A large problem with the England team
- Thread starter spudbynight
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Yeah this is my thinking also. I think it's just so that if Lingard sets the world alight, no other team can pinch him.
Apparently the problem that Hodgson and the staff at England have with Zaha, and to a degree Redmond, is that their defensive abilities are severely lacking. It's another reason why Utd were happy to let Zaha go; he can't defend, won't track back and his overall teamwork is terrible. Hodgson and the England side like to see attacking players who won't undermine the defensive shape of the team - they worked hard to mould Sterling into a better all-rounder, and although he still isn't brilliant at tracking back, he's certainly improved.
I'd have Lingard nowhere near the team if it were down to me, but his roles at BHA, Derby and Birmingham have all seen him player through the middle as well as out wide; something Hodgson looks for too.
I don't really have a problem with fringe players being called up to friendlies. It's a chance for the England staff to see the player train (bearing in mind they don't see them train for their club sides) and to evaluate their future potential. They regularly call up promising U21 players to train with the national squad - Dom Iorfa was training with them recently - and it's a good incentive for young players to strive for and to improve.
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Friendlies don't count. I guess it isn't that.
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Those comments might have applied to Zaha when be was at Man Utd, two years ago, but they aren't the case now. His defensive play is much improved as is his teamwork.
I'm not suggesting Zaha is perfect - just that Lingard hasn't shown himself to be good enough to get in ahead of him.
He's still really weak defensively, so much so that Utd took a massive loss on his fee and no other sizeable Premier League club tried to snap him up. He's a good player, better than Lindgard in terms of achievement thus far, but I wouldn't have either of them near the squad at the moment. Given the 12+ injured players out of the squad, Hodgson obviously wanted to run his eye over a player whom might develop further rather than one he doesn't regard.
It's worthwhile bearing in mind that these players - Lingard, Zaha and loads more - have been in the England youth ranks for years and years, allowing the coaching staff at various levels to gauge their ability, training work, application and suitability. National squad selection is not necessarily just done on a "who's been good in the EPL this month" basis, but with the majority of players having been weighed and evaluated over a significant period of time as part of U15-U21 national squads and youth training camps.
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How much have you seen of Zaha? How many times have you seen him play? (Live games, not on TV)
Soldato
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Lingard should be nowhere near the squad, and nor should Mason, Dier, Dele Alli, etc. Clearly the reason that Lingard shouldn't be near the squad is nothing against big clubs because I've also named players from Spurs
We have more experienced, match-fit players right now that are fit, available and in decent recent form. Deeney, Zaha, Drinkwater, Ward-Prowse, Albrighton, Redmond...
Dier and Alli play very regularly for Spurs and they are playing very well. Why shouldn't they get a call up? Name me 2 CM/DM's at the moment who are playing better than those 2 for their clubs. They proved on Tuesday that they deserved that call up because they were fantastic.
Agree with Mason though. Had a good season last season and hasn't really played since due to injury. Hasn't done anything to merit a call up. Nor has Lingard.
[TW]Sponge;28841692 said:
He did, Drinkwater and Ward-Prowse.
Either way, with the number of injuries at the moment it's irrelevant who gets called up. Alli is the only one who looks like he could be a future England regular, the others are just in the frame because there's no one else left.
Roy just loves to hand caps out like there's no tomorrow, instead he needs to decide whats his best squad and try and keep the same group together as much possible so they all gel and understand each other. Constantly changing the lineups and giving any joe bloggs a cap is not really helping the national side, that and the obvious lack of depth and talent we have. No wonder average players are getting capped these days as there simply is no better alternatives, heck any of us could turn up and Roy would put us in the squad!
I agree, but in small doses, i.e don't just throw any willy nilly on.
There are not many international games anyway including friendlies so constantly mixing it up is not really going to help in identifying our best squad, no wonder we don't have much consistency when it comes to big games because the players still don't really understand each other.
The biggest problem though is and always has been the media "bigging" up our chances, we go unbeaten against mediocre teams and then everyone thinks we are world class until we play one of the big boy teams and lose. The problem is average players suddenly believe the hype and think they are better than they really are, look at our pool of players in the past 5 years or so and they are extremely average apart from the odd one or two who actually deserve their place.
Unfortunately I don't think anything can be done to make England a good team that can actually challenge for anything, I am not been negative here but honest. Look at the talent other major countries have whether experienced or up and coming in comparison to the players available to us and it's clear to see we are a very poor, very average side with an even poorer manager.
Unless we play teams like San Marino every week England have zero chance of winning anything. What's even more funny is other teams tell us we are a strong side capable of winning major tournaments and we believe it only to get trampled on.
A fair bit - When my team were away and I wasn't able to make it I would head to Palace games as a mate's a fan.