Pick your England squad for the 2012 Euros

jeff_goldblum

The press (and the majority of England fans I imagine) would slate it for being too-United dominated but realistically that team would be far more successful than anything Roy could make out of the squad he's chosen.

If I was choosing the first XI 'purely on footballing reasons' I'd go for

Richards--Rio--Terry--Baines/Cole
-------Scholes--Carrick------
Sturridge---Rooney---Young
-----------Welbeck----------

Replace Sturridge with Oxlaide-Chamberlain if he can't do the defensive side of that role.

Scholes and Carrick have been the most successful midfield partnership in English football this season probably, if memory serves we won every game bar one or two draws with that midfield. People might criticise the lack of pace or energy there but if they're that successful in the high-tempo Premier League there's no reason they couldn't do it in International football.

Young, Rooney and Welbeck should be a certainty when Rooney's back, in my opinion the Rooney-Welbeck combo is one of the strongest things England have going for them.

B20

Nice one, Martin.

I have no idea why Roy loves our players so much.

Pogue Mahone

Apparently he's all about relentless, repetitive defensive drills to get all the players locked into his preferred system of play. I guess he thinks that selecting players he's already worked with before will help him get his ideas across a bit quicker.

Nick 0208 Ldn

Hodgson clearly places a lot of emphasis on the opinions of club managers,therefore Mancini's reluctance to turn to Richards at the sharp end of the season is going to count against him quite badly. Which is before you overcome the matter of his positional sense at full back.

gooDevil

I was expecting Hodgson to start with a midfield 3 of Parker, Barry and Gerrard for our toughest games, without Barry I would think that Carrick would be the obvious choice to replace him in the starting line up.

If reports that Carrick would accept a place in the team if he was a starter are true, if I was Hodgson I'd give him that spot. Especially while Rooney in out, it would make sense to play 433/451 and have 3 central midfielders out there.

I suppose it's quite possible that the reports are nonsense though and Carrick isn't willing to play even if he's starting. But if England start Milner or Lampard over Carrick to partner Parker and Gerrard in a midfield 3, then Hodgson may well be doomed as England manager.

Unless Wilshere gets healthy soon and solves all these midfield selection problems. Sadly we're stuck with Gerrard in midfield, I fear, until he retires, being captain and all.

rcoobc

Sturridge - Carroll
Young - McEachran - ??? - Milner
Gibbs - ??? - ??? - Richards

Sinclair


So much quality there for the next few years.

SilentWitness

I think Barkley will be better than Cleverley.

prateik

I think you are wrong.

Broyphs

McEachran has a lot to prove. I don't think he's anything like nailed on to be a top player.

rcoobc

Maybe not, but there are players like Rodwell and Henderson who could yet come good. There are those Chelsea players Hutchinson and Bertrand to add to the defence.

Has the makings of a very high quality, and complimentary, England team in my opinion.

The one thing I am very worried about is Welbeck getting a career ending injury. He seems the type.

SilentWitness

Fair enough, how much have you seen of Barkley? It's all hypothetical of course and being brilliant at youth/reserve doesn't mean you'll ace at the senior level but he is way too good for them and it's holding him back as he takes the piss which isn't good for his development. He came into our first team and was probably motm on his debut at 17. I'm 90% sure he won't go the way of Rodwell too.

EDIT: I think Barkley will be better than Rodwell too, plus at least good enough to be an England first choice sub if not starter.

Carl

I admire your optimism Robo.

Carl

"our"? Everton fan SW?

SilentWitness

Yep.

ravelston

If anything, Chalobah looks more likely to be the real deal than McEachran.

ricky-romeo

McEachran does not look like a special player in the making at all. all he got is a neat left foot and passes well. seems to be too lightweight as well.

GlastonSpur

Also Steven Caulker from Spurs, who was a key part of Swansea's defence last season (they conceded only 2 more goals than Arsenal and only 5 more than Chelsea).

RedSky At Night

He looks a prospect! Caulker and Walker. You're being spoiled at Spurs of late!