When Capello resigned, everyone believed it was the beginning of a new era, with our youth stepping up as we build for the future. Look at the strength of Germany, with a very young but actually now experienced side. Spain have a fantastic youth system and constantly produce class players. However, England don't look set to do this, and you only have to look at the ages of our probable starting line up for France, to see that we're not exactly building for the future:
Hart - 25
Johnson - 27
Terry - 31
Lescott - 29
Cole - 31
Parker - 31
Gerrard - 32
Milner - 26
Young - 26
Downing - 27
Carroll - 23
That makes an average age of 28!
We will not win this tournament and gain nothing from reaching the last 16 etc. Why would we not start to play more of our decent former under 21 players that lost to Germany in the final a few years ago. Of course you need to mix young and old, so players such as Cole, Terry, Gerrard and maybe Parker (Due to no other suitable young anchors) could still stick around. But the focus must be on giving the future a chance.
I can see a potential team being:
--------------------------------Hart
Richards/Walker Smalling Cahill Gibbs/Bertrand/Baines
Oxlade-Chamberlain Wilshire Cleverly Young
-------------------------------Rooney
-------------------------------Welbeck
And then you've still got players such as Jones, Kelly, Rodwell, Johnson, Sturridge etc.
If you started to use that group of players consistently, then England may improve. If you look at the starting line up of Germany in that under 21 final:
Neuer, Beck, Howedes, Boateng, Boenisch, Hummels, Johnson, Castro, Khedira, Ozil, Wagner
You see that a lot of them were played in the 2010 world cup, and a lot of them will play at this year's euros.
Our squad this year is poor in my opinion, and we will be lucky to reach the last 16.
We really need to start blooding the youngsters as we have some great potential. I've probably missed a few of our youngsters out above so feel free to offer any other suggestions.
The NEW ENGLAND... myth
posted on 7/6/12
It's not just the United fans that don't rate him, no one does, Spurs, Arsenal, City, Chelsea and every other fan with common sense.
==================================
It's strange that people in football do rate him though, eh?
It's already been established that Henderson>Carrick
posted on 7/6/12
It's already been established that Henderson>Carrick
by who?
posted on 7/6/12
Woy... Carrick should be there
posted on 7/6/12
We are already in the last 16 you muppet!!!
4 groups x 4 teams = 16
Doh !!!
posted on 7/6/12
England will never be any good, not enough decent players now, too many players in the England team that are not even regulars for their clubs.
posted on 7/6/12
We are blooding the youngsters at this tournament. You have only listed the first 11. The subs who will come on and injuries mean that the average age will drop and no doubt Henderson and the Ox will get game time. The experience of being at a major champs will be invaluable for the rest too. I think we're doing OK.
posted on 7/6/12
haha by last 16 I mean knockouts yes, I am aware there are only 16 teams, I can tell you now my mind is not working at its optimum!
Obviously I'm not saying we need to use just youth as that would be suicide, but I don't think we're gaining anything in the long term by playing the same old carp, or slughtly older carp such as downing1
posted on 7/6/12
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 7/6/12
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 7/6/12
To be fair, we probably would have started with Walker & Cahill had they been fit, and Welbeck will probably play instead of Carroll, so that would sort the average age out a bit.
Agreed Johnson should be there instead of Oxo-Cube but that isn't England's lack of talent, its the manager's choice of players, which is the reason we've been let down over recent years - not that they're too old, too young or that Spain play 5-a-side until they've grown some pubes!