Michael Carrick (Manchester United) – Despite being out of favour for a number of years internationally, Carrick has matured so much over the last couple of seasons. The defensive aspects of his game have improved greatly which, along with his outstanding passing ability, make him another who can provide protection to the back four as well being the sort of play-maker England have lacked since Paul Scholes’s retirement.
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) – Hopefully the captain who will lead the side out in June. Although he doesn’t appear to be completely over the injury problems which have plagued him for the last couple of years, the talismanic midfielder is still the best in England in ‘the hole’ behind the striker.
Frank Lampard (Chelsea) – Lampard symbolises the re-emergence of the so-called golden generation who have been maligned and criticised for being past it, particularly after the World Cup in South Africa. Along with Ashley Cole and Rio Ferdinand, the Chelsea man has proved just how important he is to his side and how big-a-player he can be for England. A man mountain in his side’s two-legged victory over Barcelona, the box to box midfielder is likely to be on the plane.
James Milner (Manchester City) – Has matured into a very good midfield player. He is equally effective in the middle or out on the wings. Proved his worth in last summer’s world cup and has secured a regular spot in the City side, which is no mean feat. Very versatile and a real battler, Milner should go, even as cover.
Ashley Young (Manchester United) – Our best winger without a doubt. Has just returned from injury as is as dangerous as anyone in the world when he cuts in onto that right foot. He has chipped in healthily for United in the goal department and has impressed massively in his recent perfomances for England. Let’s just hope he leaves his diving trunks back in England…
Adam Johnson (Manchester City) – Adam Johnson is for many fans a breath of fresh air. Not in the Lennon, Agbonlahor, Walcott, Pedro mould, Johnson is different and can create something from very little, with the ability to beat a player and providing exceptional service from wide. It wouldn’t do him any harm getting some more playing time elsewhere, because at the moment, his lack of appearances is all I can see which could keep him off the plane.
Theo Walcott (Arsenal) – With 8 goals and 8 assists, Walcott has been the most successful England wide man this season. While he does not possess the quality, in my eyes, of the likes of Adam Johnson and even Aaron Lennon, he does provide England with another option up-front, if England are short in that area as we expect them to be. On his day he can be devastating, but also inept when it isn’t. So let’s hope it is when it comes to England’s first game against France in a month’s time.
Forwards:
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) – Despite his much documented problems at last year’s world cup, the Manchester United striker is a certainty to go. His goal scoring record for United has been exceptional over the last couple of years and if he can replicate that form for England, they can certainly go all the way. Will be missed during the two games for which he is banned.
Andy Carroll (Liverpool) – A few month’s previous to this, I wrote out my sqaud for the Euros, and was criticised for including Andy Carroll as one of my strikers. On the back of his performances I feel vindicated, but not just because he has scored some important goals in recent games. For me, the rationale for selecting Carroll has not changed. One of the problems England have faced in recent years is the lack of a plan B, someone they can look to, to provide them with something different. Carroll is different. He terrifies defenders and is effective both in the air and using his feet. His destruction of John Terry on Tuesday sums this up. The young Geordie would probably be my selection for England’s games when Rooney is injured and I wouldn’t bet against him working alongside Rooney when he returns from his ban.
Peter Crouch (Stoke City) – Peter Crouch’s international record is often overlooked. He has the highest minute:goal ratio of any England striker, at 0.91, with the myth of him scoring only against the weaker teams being simply that, a myth. Crouch has scored 14 goals this season since his summer move from Spurs which, coupled with his unique style of play and proven International record, mean he deserves to go to Poland and Ukraine.
Danny Welbeck (Manchester United) – When I originally wrote down an England Squad for Euro 2012 earlier on this year, I chose to take Daniel Sturridge instead of his name-sake Welbeck. But while the Chelsea man has faded in the last few months, Welbeck has kept his place in United’s side, scoring important goals in and amongst his tally of 12 for the season as a whole. Given their club partnership, Welbeck would be the perfect man to partner Rooney if England decided to play 4-4-2 and deserves his chance.
PREFERRED XI AND FORMATION:
Hart
Walker Ferdinand Cahill Cole
Parker Carrick
A.Johnson Gerrard A.Young
Rooney
(Carroll when Rooney is suspended)
Do you agree?
Twitter: DannyM_93
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I feel Lennon should go. Perhaps not as a starter but feel he could make a big impact coming on as a sub if we are a goal down. It is difficult however to pick which player would have to make room.
Exactly the problem. I originally did have him in my squad because he’s better than walcott, but he’s been injured a lot and hasnt found any consistency, I know Walcott is injured at the moment, but given he has had the most success makes it hard to leave him out
I see what you mean about Walcott as it is handy to use him as an option up front and so feel he probably should go. Considered your choice of Johnson, but then after thinking about it i’d also agree with this choice. Johnson has done quite well whenever he has played for England and always looks a threat. The player you have I think could be sacrificed for Lennon is Milner. You have selected four central midfield players that I believe are better players than him so I guess you have added him in one of the four winger slots. I believe Lennon to be a better option as a winger than Milner but it is a difficult one. In general though think your team is decent but unfortunately looks like the right side of your first team defence are out of the tournament.
Yeah agree with nearly all of this, I’d maybe take Ruddy over the bin-man impressionist Carson but that doesn’t really matter.
As far as the strikers go, there’s a massive group of them that you can argue should go, but they all seem to have big nos against their names too – Sturridge, Welbeck, Carroll, Bent (if fit), Defoe, Crouch, Holt. Knew you’d go for Carroll though!
I think defoe should go, and maybe (maybe) Joe cole, who’s been brilliant in France this year. Defoe would be much fresher as he hasn’t been a week in, week out starter over the last year. Carroll for me should miss out, purely because one swallow does not make a summer, and he should wait. The plan b you speak of could be provided by crouch or even holt. Also I think ruddy should go as second choice keeper
I understand where you’re coming from with regards to Carroll in terms of goals but if you’ve been watching him since Christmas he’s been fantastic on many occassions for liverpool but his work goes unnoticed. I did think about Defoe, and maybe would him include if given the chance again, it was tough! With regards to Ruddy, I also wanted him to go, but his lack of international experience was a turn off, I wanted him to play in some of the friendlies, and the same applies to Holt who has been fantastic too