Johnson and Carrick - a player with half a good season in 4 years, who didn't want to play for England and has done feck all at international level.

 

 

 

Joe Hart. Clearly the best English player in his position by a country mile, so he's going to be a mainstay in the team for the foreseeable future. Plus he oozes confidence, the will to win etc. The best choice for me.

[Jack Flash]

Livermore should be nowhere near that squad, but Caulker makes perfect sense. "Are these players the future of England when they can hardly get in their club teams?" Well if they're young, looked good playing a full season of Premiership football, and did well in the Olympic tournament, then of course. I mean, Williamson? Simpson? I could understand Taylor, but he's not exactly set the Premiership alight either. He's played about the same number of Premiership games in the last three seasons that Caulker managed last year.

 

Seems a reasonable squad, but frankly beggars can't be choosers

 

S.Taylor was probably playing as well as any English defender from August till December and received no call up. Capello didn't go to SJP once in his time as boss apparently, though this may be a myth.

 

To be fair, Caulker had a good season with swansea?

 

I'd never heard of Caulker till today so I'm no expert on him, but I'd rather he (and the other 2) had more top level experience before getting to represent their country, especially at their age. These players must have played over 300 games on loan between them.

[SEMTEX]

Not many candidates for a long term captaincy though (do agree Gerrard was a short sighted appointment - and said so at the time) really our best player is at the right age for the job, but Rooney struggles to inspire himself most games never mind a whole team, plus there is his lack of personality in front of a camera. Just doesn't work for me, it could make him a better player like it did Beckham, but even Beckham seems to have more about him mentally than Rooney.

 

Terry is by far the best captain we've got, but the politics around him is just crazy. Rio is past it, Cole is the right quality and age, but doesn't have enough presence to be a captain. If Roy takes it off Gerrard I'd see him giving it to Barry or Lampard, who again share the same flaws as Gerrard and need to be phased out ASAP.

 

Would be great to see several big names and never hasbeens gone by 2014, personally I'd like to see the back of Gerrard, Lampard, Rio, Barry, Defoe, Crouch, Downing, Green, Glen Johnson and Carrick - a player with half a good season in 4 years, who didn't want to play for England and has done feck all at international level.

 

 

 

Joe Hart. Clearly the best English player in his position by a country mile, so he's going to be a mainstay in the team for the foreseeable future. Plus he oozes confidence, the will to win etc. The best choice for me.

 

Agree. Even though he's blatantly a cheeky cunt. He's a cheeky cunt who seems to embrace pressure situations, rather than a big fucking bottler like everyone else. Would be useful if his mentality could rub off on a few other England players.