England Squad

[SaintHacker]

Step forward Sir Rickie Lambert! (finally!)
Well done Roy for finally realising there are other English strikers than Rooney.

 

[In_The_Rough]

Sorry but not at 31 giving him his first cap. Waste of time, if we do not qualify for Brazil next year then by the time of the next tournament he will be nearly 35 years old

 

[golfsaint]

Rickie Lambert red & white goal machine
!! come on rickie show the public what they have been missing !!, and if we get a penalty give it to him !! he wont miss!

 

[Fader]

Sorry but not at 31 giving him his first cap. Waste of time, if we do not qualify for Brazil next year then by the time of the next tournament he will be nearly 35 years old

^^This for me.

Whilsts its good to see players outside the big teams get a call up, surely we should be looking to youth and building for beyond 2014 rather than trying to stick a plaster over the current cracks

 

[In_The_Rough]

I am not a big fan of selecting people from just the big sides but surely we have to look to the future? We ain't got a prayer in Brazil anyway so why not have young blood in there. Try Charlie Austin for example in a friendly or two somebody in their early twenties.

 

[Dodger]

Lambert in but no Hooper.

Good to see from a Scotland point of view.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Just what I was thinking Dodger.

Weird decision and I'm not a great Hooper fan!

Still we've got Kenny Misser to worry them.

 

[SaintHacker]

Sorry but not at 31 giving him his first cap. Waste of time, if we do not qualify for Brazil next year then by the time of the next tournament he will be nearly 35 years old

I agree totally about the next world cup, but the fact of the matter is he was the highest scoring Englishman last season so deserves his chance. Roys left it too late to blood any youngsters for next year anyway, if Rickie keeps bangig them in this season then we could do a lot worse in Brazil!

 

[In_The_Rough]

I agree totally about the next world cup, but the fact of the matter is he was the highest scoring Englishman last season so deserves his chance. Roys left it too late to blood any youngsters for next year anyway, if Rickie keeps bangig them in this season then we could do a lot worse in Brazil!

Hear what you are saying. I cannot dispute what you have said regarding his stats they are facts. However do not agree with short term fixes never have done. We have not got a hope in hell out in Brazil if we qualify which is in some doubt so bring fresh legs and faces into the side so the team gets time to get used to each other for the euro's. I also do not think Lambert is an international player, good for Southampton in the prem granted, but international player sorry not for me. Good luck for the season anyway I have a lot of time for Southampton - how can you dislike a team that gave us Le Tiss

 

[Fader]

I agree totally about the next world cup, but the fact of the matter is he was the highest scoring Englishman last season so deserves his chance. Roys left it too late to blood any youngsters for next year anyway, if Rickie keeps bangig them in this season then we could do a lot worse in Brazil!

I actually disagree with this, whilst its nice to see Lambert get rewarded for being consistent with his goal scoring since promotion I don't think this or any short term fix is a good thing.

There are only ever 2 years between tournament football what with Euros/World Cup which means unless your committed to accept that one of these this time around (in this case world cup) is a feeder or better word Breeder tournament for bringing through young players to get them used to the biggest stage and build for the future all that will ever happen is players like Lambert get a call up as an Elastoplast to stick over for the short term.

Glenn Hoddle got it best in a recent interview in that now is time to bring in the youngsters, write off 2014 as an experience building tournament and get these young players ready for 2016 & 2018.

If we make it to Brazil do we really think someone like Lambert is the answer or Lampard at 35! No we need to grow some balls and blood the youngster sooner not later as in 2 years they won't be the youngsters they'll just be inexperienced because we've stuck to our usual of playing those we know rather than those we want to grow.

 

[Pin-seeker]

I actually disagree with this, whilst its nice to see Lambert get rewarded for being consistent with his goal scoring since promotion I don't think this or any short term fix is a good thing.

There are only ever 2 years between tournament football what with Euros/World Cup which means unless your committed to accept that one of these this time around (in this case world cup) is a feeder or better word Breeder tournament for bringing through young players to get them used to the biggest stage and build for the future all that will ever happen is players like Lambert get a call up as an Elastoplast to stick over for the short term.

Glenn Hoddle got it best in a recent interview in that now is time to bring in the youngsters, write off 2014 as an experience building tournament and get these young players ready for 2016 & 2018.

If we make it to Brazil do we really think someone like Lambert is the answer or Lampard at 35! No we need to grow some balls and blood the youngster sooner not later as in 2 years they won't be the youngsters they'll just be inexperienced because we've stuck to our usual of playing those we know rather than those we want to grow.

This is exactly what Germany did a few years back when their national team were struggling, & look at them now.
Were not going to do anything in Brazil so why not go with youth & prepare for 2016.

 

[gripitripit]

Roy picked the U21's too...and not a Villa player in there..which is a poor show considering Villa's kids won the NextGen series which is like the Champions League for the U21's