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England - The Media Team

England Squad

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Everton)

Midfielders: Jack Colback (Newcastle United), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)

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A quick view on the England team, off the back of a desperate World Cup Roy Hodgson has selected some fresh faces to his England side for the upcoming games against Norway and Switzerland.

We now no longer have Gerrard and Lampard to call upon, and with plenty of injuries Roy has called up a few shock names. Calum Chambers of Arsenal has jumped the under 21s and with only a hand full of games at the Gunners is straight in to the side. Danny Rose, Jack Colback & Fabian Delph were not typos and have made the team.

It's some young blood added to the side which everyone was screaming for at the World Cup. The fact is the young blood England have to use are not international quality. It seems the England under 21 side will never be used as other nations do and progress players through that team as a group. If you have a few decent games it seems your straight in the national side.

In what could easily be called the worst England midfield selection in 6 years, players like Jake Livermore & Tom Huddlestone still can't make the squad. They can keep the ball which England can't do, maybe they're not at a fashionable club.

My point is England have become the 'media team'. Whoever they talk about and boost make the squad. Roy lumped in all the Liverpool players at the World Cup in a system that suited them and hoped it worked like it did at club level. It seems still if you're at a top 5/6 club and have a few good games you're in the team. Even if you have a shocking start to a season (e.g. Welbeck) but you play for Manchester United you get in.

For me Roy is just another yes man. Trying to please all but not really taking England anywhere. Old ideas along with the old boys at the F.A. nothing will change, England will qualify for Euro 2016 the group is to easy to fail. But my point is whoever the press talk and put on the back pages will always be picked for England. They slagged off Ashley Cole & John Terry for months, but then flip back & said they should have gone to the World Cup. They will happily destroy any England manager so does that play on Roy's mind? Does he want to keep them sweet, look at past England managers they have all had a hard time in the English press since they have left the job. 

Hodgson has submitted to public pressure thrown in the youngsters, so they can't slag him off. Rooney being captain makes no difference, he may look more interested in press conferences than Steven Gerrard but the England captain is again more important to the English press than any other country. It will be interesting which player grabs this opportunity as there's plenty of spaces up for grabs in this England side. But when the players from the top 5/6 clubs are fit don't be shocked if the walk back in. England needed to start a fresh after the 2010 World Cup they didn't and nothing will change with this squad. There's also the factor some players would rather be successful at their clubs than country but that is another argument for another day.



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