Tottenham players in the England squad

[Colm]

Robinson
Dawson
Jenas
Lennon
Defoe

Great to see Dawson finally gets a call up, fully deserved. Oh and nice to see Defoe back too :)

[THFC1]

Robinson (Tottenham), Kirkland (Liverpool), Foster (Man Utd); Bridge (Chelsea), Brown (Man Utd), Carragher (Liverpool), A Cole (Arsenal), Dawson (Tottenham), Ferdinand (Man Utd), G Neville (Man Utd), P Neville (Everton), Terry (capt, Chelsea), Young (Charlton); Downing (Middlesbrough), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jenas (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Richardson (Man Utd), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea); Ashton (West Ham), Bent (Charlton), Crouch (Liverpool), Defoe (Tottenham).

Good to see Dawson in the squad. Hopefully he will get a cap.

Routledge and Huddlestone are in the under 21 squad.

[OrlandoSPUR]

...not much change there other than Beckham being out....wooohoooo, a manager finally with balls.

[MartinJol]

...not much change there other than Beckham being out....wooohoooo, a manager finally with balls.
should mean a first start for lennon. (crosses fingers)

[DigitalTron]

I don't profess to be a math expert or anything, but from a quick glance it looks like 5 Tottenham, 5 Manchester United, 4 Chelsea, 4 Liverpool ... 2 Charlton, and 1 from Arsenal--the one that so desperately wants to move to Chelsea. It seems Bayern Munich will have as many England National Teamers as Arsenal has.

I can see Arsenal losing more and more fans if they move to 0 National Teamers. While I'm sure the stands will be packed the first season at their new stadium, I have to wonder if they'll keep up th at momentum in the 2nd and 3rd season without any National Teamers in a city that has Spurs (5) and Chelsea (4--possibly 5 with Cole) getting so much media attention. While I'm sure Clichy can fill the job footballing-wise, losing Cole could prove to be an extremely unwise move for Wenger. With both Spurs and Manchester United actively seeking the best young English talent, it may be very tough for Arsenal to find someone good enough to play for them at a price they're willing to pay. I suspect this was part of the rationale behind their attempt at the City kid Micah Richardson (sp?).

As for this particular team, I think McClaren knows what he's getting from the veterans, it's the beginning of a new World Cup cycle (and Euro cycle), so what better time to find out exactly what you have with the youngsters. It also sends a message that he and only he is in charge. Not all that surprising really. Additionally, I expected the Terry captaincy, and think it is a good one. Though, I'd imagine King might be a tad disappointed in that decision, as it means he's fighting Rio--one of the most talented defenders on the planet--for the other starting spot. Hopefully, it'll also send a message to Rio that it's time to start stepping up.

With Gerrard and Lampard both megatalents but not really compatible playing together, neither one should really be the captain, as it gives McClaren the option of playing whichever of the two is on form. Unless he goes with a 451, or plays Gerrard out of position, I just don't think Gerrard and Lampard can be on the field together and still be the best England can be. Neither is willing to be the defensive stalwart.

Kudos to the Spurs players, they deserve it. I'm expecting to see both Lennon and SWP share time on the right wing.

-Digital

[THFC1]

Hopefully Lennon plays but i have this horrible feeling that McClaren will play Downing.

Gerrard-Lampard-Hargreaves-Downing

[sendorange]

Great to see Beckham dropped. Hopefully we should see Lennon get a run of caps, although right midfield will be very competitive now.

[MartinJol]

Hopefully Lennon plays but i have this horrible feeling that McClaren will play Downing.

Gerrard-Lampard-Hargreaves-Downing
thinking about it you are probably right. I think england's midfield when all players are fit will be:

Gerrard-Lampard-Hargreaves-J. Cole

So with Cole injured it makes sense that downing would get a start.

[Danners9]

...not much change there other than Beckham being out....wooohoooo, a manager finally with balls.

Campbell and James gone too, about time. Wasters.

I am pleased with the England squad. A balance, both in terms of types of players and positions. Good to see Dawson get a chance, and Ashton. Richardson was cast aside too quickly as well.

With the forwards, McClaren has done what Eriksson SHOULD have done. McClaren has shown already, with this one squad, that he is willing to cut away people he does not want. No more 'friendlies for the boys' type selections where the same players get more and more games while 1 or 2 new faces get a chance as a sub, this is a good squad. New faces, recalls for versatile players and lots of young (yet experienced) players.

Except for Crouch, it's quite an exciting forward line. Not that iRobot isn't a good player, but the others are more orthodox and well.. better, really. Crouch gives away too many free kicks.

Owen will be out for a while. Joe Cole and Rooney will come back in at some point, so you'd expect that to be Richardson and Bent who depart. But if one or both of them have a good game vs the Hellenics they may stay in.

Impressed with the press conference too, McClaren stepped in nicely when Terry was handed a question about Beckham. Press need to know they are there to report and not dictate what McClaren does.

[keano917]

I'm suprised Nolan didn't get a call up, nothing else seems to be a big deal, with the exception of Beck obviously.

Good to see 5 spurs players.

[CelticOnFire]

Im telling you, its going to be absolutely magical to see Wes Brom pull on the England jersey again

[tomas_brolin]

i still hate hargreaves.... grrrrrrrrrrr

[AllWhitebeliever]

i still hate hargreaves.... grrrrrrrrrrr


You think you may change your tune if he wants to transfer to spurs? He is looking for a english club.

mmm. ... like the others, I am not fond of Gerrard and Lampard next to each other on the field, they are to similar in certain ways. However I think a 5 man midfield could even be possible, depending who we play (epecically againest a no winger team or an isolated front attacker team), with utilising more wings than the usual can be exciting look for the team.

The Gerrard and Lampard can be separated with Hargeaves in the centre. I think that you could reinvent Hargeaves role better than Lampard and you don't need to displace Gerrard too much because he is effective as he is. I think Hargeaves is effective in changing cental roles. He may not be the best in that position but he could balance Gerrard and Lampard and allows them to be effective since I think Hargeaves is the safe and sure link between the two. I think both Gerrard and Lampard can run off Hargeaves but can not run off each other.

With all fit players in midfield, there are different combinations to play with;

either 5 man midfield

Lennon......Gerrard.......Hargeaves........Lampard........Cole (possible)

or 4 man midfield

Gerrard.....Hargeaves.......Lampard.........Cole (perheap)

or

Lennon.....Gerrard........Hargeaves.........Lampard (not sure of this)

or

Lennon.....Gerrard.......Hargeaves..........Cole (maybe)

or

Lennon....Hargeaves.....Lampard...........Cole (maybe)

or 3 man midfield

Gerrard.....Hargeaves........Lampard (with Gerrard being forward more on the left)

or

lennon......Gerrard...........Cole (totally for all out attack)

or

Lennon.....Lampard.......Cole (totally for all out attack)

It depends on the stage of the game and who we playing.

Last comment on Becks;

I am so glad we did not have Beckham in the team until he sort himself out. Somehow, I think that he could be back in the frame by McClaren as there is a dimenision that he does give. But old fossils are given life for the last time, like Zidene. Becks need a time to rest up until the last hurrah I think. He has been in the team for over 10 years and needs a break. It must be frustating to stay in the national team that been up and down over the time. I think that Becks should be to allow to concentrate on his club games and see whether he has a second wind. Let him enjoy his club games and then maybe if he does well he finds himself in the last WC. Just he needs two years off international games, I think. Let him go but keep him close and informed by communication.

Oh well, that what i think, you may totally disagree with me but I am flexible. Well I like to think I'm flexible.

:cool:

Hang loose guys.

[tomas_brolin]

i might soften up to hargreaves if he goes to spurs.. but, i think it's unlikely he will go to the lane. we have zokora and he is locked up for a while.

[Danners9]

The team has been named.

Robinson
Neville Terry Ferdinand Cole
Gerrard Hargeaves Lampard Downing
Defoe Crouch

Ashton is injured, taken to hospital for a scan on his ankle. Might feature but likely he won't. The rest of the squad will be subs.

[ox utd]

Word on COYS is that Dawson picked up an injury as well - nothing as serious as Ashton's, but enough that he probably won't be able to play. :mad:
EDIT: now they're backing up and saying he's OK.

[THFC1]

Ashton broke his ankle.

I cant believe their is a international game when the season hasn't even started yet.

[ox utd]

Ashton broke his ankle.

I cant believe their is a international game when the season hasn't even started yet.
The hammers should be livid! Agreed on the stupidity of having internationals right now.

[ox utd]

Dawson is OK - apparently he went down hard and had to be treated, but ended up being minor.

[Danners9]

For european schedules they are friendlies, but for other confederations there are cup qualifiers. This is a designated week for international games across the world, it's up to those without competitive games to sort out a friendly or not play.

But it is the first and only opportunity before the actual qualifiers for europe, so most take up the chance.

Personally I think it's dumb. But this injury was in training, and could have happened just as easily in West Ham training. Shame for Ashton and all, I just hope none of our players get injured.