Rio not going to Euro2012

[StanSP]

[ScouseFox]

Nowhere did I say it was a joke?

Holt has been played in a team which exclusively exists to fit his style of play. He would not get the same service for England, and rightly so too. We've got better options than just throwing cross after cross into the penalty area (although whether we manage to do so is questionable given recent history).

I've stated the reasons that Carroll should be in the squad ahead of Holt above. In an ideal world I wouldn't have Carroll at all, but we don't have many options. For starters he is in good form. Secondly he scored the winner in the FA Cup Semi-Final and played brilliantly in the final. He makes good defenders shit themselves. Quite why, I'm not sure, but he does. Last season, he was the second top English scorer, much like Holt was this season. So either form counts in your opinion that Holt should be selected (and Carroll is in good form) or it doesn't and you go on track record (and Carroll's is better).

For better or worse, Carroll is the man in possession, and it's not like Grant Holt has banged in 30 goals like Kevin Phillips did in a newly-promoted side and made himself a clear pick. He's had a decent season, but I'd suggest to you that quite the opposite of your argument is true. Had Holt not had this fairytale rise from tyre-fitter to Premier League footballer, nobody would think much of him. As for your comment that he's been "at least ten times better", I'll leave you to dwell on how accurate you believe that to be.

Nonetheless, I can see to an extent where you're coming from, but as I say, the fact that Holt is even being considered by anybody shows just how bad things have got, and also quite how far Carroll has fallen in many people's eyes over the past 12 months.

Yeah that's all fair enough. I'm not suggesting we take Holt and play him as our main man in every game and sack off any type of football to play long ball (although I think that's a bit harsh, he's scored a few goals with his feet too!) But we will, at some stage, hopefully not too often, need a plan B.

If Carroll can come off the bench and produce the effect he had against Chelsea then that'd be terrific. But that game, and the league fixture against a woeful John Terry aside, he's had little to no effect at all whether it's starting, off the bench, playing whatever style of football for 18 months.

I guess we'll see if it was the right decision when we're desperate for a goal at some stage in the tournament and we turn to Carroll. Massively hope Roy's made the right call.

[Kitchandro]

At the end of the day, Neither Carroll or Holt are international footballers by any stretch of the imagination.

[Tielemans63]

And scored the winner against Everton in the cup semi-final. And bossed the league game against Chelsea.

The manager who had him on the bench for the cup final has just been sacked, by the way.

So that's 2 and a bit good games then. If you count the league game in which Chelsea were so abject it was untrue and in which most of the Liverpool players were made to look like world beaters.

I'm pretty sure that wasn't why Kenny was sacked by the way.

I don't have a big problem with Carroll I just think his selection can't be justified on the basis of a handful of good performances when he has had, on the whole, an absolutely dreadful season.

[Guest ttfn]

So that's 2 and a bit good games then. If you count the league game in which Chelsea were so abject it was untrue and in which most of the Liverpool players were made to look like world beaters.

I'm pretty sure that wasn't why Kenny was sacked by the way.

I don't have a big problem with Carroll I just think his selection can't be justified by referring to a handful of good performances when he has had, on the whole, an absolutely dreadful season.

I know, I'm sort of playing devil's advocate. I think what Im trying to say is that there are some perfectly valid reasons for Carroll having a place in the England squad, most of which didn't exist a month ago when he not only didnt look like a £35 million player, but barely looked like a professional footballer.

His performance in the Cup final was absolutely excellent, and his apparent ability to perform in big games could make him into a useful international.

[Tielemans63]

I know, I'm sort of playing devil's advocate. I think what Im trying to say is that there are some perfectly valid reasons for Carroll having a place in the England squad, most of which didn't exist a month ago when he not only didnt look like a £35 million player, but barely looked like a professional footballer.

His performance in the Cup final was absolutely excellent, and his apparent ability to perform in big games could make him into a useful international.

Well, as much I dont agree with his inclusion, lets hope you're right!

[SystonFox]

Holt is a joke footballer. The only reason people wanted him to be on the plane was c*unts on twitter saying it in an ironic way and then it caught on it lost its sarcastic element. Now you've got all these lads banging on about holt would be an amazing plan b etc etc. Roy don't have no plan b except start Wayne Rooney in the last game if we haven't already qualified and hope that boy wonder from the euro 2004 can find his scoring boots again. I'm actually up for this euros now just tired of hearing how amazing he is cos he did Movember and plays for a team in a horrific yellow kit

[Manwell Pablo]

What a silly opinion of him you have

Not really. He is a bell don't get me wrong but on the pitch there there is not another English Centre Half the comes close. Defo preferrable over any of Uniteds dodgey youngsters or Rio.

[Guest MattP]

Not really. He is a bell don't get me wrong but on the pitch there there is not another English Centre Half the comes close. Defo preferrable over any of Uniteds dodgey youngsters or Rio.

Ceratinly not wrong there, despite what he did in the second leg his MOM performance in the first leg shutting out Barcelona was absolutely outstanding.

[Bert]

Pretty sure that picture is fake.

Think Roy has got the squad pretty much bang on bar two of his picks.

Time to get behind the lads now.

[RowlattsFox]

Just because Holt has a decent season it doesn't make him an international footballer, Bobby Zamora, Andy Johnson, Jay Bothroyd and many others all the way back to Michael ****ing Ricketts have been given international caps on the basis of a good goal-return in a particular season. None of which have had an impact for England.

Carroll may not have had the best of seasons, although he is starting to show some potential but he has age on his side and will improve and like it or not he is the future for England.

[HEGGSY]

I'm very worried by the fact that you think Andy Carroll is the future of English football.

[Jaspa]

Theres gotta be a big reason why he cost £30m

Can see him doin well in the future

[Guest MattP]

Theres gotta be a big reason why he cost £30m

Yes, he was purchased by the same man who thought Jordan Henderson and Stuart Downing were worth 40million.

[RowlattsFox]

I'm very worried by the fact that you think Andy Carroll is the future of English football.

He is though isn't he? Along with Welbeck and Sturridge. Looking at current under 21 strikers, only maybe Connor Wickham will have any serious impact, especially in a Carroll type role.

[Manwell Pablo]

He is though isn't he? Along with Welbeck and Sturridge. Looking at current under 21 strikers, only maybe Connor Wickham will have any serious impact, especially in a Carroll type role.

Thankfully I can see Wayne Rooney knocking about for a good six years yet, and getting better, hopefully giving enough time for a lad with some actual talent and consistant goal scoreing ability to arrive on the scene.

[RowlattsFox]

Thankfully I can see Wayne Rooney knocking about for a good six years yet, and getting better, hopefully giving enough time for a lad with some actual talent and consistant goal scoreing ability to arrive on the scene.

Hopefully, heard there is plenty of talent around the young ages but that will probably disappear before they reach the age of 18.

[Jaspa]

Rooney has been awful for us since 2004

I dont care what he does for ManU, if he carries on being dog turd for England he should be dropped

[21st Century Fox]

Is the picture going round Twitter by the way.

Pretty sure that picture is fake.

Think Roy has got the squad pretty much bang on bar two of his picks.

Time to get behind the lads now.

Yeah that was his Twitter verification picture, someone just erased his name and superimposed that over the top.

[21st Century Fox]

As much as Holt deserves his shot, Carroll has been in the England set-up since U-19's so has more experience of international football and the other players in the team. Throwing Holt in at this stage might be asking too much.

[Manwell Pablo]

Rooney has been awful for us since 2004

I dont care what he does for ManU, if he carries on being dog turd for England he should be dropped

Bit of an exageration, his goals per game is still higher than one in three, he had a shocking tournament in 2006 but he did fracture his metatarsal less than two months before the tournament, and having had that injury myself I can tell you there is no way he should of gone, I was still in plaster after two months he should of been nowhere near a football pitch Oxygen tank or no Oxygen tank. 2010 the whole team was a shambles from start to finish, you ask me he couldn't deal with the expectation he was after all expected to be the figure head in our best chance at a World Cup in years.

The lack of alternatives alone dictate that we should persist with him.

[Fox in the North]

The reason why Carrick wasn't picked was because he omitted himself. He wanted to have a starting role and if he didn't get that he wasn't playing. What an idiot. I'd give my left nut just to be on standby for England!

[James.]

The reason why Carrick wasn't picked was because he omitted himself. He wanted to have a starting role and if he didn't get that he wasn't playing. What an idiot. I'd give my left nut just to be on standby for England!

I was pretty shocked when I heard this. Isn't this almost unprecedented? Surprised there hasn't been a bigger fuss, what a nob.

[Corky]

His name is Rio and he ain't going to Poland.

[Jaspa]

His name is Rio and he ain't going to Poland.

I read that in my head like this