England - the future....

[Brum Royal]

Drinkwater and Townsend miss out

[Whore Jackie]

Always thought Drinkwater and Delph would miss out, but I'm surprised he's gone with Sturridge/Rashford over Townsend. That is a very narrow-looking squad. Barkley's massively lucky that Roy likes a squad packed with centre-midfielders.

[genome]

Fitness concerns over Henderson and Wilshere so he drops Drinkwater and takes 5 strikers, lol

[No Fixed Abode]

Fitness concerns over Henderson and Wilshere so he drops Drinkwater and takes 5 strikers, lol

Yep. But Woy has his favourites. No surprise with the inclusion of Henderson and Wilshire even though on recent form Drinkwater and Noble should be in ahead of them.

I would like to have seen Carrick in there personally. His ball retention is better than any midfielder we have in the squad.

[TBM]

Always thought Drinkwater and Delph would miss out, but I'm surprised he's gone with Sturridge/Rashford over Townsend. That is a very narrow-looking squad. Barkley's massively lucky that Roy likes a squad packed with centre-midfielders.

But with Rooney able to play the CAM role, i'm surprised he took Barkley over Townsend

[YateleyRoyal]

Always thought Drinkwater and Delph would miss out, but I'm surprised he's gone with Sturridge/Rashford over Townsend. That is a very narrow-looking squad. Barkley's massively lucky that Roy likes a squad packed with centre-midfielders.

Only real 'width' there is an out of form Sterling and a bang average Lallana. Great.

[genome]

I did the BBC team selector thingy. I reckon it'll be

[Vision]

Always thought Drinkwater and Delph would miss out, but I'm surprised he's gone with Sturridge/Rashford over Townsend. That is a very narrow-looking squad. Barkley's massively lucky that Roy likes a squad packed with centre-midfielders.

Only real 'width' there is an out of form Sterling and a bang average Lallana. Great.

As with most sides at the moment, the width is provided by attacking full backs.

I'd like to have seen Townsend go (and Drinkwater for that matter) but there's little point in taking a supposed winger if both of the two systems Hodgson intends to use do not utilise them.

[Victor Meldrew]

Always thought Drinkwater and Delph would miss out, but I'm surprised he's gone with Sturridge/Rashford over Townsend. That is a very narrow-looking squad. Barkley's massively lucky that Roy likes a squad packed with centre-midfielders.

Only real 'width' there is an out of form Sterling and a bang average Lallana. Great.

As with most sides at the moment, the width is provided by attacking full backs.

I'd like to have seen Townsend go (and Drinkwater for that matter) but there's little point in taking a supposed winger if both of the two systems Hodgson intends to use do not utilise them.

So why include Townsend in the 26?

[TBM]

So why include Townsend in the 26?

In case he did want to play with wingers

[Hoop Blah]

I'm one of the few people I know who happens to think Henderson is better than Drinkwater and deserves his spot. He's certainly played better than Drinkwater in the couple of friendlies and has consistently done the job Hodgson apparently asks of him well.

If he took Drinkwater would he really threaten a place in the side? Dier is pretty much nailed on as the holding midfielder in whichever formation he plays (I'm yet to be convinced by him as it happens) and Wilshire played that role previously so is presumably the backup.

As for width, well that will come from the fullbacks bombing on (as Vision said) but also from the likes of Vardy, Rooney, Sturridge and Rashford who will be options for the wider roles alongside Kane in a 4-3-3.

[Ian Royal]

Harsh on Drinkwater, making 35 starts for a title-winning side isn't enough?

Midfield was a strong position and I don't think he really grasped his chance and made the choice difficult in his friendly appearances.

Ol' glass legs is fairly lucky there too IMO.

[Royal Rother]

But ol' Glass Legs is the closest to world class we have in England at the moment and appears to be fit and improving with every game so a fair enough mini-gamble.

Wilshere I'm thinking there but he's Glass Ankles so maybe you mean Sturridge... In which case I agree 100%.

Very surprised he's gone.

[Tails]

Drinkwater has been part of something great but looked very average in the friendlies - sometimes good club players don't make the step up. He had his chance and he didn't take it with both hands.

A few in that squad that should count themselves a touch fortuitous (Barkley, Wilshere) but on the whole, not overly critical of the choices. My only concern is the CBs and that is far from a selection related issue.

It is a young squad and although Barkley and Wilshere (to name but two) aren't on fire, the majority of the squad have potentially another 3 major tournaments together.

[Kitsondinho]

Fitness concerns over Henderson and Wilshere so he drops Drinkwater and takes 5 strikers, lol

Yep. But Woy has his favourites. No surprise with the inclusion of Henderson and Wilshire even though on recent form Drinkwater and Noble should be in ahead of them.

I would like to have seen Carrick in there personally. His ball retention is better than any midfielder we have in the squad.

Which is no bloody use if you only have 20% of the possession and he is useless at winning the ball back against better teams.

[Ascotexgunner]

England's back line looks like its made of glass. When Garra Bale runs at em they'll shatter......they look very narrow too. Gunter might have an easy evening if noones running at him and Ashley Williams is is doing all the work.

Unless of course they pick Sterling who will probably spend the evening running past the ball.

[Ian Royal]

But ol' Glass Legs is the closest to world class we have in England at the moment and appears to be fit and improving with every game so a fair enough mini-gamble.

Wilshere I'm thinking there but he's Glass Ankles so maybe you mean Sturridge... In which case I agree 100%.

Very surprised he's gone.

Yeah, Sturridge, though in hindsight it does apply to Wilshere - but I think there's definitely room for him.

[TBM]

Drinkwater has been part of something great but looked very average in the friendlies - sometimes good club players don't make the step up. He had his chance and he didn't take it with both hands.

A few in that squad that should count themselves a touch fortuitous (Barkley, Wilshere) but on the whole, not overly critical of the choices. My only concern is the CBs and that is far from a selection related issue.

It is a young squad and although Barkley and Wilshere (to name but two) aren't on fire, the majority of the squad have potentially another 3 major tournaments together.

I personally think Drinkwater only looked "good" this season due to having Kante working like a struggle pig next to him. He didn't do enough to deserve an England shirt IMHO, the other midfielders have been there for a few years now and Roy knows what they can do.

[No Fixed Abode]

Irrespective of what the squad is, we'll probably get to the quarter final at best again.

[genome]

If Drinkwater was a Liverpool player and Liverpool won the title, and Henderson was a Leicester player and Leicester finished 8th, I don't think Hodgson would've picked an unfit Henderson over him.