With international week upon us, there is plenty of interest in the To Make Euro 2016 England Finals Squad market.
So, here at the Betfred Blog, we’ve asked two of the bloggers to take a look at their versions of three players who could fit the Banker, Bin or Surprise tag!
Do you agree? Don’t forget, you can leave your comments below with who you would take this summer!
Luke’s Picks –
Banker – Wayne Rooney @ 1/14
Heading into a major tournament England always seem to take players who are still on the comeback trail from injury, and although I disagree with that completely, I can make an exception for the one and only Wayne Rooney.
He might well get some stick for his performances in an England shirt, but for me as skipper he should be on that plane to France even if he’s just 50% fit. Hodgson agrees too, saying he will dismiss any discussions about Wayne Rooney and whether or not he should go to France.
After all he is our record goalscorer and scores goals in big matches which is exactly what we need this summer. We are sure to moan about his absence when he’s gone, so let’s enjoy his talent while we can.
Surprise – Mark Noble @ 33/1
With any England side there is always a surprise selection heading into a major tournament, the likes of Danny Drinkwater or even Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford could fit that bill this summer, but for me there’s a much more reliable selection who has been crying out for his first England cap for some time.
That man is West Ham captain Mark Noble, a role which once guaranteed you a place in the England side a.k.a Bobby Moore. We need as many leaders out on the pitch as we can in France, and Mark gives us that option in the heart of a midfield which looks to be lacking a real box-to-box midfielder.
He’s also been a vital part of the top four hunting West Ham United this season, and like Hammers boss Slaven Bilic, I am still scratching my head as to why he wasn’t picked in the squad for the upcoming friendlies this Easter. At 28-years-old he is in the prime of his career, and after representing England at every level from U16’s to U21’s surely it’s time he was given his first full call up.
Bin – Jack Wilshere @ EVS
England boss Roy Hodgson was on the radio a couple of weeks ago claiming his affection for Jack Wilshere, and basically guaranteeing the Arsenal midfielder a seat on the plane to France if he’s slightly fit, despite not featuring for the Gunners this season.
That for me is an absolute load of rubbish. We should be picking the players that have shown they can mix it over a period of time this season, and not on what they have already done in the past. Yes at times Wilshere has been a game changer for England, but all too often he has been frustrating and more worryingly an injury-prone player we can do without.
The likes of Noble, Drinkwater, Alli and Barkley have all performed above and beyond him this season and it would be a disaster if any one of them was to miss out on a chance at going to the Euro’s in order to allow a hobbling Wilshere a seat on to the France bound Boeing 747.
Josh’s Picks –
Banker – Dele Alli @ 1/10
Even establishing himself as a real talent during a loan spell at Milton Keynes last season, it was still within the realms of fantasy to suggest Dele Alli would be one of the first men on the team sheet ahead of Euro 2016.
However, that’s exactly how the scenario has developed since his return to Tottenham has yielded a magnificent season.
The 19-year-old is quick, strong, direct and fearless, making him a real threat going forward from the centre of midfield. He is technically gifted and has a mature head on his young shoulders, ensuring his decision making in the final third is often extremely precise.
He is sensible enough to ensure his defensive duties are taken care off in the midfield and he could well develop into a much-needed box-to-box midfielder that England have been crying out for, for some time.
The Spurs man is without doubt one of the most exciting talents in English football and he certainly deserves a spot on the plane.
Bin – Theo Walcott @ 2/7
After bursting onto the scene as a pacey winger with Southampton back in 2005, Walcott looked destined for big things as he was given a chance to join England during the 2006 World Cup despite only being 17.
He had only made 12 senior appearances and none in the Premier League yet he was given a chance and this may well have set the bar too high. He is quick, direct and sometimes has an end product yet he has failed to put in a consistent run of top performances for years.
He has failed to tie down a spot in the Arsenal team and is often a utility man, played on either wing and on occasions through the middle, yet in recent weeks, Gunners’ fans have even suggested Alex Iwobi could be in line to take over Walcott’s spot in the first team.
Unless he gets a clear run through to the Euro’s, he could easily be in danger of losing his spot on the plane, with Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana, Danny Welbeck, James Milner and a number of the likely strikers, all able to play out wide.
Could he miss out on a spot in England’s Euro 2016 squad? It’s certainly worthy of debate.
Surprise – Jermain Defoe @ 16/1
Jermain Defoe currently ranks as the third highest scoring Englishman in the Premier League, as he sits with 12 goals after a stellar start for Sunderland.
Despite leading the line for relegation-threatened Sunderland, who don’t tend to create too many chances, he is proving as prolific as ever, so why doesn’t he deserve a spot in Roy Hodgson’s squad?
Defoe is the man for the big occasion, as shown by his goal in the 1-0 victory over Slovakia, which put England through back in the 2010 World Cup.
He is a poacher, who finds space and works his magic to create chances for himself, so he would be perfect to slot in with arguably the most creative midfield England have had for some time.
He has a 68% shot on target record, the best of those who have netted ten or more goals in the league this season, and currently finds himself averaging a goal ever 160 minutes.
The 33-year-old has plenty of experience, which could prove vital with Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy set to travel to their first major international tournaments.
Daniel Sturridge is fairly injury prone, so he couldn’t be a certain selection, while Wayne Rooney has also been dogged by injuries this year and there could be question marks about his fitness before the season begins.
Odds subject to change.
