England Player Ratings - A Serious Attempt

"But better at linking up play than Young or Downing? I dont buy it. Wenger certainly did not buy it otherwise he would have had him linking up play a lot for Arsenal last season."

He is much better than Downing at being a link player. He's VERY intelligent on the ball. Downing is talented, but his strengths are legging it down the left wing and crossing it into the box.

The only reason the Ox played sparsely last season is because Wenger wanted to ease him in, making the step up from League One to Premier League. I don't have to mention that when he DID play, he performed quite well on the whole in a variety of roles.

"I know many fans like to WUM Downing - and i have LOL at him and Liverpool a lot - but he does ok for England actually and he works hard."

You could replace "Downing" with Milner and "Liverpool" with Man City. Doing "ok" and working hard aren't going to be enough alone or Milner wouldn't have been subbed off today.

So SuperGoon, by your admission sage Wenger wanted to 'ease' him in? When there wasnt much to play for at arsenal? But we should throw him into the national team over experienced campaigners?

Oh, dear...

Come on SuperGoon. Ox is clearly going to be a magnificent talent but at this level you need more that just your natural strengths, you need a better all round game. The is nobody in the UK who has a better all round game that Chamberlain at 18, however, he shouldn't be starting games for England.

Because Metropolis isn't as great as he thinks he is?
.....

Oh I was born Great

Oh dear what?

The Ox proved that he is more than good enough to hold his own against Premier League and Champions League players.

And let's face it, Andy Carroll is in the squad on the back of six weeks worth of good form at the end of the season.

The Ox was at least playing more regularly from January, so deserves his space.

And if you weren't going to pick Ox, then who? Lennon? Adam Johnson? Behave.

comment by The_Red_Connoisseur (U9741)
posted 28 seconds ago
So SuperGoon, by your admission sage Wenger wanted to 'ease' him in? When there wasnt much to play for at arsenal? But we should throw him into the national team over experienced campaigners?

Oh, dear...
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Arsenal had a Champions League place to play for, whilst having a dreadful start. he also started him in Europe, in the centre, the centre! of midfield and he was exceptional!

The boy has talent and he'll be one of the best players in the last 20 years to wear an England shirt. However you're right, if Wenger is wrapping him in cotton wool, then why should England?

"The is nobody in the UK who has a better all round game that Chamberlain at 18, however, he shouldn't be starting games for England."

But the only other real wide option is Downing. And even you guys can't tell me he played well enough last season to demand a starting place in the England team.

>>And even you guys can't tell me he played well enough last season to demand a starting place in the England team.

in the league no, not at all. Although he did create a lot of chances others bottled.

In the cups and for England over the last 12 months? Sure, if you base it just on that then he should be a key part of the England setup.

Not a world beater and never will be. He's English

comment by SuperGoon! (U8455)
posted 1 minute ago
Oh dear what?

The Ox proved that he is more than good enough to hold his own against Premier League and Champions League players.

And let's face it, Andy Carroll is in the squad on the back of six weeks worth of good form at the end of the season.

The Ox was at least playing more regularly from January, so deserves his space.

And if you weren't going to pick Ox, then who? Lennon? Adam Johnson? Behave.

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I must admit i am not a fan of Carroll and i am still not convinced but he is in the squad NOT just for a very good six weeks but because he offers something different to our current strikers.

I hate 'hoofball' tactics that England play as much as anyone but when we resort to that, Carroll is adept at it and he vindicated Roy's selection today by getting a goal so i cant knock him.

I hope Ox develops into what we all claim he can but atm he is not there - far from it. His inexperience has shown in virtually every England game he has played so far.

Ronaldo (the Brazilian one) went to a championship - world cup - at his age and was on the bench through out, no shame in that.

Messi went to world cup, a year older than Ox and only played one match as a sub.

Ox is not better than either and has not shown as much promise as the aforementioned duo. I am not knocking Ox, far from it, but this tournament is perhaps far too soon for him.

I like Ox as a sub

I just get a good feeling about him. When he's not overrunning the ball at least

I'm glad he's there as a secret weapon of sorts. As a plan B mind.