Vardy for England

[Stadt]

Roy's losing it...if he hasn't already. Such a weak squad, and not only because the standard of English players is poor at the mo.

I'd rather he did pick a weak squad for San Marino and Estonia

[Leicesterpool]

For me the problem lies with Hodgson, the guy doesn't like to gamble or try new things. He's obsessed with keeping the unit the same even if there good enough or not. People Criticize Sven but at least when he was in charge he was willing to try something new. I don't hate Hodgson and i think at the time he was probably the only choice, but now I think he's over stayed his welcome.    

[The Doctor]

I'd rather he did pick a weak squad for San Marino and Estonia

 

But to not even try out the likes of Berahino or Will Hughes - given they're supposed to be Englands next big hopes - when the likes of San Marino are as close to a guaranteed win as it's possible to get in international football? Rather than just picking the old guard until he's forced into changing due to retirement or injury, why not try something different and see if it works when there's no real pressure on them?

[Manwell Pablo]

But to not even try out the likes of Berahino or Will Hughes - given they're supposed to be Englands next big hopes - when the likes of San Marino are as close to a guaranteed win as it's possible to get in international football? Rather than just picking the old guard until he's forced into changing due to retirement or injury, why not try something different and see if it works when there's no real pressure on them?

Squads young anyway and needs international experience, average age of our team against the Swiss was just over 24 without a single member of the team in their 30's. So I find the term old guard a strange choice of phrase.

[Stadt]

But to not even try out the likes of Berahino or Will Hughes - given they're supposed to be Englands next big hopes - when the likes of San Marino are as close to a guaranteed win as it's possible to get in international football? Rather than just picking the old guard until he's forced into changing due to retirement or injury, why not try something different and see if it works when there's no real pressure on them?

That's what I meant, pick a 'weak' squad full of players that are untried.

[Manwell Pablo]

That's what I meant, pick a 'weak' squad full of players that are untried.

 

Not a great idea is it, San Marino we should turn over regardless, Estonia away while we should win is not as straight forward as people are making out, they've already done Slovenia there. 

[Stadt]

Not a great idea is it, San Marino we should turn over regardless, Estonia away while we should win is not as straight forward as people are making out, they've already done Slovenia there.

Maybe not a full squad but we shouldn't need to take all of the proven squad.

[The Doctor]

Squads young anyway and needs international experience, average age of our team against the Swiss was just over 24 without a single member of the team in their 30's. So I find the term old guard a strange choice of phrase.

I'm talking more the likes of Milner, Rooney, Jagielka - not old in terms of age, but establish if you prefer - good players, we know what they can do, but Jagielka will be 34 come EURO 2016, Milner and Rooney will be into their thirties - they've got 1, maybe 2 tournaments left; why not use easy games like San Marino to blood their replacements?

[MattGamble92]

You do have to wonder how Stones got a call up for the Switzerland game after Roy seen him against us. Fair enough he was out of position but if you can turn up and see him perform like that then what are you actually looking for?

I like Roy but I cannot stand this culture of picking players based on who they play for. Shawcross missing out is a scandal.

I think one way of bringing more passion and interest back in the national side is picking the likes of Vardy.

Picking players that are only ever surrounded by bad publicity and playing for hated clubs is what seems to put people off getting behind England. Couldn't believe the amount of stick that Arsenal and Chelsea fans were giving each others players last time I was at Wembley. Such a myth that we put aside rivalries for international football

[Guest Col city fan]

Are people really surprised at Roy's selections?

I'm not.. Said as much three weeks ago.

He goes for his tried and tested usually.

[ScouseFox]

ok i'm finally gonna bite the bullet and go for it. where does this hodgson picking only "the tried and tested" players only from "the big clubs" come from?! 

 

he's been in charge for 2 and a half years and has given first caps to 25 players in that time. 25!! they include people like jake livermore (hull city), john ruddy (norwich), jack butland (birmingham city), ryan shawcross (stoke), wilfried zaha (crystal fúcking palace!), steven caulker (cardiff!!), jay rodriguez, rickie lambert, adam lallana and luke shaw (all southampton) and more recently fabian delph (aston villa). BIG PLAYERS BIG CLUBS SAME OLD SAME OLD. 

 

he took, and played, oxlade chamberlain to the euros despite him only having one cap. he threw sterling straight in because he was obviously good enough. he put barkley on the plane and played him over the likes of frank lampard. he called up ashley cole and (wrongly) told him to watch the world cup from his couch because SOUTHAMPTON'S 18 YEAR OLD luke shaw was going to the world cup in his place. that is a world cup we at one stage looked like we were going to struggle to qualify for until roy picked uncapped andros townsend, put him straight in the starting xi and he scored and turned in a motm performance to all but guarantee our place. youngsters from academies such as jon flanagan and john stones were allowed to travel to the world cup with the squad despite not being in it, so they could play the friendlies and get a feel for and experience a tournament for the future. 

 

in his most recent squad he's omitted vardy, but he has gone with another debutant in nathaniel clyne even though he could've opted for a kyle walker etc. john stones makes the cut again, we see reintroductions of jonjo shelvey because he's been on form for that BIG team swansea. 

 

i could've gone on and on here but i can't be arsed really, just thought i'd question why people continually cry about roy not "giving others a chance".

[Oxfordfox83]

ok i'm finally gonna bite the bullet and go for it. where does this hodgson picking only "the tried and tested" players only from "the big clubs" come from?!

he's been in charge for 2 and a half years and has given first caps to 25 players in that time. 25!! they include people like jake livermore (hull city), john ruddy (norwich), jack butland (birmingham city), ryan shawcross (stoke), wilfried

aha (crystal fúcking palace!), steven caulker (cardiff!!), jay rodriguez, rickie lambert, adam lallana and luke shaw (all southampton) and more recently fabian delph (aston villa). BIG PLAYERS BIG CLUBS SAME OLD SAME OLD.

he took, and played, oxlade chamberlain to the euros despite him only having one cap. he threw sterling straight in because he was obviously good enough. he put barkley on the plane and played him over the likes of frank lampard. he called up ashley cole and (wrongly) told him to watch the world cup from his couch because SOUTHAMPTON'S 18 YEAR OLD luke shaw was going to the world cup in his place. that is a world cup we at one stage looked like we were going to struggle to qualify for until roy picked uncapped andros townsend, put him straight in the starting xi and he scored and turned in a motm performance to all but guarantee our place. youngsters from academies such as jon flanagan and john stones were allowed to travel to the world cup with the squad despite not being in it, so they could play the friendlies and get a feel for and experience a tournament for the future.

in his most recent squad he's omitted vardy, but he has gone with another debutant in nathaniel clyne even though he could've opted for a kyle walker etc. john stones makes the cut again, we see reintroductions of jonjo shelvey because he's been on form for that BIG team swansea.

i could've gone on and on here but i can't be arsed really, just thought i'd question why people continually cry about roy not "giving others a chance".

Great post. Roy is the most adventurous manager selection-wise that we've had in my lifetime. Unfortunately, he's inherited a horribly inexperienced squad with serious gaps (back 4 are astoundingly poor), whose few veterans have been destroyed by years of overexposure and underachievement.

To compare him unfavourably with Sven is insane: Sven had overwhelmingly our most talented squads since 1990 (if not before) and played awful defensive crap redeemed only by Beckham's set pieces. We'd grind results out against no marks before losing to the first team with a striker. He was inexcusably boring and crap.

You can argue about Hodgson's tactics and man management, because we looked spineless aside from Italy, but he built a team around Sterling rather than Rooney or Gerrard, played Barkley and Sturridge, and left Lampard out till it didn't matter. Given a bit of time, and a couple of centre backs (Liam?) this team has the potential to be quite something, but it won't happen overnight...

[Dan]

Good post. That's one thing I won't criticise Hodgson for.

 

I'm not surprised Vardy didn't make the squad and I'm not disappointed either. It's too early. If Vardy was playing for any other club we'd be laughing at it (though I do think Vardy's got a hell of a lot more to his game than the neutral makes him out to have, look at Redcafe the bunch of ****ing idiots).

 

Can't see the logic in only picking three forwards, especially when Welbeck is often sat on the wing, Rooney is often sat deeper and Lambert is often sat on the bench.

 

Andros Townsend is a funny one - could he be our Podolski? He's mediocre at club level but he's actually never let England down.