I agree with most of the squad selection, although some of the inclusions have left me scratching my head! Of course, it is easy to criticise the England manager, but some of these selections are seriously irrational. Yes, we need to experiment and give new players a chance, but that does not mean that we need to pick players who do not deserve it!
I agree with the goalkeepers' selections, although I haven't really seen Scott Carson play recently (I don't watch Turkish football). But he used to be a decent goalkeeper, and we hardly have anyone who is better, at the moment! Anyway, he would probably be the backup or third keeper, so it's not that important!
Without bias, I can safely say that Glen Johnson shouldn't be in the squad, yet he consistently gets a place (probably due to his reputation). We do not need three right backs in the squad, and instead of the third right back we could have an extra centre back.
I personally would take Phil Jagielka, if he isn't injured/unavailable, or pick Steven Taylor. Taylor has been quite good throughout the season, although he hasn't been as brilliant lately, and deserves a place in the squad. Or maybe they could go for more inexperienced players, in the form on Martin Kelly and Nedum Onuoha.
Gareth Barry has been fairly solid for Manchester City recently, but he's not been exceptional. I would like to have seen the likes of Lee Cattermole, Jack Rodwell or Joey Barton given a chance instead of Barry. Jordan Henderson wouldn't be a bad shout either, he is young and talented!
Theo Walcott, Stewart Downing are a duo I would omit, instead replacing them with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Craig Gardner. Gardner has been nothing short of brilliant, recently, for Sunderland! However, Stuart Pearce did say that he didn't pick Oxlade because he didn't want him to play only 10 minutes in the senior team; but 90 minutes in the Under 21's!
I'm fairly happy with the strikers picked, although I would drop Fraizer Campbell and bring in Gabby Agbonlahor, who is a quick and clinical forward. Aston Villa haven't been setting the world alight recently, but Gabby has been fairly consistent in his play and is better than Fraizer Campbell, in my opinion.
The last thing we need to do is to play negatively, I think Stuart Pearce should experiment because he doesn't really risk losing his job (he's currently really only there for the short term) and we are already in the Euro's. I would go for a 'Barcelona 4-3-3', personally, as we can play brilliant in a 4-3-3 formation!
- PZW
a draw seems likely to me though tbh!