The England squad has been announced for the home game against San Marino and away match against Poland. The full squad list is below, with a few thoughts about the selections.
Goalkeepers:
Fraser Forster, Celtic, Caps: 0, Goals: 0. The 6’7″ keeper received his first call-up for this squad. He clearly did enough on loan at Celtic to persuade Neil Lennon to sign him permanently, but I think he is very much the third choice out of the three keepers, though it will help his development to be with the squad.
Joe Hart, Manchester City, Caps: 24, Goals: 0. Undoubtedly the England first choice, and one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Emphasised the gap between himself and the other England keeping options with an excellent display in Man City’s draw against Dortmund in the Champions League. The most confidence-inspiring England keeper for years.
John Ruddy, Norwich City, Caps : 1, Goals: 0. Hasn’t had the easiest start to the season, conceding 5 at home against Liverpool over the weekend, but much of that is down to the porous defence in front of him. A good keeper, and a competent back-up at international level. In the next couple of years will be competing with Jack Butland as second choice behind Hart.
Defenders:
Leighton Baines, Everton, Caps: 11, Goals: 1. Unlucky to be playing at the same time as Ashley Cole, but I don’t think there is much of a gap between the two of them this season. I like the added dimension of his set piece ability, and I think he will push Cole close for the starting position, especially given the strength of opponent and the two players respective ages.
Gary Cahill, Chelsea, Caps: 10, Goals: 2. The natural successor to John Terry in both the national and Chelsea teams. A very good footballer as well as an excellent defender, I think he ought to be one of the first choice centre-backs now that his club captain has retired. Rarely seems flustered or pressured, and was excellent under the spotlight in the Champions League final while playing with an injured leg.
Ashley Cole, Chelsea, Caps: 98, Goals: 0. The best left-back in the world, one of the most consistent performers for both club and country. Ought to make it to 100 caps in these two games, and extend his record for most caps for England by a fullback.
Kieran Gibbs, Arsenal, Caps: 2, Goals: 0. Picked ahead of Ryan Bertrand, who I feel was unlucky to miss out, but hasn’t logged the game time that Gibbs has. Developed into a good Premier League player since the departure of Clichy to Man City. In a few years he and Bertrand will be competing for the left-back position much as Baines and Cole do today. England future at left-back looks highly promising.
Phil Jagielka, Everton, Caps: 14, Goals: 1. Has been lost in the John Terry retirement shuffle a little, but I think he ought to partner Cahill as the England centre backs. An excellent all-round defender, and less prone to a mistake than Lescott.
Glen Johnson, Liverpool, Caps: 42, Goals: 1. If he does start, he will be playing for position. Very strong going forward, but his defending has never filled me with a great deal of confidence.
Joleon Lescott, Manchester City, Caps: 23, Goals: 1. Good last season, suspect this time round. Lost his place in the City defence over the last few games, and I think will be in for a similar fate here. Seems to have a mistake in him defensively this year.
Ryan Shawcross, Stoke City, Caps: 0, Goals: 0. Seems to be next in line in the centre back ranks. An underrated footballer, given the style his club side play, but very physical and a good defender. Think he is the fourth centre back in the squad, but might get some game time off the bench.
Kyle Walker, Tottenham Hotspur, Caps: 3, Goals: 0. I think he ought to be the first choice England right back – though I like Micah Richards as well more than Glen Johnson. As good as the Liverpool man going forward, and a better defender.
Midfielders:
Michael Carrick, Manchester United, Caps: 24, Goals: 0. Never seems to totally convince at international level, but also not given a lot of opportunities. Didn’t want to go to Euro 2012 as a back-up, but I think that will be his role in this squad as well.
Tom Cleverley, Manchester United, Caps: 3, Goals: 0, One of the young generation, and has been used in the Number 10 role. I think he can play here, but will need to improve on his work inside the area if he is to really seize his chance to make the position his.
Steven Gerrard, Liverpool, Caps: 98, Goals: 19. Another to look to make it to 100 caps during this set of matches. I think that his time as an England regular is coming to an end, and while he has been consistent for England, I think that the system is not particularly suited to his strengths.
Adam Johnson, Sunderland, Caps: 12, Goals: 2. Playing more regularly at Sunderland will make it possible for him to push for more national selections. I think that he could be a very useful player for England, but will need to find consistency this season. Doesn’t particularly blow me away as a player, but he has got some talent.
Aaron Lennon, Tottenham Hotspur, Caps: 19, Goals: 0. Still only 25. Seems to have been around for quite a while now. He has done well so far under AVB at Spurs, and offers a slightly more consistent threat than Theo Walcott for England. Also combines well with Defoe, so should be looking at getting a start.
Frank Lampard, Chelsea, Caps: 93, Goals: 26. One of England’s most consistent players of the last few years, especially since he seems to always be blamed for the Gerrard/Lampard midfield combination not working. Has adapted to be more of a deep-lying midfielder for Chelsea, and should take up a similar role for England.
James Milner, Manchester City, Caps: 33, Goals: 1. Not been a regular for City this season, but can be relied on to work hard, even if not the most spectacular of players. I think that he is a good player to have in the squad, but would not be in my starting XI – and his versatility is a real bonus too.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenal, Caps: 7, Goals: 0. Already a better wide player than Walcott, his development will be important for the national team over the next few years. I would like to see him start on the opposite wing to Lennon, to really give the team some attacking threat out wide.
Theo Walcott, Arsenal, Caps: 29, Goals: 9. I am surprised he has been picked, given how rarely he has played for Arsenal so far this season. A talent, but needs to add more to his game than speed – has not got the rounded game that Gareth Bale has, for instance. The next incarnation of Shaun Wright-Phillips so far. A good bench option for when the game opens out, but not much more.
Forwards:
Andy Carroll, West Ham United, Caps: 8, Goals: 2. Just back from injury, and still not quite in form, I would be surprised to see Carroll get a lot of match time, certainly against San Marino. He fits the West Ham system well, and can cause defenders problems with his physicality, but not the most technical of players. I don’t think he is quite up to being an international regular.
Jermain Defoe, Tottenham Hotspur, Caps: 51, Goals: 17. The in-form forward in the England squad, has excelled as the single striker in the Tottenham system, and I think he could do the same for England. Ought to start.
Wayne Rooney, Manchester United, Caps: 76, Goals: 29. Recently recovered from a nasty thigh injury, Rooney is certainly an important player for England, even if his club’s reliance on him has been lessened this season. I think he could work very well playing behind Defoe, so that he can pick up the ball a little deeper and still have options ahead of him. England ought to be able to win without him being at his best
Daniel Welbeck, Manchester United, Caps: Caps: 11, Goals: 2. I don’t think he is quite ready yet, but these are the kind of games where he can get a chance. Fallen down the pecking order at United following the arrival of Van Persie. Needs to get regular games for them to warrant an England place.
Starting XI:
From the above squad of players, this would be my starting team
Hart
Walker, Cahill, Jagielka, Cole
Lampard, Carrick
Lennon, Rooney, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Defoe
Missing players:
Either through injury or just not being picked, here are a couple of players I think should also be in the mix:
Ryan Bertrand, Chelsea, Caps: 2, Goals: 0. I think he will succeed Cole as Chelsea fullback, and could do for England. He is also a good option on the left wing – he started his first Champions League match as a winger in the final.
Phil Jones, Manchester United, Caps: 5, Goals: 0. Once he is fit and playing regularly, Jones will be an England regular. If he can stay healthy. Offers the potential to play as a midfielder as well. He is a very good player.
Micah Richards, Manchester City, Caps: 13, Goals: 1. Again, needs to get healthy, then needs to be playing for his club. I think he ought to be competing with Walker for the right back position, and he adds a level of physicality that I like, as well as being a threat going forward.
Daniel Sturridge, Chelsea, Caps: 3, Goals: 0. Currently injured, and second choice at his club, I think that if Sturridge is able to get regular games he can force his way into the mix as one of the England forwards. Can be selfish at times, but offers the versatility of playing out wide as well as down the middle. Never seems to lack in confidence.
Peter Crouch, Stoke City, Caps: 42, Goals: 22. His record has been padded by some goals against poor opposition, but I can’t think of anything more he can do at his club to warrant selection. You may not be a fan of their style, but Crouch is playing very well at the moment, and I think ought to be in the squad ahead of Carroll.
Darren Bent: Aston Villa, Caps: 13, Goals: 4. Dropped by his club, then rescued them a point against West Brom over the weekend. He is a goalscorer, and his all-round game is not too bad either. Deserves more chances than he has been given, and I think could have been picked ahead of Welbeck.
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