England Squad

[YateleyRoyal]

They do, you're quite right.

FWIW, I highly doubt Gareth Barry will make the squad, and your XI is most likely what he'll go with IMO.

[P!ssed Off]

They do, you're quite right.

FWIW, I highly doubt Gareth Barry will make the squad, and your XI is most likely what he'll go with IMO.

oxf*rd knows what XI Hodgson is planning tbf.
We'll likely have Welbeck leading the line, with Sturridge on one wing, Milner on the other.

[Hoop Blah]

Interesting comments from Hodgson about recent form not being that big a consideration when picking his squad.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27211179

[TBM]

Interesting comments from Hodgson about recent form not being that big a consideration when picking his squad.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27211179

That means Cleverley is in

[YateleyRoyal]

Interesting comments from Hodgson about recent form not being that big a consideration when picking his squad.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27211179

That means Cleverley is in

I farking hope not.

[Mr.Swainey]

Ashley Cole set to be left out.

[genome]

Cole retires from internationals after being left out. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27368711

Shaw and Baines will be the left backs then. Which one will start

[ayjaydee]

[quote="genome"]Cole retires from internationals after being left out. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27368711

And done with dignity it has to be said

[Ouroboros]

Cole retires from internationals after being left out. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27368711

Shaw and Baines will be the left backs then. Which one will start

I'm going to go with Baines, because he is better and has played football for more than 9 months

[Sanguine]

Agreed, although United likely to bid more for Shaw this summer than they did for Baines last.

[Ian Royal]

Don't see why Cole should retire unless it's sour grapes for not getting in the squad. Seems typical of the egomaniac. However diplomatically he's phrased it.

[P!ssed Off]

Don't see why Cole should retire unless it's sour grapes for not getting in the squad. Seems typical of the egomaniac. However diplomatically he's phrased it.

Maybe he wanted to put an official end on his England career.

England's 5th most capped player ever and has been one of our better players for over a decade.
One of our only players to come out of Euro 2012 with any credit, didn't deserve to have that penalty miss against his name.
Show a little respect you tosspot.

[Ouroboros]

Don't see why Cole should retire unless it's sour grapes for not getting in the squad. Seems typical of the egomaniac. However diplomatically he's phrased it.

While I suppose you can make the above argument about nearly any international retirement, it hardly seems like sour grapes. He's just essentially been told that Hodgson doesn't see him as part of the future of the side. Retiring seems little more than making official the obvious.

[soggy biscuit]

Cole retires from internationals after being left out. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27368711

And done with dignity it has to be said

Being said this morning that Cole refused to go on the standby list

[Terminal Boardom]

Don't see why Cole should retire unless it's sour grapes for not getting in the squad. Seems typical of the egomaniac. However diplomatically he's phrased it.

Maybe he wanted to put an official end on his England career.

England's 5th most capped player ever and has been one of our better players for over a decade.
One of our only players to come out of Euro 2012 with any credit, didn't deserve to have that penalty miss against his name.
Show a little respect you tosspot.

Agree totally with PO's response. Ashley Cole has always given everything for the shirt and can rightly be regarded as one of England's best ever left backs. His lack of minutes playing for Chelsea this season have not helped him. I wonder if he will see his career out at the Bridge or if he will get to move away?

[Hoop Blah]

Cole has been an excellent player for England but I think not taking him is probably the right choice by Hodgson but it's a shame Cole doesn't get the swan song of Brazil.

As for not going on standby and retiring. After the service he's given I've no problem with that as it nicely closes the door and does it at the right time IMO.

[winchester_royal]

He perhaps should have waited until after the squad had been officially announced, but essentially agree.

Pleased Shaw's been picked though, he's been the best left back in the league this season, and wouldn't be surprised to see him put some real pressure on Baines in the upcoming friendlies.

[Hoop Blah]

I'm sure he'll most likely have cleared it with Hodgson to go public last night when they spoke about the decision.

It means he rightly gets a bit of attention ahead of the squad and, more importantly perhaps, gets the initial burst of interest in that decision out of the way so that today is slightly less about it than it might've been otherwise.

[Hoop Blah]

--------------------Hart-----------------------
Johnson --- Cahill --- Jagelika --- Baines
------------Gerrard--- Henderson-----------
Sterling -------- Rooney -------- Lallana
---------------- Sturridge ------------------

It feels like this is getting closer and to being the team, with Henderson probably the main question mark at the moment depending on what we see from Wilshire or even Barkley (he's surely more there as an alternative to Rooney as the 10 though) during the build up.

By my guess Hodgson's 23 is now shaping up as

Keepers
Hart, Foster, Forster

Defenders
Baines, Shaw, Cahill, Jagielka, Smalling, Jones, Johnson

Midfielders
Gerrard, Henderson, Lampard, Wilshere, Barkley

Wingers
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sterling, Lallana, Milner

Strikers
Rooney, Sturridge, Welbeck, Lambert

Standby
Ruddy, Stones, Flanagan, Johnson, Cleverly, Carrick, Carroll

[Royalclapper]

Surely Johnson's position at right back must be up for grabs, I would include him as he does give more going forward, particularly if we're chasing a goal.

Jones would be better there defending though as we're inevitably going to be on the back foot given our players jittery disliking of holding onto possession. Baines/Shaw & Cahill look ok, but fcuk me the rest of the defence has got liability written all over it.

The worst thing is that England have got a stinker of a group and the first 2 games being against Italy & Uruguay means we're pretty much playing knockout tournament football right from the off.

You can easily see Gerrard/Henderson or whoever plays in midfield constantly having to cover the defensive weaknesses of our squad (which they'll be more than aware of) and thus finding it difficult to feed the forward players.