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Could, would Hodgson drop all the old failures?
Just thinking that as he seems to be on a hiding to nothing with a section of the English press, what about Hodgson saying a metaphorical 'stuff it' and dropping Terry, Ferdinand and Lampard from the England squad totally?
I'd keep Gerrard as captain (and I'm a United fan) - but he really does have a glut of still good and up and coming defenders. Just off the top of my head and not in order of any preference:
Cahill
Lescott
Jagielka
Richards
Baines
Cole
Walker
Possibly Smalling and Jones although maybe for later.......
Not so sure about midfield but with the likes of Barry, Gerrard, Parker likely to be called up, Lampard is too similar for me?
No-one is expecting England to win this tournament, so let's give people experience?
I'd keep Gerrard as captain (and I'm a United fan) - but he really does have a glut of still good and up and coming defenders. Just off the top of my head and not in order of any preference:
Cahill
Lescott
Jagielka
Richards
Baines
Cole
Walker
Possibly Smalling and Jones although maybe for later.......
Not so sure about midfield but with the likes of Barry, Gerrard, Parker likely to be called up, Lampard is too similar for me?
No-one is expecting England to win this tournament, so let's give people experience?
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Looking at the last month or so I can't see how you wouldn't pick Ferdinand and Terry... it see,s fashionable to hate on them at the minute but I am failing to see better performing English CBs... also, Lampard seemed to do pretty well against Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets... probably quite important for the Euros.
I wouldn't pick Gerrard, underperformed all season and don't give me any rubbish about injuries... if he isn't performing, he isn't performing... others are.
This.
Also this.
Interesting that you bring up the Barca match for Lampard yet you ignore how well Jagielka and Lescott did together against Spain.
I think it's dangerous to pick John Terry, purely because he splits the dressing room. No matter how well he's playing. Roy Hodgson cannot manage big personalities/players.
Personally I also think that Lescott and Jagielka are not as good as Terry and Ferdinand BUT both the latter are now slowing down (well one of them never had pace) and against nippy, skillful midfields like Spain and Germany, I can see then being caught out a lot.
I'm not a fan of Stevie Me at times but do think he can still change a game with his attitude and not split a dressing room like Terry does.
Because they have been involved in every England squad for the last few tournaments, squads which have underperformed badly in my opinion.
Not winning tournaments is a given, as there are better teams out there, but at times the lack of togetherness in the squad, combined with less than good performances, marks them out as history to me.
I'm in favour of a new approach and that means playing those who we think are the future, not the past
Bin these 4 off and now you're talking.
I also don't want to hear the name Crouch either.
We must be careful though not to be glib about this. It isn't a case of 'well you've all had a go and it didn't work, now lets bring the kids in'
Don't get me wrong, I'd be in favour of Hodgson predominantly looking at the future for the Euros. But these kids, if they are to get the most from their experience, need the old heads around them. To observe, to ask questions, to learn from. Even if it's on issues of how to behave away from home on an international tournament. How to pass the time, how to save off cabin fever and all that.
I don't think it's wise for Hodgson to act like scout master and take a bunch of kids out there who have never been away from one for more than a couple of nights. Not entirely anyway. I think experiences heads, even if they're not called upon as first choice, will have a calming influence on some of the more younger members of the team on certain matters that i think could prove important.
Let's go for it I say.
We've not set the world alight with any of the old tried and tested so it's time for new faces.
But what is this definition of setting the world alight?
No one player or group were responsible for England not winning the World Cup in nearly 50 years.
Fair comment - I'm not advocating taking the under 21 squad though. There are experienced heads (if young like Hart) that can guide the younger ones. A mix would be good for me.
The same Cole who played so well against Barca??
(And I'm a Liverpool fan)
No but they are responsible for what they produced when playing for England over the years that they pulled on the England shirt.
Terry and Rio, regardless of the fact that both are past their best do we need all the Anton Ferdinand hoohar dragging into the Euros?
Let's remember the negativity from the last World Cup surrounding Terry and the dressing room. Let's make it easier for ourselves, Terry would be better watching on the telly at home. Rio will probably get injured before he's even started a game anyway.
Gerrard's been in and out of the Liverpool squad with injury for most of the season.
Lampard usually provides his best performances when he's wearing a Chelsea shirt anyway so I'd have no problem omitting him tbh.
When did England play Barca?
How many players play a blinder for the club and fail to deliver internationally?
But I would take Cole.
I take your point
And I'd take him too
It's not that interesting... I'm picking people on form... not on what they did 6 months ago... I thought that's what you wanted Hodgson to do? Make your mind up :rolleyes: