The only one in that squad I wouldn't have taken would be Henderson for reasons I've stated in the past, him being injured much of the season, and only just coming back from injury. I don't want him to go from a Liverpool perspective, and because he gets nothing but crap when playing for England, as do many players.

The rest I'm fine with, including Wilshere and Sturridge. Admittedly there are some harsh exclusions.

A chain smoking thug with a penchant for injuries, yep our tournaments safe in his hands.

'Proven failure' though? Nah.

Did Klopp tell you this? First I've heard.

I'll be amazed if Sturridge lasts more than 30 mins of the tournament. But there's no one else to get near him if he's fit and in the right frame of mind. There are no other decent English strikers I can think off to replace him in the squad, so if you left Sturridge out, you're looking at having Shrek up front, and then not having a ball player in midfield.

Think of it as a big club beating out a smaller club. You should be delighted.

Wilshere's head and shoulders England's best midfielder.

Dropping Henderson would've made more sense.

Impossible job to satisfy everyone when picking an England squad, especially when so many fans are blinded by club rivalries (see the Spurs fans slagging off Wilshere, Man U fans Sturridge, Liverpool Rooney and on and so on).

That said my concern about the squad would be lack of balance. Only 7 defenders and 1 defensive midfielder out of 20 outfield players is very light. For that reason I'd have taken Drinkwater.

There is Vardy and Kane ahead of him.

Sterling is also very lucky not to be dropped as his form for City has just about been on a par with Navas', which is to say not good at all.

Good in midfield? When has this been shown?

It's screams to me of not being brave enough to cut one of the strikers so now they come up with this new position for Rooney to get him in the side.

Wayne Rooney has flopped for England at major tournaments time and time again . The solution it seems is now to play him in midfield. Pretty damn laughable.

How is my decision to not take Sturridge and take Townsend instead, blinded by club loyalties??

Townsend isn't part of, and never had been part of my club.

Henderson in is so undeserved. He himself admitted he hadn't played well this season and since then he has had a more serious injury.

You know not every post is written directly to you, right?

Bosox's post wasn't directed specifically at you. Don't take it personally.


Actually, as well as Henderson I also kinda didn't want Sturridge to go for Liverpool reasons in case England break him again. But from an England perspective, if he's fit he goes for me. There are five strikers, if he picks up an injury England will survive. Unless the team was being built around him there's not a problem.

Sturridge's injuries are ridiculous, but that 30 minutes he spends on the pitch he does play very well.


Hehe. I can like someone based on their footballing qualities too (sometimes) and my dilemma is that I want England to do well


That may be the case, but if he's injured 99% of the time, it's difficult to catch a moment to enjoy his greatness on the pitch. Not a fan of Henderson either.


Sterling was awful this season and as someone who has predicted this last season, I totally agree with you.

Manchester United. Even SAF played Shrek in midfield near the end of his reign as manager. It's been Rooney's obvious postion for a while now.


Maybe, but time will tell. If England flop, which I expect to happen, then at least Rooney won't be the scapegoat for not having scored, and the endemic weaknesses in English football can be brought to the fore instead of failure all being dumped at his feet.


Why has Rooney flopped at major tournaments? That question has never been asked or answered. He's just expected to perform. The lack of creativity amongst English midfielders hasn't been addressed. Rooney's shown he can pick a pass from midfield much like Gerrard used to, so if he can service Kane and Vardy in the way he never was despite his number of goals in the shirt, he will have deserved his place.

Don't agree with Henderson going. He's rubbish, but he's exactly the sort of player Woy loves. Runs around like a headless chicken, has no football brain, can't pass, and can't hit a cow's arse with a Banjo.

Yes of course, I however don't like being grouped together with others that have shown club bias.

That horse bolted a long time ago.

Yes he did and then like now I don't remember Rooney having any standout games played there. Not vs top opposition anyway.



Agreed he shouldn't be scapegoat but like it or not Rooney has scored a lot of goals for England just not in the games that really count.



Maybe but I think it was more down to Rooney just not being as good as people like to think or hoped he would be. A very good player in his own right but before I think his been expected to be the star to carry England which if anything was unfair as he just wasn't good enough to be that player.

I'm not buying he can now just slot into midfield at this level and be a real player in midfield.



He has a limited skill set that unless played in a certain system he will be exposed. The international arena really shows Henderson's limitations.

Eighth in the league and no cups yet five players get picked? Roy must be senile.

who would take 3 CBs?

Smalling is average and prone to errors/ cards
Cahill is having a poor season and needs injections on a hip injury
Stones could not get into the everton team, and is error prone

This team is not winning a single game

I will not be watching/ supporting england for the seond successive tournament.

roy must go

Drinkwater out and Sterling/Henderson/Wiltshere/Sturridge somehow all in is criminal I'm telling you.

CRIMINAL!

picking names not form, roy loses the plot again

Picking names AND clubs. Leaving a Premier League winner at home and taking 3 out of form players who've barely put 90 minutes in between them is shameful. Truly shameful.

Out of the injured/unfit lot, I can only see the merits for Sturridge's inclusion. He really is good that little time he spends on the pitch. Everyone else should be out.