by Hoop Blah »
29 Feb 2012 12:39
BR2 Dare to Dr£am Mr Angry Parker chosen as skipper; Stevie G will be disappointed no doubt!
Good choice!
I think Parker is very fortunate to even be in the squad let alone play AND be captain.
This looks like an attempt by Pearce to stamp his mark-the same Pearce who inspired (?) such a woefull performance by the U21s last year and who's tactical acumen begins and ends with "hit it long".
Having watched quite a bit of the U21s in the summer I'd have to agree that Pearce shouldn't be allowed near the full squad for the Euro's later in the year. He made some very odd selections and choices in the summer and didn't get anywhere near the most out of the players he had in the squad.
Not sure he's trying to 'stamp his mark' though. He's said he wants the incoming manager to learn things from this friendly. You could argue you won't learn anything by giving Gerrard the armband but you will by letting Parker have it for this one-off occassion.
BR2 The picking of Campbell,Carson and Downing was ridiculous in the extreme.
Vorm got called up for his country and yet in-form players like Holt,Graham (the 2 leading English strikers in the Premier League)and Dyer are not deemed good enough for England.
Vorm's been in and around the Dutch squad for years now though. He's got 9 caps and made his debut in 2009. He's quite established in the squad now so not sure what relevance he has to the debate.
Who's looked a better left winger than Downing over the last 18 months or so? He's an established player in the squad and as I said previously, I do think you need to have some consistency in selection and not just pick the players who've done well in the last 4 or 5 weeks when building a national squad. Getting the balance right is a touch one I guess, and one that I don't think previous managers have got quite right, especially Sven in his latter years.
I think Carson actually had quite a decent season last year as it happens. Obviously not seen any of his performances this season but I doubt he's done much to be dropped.
BR2 Pearce appears to have just gone with players that he knows which is too narrow-minded an approach IMHO.
Maybe true but I don't see Holt or Graham being long term answers for England. Welbeck and Sturridge should certainly be players that are looked at and I can't see that many would argue for Holt or Grahams inclusion over and above them.
Capello was seemingly trying to move the England team to a more fluid and passing system of play that used a bit of pace upfront. Perhaps Pearce was looking at options to back up or replace Bent (probably needed now he's out injured) with like for like and neither Holt nor Graham are likely to be the kind of options for that.
It shows a bit of a lack of depth, but you have to remember that Pearce is looking for this to be a bit of an experimental squad, but without it being totally left field.
3 goals from 6 games in 2011