England squad...

[soggy biscuit]

Woy said he picked Ox after him worry Ambrosini & Pirlo when arsenal played Milan

Pirlo plays for Juve & Ambrosini didn't play

[superreadingfan]

Cappello left for a reason, anyone want a bet that Woy doesn't see out half of his contract?

[Big Ern]

He's not a liability at all. He occassionally switches off or gets caught out

If thats not a liability I dont know what is?

I always remember Terry Venables comment "snooze and you loose" during our 98 World Cup game against Argentina. We simply can't afford players that switch off during a major tournement and this may be the major factor for his ommitance from the squad.

Still not convinced about the defensive qualities of Johnson, but as mentioned earlier on the thread, with 2 central holding midfielders, we could cover that.

Looking at the squad,it seems to suggest we will play Barry and Parker in the middle with Gerrard behind a lone striker, especially as we have only selected 4 strikers and 1 is suspended for the opening 2 games.

[Hoop Blah]

The key word being occassionally of course.

Show me an English fullback that doesn't occassionaly switch off or get caught out. Johnson is possibly even worse than Richards for this IMO but he nolonger has the pace to recover that he had 4 or 5 years ago.

[southbank1871]

Woy said he picked Ox after him worry Ambrosini & Pirlo when arsenal played Milan

Pirlo plays for Juve & Ambrosini didn't play

Link please.

[Cobi]

Woy said he picked Ox after him worry Ambrosini & Pirlo when arsenal played Milan

Pirlo plays for Juve & Ambrosini didn't play

Link please.

https://twitter.com/#!/JLowe1010

[NTRoyal]

Frank Lampard this season: Apps 46 Goals 16 Assists 10

Tom Cleverley this season: Apps 15 Goals 0 Assists 2

OK, let me make this point from another perspective. When was the last time Lampard had a bad season for Chelsea? I don't think he has had one.

However, when was the last time he had a good tournament for England? I don't think he has had one.

[Ian Royal]

Not overly keen on Carroll but he's hit form at the right time. Defoe offers something different, but I've never really rated him. Not sure there's a lot of other choices though. Sturridge and Welbeck? No thanks, not enough experience to take both. Crouch, different type of player and only really useful against poor teams. Bent's not played since February and may be injured, no idea.

Terry, I wouldn't have him within a 100 miles of the squad. I understand why Rio isn't in there, and I understand Terry is the only one that offers experience, but I'd tell him to fuk off and take Jagielka. Or anyone else.

I'd have taken Richards over Jones, but I'm not overly fussed.

Keepers don't really matter that much as Hart will play unless he's injured.

Midfield there's a dearth of available talent. I think Milner, Barry and Parker is a bit excessive for similar workmanlike players with no creativity or goal threat. I'd have taken Carrick just to have someone who can actually pick a decent pass, whether he's had a good season or is world class or not.

Downing, he may have had a poor season, but he's been played on the wrong flank and Johnson hasn't exactly started many games recently. He's not brilliant, but he's solid, so I'm quite positive about him being there.

Extremely peeved Terry is going, but otherwise there is little to genuinely complain about IMO. Mostly just marginal judgement calls.

G'arn Germany!

[blindedbythelights]

I think he's gone for Johnson over Richards though, due to him being a better "defender".......Richards is superb at going forward but his defensive abilities are sometimes questioned.

Anyway, i think Jones will be the one who plays there

being good at getting forward but a bit rubbish at getting back and actually defending is never something johnson has been accused off

isn't that what i just said

No

[Silver Fox]

Whoever got picked England were always going to struggle, ever since Rooney's red card. I can see them getting nowt form the first 2 games and the inclusion of Downing and Carrick does little to cange that. 4 strikers is asking for trouble, Owen in '04 (was it?) style

Cheese pie. Carrick isn't in the squad.

D'oh, I hadn't seen the squad when I posted that, just sure someone had said on here that he was going. Doesn't really effect my opinion though

[TBM]

being good at getting forward but a bit rubbish at getting back and actually defending is never something johnson has been accused off

isn't that what i just said

No

being good at getting forward but a bit rubbish at getting back and actually defending is never something johnson has been accused of

So we agree - he's better at defending than Richards if he's never been accused of being rubbish at it?!

[blindedbythelights]

but he has

hence the


christ, this is why hna? is the worst place to talk about football

[TBM]

lol

I get you now...still its only an opinion

[Victor Meldrew]

Interestingly (?) Johnson did in his early days occasionally play centre-back as has Richards.
Richards is fine at heading a ball in an attacking situation but rubbish when defending anything in the air in his own penalty area (a bit like our soon to be absent Ferdinand who is renowned for ducking out of headers although I have to admit he is excellent on the ground).

[blindedbythelights]

[TBM]

He can't even paint within the lines

[Ark Royal]

Genuine lolz at ex-serial flapper David James who sagely spouts "...but I'm tipping England to win with Milner as the top player."

I am looking forward to watching a young, vibrant, exciting, attacking team - Germany. England will not even make it out of their group and I would not be surprised if they finished bottom.

[Niko]

So, this is probably the least important issue, but for some reason the one that intrigues me the most...

Who is Jack Butland?

According to Wikipedia, he's a Birmingham City player who has made 2 loan spells for Cheltenham town since 2011.

So that is our 4th best keeper? No McCarthy? Fielding? I can only assume they've been earmarked for the Olympics, but even that would be strange.

[Ian Royal]

If that is genuinely him, what a twat. He can feck off and never play for England again.

[TBM]

tbf, he wont.........after the Euro's the yoof will be starting to play a lot more