England World Cup Qualifiers

[soggy biscuit]

Carrick for Gerrard.

Good to see you're paying attention m8.

You have walked right into that one

[soggy biscuit]

Watched first 30 minutes. Realised I just don't like football as much as I used to.

Ended up watching something else instead

[PieEater]

I bought tickets for Tuesday's game, remarkably they are still on sale. I'm still pretty underwhelmed by their performances though, we need Rooney back.

[winchester_royal]

Carrick for Gerrard.

Good to see you're paying attention m8.

You have walked right into that one

[No Fixed Abode]

[cmonurz]

Livermore, Lallana and Sterling into the England squad as backup.

[No Fixed Abode]

Bit shocked by those tbf.

[Wax Jacket]

three players who've done the square root of fcuk all basically

[Hoop Blah]

Bit shocked by those tbf.

Yep, I'd say they're quite surprise additions. These are players being called in as back up though, and as a chance for Hodgson to look at some fresh blood.

I quite like the idea, and there aren't a lot of other candidates fit and making a strong case for inclusion is there? I can't imagine they'll be used.

three players who've done the square root of fcuk all basically

Livermore had a pretty good season last year to be fair and Hodgson obviously liked what he saw of him in the build up to the Italy game last month. Oddly, he hasn't played in any of the England age group teams.

The other two are bright prospects who are just the kind of technical, attacking players (more so Lallana) that people have been crying out for in the England team recently. Lallana was a key figure in Southampton's play off push last year and hasn't looked out of his depth in the early games either has he?

Look like interesting selections by Hodgson who is probably missing about 15 players again now.

[Hoop Blah]

Interesting to note that Peter Crouch wasn't considered for a call up after the withdrawls because of his refusal to be on standby for the Euro's.

Hodgson has said that he'll only call on him when he thinks he's worth his place in the first 23.

I quite like the attitude Hodgson has on this (and reading between the lines that it means Crouch isn't likely to be in contention again) as he's letting players know who's the boss and that they can't pick and choose their involvement.

He's also said that he didn't want to call up players from the u21s, hence these more 'left-field' selections late additions.

[TBM]

Interesting to see the team tonight.....

Am going for what will be my first England game since a dull 0-0 against Uruguay back in about 1990

[cmonurz]

Interesting (to me at least) that for an England team considered a little short in depth, especially up front, we'll go into tonight's game without Rooney, Carroll, Bent or Crouch who (whilst I wouldn't pick the two big guys together in a squad) would probably be my first four picks in attack, in that order, and based on Moldova at least, it will look a decent line-up.

[Victor Meldrew]

three players who've done the square root of fcuk all basically

And your suggestions would be?
Take a look at just how many English players that regularly play in the Premier League-there aren't many.
I can't think of any others that are fit and could have warranted a call-up.

[No Fixed Abode]

Hart
Johnson Cahill Lescott Baines
Milner Carrick Lampard Gerrard Bertrand
Defoe

[cmonurz]

three players who've done the square root of fcuk all basically

And your suggestions would be?
Take a look at just how many English players that regularly play in the Premier League-there aren't many.
I can't think of any others that are fit and could have warranted a call-up.

I read that there were 34 or so players who started in the Premier League last round of games who were eligible for England. Considering Roy picks a squad of 23, that's pretty slim pickings.

[Ian Royal]

three players who've done the square root of fcuk all basically

And your suggestions would be?
Take a look at just how many English players that regularly play in the Premier League-there aren't many.
I can't think of any others that are fit and could have warranted a call-up.

I read that there were 34 or so players who started in the Premier League last round of games who were eligible for England. Considering Roy picks a squad of 23, that's pretty slim pickings.

Neither us or Chelsea played in the last round of games so that's Guthrie, McCleary, Cashley, Cahill, and Bertrand not included looking out the starting 11s from the previous round.

Still 39 ain't exactly brillz either.

[Wax Jacket]

Kevin Nolan and Leon Osman come to mind (if they're not injured)

[paultheroyal]

Hand off there on Milner in the box no different to what Defoe penalised for. Joke.

[Platypuss]

EngLOLand.

[Ian Royal]

i think Milner's just been shot from the stands.