Team GB selection policies confirmed…do you agree with the criteria?

 

By Tony Alvarez

It was announced yesterday that no player that is selected for the Euro 2012 championships will be selected for the London Olympics due to fatigue and also to keep relations strong between the clubs and the Football Association.

Of course initially this only effects English players as none of the other home nations qualified for Euro 2012, however there is still some disagreement whether players from other nations will play and the FA has contacted players to see if they would like to be considered for selection.

It is thought that Welsh players Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey of Tottenham and Arsenal respectively are both interested in being part of the tournament next summer.

The squad will consist of 18 men 15 of which must be under 23 and the other 3 can be of any age.

The manager of the GB men’s squad Stuart Pearce said about today’s announcement “It’s a sensible football decision when you consider the demands on players, and it now leaves no room for doubt for players and their clubs about next summer and the two major tournaments”

Although it will come as a relief to many managers and fans who primarily focus on club Football it will mean that the team GB side will be a lot weaker than initially thought, players such as Chris Smalling, Jack Wilshere, and Phil Jones to name just a few look likely to be selected for the Euro 2012 squad fitness permitting meaning they will not be in consideration for London 2012.

It had originally been thought before yesterdays announcement that no player would be made unavailable for selection and that players were likely to compete in both competitions much to the dismay of managers throughout the Premier League.

I personally think the decision is a great decision for the game inEnglandwhere many fans are proud in calling their league the best on earth. For me it is also a sensible decision and should mean there is a good balance between the standard of the Team GB squad and the Barclays Premier League.

It will also please managers such as Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger who could of lost stars such as Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere. However it will not all be joy for Wenger who could lose Ramsey until September should team GB progress through the tournament.

What are your thoughts? Is the decision to not select players for both tournaments the correct one? Will the decision help to raise the level of the Premier League? Will Team GB still have a chance of Olympic gold without the players who go to Euro 2012

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Can England secure Euro 2012 qualification tonight?

By Laurie Fitzgerald

Tonight sees England take on Montenegro in Podgorica knowing that at least a draw will secure their place at Euro 2012 next summer.

Fabio Capello‘s men currently sit six points clear of this evening’s opponents going into the final two round of fixtures.

But England will be well aware that with this fixture being their final qualifying game, Montenegro can still technically finish above them if they cause a shock.

A win tonight followed up by three points in Switzerland on Tuesday means that Montenegro would win the group as they’d have a better head-to-head record, leaving England to try and qualify through the play-offs.

So England cannot afford to be complacent and make sure that they don’t need any favours from the Swiss next week.

Capello has caused a stir going into the match with his squad selection, with some notable absentees from the 24-man squad.

The Italian has left out the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Joleon Lescott, Daniel Sturridge and Jermain Defoe as he keeps the faith in those that have performed in recent games.

Ferdinand is the biggest shock having worked his way back to full fitness, and it is a dramatic fall from grace for the man that was still England skipper only six months ago.

He has been ousted by the likes of Manchester United team-mates Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, who have filled in admirably in the absence of the more experienced Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Jones’ remarkable rise could now see him replace Gary Cahill at the heart of the defence and partner captain John Terry for this crucial game.

Gerrard’s exclusion is more understandable with the influential Liverpool midfielder only just returning from a lengthy lay-off and admitting that this week’s international duty has come round too soon for him.

The absence of Lescott, Sturridge and Defoe is more surprising as all three have been in impressive form for Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham respectively.

Bobby Zamora was the selection that caught the eye, as the Fulham striker is now fully fit having put the heartache of his broken leg from last campaign behind him.

While Montenegro are set to pose a much sterner test than their last away trip in Bulgaria, England are expected to line up with a similar team that won comfortably in Sofia last month, but with a tweak in the formation.

Having played around with different strategies such as 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3, the Italian may now resort back to 4-4-2 if he decides to play someone up top with Wayne Rooney.

Joe Hart will start in goal, with Terry and Jones set to get the nod at centre-back and Ashley Cole performing his usual duties at left-back.

There is an interesting selection headache at right-back with both Micah Richards and Kyle Walker impressing in recent weeks and vying to replace the injured Smalling, who played in that position in the previous two qualifiers.

Scott Parker is set to start ahead of Gareth Barry in the holding midfield role instead of alongside him - then there is a battle for who will be selected in the more attacking central midfield role.

It seems that the supposedly finished Frank Lampard will start with Parker having scored four goals in his last two games for Chelsea after being dropped for the Bulgaria game five weeks ago.

Lampard’s experience could play a big part in what is sure to be an intense atmosphere, and it will be a surprise if the 33 year-old is left out of the starting XI.

Ashley Young seems a certainty after his excellent season so far on the wing, and Stewart Downing is expected to fill the other wide berth after being one of the few to impress in their narrow win at home to Wales last time out, although Theo Walcott has been a regular throughout the campaign and may edge out the Liverpool man.

Rooney picks himself up front having been arguably the player of the season so far in the Premier League and will spearhead the English attack later on.

But the surprise could be that club team-mate Danny Welbeck is played alongside him, having developed a clear understanding whilst playing together at United.

For Capello, tonight is the perfect opportunity to wrap up a smooth passage to Poland & Ukraine next year.

However, defeat could create a far trickier path to get there.

So what do you think? Will England qualify this evening? Or will they get caught out by Montenegro? Leave a comment and let us know your views.

Will England turn to youth in Bulgaria?

By Laurie Fitzgerald

This week sees the resumption of the Euro 2012 qualifiers, and the next few days will prove to be a crucial stage for Fabio Capello and England.

The Three Lions travel to Sofia to take on Bulgaria tomorrow evening, followed by Wales’ visit to Wembley on Tuesday.

England sit at the top of Group G only on goal difference from surprise package Montenegro following a disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Switzerland in their last qualifying match back in May.

Capello has had some injury concerns to overcome to regulars such as Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere.

It has seen the Italian adopt a more youhtful approach with his squad selection for the upcoming games, in particular with the call-up’s for Manchester United trio Tom Cleverley, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.

All three have played a big part in United’s storming start to the Premier League season, and the rise in particular of 21 year-old Cleverley has been hugely impressive.

The Old Trafford academy graduate made great strides on loan at Wigan Athletic last season and has fully grasped his opportunity in Sir Alex Ferguson‘s starting line-up.

His remarkable rise may still continue due to the absence of both Gerrard and Wilshere.

Capello has adopted a 4-3-3 formation since the start of qualification, with Scott Parker and Frank Lampard likely to fill two of the three roles in the heart of the side.

However, the final place in that midfield is up for grabs and Cleverley will feel that he is well in contention alongside the likes of Manchester City duo Gareth Barry and James Milner.

The heart of defence is another area of discussion, with the main question being who will partner skipper John Terry at centre-half.

Even at the tender age of 19, Jones will feel that he has already proved he can step up in the absence of Ferdinand having done so at club level.

Jones will compete along with 21 year-old Smalling to partner Terry in the Vasil Levski National stadium, although Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka’s experience makes them the frontrunners.

No such problems exist with England’s attacking options, with the likes of the in-form Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott set to feature prominently.

England had no problem 12 months ago when they saw off the Bulgarians 4-0 thanks to a Jermain Defoe hat-trick.

This time it may be youth that will play a big role in helping England take a big step to qualifying for Poland & Ukraine next summer.

So what do you think? Will Capello go with a more youthful approach to his starting line-up against Bulgaria? How will England fare in Sofia? Leave a comment and let us know what you think.

Are England really that weak?

 

The answer to England's problems?

Fabio Capello announced his England squad For the friendly with France which included four new names. Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson Chris Smalling and Jay Bothroyd were the men named in the squad for the first time.

The question I have to ask is, Have England’s standard really dropped so much?

With no disrespect to the players were talking about a nation who less than six months ago people genuinely believed could be world champions.

I understand we have a few first team absentees due to injuries such as Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent.

With these players missing the strike force England have opted for is Andy Carroll, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Peter Crouch and Jay Bothroyd.

I accept that England are building for the future (a future without Capello so why is he still in charge? But that’s another matter.) However in my opinion we must play in the present with one eye on the future.

Many a fan has been calling Andy Carroll’s addition to the England squad but Jay Bothroyd where did this come form?

Not only has he been proven to be not up to the top level of English football but he also has a well known problem with his attitude, if he is selected on this seasons performances I see no reason why Joey Barton has not been named in the squad.

Whilst he has scored 13 championship goals this season at 28 he is hardly one or the future, there are numerous strikers plying their trade in the premier league that must be more suitable candidates.

Now on to the defence, the selection of Chris Smalling completely baffles me. He has made two appearances as a substitute in the Premier League this season and not started a single game.

How can this selection be justified he has so far been less than convincing in his appearances for Manchester United in any competition.

It is not all doom and gloom there are some positives from this England squad. Although this squad does not put fear into the likes on the Spanish and Brazilians there is a welcome return for the likes of Micah Richards.

Capello has also stuck with Arsenal’s youngsters Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs whilst also picking England’s most in form performer Adam Johnson despite him not playing week in week out for his club side.

What do you think of the England squad? Am I wrong not to embrace these changes? Does the current crop of players have the pedigree to go on and win things?

Leave a comment and let me and other football lovers know what you think.

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