Strongly performing Manchester United, Norwich City, Arsenal and Manchester City players deserve their chances for England this summer, but will they all be on the plane?
Form or Prestige: What counts for England? Daniel Vincent picks his 23 who should be selected to travel to Poland and the Ukraine.
The English national side is currently in a state of limbo. Both manager and captain are as yet undecided and with an international competition on the horizon, squad selection must be debated.
The squad currently accommodates a handful of perplexing perpetual selections along with a mass of senior players at an age which puts their place up for consideration.
Luckily enough, the Premier League has a number of untested Englishmen impressing enough to possibly replace them.
During this time of hierarchal change, should the England national team be left to the so-far unsuccessful old-pros or instead selected on the current and consistent form of lesser-tried individuals?
When Pearce promised “big-change” for the Netherlands friendly, I was hopeful of experimentation.
What transpired was the inexplicable use of Frazier Campbell for a few minutes, and proof that Smalling is far from good enough to contend at international level – more “realising the obvious” than “big-change”.
So, with Pearce currently dallying, I will present a few international ever-presents and their possible, performance based replacements.
Barry out, Carrick in (with Wilshere out injured). Carrick has had his most impressive season to date and we all remember Barry’s breathless jog after Ozil at the 2010 World Cup. With Parker 1st choice, the substitute should be a player that brings more than simply ego and hard tackling.
Downing out, Oxlade-Chamberlain in. The former’s England career reads 33 caps, 0 goals. His Liverpool league stats read 31 games, 0 goals, 0 assists. His defending is notoriously weak and his stats suggest that his attacking is the same.
Oxlade-Chamberlain on the other hand, is one of the most exciting talents in the Premier League and, after some energetic and astute displays for Arsenal, deserves at least a friendly call-up.
At right back, Glen Johnson out, both Richards and Walker in. Johnson’s season has been marred by injury and his performances have been overshadowed by the emergence of Kelly whilst both Richards and Walker have had excellent seasons. Both are equally as good going forward as at the back with Richards able to provide extra cover in the middle.
Jones and Cahill in, Lescott left at home, Smalling not considered. Lescott may be a part of the “best defence in the league” but he is a lot more vulnerable without Kompany by his side. Both Jones and Cahill are ever-improving and have a decent turn of pace, an attribute that is important at the highest level and an attribute that Lescott lacks.
Third goalkeeper out, Milner in. With the second goalkeeper rarely used, the third goalkeepr occupies a useful seat. Milner is a versatile must-take for me, and a multi-talented player that will give his all for the full 90 minutes, whichever position he plays.
Lastly, and perhaps most debatably, Grant Holt included over Crouch, Defoe, Zamora or Carroll (with Bent injured). Holt has been in sensational form this year. Behind Wayne Rooney- Holt has achieved the accolade of “ the second highest English goal scorer in the Premier League” this season. I feel that this alone deserves the reward of a call up, as should always be the case.
With these changes in mind, here is the squad I believe should represent England at Euro 2012. I’ve not considered Bent or Wilshere due to injury and have only, possible naively, included two goalkeepers.
Hart/Foster
Walker, Richards Terry, Ferdinand, Jones, Cahill Cole, Baines
Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain Parker, Carrick, Gerrard, Lampard, Milner Johnson, Young
Rooney, Sturridge, Welbeck, Holt.
Cole, Gerrard, Lampard, Terry and Ferdinand would all make the cut. This is arguably their last chance to impress on the international stage and what they may have lost in pace they have gained in positional sense and experience.
Every other player selected will thrive given the opportunity to represent their country competitively. The newly integrated players would play with pride and vigour with the likes of Parker, Walcott, Johnson, Young and Milner providing the non-stop engine-room energy they are known for.
There is also vast versatility within midfielders and forwards which is a beneficial attribute to possess within any squad.
If England are to achieve at Euro 2012, they need to play with passion and vitality but without ego.
Standing alongside the likes of Spain, Germany, France and Holland, England are the underdogs. A pride overinflated by nothing but egocentric expectance will see them again fail to succeed.
To summarise, the team will obviously benefit from an experienced backbone – a total reshuffle would be a foolish move.
However a refresh of the squads peripherals would not only offer a well- earned reward to the Premier League’s form players, it would also remove the expectant feeling of some players who are, quite frankly, not good enough to represent their country.
Should England gamble on untested players? Or should they rely on the ever-presents to delivery glory in Eastern Europe?
image: © philosophyfootball
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