F365's England Euro 2012 Ladder

Jack Fulham

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Interesting list that shows the players we actually have available and there is some quality players there. Brackets mean there previous position on the list. Basically showing they think who should be on the plane. Your thoughts?

1 (1) - Joe Hart
Oh me of little faith. Last month I suggested throwing in Scott Carson against Spain to protect Hart's remarkable unbeaten record in an England shirt. No need. The record now stands at 16 matches and we would happily start using one of those God-awful Sun prayer mats to keep him safe for Polkraine. Meanwhile, the FA should appoint a Medieval-style dedicated food taster so he doesn't get so much as a tummy bug. We need him safe.


2 (7) - Scott Parker
From the wilderness to undroppable in nine short months. He was always a shoo-in for the MOTM award against a Spain side operating mostly on his patch but you simply cannot argue with his application. In the absence of any other serious candidate in his position, Parker's position is safer than the Green Cross Code.


3 (4) - Ashley Cole
Worrying complacency against Montenegro was followed by impressive concentration against Spain. The better the opposition, the better the performance from one of the world's best left-backs. Leighton Baines is a decent, hairy understudy but we're a lot happier with Cole in the side, thanks.


4 (3) - Jack Wilshere
England beat both Spain and Sweden without the golden boy but we missed his touch of quality and drive in midfield. You can't help but think we would have had a tad more possession against the world champions if Wilshere was slotted in beside Parker, as he presumably will be in Polkraine.


5 (2) - Ashley Young
Drops down the rankings because James Milner and then Stewart Downing did rather fine jobs against Spain and then Sweden in his stead. But still England's top scorer of 2011 and - barring a rotten run of form that sees him lose his Man United place - he will be on the plane.


6 (5) - Wayne Rooney
'The further he drops down this ladder, the healthier for England' was last month's verdict. Is one place enough of a drop to take any kind of comfort? We're no nearer to knowing his striking replacement than we were before the friendly double-header. This is worrying. And that is an understatement.


7 (6) - John Terry
He claims he doesn't see himself as 'undroppable'. He probably is.


8 (8) - Steven Gerrard
Assuming he's fit and assuming he's in any kind of form, Gerrard will be in the middle of the '3' in a 4-2-3-1 at the European Championship. And whoever is the '1' in that formation will be very pleased indeed with Gerrard's willingness to get beyond as well as service a striker. Watch Phil Jones' performance v Spain and imagine Gerrard in that position. You wouldn't have seen Darren Bent gesticulating that the ball was played too late for him to stay onside.


9 (11) - Stewart Downing
The only outfield player to feature in every England match this season and he saved his finest performance for the Sweden friendly, when he delivered for the only goal and could have had several more assists if his teammates' finishing had been better. Roy Keane wondered aloud whether he had the 'heart'. We're more inclined to wonder whether he has the 'legs'. Capello clearly believes he has both.


10 (12) - Glen Johnson
One of the things listed in our 'Fabio's Five Questions For England v Spain' feature was whether Johnson was still his first-choice right-back, having held that position for three years. He played. He was was quite decent. There will be those who splutter 'but Kyle Walker was brilliant against Sweden', to which we answer 'Sweden didn't really turn up'. For now at least Johnson remains the only specialist right-back likely to make the cut.


11 (13) - Frank Lampard
He'll definitely go. He might not play.


12 (9) - Theo Walcott
Like him or find him utterly, utterly infuriating, Walcott does tend to start whenever he is available as England's one-and-only out-and-out pace merchant.


13 (10) - Gareth Barry
Nick Miller was aghast on Tuesday night that Gareth Barry wore the No. 10 shirt. Don't worry Nick, he won't be wearing the No. 10 shirt in Polkraine. But he will be wearing the No. 17 or something similar, causing half of a nation (and Henry Winter) to throw their arms in the air and bemoan that he was chosen ahead of Jack Rodwell and the rest of us to point out that Barry is a key part of an all-conquering City side and actually, you know, he's much, much fitter and faster than he was in South Africa. Capello has named him in every single squad since he took over in early 2008. He's going. Get used to it.


14 (15) - Darren Bent
Rooney's replacement by default. Capello always seems less than convinced by Bent and we're inclined to agree - he thrives on balls behind the defence and barely takes part in the possession-based football Capello is trying to foster. Play the ball towards Bent and he will either score or miss - it's unlikely that you will retain possession. It's difficult to shake the notion that Capello would much rather have him as an option off the bench if a goal is required.


15 (16) - James Milner
Another one of Capello's favourites - he's been in all the Italian's squads for which he's been available since autumn 2009. Lacks the class of Wilshere in the middle, the speed of Walcott or Young out wide and the drive of Gerrard behind a striker, but he can do a decent job in all those positions. And - as we saw v Spain - as a very, very defensive winger.


16 (14) - Gary Cahill
Started four out of five England games this season. Unfortunately for Cahill, the fifth saw England's finest defensive performance in recent times. Whether Cahill starts in June may well depend on where he is on the final day of January. Relegation would not be the ideal pre-cursor to an international tournament.


17 (17) - Phil Jones
We expected him to start at least one England game at centre-half this week but perhaps Capello is working on the theory that he already knows he's a decent centre-half and right-back - what he needed to know is whether he can fill a midfield role if required. The answer is a tentative 'yes' and that means Jones provides back-up for Glen Johnson, Scott Parker and the centre-halves. That sounds like the recipe for a Euro 2012 squad place to us.


18 (40) - Scott Carson
In the absence of Robert Green at least, he's Joe Hart's No. 2. Pray to whoever you believe in (God, Allah, Lady Gaga) that's what he remains.


19 (22) - Leighton Baines
Firmly extablished as England's second-choice left-back. And we quite like his hair. That is all.


20 (34) - Joleon Lescott
Dropped from the squad altogether for the Montenegro game and then recalled to the team for the Spain match - and he was absolutely phenomenal. Barring a car crash of a post-Xmas season, those 90 minutes will probably earn him a place on the plane. Oh and he's rather good for the Premier League leaders.


21 (25) - Danny Welbeck
Did enough in his half-hour v Spain to suggest that he is a genuine option in England's elusive search for a striker and it's a real shame we didn't see him start v Sweden. Now he's reliant on Sir Alex Ferguson giving him enough club football to justify an international place. Here's hoping fears from United fans about the reliability of his fitness are just fears.


22 (36) - Bobby Zamora
A goal would certainly have helped his cause but his Emile Heskey-style non-scoring striker performance was decent enough v Sweden to put him above Andy Carroll in this list. At least he moves.


23 (23) - David Stockdale
Clinging on and presumably hoping nobody spots him at the back.


24 (20) - Adam Johnson
Offers something a little different. But is it enough to justify a squad place if everyone is fit? Especially when his club manager has doubts about his attitude and workrate.


25 (27) - Phil Jagielka
We could show you a whole page of machinations but basically, we can't see Capello taking four dedicated centre-halves AND Phil Jones. If only Jagielka had put in that eye-catching display against Spain. Oh, and played Champions League football.


26 (19) - Chris Smalling
He sure chose the wrong time to get injured. Again. His time will come.


27 (18) - Robert Green
He needs new stitching on his gloves. Again.


28 (21) - Andy Carroll
"Yes, but that depends on him. Not on me," said Capello when asked this week whether Carroll had an international future under his management. I still believe that Carroll is the Italian's ideal choice as his spearhead but the Liverpool man continues to foil him by being all rubbish and statuesque (and not in a good way like Erin O'Connor).


29 (31) - Kyle Walker
As good as he was v Sweden, history tells us that England managers take one specialist right-back to major tournaments. He's got an awful long way to go to displace Glen Johnson.


30 (24) - Rio Ferdinand
Harry Redknapp says he would still be his first-choice cente-half. Has he not noticed the 'back knack' thing?


31 (NE) - Jack Rodwell
Henry Winter loves him. Henry Winter isn't picking the squad. Euro 2012 might just come just too soon for a player seemingly unfazed by his elevation. Except for that miss. That was sh*t.


32 (28) - Jermain Defoe
Simply doesn't fit into England's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. ****, he barely fits into Tottenham's preferred 4-4-1-1 formation.


33 (35) - Daniel Sturridge
Made the squad, came off the bench, looked uncomfortable.


34 (29) - Tom Cleverley
Curse those rioters (and injury).


35 (31) - Micah Richards
Curse Capello's utter lack of interest in his exceptional form.


36 (33) - Gaby Agbonlahor
Injury once again robbed him of his chance, though realistically it's difficult to see who he would displace as he's ill-suited to a lone striker role and there's oodles of competition on the wing.


37 (32) - Owen Hargreaves
We can dream. We will.


38 (38) - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Established in the England Under-21s and really rather good.


39 (36) - Joe Cole
We hear he's doing well in France. Does he have an outside chance, peut-etre?


40 (37) - Peter Crouch
Out of sight at Stoke, out of mind.

41 (48) - Steven Taylor
42 (42) - Martin Kelly
43 (39) - Michael Carrick
44 (41) - Michael Dawson
45 (RE) - Joey Barton
46 (NE) - Danny Simpson
47 (43) - Aaron Lennon
48 (47) - Jordan Henderson
49 (45) - Stephen Warnock
50 (50) - Phil Neville

F365's Famous Euro 2012 Ladder... | Football365 | Features | F365 Features
 
Agree it may be a bit soon for Rodwell, but showed signs of what he's capable of doing. And as for Baines' hair-disastrous. That is all.
 
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