England - the future....

[6ft Kerplunk]

Quite impressed with Richards going abroad to try and kickstart his career. Shame its about 3 years late but that's the problem these days. If they're on big wages at one of the top clubs there's no incentive for them to drop down a level to get games.

[TBM]

Shaw in the U21 - good move as he's not going to get Baines out of the team - probably means Gibbs gets a first team call up which again is the better decision - i said a few months back that Gibbs was better than Shaw and should be picked ahead of him but was shot down

U21 Squad

Goalkeepers: Jonathan Bond (Watford), Jack Butland (Stoke City), Sam Johnstone (Manchester United).

Defenders: Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Luke Garbutt (Everton), Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough), Carl Jenkinson (West Ham United, on loan from Arsenal), Michael Keane (Burnley, on loan from Manchester United), Jamaal Lascelles (Nottingham Forest, on loan from Newcastle United), Liam Moore (Leicester City), Luke Shaw (Manchester United).

Midfielders: Lewis Baker (Chelsea), Tom Carroll (Swansea City, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Jake Forster-Caskey (Brighton & Hove Albion), Will Hughes (Derby County), Thomas Ince (Hull City), Alex Pritchard (Brentford, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Nathan Redmond (Norwich City).

Forwards: Patrick Bamford (Middlesbrough, on loan from Chelsea), Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Cauley Woodrow (Fulham).

[TBM]

.....and now the full squad, Shelvey, Clyne & Gibbs get the call


Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), John Stones (Everton)

Midfielders: Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Welbeck (Arsenal)

[No Fixed Abode]

Shelvey and Clyne included in the first team squad. Gibbs replaces Shaw.

[Big Foot]

Genuinely didn't realise that Eric Dier was English

[savage 4 england]

Townsend. What.

[TBM]

Genuinely didn't realise that Eric Dier was English

He moved to Portugal when he was about 6, i think....

[Sanguine]

Townsend. What.

Mad isn't it.

The new Wright-Phillips. Destined to be in countless England squads for no particular reason. If he's in for his pace and to create chances, someone like Agbonlahor deserves another shot, given his recent good form.

[Big Foot]

Genuinely didn't realise that Eric Dier was English

He moved to Portugal when he was about 6, i think....

Yeah, read up on it on wikipedia - mad

[bcubed]

Townsend. What.

Mad isn't it.

The new Wright-Phillips. Destined to be in countless England squads for no particular reason. If he's in for his pace and to create chances, someone like Agbonlahor deserves another shot, given his recent good form.

I refer you to England v Poland October 2013

but once again the exciting Tottenham winger Andros Townsend looked a perfect fit for international football

[Sanguine]

Yes. And?

He's been injured or shit since then.

[savage 4 england]

He can't even get in Tottenham's team.

The Tottenham fans are confused as to why he's been called up.

[TBM]

Meanwhile in Spaceys world......

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=122374&p=3967097&#p3967097

[bcubed]

Yes. And?

He's been injured or shit since then.

Been injured
He's not suddenly shit

[Royal Rother]

Agreed. I rather like him. Probably looks to shoot too often but he tries to make something happen every time he has the ball, and rarely passes backwards.

[Royalclapper]

Thought it was slightly depressing in the summer to see such a consistent PL performer like Baines reduced to what most who make the national team appear to be i.e. 2nd tier International players. Shaw's time will come of course, whether he can become as good as Ashley Cole in that slot is a subjective matter.

Stones' career looks to be building nicely and England are absolutely desperate for not only a dependable CB pairing, but also a high class back line in general. To see another decent PL performer like Jagielka hacking and panicking at the WC was uncomfortable to say the least, England need to improve massively in defence if we're going to have a tilt (wishful thinking) at Euro 2016.

[Sanguine]

Stones has a bit of the Tony Adams about him in terms of composure, and that's what our defence lacks. I thought Smalling was going to be the answer when he was at Fulham (and continuing the Cottage theme, Zat Knight looked a beast when he was younger).

Martin Kelly is another who looked very assured when he broke into the Liverpool team. Injury derailed his career but he's doing well at Palace now and iirc is still only 22/23. I think he and Stones are similar players and surely future candidates at centre-back. In fact add in Calum Chambers and we have three talented centre/right-backs to choose from.

Andre Wisdom will hopefully break into the senior team in the next couple of years - at Derby this year though, probably too late for Euro 2016. Another who looks very good on the ball.

[Hoop Blah]

Agreed. I rather like him. Probably looks to shoot too often but he tries to make something happen every time he has the ball, and rarely passes backwards.

And that is of course something the England team has needed over the last few years. Townsend provided that as a selection out of no where and he's done well for Hodgson since (on the whole).

There's a fine balance between picking players on form for each set of international and keeping a squad together and building a team gradually over time. I think England have sometimes been a bit guilty of doing neither. We've selected players a bit too quickly at times but also created a bit of a closed shop in the squad at the same time.

It's all about balance but I agree Townsend is a little fortunate to keep his place.

[Hoop Blah]

I'd like to see Hodgson give Foster or Forster some caps over these games just so they've got some experience of playing behind his chosen back four and, to a lesser extent, coping with the demands of playing for England.

This really is a time for bedding in a few styles of play, getting some working partnerships together in the side and experimenting a little. It's almost the closet he'll get to a pre-season with England and he needs to use it wisely IMO.

Some really interesting jostling for places in the current squad though. Lots up for grabs so even though the games aren't going to be that interesting I think the way the side and squad shapes us will be.

[Royalclapper]

Yeah, it's nice to see some competition for places...........and this qualifying campaign offers more in the way of players getting an opportunity to win and earn their place than any I've known for a good while.

Henderson is looking like he'll get the water carrier role for England, not sure the midfield is as predictable as it has been for some time. Wilshere hasn't absolutely convinced anyone for instance, and yet he could still potentially be the best CM choice. Maturity in his play is the obvious thing missing for my money, sure there are times to hit the deck, there also times when it's inappropriate, he's got a decent range of all round ability though.

Townsend's best attribute seems to be that he's fearless whenever I've seen him and doesn't disappear and melt when called upon for high pressure International games.