England squad...

[Hoop Blah]

It's not about him being "a big name", it's about him being a good player.

My point is what difference has that made? He's been a "good player" every season, and walks away with the Bigest Turkey award every tournament.

What exactly is it that Lampard does at a tournament that are England going to miss?

2004, 3 goals in 4 games, named in the UEFA team of the tournament

2006, Man of the match in the win over Paraguay, but missed a pen v Portugal

2010, should've had a key goal in the Germany game

He's generally played alright for England and has proven he can play at the highest level. I don't see why you'd not recognise that and would you rather have Henderson instead?

[Maguire]

It's not about him being "a big name", it's about him being a good player.

My point is what difference has that made? He's been a "good player" every season, and walks away with the Bigest Turkey award every tournament

No he doesn't.

[Extended-Phenotype]

It's not about him being "a big name", it's about him being a good player.

My point is what difference has that made? He's been a "good player" every season, and walks away with the Bigest Turkey award every tournament.

What exactly is it that Lampard does at a tournament that are England going to miss?

2004, 3 goals in 4 games, named in the UEFA team of the tournament

- Said before, he had a great tournament. But that's close to a decade ago!

2006, Man of the match in the win over Paraguay, but missed a pen v Portugal

- voted worst England player in the tournament by a country mile on the BBC.

2010, should've had a key goal in the Germany game

- Doesn't paper over a dismal game against Germany. Seem to remember him giving the ball away that lead to the second or third goal. Completed more passes to Algerian players than England players, and was non-existent in the other games. Wow, how we would miss him.

He's generally played alright for England and has proven he can play at the highest level. I don't see why you'd not recognise that and would you rather have Henderson instead?

- Because like I said, Lampard's contribution has been miniumal. Maybe a 'lesser' player without the 'golden boy' pressure forcing him to pass to the advertising hoardings and shoot at goal 112 yards out, might be able to serve up some actual football.

[Extended-Phenotype]

It's not about him being "a big name", it's about him being a good player.

My point is what difference has that made? He's been a "good player" every season, and walks away with the Bigest Turkey award every tournament

No he doesn't.

Interesting. Well, that has me convinced. Feel a right fucknut now.

[pea]

Even with Wilshere, Barry, Lampard, Carrick, Scholes and others all out/ruled out, surely Joe Cole should be in there ahead of Henderson based on this season?

[Extended-Phenotype]

Even with Wilshere, Barry, Lampard, Carrick, Scholes and others all out/ruled out, surely Joe Cole should be in there ahead of Henderson based on this season?

Big fan of Cole. He'd have been in my first 23. He's like the opposite of Gerrard/Lampard - can have a bleh season, but always seems to show up for England. Funny how that happens.

edit: not that Cole has had a bad season this year by any margin.

[TBM]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18077177

Just watched this - still don't understand why Campbells goal was disallowed

[Maguire]

My point is what difference has that made? He's been a "good player" every season, and walks away with the Bigest Turkey award every tournament

No he doesn't.

Interesting. Well, that has me convinced. Feel a right fucknut now.

tbh you have kind of holed your argument below the waterline by admitting he was decent in Euro 2004, but in all honesty this is a pretty turgid thing for us to be arguing about so i'll offer you the draw and hope you shake on it.

[Extended-Phenotype]

tbh you have kind of holed your argument below the waterline by admitting he was decent in Euro 2004, but in all honesty this is a pretty turgid thing for us to be arguing about so i'll offer you the draw and hope you shake on it.

Hey mister. If the age of the tournament is irrelevant, let's drag Gazza out of the car he is currently filling with exhaust fumes via 'God's appointment hose' and stick him in a shirt while giddy with dreams of 1996.

Since 2004, Lampard's been toilet. I don't actually mean to single the fella out; Gerrard has been utter beerlog. My point is, these 'big names'/'big players'/'club talismen' haven't actually done anything in recent times to warrant any tears over their absenteeism.

But I'm a person of low ambition and my mum would stick a draw to the fridge with a seagull magnet, so shake away.

[Hoop Blah]

My point is what difference has that made? He's been a "good player" every season, and walks away with the Bigest Turkey award every tournament.

I'm not Lampard fan, but that bit just wasn't true was it?

I'm not sure why Cole didn't force his way into the reckoning though. Although I think he does have potential, I'd rather have a lot of midfielders in the squad than Henderson (including Lampard).

[Extended-Phenotype]

My point is what difference has that made? He's been a "good player" every season, and walks away with the Bigest Turkey award every tournament.

I'm not Lampard fan, but that bit just wasn't true was it?

Fukkin' busted man, you are right - the award doesn't exist.

[Ian Royal]

Lampard's had the odd stinker of a tournament or qualifying... but other than that he's been alright. it's just the stinkers have been terrible.

He's been tarnished by the Gerrard - Lampard crowbar affect.

At the moment our optionsin midfield are utterly bollocks and we'd be mad not to take him if we had the opportunity. Not having him clearly weakens us. Even if he is an over-rated cockend.

[Victor Meldrew]

Why do we keep on about the England injuries?
Look around,other countries have injuries so let's just get on with it.
Jones and Welbeck have stepped up from the U21s and have hardly done better than Henderson and that in a more successful side so perhaps people should lay off Henderson and come up with a viable alternative.
BTW an indictment of how far we have fallen in the standard of midfielders is that so many people are concerned about the fitness of that journeyman midfielder Scott Parker who would be about 20th choice for a team such as Holland,Germany,Spain or even France.

[Big Foot]

E-P's memory is shot to pieces - first he thought Barry outperformed Lampard in 2006 qualifiers (Barry didn't feature once) and now he thinks Lamprd gave the ball away for a Germany goal in 2010 - it was Gareth Barry.

Can't take this Kant seriously.

[superreadingfan]

I'd take Lumplard over Stevie Me anyday, At least lamps tries and never turns down a chance to play for England (not really his fault for getting called up) Sicknote Stevie isn't reliable, doesn't have any heart for the national team, and that is not the kind of attitude you want from a player. Also the man most responsible for losing the Euro 2008 qualifer in Israel, performance alone should never see him play for england again.

[winchester_royal]

Rumoured team for this evening:

Hart
Johnson
Terry
Cahill
Cole
Milner
Parker
Gerrard
Ox
Young
Welbeck

Would be more than happy to see us line up like this against France

[cmonurz]

Likewise, but with Carroll up front. Would really like Roy to stick his neck out and start Ox against France.

[Victor Meldrew]

Rumoured team for this evening:

Hart
Johnson
Terry
Cahill
Cole
Milner
Parker
Gerrard
Ox
Young
Welbeck

Would be more than happy to see us line up like this against France

Big chance for Oxlade-Chamberlain with Belgium likely to start with no recognised full-backs.
If Kompany and Vermaelen both play this would be a good test for Welbeck who IMHO has been hyped way above what he has achievedbut he is still young so there hopefully is much more to come.
Not sure why Milner is playing unless he ends up centrally with Parker and Stevie G and Young roaming behind the solitary front man.
This is a good fixture ahead of a competition unless it turns out to be an over-friendly friendly with loads of subs and no tackling.

[PieEater]

I think Sturridge is way better than Welbeck, but he's got a chance and needs to really have a good game tonight.

[Ian Royal]

Rumoured team for this evening:

Hart
Johnson
Terry
Cahill
Cole
Milner
Parker
Gerrard
Ox
Young
Welbeck

Would be more than happy to see us line up like this against France

Big chance for Oxlade-Chamberlain with Belgium likely to start with no recognised full-backs.
If Kompany and Vermaelen both play this would be a good test for Welbeck who IMHO has been hyped way above what he has achievedbut he is still young so there hopefully is much more to come.
Not sure why Milner is playing unless he ends up centrally with Parker and Stevie G and Young roaming behind the solitary front man.
This is a good fixture ahead of a competition unless it turns out to be an over-friendly friendly with loads of subs and no tackling.

The last games suggests Milner will not be playing in central midfield, but will be a wide man in a 4-4-2.