England National football team thread

I don't think it really matters who the third choice keeper is...

Ha ye basically. Don't know why FIFA mandates that teams take 3 keepers though, waste of a position always with the 3rd keeper probably never or hardly ever used in world cup history.
 
Ha ye basically. Don't know why FIFA mandates that teams take 3 keepers though, waste of a position always with the 3rd keeper probably never or hardly ever used in world cup history.

I seem to recall North Korea tried to take a striker as the third choice keeper in disguise at the last world cup, and they were told he'd only be allowed to be play in goal
 
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Good squad. Ha @ Cleverley being on the standby. Huddlestone clearly far more deserving.

Smalling & Welbeck lucky to be there, also - young talents but their form is questionable at the moment. But I guess Hodgson has faith in them, so hopefully they repay him.
 
Well there goes the least surprising squad selection in history.

Lpool - 5
Man U - 4
Everton - 3
Soton - 3
Man C - 2
Chelsea - 2
Arsenal - 2
WBA - 1
Celtic - 1

Does seem ironic to be picking two Utd defenders after the shambles we've seen from them at the back this season...
 
Why is Foster mentally weak?

He is mentally weak. Ferguson knew that and that is why he didn't cut it at United. Then there's also the two issues that a) he has already retired once and b) Ruddy is a better goalkeeper.

I like the overall squad but not taking Ruddy is sickening. The guy is so unlucky.
 
He is mentally weak. Ferguson knew that and that is why he didn't cut it at United. Then there's also the two issues that a) he has already retired once and b) Ruddy is a better goalkeeper.

I like the overall squad but not taking Ruddy is sickening. The guy is so unlucky.

I don't know anything about him being mentally weak or if their is a clear correlation between him not cutting it at United with that. Tim Howard didn't cut it at United & he is fine these days.

He retired yes, because he felt marginalized under the Capello regime. Hodgson worked with @ West Brom & he choose to come back then understandably. Don't see how that's an issue, since he is the first footballer to retire from international football for whatever reason & come back.

I won't accuse of Norwich bias, but to say Ruddy not going is "sickening" is a gross exaggeration.

Foster, Forster & Ruddy are standard keepers, nothing spectacular about them. Hodgson chose them over minuscule margins, so its hardly a decision to get worked up about.

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Very happy with the squad, my only annoyance is that Smalling got the nod over Stones.

Welbeck over Defoe..?

Welbeck gets the nod for me as his work rate is second to none. Infact I would have replaced Defoe on the stand by list with Wickham.
 
I seem to recall North Korea tried to take a striker as the third choice keeper in disguise at the last world cup, and they were told he'd only be allowed to be play in goal

:lol crazy. International managers should petition to get that rule changed.
 
England Under-21s squad named for Wales and Toulon Tournament - England | The FA

Hmm looking ahead to the 2015 Under-21 tournament, even if we accept eligible players like Sterling, Wilshere, Barkley, the Ox & Shaw are pretty much senior team players now, some interesting other player are still available namely: Wickham, Shelvey, Stones, Jenkinson, Flanagan, Morrison & James Wilson.

A potential XI & squad doesn't look bad especially with a few getting premier league exposure this year:

-------------------------Butland-------------------------

Jenkinson-----------Stones------Dyer------------Flanagan

---------Shelvey---------Chalobah-----Morrison------------

Ward-Prowse-----------------Wickham------------Redmond

Keane, Wisdom, Fyers, McEachran, T Caroll/W Hughes, Powell, Ince, Zaha, Behrahino, Kane, Ings,
 
Redmond can beat anyone with the ball but is useless at shooting and crossing. At the moment.
 
Redmond can beat anyone with the ball but is useless at shooting and crossing. At the moment.

Emphasis on the last phrase. I think he will be a monster in the future. He seems to love cutting in, once he improves his shooting he'll be an asset to the top PL sides. He is just raw like a lot of the top attacking talents at his age.

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Thought about it some more, I think I would've liked Carrick over Lampard as well.

Yep, Lampard should never have been in the picture but I guess he provides experience.

Carrick though has slowly gone from being underrated to hugely overrated by Man Utd fans. He was good last season and crap this season, he is definitely on the decline. Poor signing overall IMO, not worth the huge money he cost at the time.
 

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