Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney is suspended for England’s first two games of Euro 2012- Could Norwich City’s much-lauded striker be the man to fill his boots?
The clamour for Grant Holt to be included in the England squad for the summer’s Euro 2012 Championships is increasing with every point that Norwich gain, and every goal that the man himself scores.
Holt has now scored 13 Premier league goals, an impressive tally by anyone’s standards and second to only Wayne Rooney from those players competing for an England shirt.
However, while it is important for who ever is going to be the England manager in the summer to take players who are in form, and not players with “names”, those who go will have needed to have been exposed to European football.
With the season that English clubs have had in the European competitions, only Chelsea players have covered themselves in any sort of glory, and that only fleetingly, and their only English attacker, Daniel Sturridge has scored a grand total of no goals in seven games so far in Europe this season.
The usual names will surface again to lead the England line, and Peter Crouch, who has an enviable record at international level, again seems to be putting himself in the frame for a recall after his fall out with Fabio Capello.
His performances in recent weeks for Stoke City have proved that the £10 million spent by Tony Pulis was value for money
Could Holt and Crouch play in the same team, in what is one of the most demanding competitions around? I think the answer has to be that it is doubtful.
Both are big men who use their bodies, in the Premier League to good effect. In Europe and international competition, Crouch had a tendency of getting booked and giving free kicks away, and its possible Holt could suffer the same fate.
Despite both players being good with their feet for men of their size, I think one, not both will go.
That leaves Jermain Defoe, Danny Welbeck and Sturridge looking to fill the remaining places. Defoe has been out of favour a lot at Tottenham this season, with Emmanuel Adebayor providing the main focus up front.
Defoe has scored goals when he has come on, but his lack of match sharpness could be an issue. Andy Carroll could be another name who, with a good run in could force himself back into the picture, but a third big man in the frame will not provide the answer to breaking down stubborn European defences.
The English national squad is at more of a cross roads then ever in recent history. The golden generation is golden no longer, but few people would argue that Lampard and Gerrard do not deserve a place in the squad, along with Terry and Ferdinand.
There is a lack of evolution, and a lack of direction, with no manager in place so soon before a major championship a real concern.
So whether it’s Redknapp or Pearce who end up leading the Three Lions this summer, there are some big decisions to be made.
In my opinion, Grant Holt won’t go and the squad will have a familiar look around it.
With a familiar looking squad, there will more than likely be a familiar outcome for an England side which really doesn’t get the pulse racing as it should do anymore.
image: © imatthews
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