I don´t like to be negative but the more I look at this England squad the more I think that England will have a shocker at the Euros.
There are so many things wrong with this England side and the choice of personnel that I don´t really know where to start.
How is it possible that we find this England squad filled with Liverpool rejects Carroll, Downing and Hendersson ?
All three of these players have been for the most part woeful this season but not only are they in the squad but they may well all feature in the starting 11.
How on earth did this happen ?
I´m scratching my head as to how we arrived at this point ?
Does Hodgson have some kind of strange obsession with Liverpool rejects ?
The other issue I wanted to address was Gerrard and I will no doubt get plenty of abuse for this.
Gerrard is another one who has had a poor season and this undeniable fact seems to have been glossed over by the media.
Does Gerrard actually deserve to be in this England squad let alone the starting 11 based on how he has played this season ?
Apart from one very good game against Everton Gerrard has been invisible this season.
The fact that Gerrard has been made England captain is probably the most worrying bit.
England have a terrible record whenever Gerrard has been England captain. Failure to qualify for Euro 2008 as well as the debacle World Cup 2010 both happened under Gerrard´s watch as England captain.
The stats are very concerning and our win rate with Gerrard as England captain is woeful.
I could be wrong but I think I´m right in saying that statistically Gerrard has been England´s most unsuccessful England captain since World War II or something like that.
If someone wants to correct me there I´ll be more than happy to edit this article if I´m wrong.
If all this wasn´t bad enough we will miss Rooney for the first two games at a time when we will have very difficlut games against France, Ukraine and Sweden.
Most people seem to be ignoring the size of the task that England will face in the group stage. France are much improved and could easily win the Euro and England´s record against Sweden is terrible. We hardly ever beat them. As for Ukraine they will be a tough proposition playing in their own country.
I could easily see England failing to win any of those games.
Sorry if I´m being pessimistic but I´m struggling to find any positives here.
Will this Euro be a disaster for England ?
posted on 2/6/12
I agree 100% with this even if you are a Chelsea fan
On the positive side:
No Gerrard/Lampard partnership
Low expectation
More rest given to players by Hodgson than last WC
Strong club contingents - Back 3 made up of Chelsea players, others Liverpool players. Could be important to have those connections.
posted on 2/6/12
When I look at the squad and likely team we'll be fielding, its very difficult not to be pessimistic about our chances. I know Hodgson isn't exactly spoilt for choice from the players available and I'm all for bringing through youth into the set up. But it has to be the type of player who can bring something to the team, not the likes of Jordan Henderson, who's only ability is being able to move seamlessly between mediocre and atrocious.
That said, I don't have any real issues with the Carroll and Downing selections. Whilst not being the most naturally gifted of players, Carroll did show towards the end of the season that he can offer options to the team that the opposition might struggle to deal with. And Downing has in fairness been solid, if unspectacular, for England in a number of games and at his age should be counted on as one of the players to provide experience.
As regards Gerrard, I assume he's been selected simply based on his captaincy credentials, as his form over the last 3 seasons has been a shadow of what it was around 2005/6 and at age 32 its not going to change for the better.
I'm off on holidays in a weeks time anyways and so will miss the agony. But good luck to the boys, I think they're going to need every bit of it.
posted on 2/6/12
Carroll did show towards the end of the season that he can offer options to the team that the opposition might struggle to deal with.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I´m still not sure exactly what people mean by this.
Didn´t they used to say the same thing about Heskey and he provided us with little in an England shirt apart from not scoring many goals.
It just seems that with Carroll´s inclusion we´re going to be relying on tried and failed hoofball that has never really worked for us before at international level.
posted on 2/6/12
Why are people so bitter that Liverpool players got picked?
If you hate Liverpool just keep it to yourself and support England. Otherwise go support other teams. England fans are part of the reason the national team never do well. They never give the team full support when rival club players get picked.
Some people come on here banging on about how old players should be dropped yet criticise the selection of "young" Liverpool players. They're not meant to set the world alight at that young age, are they??????
Stop the bitterness.
posted on 2/6/12
honestlivpool_five_times (U1661)
posted 15 minutes ago
Why are people so bitter that Liverpool players got picked?
If you hate Liverpool just keep it to yourself and support England. Otherwise go support other teams. England fans are part of the reason the national team never do well. They never give the team full support when rival club players get picked.
Some people come on here banging on about how old players should be dropped yet criticise the selection of "young" Liverpool players. They're not meant to set the world alight at that young age, are they??????
Stop the bitterness.
___________________
I agree with Downing and Johnson being in the team. Even Carroll as a backup striker. But I just don't want Carroll anywhere near the first team.
posted on 2/6/12
But I just don't want Carroll anywhere near the first team.
==========================
Teams are not picked to satisfy everyone. They're picked to get the best for the country
Either support the team or go away and support someone else who "satisfies" you
posted on 2/6/12
WELBECK STARTS TODAY! YES!
posted on 2/6/12
I bet you Welbeck doesn't score.
posted on 2/6/12
Only positive is lampards not in the squad finally. Atrocious for England.
posted on 2/6/12
Honestlivpool
To be fair, although some people may just have an agenda against Liverpool, I think a lot of the comments are debating the 4 probably most contentious picks for the squad, who just so happen to all come from the same club.
I think most people expected Gerrard to be made captain, but I doubt many could argue that his form over the last 3 seasons has deteriorated quite sharply. Even a lot of Liverpool fans have commented that their team seem to perform better when he's on the sidelines and at 32 he's hardly part of the bright new future for his country.
I can certainly see the logic in having Downing as for his country he's generally been a 6/10 performer. Never going to be a world beater, but I'm confident he will do his job.
Carroll has shown potential during the back end of the season and I can see why he made the trip. Not sure as a starter, I'd personally favour him being used as an impact sub, as I think thats when he offers the biggest threat, when defenders are tiring and the shock tactics of having to deal with a big lump of a player can cause havoc, as Chelsea found out in the FA Cup.
All of the players mentioned above I'm happy to support when they pull on the England shirt, irrespective of my opinions. The only one I'm annoyed about rather than bitter is Henderson who, from what I've seen this season, is utterly useless. At 22 he is obviously still young, but not so young that you can't expect to see potential and, from everything I've seen, that potential is practically zero, at least in the top level of the game.
That's not to say I won't still cheer him on, but it will be in the sure knowledge that the cheer will quickly turn into a groan as he squanders possession with another aimless pass or attempt on goal that threatens the floodlights more than the net.