England World Cup squad

Squad being reported tonight

Shaw, Lallana, Barkley, Sterling, Henderson all IN.

Ashley Cole OUT and he's now retired from internationals on his twitter.

Lampard and Milner IN. Carrick and Cleverley OUT.

England in picking in form players over names shock! (Possibly barring Lampard)


Ashley Cole has been very gracious about not being selected on Twitter which is nice to see and my opinion of him has improved as a result. A very good servant over his career for England.

I'm fairly happy with the squad that's being reported.

I wouldn't have picked Lampard. But the rest I can't argue too much with. Obviously we lack options and quality in defence (apart from left back). I'd have probably taken John Stones instead of Smalling too.

I've not seen the full squad, is there one knocking about somewhere?

Phil Jones, Jordan Henderson, Jack Wilshire,  Raheem Sterling, Alex Ox Chamberliane , Danny Welbeck,  Ross Barkley and Luke Shaw and Rickie Lambert all off apparently.

I think it will look like this:
Strikers looks like - Rooney Sturridge , Lambert, Welbeck (4)
Midfielders looks  like- Gerrard, Wilshire, Henderson, Sterling , Barkley, Chamberlin, Lallana , Milner . (
Defence looks like - Shaw, Baines, Jagielka , Cahill, Johnson ?, Jones, Smalling, Lescott. (
Keepers- Hart, Foster, Forster. (3)

I take it that it is a 23 man squad?

Being reported as

Hart, Foster, Forster/Ruddy

G.Johnson, Smalling, Jones, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines, Shaw

Lampard, Gerrard, Wilshere, Milner, Henderson, Sterling, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Barkley

Rooney, Sturridge,  Welbeck, Lambert

23 +7 stand by.

Wilshire? Really?

Quoted from Tommy

Being reported as

Hart, Foster, Forster/Ruddy

G.Johnson, Smalling, Jones, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines, Shaw

Lampard, Gerrard, Wilshere, Milner, Henderson, Sterling, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Barkley

Rooney, Sturridge,  Welbeck, Lambert

We're so weak defensively. Lampard and Wilshere are strange picks imo but I don't think you can argue with much else.

I think it's a great squad for development, we weren't going to win it anyway so it's worth playing youngsters and seeing how they get on ready for 2016 euros

Quoted from LH

England in picking in form players over names shock! (Possibly barring Lampard)


Ashley Cole has been very gracious about not being selected on Twitter which is nice to see and my opinion of him has improved as a result. A very good servant over his career for England.

Gracious? Some papers saying he refused to be in the stand by squad and subsequently announced his retirement. Can't say i blame him looking at our defence, which looks very suspect. He's easily as good, if not better than all of them.

Papers are well known for their accuracy. I'll make sure I consult them before commenting next time.

Smalling? Jesus christ.  

Good to see Barkley and Shaw in there though.

Quoted from LH

Papers are well known for their accuracy. I'll make sure I consult them before commenting next time.

About as accurate as footballers tweets.

So the squad was due to be announced at 2pm today but 'gracious' Ashley Cole takes to twitter to say he hasn't been included.

Maybe I am too old but would hope for players having discipline to follow protocol yet some just prove that yet again it's all me me me!

I actually think Cole is still a quality player, significantly a better defender than Baines

I'd have had Cole in the starting XI every day of the week. Lampard pick is odd. The only thing he ever offered England before was a goal threat and that's now all but gone from his game.

Quoted from BIGChris

So the squad was due to be announced at 2pm today but 'gracious' Andy Cole takes to twitter to say he hasn't been included.

To be fair to Andy, he has been retired for almost six years so I'd be highly surprised if he was selected!  

Quoted from Maringer

To be fair to Andy, he has been retired for almost six years so I'd be highly surprised if he was selected!  

Good spot! Just testing to see if you were awake!

Hope he tries Lampard and Gerrard centre mid together again. Not.

Wouldn't have picked either of those two myself.

Quoted from psgmariner

Hope he tries Lampard and Gerrard centre mid together again. Not.

Wouldn't have picked either of those two myself.

Who would u have in cm?

I know Gerrard has his critics but he is the England captain, has been the second top assister in the PL this season and was in the running for the POTY award. He isn't in the top bracket for defensive midfielders as it stands, but it isn't like we are flush with them in this country.

Do we have to have 3 keepers in squad? Realistically our squad wont play more than 4 games (more likely 3) the chances of having two injured/suspended in that time is very very low so why not bulk defence or Striker with another player.

Quoted from Fcukthescunts

Do we have to have 3 keepers in squad? Realistically our squad wont play more than 4 games (more likely 3) the chances of having two injured/suspended in that time is very very low so why not bulk defence or Striker with another player.

I'm pretty sure the 3 keepers is a fixed number for all teams. Although I wonder what would happen if a team were cheeky enough to name an outfield player as their 3rd keeper.

Quoted from MeanwoodMariner

I'm pretty sure the 3 keepers is a fixed number for all teams. Although I wonder what would happen if a team were cheeky enough to name an outfield player as their 3rd keeper.

I think it's supposed to be 2 teams and a spare goalkeeper, not sure though.

Quoted from MeanwoodMariner

I'm pretty sure the 3 keepers is a fixed number for all teams. Although I wonder what would happen if a team were cheeky enough to name an outfield player as their 3rd keeper.

It is a FIFA ruling that you have to have 3 goalkeepers, because it is such a 'specialised' position that other players cant 'fill in'. In the same way that a CB at FB might do for example.

There was a team in Asia I believe who registered an additional striker and put him down as a goalkeeper as a way to get an extra outfielder into the side. The governing body caught on and said that he was only allowed to play as a goalkeeper for the duration of the tournament.

Keepers are all decent, within bounds. You feel that Hart might always chuck one in but I suppose he's generally the best choice.

The defence just isn't good enough. Johnson can't defend (still), Smalling and Jones haven't developed into good defenders, Cahill and Jagielka aren't good enough for top-level international football. Baines has improved a lot over the past couple of years but is perhaps lacking that little bit of pace. Shaw one for the future. I'd have taken (and picked) Cole.

Few options in midfield, really. Wilshire doesn't deserve a place - after his many injuries, he's never got back into good form and has looked more of a liability than anything when I've seen him play much of this season. Overweening self-confidence to the point of arrogance even though he's shown little to back it up recently. If he is picked, I can see him getting sent off. Lampard probably a bit too old now though he'll give his best but I think Gerrard still just about has the legs so will start games. Henderson and Milner are both limited but will put a shift in. Barkley alongside Gerrard is probably the pairing we'll see if both are fit. I think we'll see Sterling on the right (he's greatly improved this season) and Lallana on the left with AOC on the bench.

Up front, I suppose Welbeck had to be included for his athleticism - he'll run his socks off, even if he's unlikely to score many. Rooney hasn't played well in a summer tournament since 2004 so he's got a lot to prove. Not overly convinced by Sturridge as he still tends to overplay and is a proper greedy sod. This is fine when you're doing well but could prove to be a problem this summer. Lambert will be on the bench ready to throw on for the last 20 minutes if we aren't doing well.

All in all, weak defence, average and aging midfield and unconvincing strikers. I know, let's form a 'B' League - that'll fix it!

Phil Jones. Why?
Danny Welbeck. Why?
Joleon Lescott. Why?
Chris Smalling. Why?

Answe:; They play for either Man City and Man Utd

My God, we are so bloody average and will not get out of the group IMO

Quoted from Neilo83

Who would u have in cm?

Good question. I don't watch enough Premiership games to be able to comment really but am just sick of the sight of Gerrard and Lampard who have been cack together for years. Barkley looks good and even Henderson has played well recently hasn't he?

Lescott's not being picked is he?

Quoted from Tommy

Being reported as

Hart, Foster, Forster/Ruddy

G.Johnson, Smalling, Jones, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines, Shaw

Lampard, Gerrard, Wilshere, Milner, Henderson, Sterling, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Barkley

Rooney, Sturridge,  Welbeck, Lambert

Now confirmed as above, with Forster in over Ruddy.

Stand by list is Ruddy, Stones, Flanagan, Carrick, Cleverley, Defoe, Carroll

Quoted from Tommy

Now confirmed as above, with Forster in over Ruddy.

Stand by list is Ruddy, Stones, Flanagan, Carrick, Cleverley, Defoe, Carroll

So our standby strikers are one who plays in Canada and another who has scored 15 goals in the past 3 years. Truly, we are blessed with quality players.  

I would have put Wickham on stand by.

Quoted from Maringer

So our standby strikers are one who plays in Canada and another who has scored 15 goals in the past 3 years. Truly, we are blessed with quality players.  

Or you could look at it as a £35m striker and a proven international striker with 20 goals for England. Be positive!!

Positivity is very difficult to contemplate when you're thinking about the England team, especially after our last few tournaments!

Quoted from BIGChris

So the squad was due to be announced at 2pm today but 'gracious' Ashley Cole takes to twitter to say he hasn't been included.

Maybe I am too old but would hope for players having discipline to follow protocol yet some just prove that yet again it's all me me me!

I actually think Cole is still a quality player, significantly a better defender than Baines

wow, i disagree 100%

Quoted from Maringer

Positivity is very difficult to contemplate when you're thinking about the England team, especially after our last few tournaments!

you also need to suggest who else you would take, its all well and good picking fault but someone has to be on the list

Niether Baines or Cole are as good as Shaw

G Johnson is a joke of a footballer

Sturridge will try and win games on his own

Defensively we have only one real quality player (Shaw) so Hart will need to keep at the top of his game

Midfield not so sure

Welbeck not good enough

Quoted from Bruce Springsteen

Defensively we have only one real quality player (Shaw) so Hart will need to keep at the top of his game

Especially as Shaw probably won't be playing.

Quoted from supertown

you also need to suggest who else you would take, its all well and good picking fault but someone has to be on the list

Well, that's the problem, isn't it? There aren't very many good English strikers around these days. Only four English players reached double-figures in the Premier League this season and three of them are in the squad with the other (Rodriguez) out injured. It's even worse when you look at the Championship goalscoring charts - the top two scorers there are both Scottish! Of the few Englishmen below them, Nugent is the only one I've heard of and we know he's not good enough. The others seem to have had a good season, but no great scoring records before that.

For me, Saido Berahino looks like a good one for the future (he started the season very well) and Wickham has shown signs that his early promise may lead to something over the past month or so, but neither is really ready for the first team as yet. Who else is there, really? The fact that a has-been such as Defoe and a never-was such as Carroll are considered our best back-up options is pretty damning.

Danny Ings or Harry Kane? I probably wouldn't take them myself but even Crouch has got to be better than Carroll!

With none of our players being selected for the England C squad earlier I'm very surprised to see none have made the World Cup squad either.

Quoted from Maringer

Well, that's the problem, isn't it? There aren't very many good English strikers around these days. Only four English players reached double-figures in the Premier League this season and three of them are in the squad with the other (Rodriguez) out injured. It's even worse when you look at the Championship goalscoring charts - the top two scorers there are both Scottish! Of the few Englishmen below them, Nugent is the only one I've heard of and we know he's not good enough. The others seem to have had a good season, but no great scoring records before that.

For me, Saido Berahino looks like a good one for the future (he started the season very well) and Wickham has shown signs that his early promise may lead to something over the past month or so, but neither is really ready for the first team as yet. Who else is there, really? The fact that a has-been such as Defoe and a never-was such as Carroll are considered our best back-up options is pretty damning.

Well reasoned points there Maringer

On another note I don't see how Greg Dyke's B League proposal if it were to be put in place would be able to do anything at all about the dearth of quality international prospects there are now or going forward

You never know there may be some rough diamonds out there that will come to the fore but I really doubt a B team is going to be able to change things because if they are good enough (such as Rooney in his teens) they'd be straight in to the first team with the cream rising to the top naturally not by tinkering with the English football pyramid

I think this is the poorest squad we have had in years,

We will be lucky to get out the group stage,

BUT

If he plays the young lads they might just blossom,

So semi finals here we come.

Quoted from Maringer

Positivity is very difficult to contemplate when you're thinking about the England team, especially after our last few tournaments!

We did well at Euro 2012, never lost a game, since then has been a bit disappointing though.

Would of took Carroll over Lambert but I guess that's personal preference. For me I don't think there is a better out an out English striker than Carroll? His ability in the air is as good as any striker in the modern game and because of how big he is you don't realise how good he actually is with the ball at his feet. If I was manager he'd be in my starting 11 let alone the squad.
Like others have said, daft taking 3 goalkeepers. Although to be fair they are 3 very good goalkeepers.
Regarding full backs, play Shaw. The lad has nothing to lose, not sure what it is about Baines but always unsure with him against a top quality winger.  As for right back, I actually think the countries best hasn't been selected in Micah Richards but that's his/Man City's fault for letting him rot on the bench.
Hope Lallana and Barkley are allowed to actually play freely, if they do that they'll cause any defence in the world problems. Have a gut feeling we wont see them on the same pitch though.

Other than the left back birth our defence is shocking.  Cahill is pretty good but it ends there.

Not blaming Roy as I really don't think there was any choice.

I did wonder if he would take all 3 left backs and look to push Shaw up as left midfield but cover for Baines/Cole...

The quality of the squad isn't that inspiring (especially in defence) but with some of the younger players there's a freshness and a bit of energy there especially the in form players like Sturridge and Sterling.

For me:
Cole instead of Shaw (no contest); Huddlestone instead of Henderson (can't understand the fuss about the latter)
and Carroll for Welbeck.

Play to what strengths we have IMO - we won't play Spain-style (for example) football better than Spain will,
and we'd be foolish to try. Think the tempo of the games will suit Huddlestone - and who else could cover
better for Gerrard if our captain gets injured?

We could progress if Rooney brought his club form to this World Cup - 3rd time lucky?

For me, Huddlestone is one of the laziest players around and I wouldn't have him anywhere near the England team. Hell, I'd rather have Carrick in there and I really don't rate him at all!

It's all very well being decent enough at passing the ball but, in this day and age, central midfielders need to offer more than a couple of passes here and there. Huddlestone rarely breaks out of a jog and, at international level would simply be bypassed. There is a reason he's playing for a club who only finished just above the relegation zone.

Henderson isn't exactly brilliant (and I thought he was poor when Liverpool first signed him), but he has looked much improved this season.

In general, actually I worry about the lack of size and power in our midfield and forward-line. Don't know if anybody saw the Confederations Cup Final last year where Brazil (a team of big, athletic double-hard illegitimates who can play at bit as well) blew Spain off the park. I can't see us competing physically against a team like that and we're certainly not good enough to outplay them at the moment, either. Traditionally, we've always had a physically strong squad but I think we're somewhat lacking in this respect these days.

Quoted from Maringer

For me, Huddlestone is one of the laziest players around and I wouldn't have him anywhere near the England team. Hell, I'd rather have Carrick in there and I really don't rate him at all!

In general, actually I worry about the lack of size and power in our midfield and forward-line. Don't know if anybody saw the Confederations Cup Final last year where Brazil (a team of big, athletic double-hard illegitimates who can play at bit as well) blew Spain off the park. I can't see us competing physically against a team like that and we're certainly not good enough to outplay them at the moment, either. Traditionally, we've always had a physically strong squad but I think we're somewhat lacking in this respect these days.

Football's all bout opinions, of course.

Will just point out that Hoddle was often called 'lazy', and whatever else - Huddlestone is big!

I remember when Hull beat Fulham 6-0 and there was some talk of Huddlestone for England and i thought, you must be joking, he's playing against Fulham FFS.

I agree with Maringer- he's nowhere near good enough for International football, but as you say, it's about opinions.

Quoted from ginnywings

I remember when Hull beat Fulham 6-0 and there was some talk of Huddlestone for England and i thought, you must be joking, he's playing against Fulham FFS.

I agree with Maringer- he's nowhere near good enough for International football, but as you say, it's about opinions.

Fair enough - but the matches at the World Cup will not be played at the tempo and intensity of the Premier League IMO.

just shows the paucity of the resources available to hodgson.take out those who are injured and  i think you'd struggle to find another 30 decent English players who could 'shadow' that squad.
best i can think of is
gk: stockdale/robinson /green
rb: clyne/naughton,
ch: lescott/ferdinand/terry/taylor/shawcross
lb: bertrand/cole/gibbs
midfield: huddlestone/ward-prowse/cattermole/johnson/delph/noble/nolan/downing/barry/osman/cork
forward: agbonlohor/wickham/crouch/berahino

christ i'm really struggling to get over 25!!

That centre back list is depressingly old! There's also Chambers for right back (also at Southampton). Is Aaron Lennon still alive?

Quoted from forza ivano

just shows the paucity of the resources available to hodgson.take out those who are injured and  i think you'd struggle to find another 30 decent English players who could 'shadow' that squad.
best i can think of is
gk: stockdale/robinson /green
rb: clyne/naughton,
ch: lescott/ferdinand/terry/taylor/shawcross
lb: bertrand/cole/gibbs
midfield: huddlestone/ward-prowse/cattermole/johnson/delph/noble/nolan/downing/barry/osman/cork
forward: agbonlohor/wickham/crouch/berahino

christ i'm really struggling to get over 25!!

Ashley Young, Micah Richards, Michael Dawson, Scott Parker, Wes Brown, Jack Rodwell, Matt Jarvis, Matthew Etherington, Nedum Onouha, Leon Britton, Nathan Dyer, Scott Sinclair and Ravel Morrison are all possible as well, although no-one who I've just cited really is any good!

Quoted from Tom13

Ashley Young, Micah Richards, Michael Dawson, Scott Parker, Wes Brown, Jack Rodwell, Matt Jarvis, Matthew Etherington, Nedum Onouha, Leon Britton, Nathan Dyer, Scott Sinclair and Ravel Morrison are all possible as well, although no-one who I've just cited really is any good!

Quoted from Tom13

Ashley Young, Micah Richards, Michael Dawson, Scott Parker, Wes Brown, Jack Rodwell, Matt Jarvis, Matthew Etherington, Nedum Onouha, Leon Britton, Nathan Dyer, Scott Sinclair and Ravel Morrison are all possible as well, although no-one who I've just cited really is any good!

and that list is basically a bunch of premiership reserves and championship players

Joey Barton?  

We've had better individuals in the past but never got as far as we should. Roy's strength is creating an effective team from lesser parts. We overachieved in Euro 2012 by winning the group, who knows we could do the same this year, maybe better.

Quoted from forza ivano

and that list is basically a bunch of premiership reserves and championship players

Therein lies the problem, only a limited amount of first-team English players to choose from.

Quoted from bradzmilne

Would of took Carroll over Lambert but I guess that's personal preference. For me I don't think there is a better out an out English striker than Carroll? His ability in the air is as good as any striker in the modern game and because of how big he is you don't realise how good he actually is with the ball at his feet. If I was manager he'd be in my starting 11 let alone the squad.
.

Pretty terrible.

Quoted from Abdul19

Joey Barton?  

He'd be sent off for a mad, scything tackle and then tweet something sounding vaguely philosophical which the media would lap right up.

Quoted from Abdul19

That centre back list is depressingly old! There's also Chambers for right back (also at Southampton). Is Aaron Lennon still alive?

Alive but currently injured.

Quoted from mariner2000

Other than the left back birth our defence is shocking.  Cahill is pretty good but it ends there.

Not blaming Roy as I really don't think there was any choice.

I did wonder if he would take all 3 left backs and look to push Shaw up as left midfield but cover for Baines/Cole...

so the left back and the centre half are ok, you seem to contradict yourself.? and the keeper?

Lampard and Lambert can take penalties

anyway.....flipping come on England, can't wait