England’s Euro 2016 Squad Announcement Reaction

Well he’s finally done it. Our Roy has trimmed his provisional 26 man squad down to the final 23 that he will take to France in just over a week’s time. With that, we go through each player in the squad and decide whether it was the right call and why.

Joe Hart
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? He’s not Man City’s and England’s no.1 for no reason. Forever reliable and easily one of City’s better players this season. First name on the team sheet.

Kyle Walker
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Stunning season for Tottenham and their first choice right-back. Easily in the squad.

Danny Rose
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Same reasons as Kyle Walker. Reliable and should be England’s first choice at left-back.

James Milner
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? This one is less concrete. It’s easy to label him as nothing more than a workhorse but every team needs one. Useful as a player to help see games out.

Gary Cahill
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Had a bit of a rough time thanks in no small part to Jose Mourinho’s dicking about with Chelsea in the early part of the season but still quality. Should start at centre-back.

Chris Smalling
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Because he’s obviously England’s best centre-back. Great season at Man Utd capped off with an FA Cup win. Easy decision.

Raheem Sterling
Should he have been picked? No
Why? Spoilt brat with a bad attitude who pushed through his £50m move to Man City to end up achieving the square root of sod all. Hasn’t cut it at City this year and is a waste of a midfield slot. Woeful.

Raheem Sterling
Source: IB Times

Adam Lallana
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Great signing for Liverpool and on his day a great wide player. Turns up for Liverpool most weeks. Deserves his shot here.

Harry Kane
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Don’t ask silly questions. Won the golden boot with 25 league goals in his brilliant sophmore season at Spurs. Straight in at no.9.

Wayne Rooney
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? He had a rough period midway through this season for Man Utd but on the whole has been pretty consistent and capped off a solid season with a sterling performance in the FA Cup final. Deserved selection.

Jamie Vardy
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? He’s had a majestic season and only finished joint second to Harry Kane in the scoring charts this year. Fairytale year culminating in a Premier League win with Leicester City. Essential. Plus, imagine if he gets a goal like his one against Liverpool in the tournament…

Nathaniel Clyne
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Solid right-back for Liverpool this season. Very dependable and rarely has put a foot wrong all year. Should start for England at right-back too.

Fraser Forster
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Quite simply, he’s the best back-up to Joe Hart. Great for Southampton this year and would probably be no.1 if Hart wasn’t around.

Jordan Henderson
Should he have been picked? No
Why? Lacks quality, doesn’t turn up for the big games and cannot finish to save his life. Better centre-midfielders out there.

jordan henderson
Source: The Guardian

Daniel Sturridge
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Fitness woes have blighted his entire career but when he is fit he’s one of the best in the Premier League. Can turn it on when it matters as shown in Liverpool’s recent Europa League final loss. Essential back-up for Vardy and Kane.

John Stones
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Good, solid player, but the £40m tag that’s been attached to him has been a hindrance. Can’t be blamed for Everton’s poor season solely but hasn’t set the world alight. Best of the rest territory.

Eric Dier
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Like the rest of his Spurs cohorts in the squad, Dier has had a decent season. Plus, he’s the only decent holding midfielder in the squad. Will start.

Jack Wilshere
Should he have been picked? No
Why? No need to ever take the piss ever again, ladies and gentlemen, as Roy Hodgson has taken it all with this selection. Barely played all season and has done nothing to suggest he’ll contribute anything in the tournament. If I was Danny Drinkwater, I’d find a Welsh granny and give Chris Coleman a call.

Ross Barkley
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Very difficult one this. Sometimes looks incredible then sometimes can go AWOL for weeks on end. Where’s his best position, too? Worth a punt from the bench, though.

Ross Barkley The Guardian
Source: The Guardian

Dele Alli
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Quite simply the most creative player England have got. His link up play with Kane at Tottenham has been great so it’s a no brainer why he should start.

Ryan Bertrand
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Like his Southampton teammate Forster, he’ll be reliable back-up only this time at left-back. Had a good season for Saints. Needed.

Marcus Rashford
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Big call from Hodgson considering he only made his first team debut less than 3 months ago for Man Utd. Has done well for though and has the unknown quantity factor about him which most teams might not know how to counteract. A useful sub.

Tom Heaton
Should he have been picked? Yes
Why? Burnley’s no.1 and celebrated a Championship win with them this season. And you have to take three goalkeepers. Probably won’t get a game, unfortunately.

Glaring omissions

Danny Drinkwater
Source: fosseposse.sbnation.com

Danny Drinkwater
Why should he be picked? One of Leicester’s stand out players this year. An engine that has driven the foxes all season long capping off with a Premier League title win. A crime he hasn’t been included.
Who should he replace? Jack Wilshere
Why? See number 18.

Jermain Defoe
Why should he have been picked? Consistently scores goals including 15 in the league this season which have helped a very poor Sunderland side retain Premier League status. Deserves a place in the squad easily.
Who should he replace? Jordan Henderson
Why? The extra firepower.

Agree? Disagree? Have your say in the comments below!

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