Sunday 1 April 2012

Let's talk about England.

Hi Scorers- thought I'd talk a bit about the England team.

The main debates amongst fans at the moment are:

-Who should the next England manager be? 

This is a topic that has dragged on for while now, because I can't think of any other reason why the FA are choosing the manager with such little urgency than that they have agreed to wait until the end of the season to hire Harry Redknapp. That must be what the FA are doing- otherwise, why wait so long with the Euro's just around the corner? However, if it were me making the decision, I quite controversially would opt for Stuart Pearce to take the job full-time.

My thinking is that we need to be planning ahead. As far as I'm concerned, we need to blood the young players as early as possible. In international football you don't have the ability to just go and buy players, your youth players ARE your future. Whether you like it or not. My philosophy would be to start with a clean slate, sacrifice the Euros, for building a team for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. That way, the first team players then will have been trained to the best of their abilities and playing at the peak of their careers- look at the success Germany have had with a similar philosophy. 

Bearing that approach in mind, I just think that Stuart Pearce would already have the respect of some of the former U21 internationals who he coached. Despite a slightly tapered managerial career so far, he has demonstrated great motivational skills and won't be afraid to make decisions that will hurt players- I think thats essential. Capello had that but the fact he didn't have that bit of English blood and pride- maybe meant it didn't mean as much to him to succeed as it would for Stuart Pearce.

As for Harry Redknapp, I think he will get the job but I personally think it's too late in his career to be England manager, we need a long-term option- someone that can bring young players through and motivate them to play to the best of their abilities. For me, that man is Stuart Pearce.   

-Who should be given the England captain's armband for Euro 2012?  

My immediate thoughts for that position are Phil Jones and Jack Wilshere. Purely for their durability and my favoured outlook- to place emphasis on building for the future. Having said that, I think I may have to compromise that philosophy as I think it would be a massive gamble.

Though I see either of them as great potential captains one day, they are still maybe a bit too inexperienced and I think that decision could cause a rift within the squad. You can't play an entire team of youngsters. As far as I'm concerned John Terry has gone. Although all of what we hear on the news isn't necessarily all true, I just think he creates a bad image, and he's a bit too old anyway. Like him, I think we need to gradually get rid of players like Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick. They've had their chances and they've blown it. For me, I'm leaning towards Scott Parker as captain- by all accounts he's an inspiring guy and nearly kept West Ham up single-handedly last season.
He will also provide great use to the first team by dropping back into defensive midfield, always having time on the ball and being able to snuff attacks out very quickly. I'll expect Jack Rodwell to do that kind of job in the long-term. That will allow more attack-minded midfield players a lot more creative freedom.

I'd be inclined to give vice-captaincy to... Paul Scholes. Yes, this gives away who I'd pick for the 23-man squad for the Euro's but he leads by example. Players like Jack Wilshere, Tom Cleverley, James Milner can learn an awful lot from him. I think he is the best English passer of a ball.

-Who should be in the 23-man squad for the Euros?

Goalkeepers

Joe Hart- still young for a keeper and current England no.1. Reliable as well.
Ben Foster- least bad option really. Don't fancy Green or Carson, no prizes for guessing why. 2nd choice by default.

Defence

Micah Richards- 23, great fitness and competing at the top. Plays with Joe Hart also. Our best right-back.
Gary Cahill- 26, great compromise between experience and long-term future planning. Is in great form for Chelsea.
Phil Jones- 20, a bit of a gamble, lacks experience. Given recent England performances in major tournaments, one we have to take. I see him as a great future captain, he's versatile and Ferguson rates him. I'm excited about his progress.
Leighton Baines- I hate Ashley Cole. He's gone as far as I'm concerned- we don't have many other left-backs, and Baines has half a decent free-kick on him.
Rio Ferdinand- he has a winning mentality about him. Would work well with Phil Jones if Cahill was sidelined. There's experience there and could help out some of the younger players.
Chris Smalling- very versatile, could gain some valuable experience to develop.
Kyle Walker- I've been very impressed with this lad at right-back for Spurs, he gets forward, creates goals, scores the odd one, decent defender. Would have no quams putting him in the team if Richards couldn't play. At 21, he's got a future.

Midfield

Scott Parker- so many ways he could benefit the team, influence, time on the ball, drops back to give creative midfielders license to get forward. For me, he was the missing piece of the jigsaw to the Lampard-Gerrard problem a few years ago.
Paul Scholes- if the new boss could call him out of retirement, I think any team would love to have someone like Paul Scholes in their side. He leads by example, he can ping the ball to wherever he wants with ease, he links up play. You give him the ball and he won't give it away. I think it's important to have players like that in the team- otherwise why have Spain and Barcelona been so successful?
Jack Wilshere- raw talent written all over this player. Hard graft, flair, pace, passing, dribbling, creating space, honesty. I think to have all of this in abundance at 20 speaks volumes. If his injury's impact on his game isn't a telling one, this kid can be world class.
Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain- when Arsene Wenger signed this 17-year-old boy from Southampton reserves for £12 million, I actually thought Wenger had gone insane. How well Chamberlain has done this season for Arsenal, is absolutely miraculous. On his day, I've seen him tear defences appart. What I say: stick him in on the left, take a gamble, use him as our secret weapon- he can terrorise defences.
Theo Walcott- I know, a bit of an Arsenal theme coming in here. I just feel that, the combination of Walcott, Chamberlain and RVP has been sensational. If we play Theo + Alex as wingers to cut inside, I think the effects could be devastating.
James Milner- rotating Milner and Wilshere, the previous five are my starting midfield. I think Milner can certainly bring fitness to the equation as a box-to-box midfielder. Possibly taking the Lampard role going forward- arriving late in the box unmarked. His stamina will lift the team I think.
Jack Rodwell- can come on for Scott Parker if he tires. I think he can be a big part of the future England team- he has allround ability and doesn't lack work rate and desire. All this and he is still just 21.
Ashley Young- because of his 'secret weapon' factor and young age, I'd say Oxlade-Chamberlain just pips Young to the post for a first team place, though Young's technical ability won't go amiss as an impact substitute.
Steven Gerrard- I think his attitude, hunger and professionalism at Liverpool will give him at least a place on the plane to Ukraine, he can be a bit of a mentor for some of the younger players. If it was me picking, I'd say Gerrard is best on the bench- personally I'd have Scholes and Wilshere ahead of him with reluctance.
Adam Johnson- basically there to make up the numbers and as cover for Walcott/Chamberlain. I don't rate him too highly.
Tom Cleverley- was in the Man United team at the start of the season- beating the likes of Fletcher and Carrick to do so. Certainly not a player to be underestimated
Gareth Barry- will provide a bit of experience. Owen Hargreaves type of player, good player to bring on with a lead late in the second  half to slow the tempo down and hold onto the win by reducing opposition chances and space.

Attack

Wayne Rooney- he will miss the first few games, but is undoubtably worthy of a place on the flight- he's our best player and can score goals. Needs little justification.
Daniel Sturridge- they spend £50 million on an experienced, Spanish striker. And who is Chelsea's top scorer? A product of the Manchester City academy. He's done brilliantly in what has been an otherwise lacklustre season for Chelsea. At 22, he's got the talent to go far and will be playing at his peak during the world cup.
Danny Welbeck- has obviously had the talent to impress Ferguson enough to get a first team place this season at United ahead of Berbatov, the side's top scorer last season and Hernandez, who formed a noticeably strong partnership with Rooney. He must have something about him.
Andy Carroll- has not really made the grade at Liverpool, but I can't see a more lucrative alternative.

These are my thoughts, some controversial ones there, but what do you think?