England

[Phil]

Ubeep knows best

[Andy K]

What was the score? I still don't know

[Phil]

1-1 Carroll for England on 43 mins. Gyan equalised on 88

[Phil]

In light of the most recent round of qualifiers against Bulgaria and Wales it seems we have not really moved on in Capello's time as manager. Qualification goes, generally, well with the odd poor display (particularly at home) and there is a general press clamour to claim us as world beaters or total dross when the truth is somewhere in between.

Personally I'd like to see Capello out sooner rather than later with an ENGLISH manager taking his place. It's easy to jump on the Redknapp bandwagon and he certainly has alot of the qualities you'd want - motivator, good communicator, likes his teams to have a go etc but I'd also be happy taking a leaf out of the Welsh book and going for a young manager with little or no experience.

It worked with Hughes and is looking promising with Speed. It also worked for Germany with Klinsmann and then Lowe. I believe that with young managers like this you get a natural phase out of the older players whch we have needed for some time anyway.

As much as I don't particularly like Shearer he is one that would fit this criteria and could utilise the experience of someone like Ray Wilkins (just an example).

On the player front I think we have some quality in the likes of Young, Downing, Rooney, Walcott, Milner, Wilshere, Hart & Cahill, others coming through from the U21's like Jones, Carroll, Cleverley, Rodwell & Smalling who have some potential and with a bit of luck and some good guidance will progress into the senior squad and team.

Assuming we do get the point needed in Montenegro I would expect us to make the quarter finals next summer and maybe, with a bit of luck the Semi's but Spain & Germany are far better than us just now and the Dutch & French seem to play with a bit more confidence.

[Phil]

It's only taken 2 years but finally that overpaid, overhyped Postman Pat lookalike is gone!!

Now PLEASE can we have an ENGLISH manager leading the ENGLAND team.
I would rather be rubbish with an Englishman than good with a foreigner but let's be honest we were rubbish with a foreigner anyway!!

[Phil]

So it's Woy! What does everyone think?
Personally i'm glad we've gone English but i'm disappointed the FA didn't at least interview other candidates as it would have given the appointment more authority. I like Roy and I believe he should of been in this job before now but, unfortunately, to do well with England you need the 'red tops' on side and they firmly backed Redknapp so it makes it more difficult for the new man.

We have some good young players and I'd like to see Hodgson take a large chunk of those this summer to begin the process early for the next campaign simply because I don't think we can win this tournament.

[Phil]

A week from now we'll know the England squad for Euro 2012 and I am expecting a few surprises from the new man. Assuming there are no fitness issues this is mine:

Goalkeepers:
Hart
Foster
Ruddy

Defenders:
Walker, Johnson
Cole, Baines
Lescott, Ferdinand, Cahill, Jones

Midfielfders:
Gerrard, Lampard, Parker, Carrick
Young, Dyer, Downing, Walcott

Forwards:
Carroll
Rooney
Wellbeck
Sturridge

I'd keep Smalling, Defoe, Cleverly, Barry and Richards on standby

What would you do?

[Phil]

A week from now we'll know the England squad for Euro 2012 and I am expecting a few surprises from the new man. Assuming there are no fitness issues this is mine:

Goalkeepers:
Hart
Green
Ruddy

Defenders:
Richards, Johnson
Cole, Baines
Lescott, Jagielka, Cahill, Jones

Midfielfders:
Gerrard, Lampard, Parker, Carrick
Young, Dyer, Downing, Walcott

Forwards:
Carroll
Rooney
Wellbeck
Sturridge

I'd keep Defoe, Cleverly, Barry on standby

What would you do?

Made a couple of revisions after hearing about a few injuries and the omission of Rio

[Phil]

It's official

England squad for Euro 2012:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Rob Green (West Ham), John Ruddy (Norwich)

Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man United), John Terry (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton)

Midfielders: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Man United), James Milner (Man City)

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man United), Danny Welbeck (Man United), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)

Standby players: Jack Butland (Birmingham City), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea).

For me the big one is Carrick not even being on standby. I think that is an absolute disgrace.

[Andy K]

Scratch that squad, Lampard out! Bring on the midfield leg-end Jordan Henderson.

Our chances are getting slimmer by the day. I think we have gone from no chance, to "are you fucking kidding me?" chance.

I smell a Euro 88 all over again.