Roy Hodgson will name his England squad for Euro 2016 on Monday.
Everybody is having their say on who should be on the plane to France, and who should be left at home.
We at CaughtOffside are no different, and have combined with some of our 50,000 Twitter followers to pick THE definitive 23-man party which will bring the trophy home, maybe.
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Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster, Ben Foster, Joe Hart
Joe Hart has been England’s number one for a long time now, and, barring injury, the Manchester City stopper is nailed on to start England’s Group B opener against Russia on June 11.
Southampton’s Fraser Forster and Stoke City’s Jack Butland are steadily closing the gap on Hart. Both have arguably been in better form than him in the Premier League this campaign.
Forster will be Hart’s deputy, but a serious injury to Butland, sustained in England’s 3-2 friendly win over Germany in Berlin in March, creates room for a different third goalkeeper, one who is highly unlikely to take to the field though.
Uncapped Burnley captain Tom Heaton has been in the last few squads, but nearly half of our Twitter voters think that West Bromwich Albion’s Ben Foster should be picked instead.
The 33-year-old, who retired from international football between 2011 and 2012, won the last of his eight England caps in 2014. Heaton has to consider himself very unfortunate!
Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy may also be annoyed that he received less votes than 49-year-old Tim Flowers! We think that says it all about Ruddy’s Euro 2016 chances…
Assuming Joe Hart & Fraser Forster are going, which GK should join them in England’s #Euro2016 squad? #NCFC #WBA
— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) May 13, 2016
Defenders: Ryan Bertrand, Gary Cahill, Nathaniel Clyne, Danny Rose, Chris Smalling, John Stones, Kyle Walker
Defence is an area of concern for England, having been our strength a decade ago. A centre-back unit of Chris Smalling, Gary Cahill and John Stones does not fill fans with confidence.
Manchester United’s Smalling is a much-improved defender, but Cahill, the only Chelsea representative in our squad, and Everton prodigy Stones have endured very difficult seasons.
Our Twitter followers felt that there was no need to take a fourth centre-back because Eric Dier is perfectly capable of filling in if there is a bout of injuries. So Phil Jagielka misses out.
Assuming Smalling, Cahill & Stones are on the plane, which fourth CB would you pick in England’s #Euro2016 squad? — CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) May 13, 2016
Stones, Smalling and Dier all have experience playing on the right side of defence, but it was clear from our online polls that two natural full-backs should compete for the position.
It seems inevitable that will be Liverpool’s Nathaniel Clyne and Tottenham Hotspur’s Kyle Walker. Gary and Phil Neville retain surprisingly strong support, but are probably past their best.
Which two right-backs would you pick for England’s #Euro2016 squad? Or is one enough? #THFC #COYS #LFC
— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) May 13, 2016
There is much more competition at left-back, where Manchester United’s Luke Shaw would almost certainly be first choice if it were not for the broken leg which has sidelined him since September.
Everton’s Leighton Baines and Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs were also very much in the mix during qualifying, while there is any army of support for uncapped West Ham United star Aaron Cresswell.
But a healthy 48% of our Twitter voters feel that Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand and PFA Team of the Year left-back Danny Rose should be Hodgson’s two options in that position for the tournament.
Which two left-backs should England take to #Euro2016? — CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) May 13, 2016
Midfielders: Dele Alli, Ross Barkley, Eric Dier, Danny Drinkwater, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, James Milner, Raheem Sterling
Midfield is where things really get interesting. We reckon that Dier and Spurs teammate Dele Alli, as well as Everton playmaker Ross Barkley and Liverpool utility man James Milner are certainties.
Dier, Alli and Barkley are part of an exciting generation of young talents, and are on course to be big players in England’s future. Milner’s versatility is a great asset in tournament football.
Leicester City hero Danny Drinkwater, man of the match on his international debut versus Netherlands, is the heavy favourite to join them in the central midfield ranks with 43% of our Twitter vote.
Providing he is fit, the CaughtOffside selection committee would also take Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, ahead of Manchester United veteran Michael Carrick and Arsenal crock Jack Wilshire.
Alli, Dier, Barkley & Milner are in. Which other CMs would you take to #Euro2016? Bottom 2 miss out. #LFC #MUFC #AFC
— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) May 13, 2016
Wilshere’s inclusion, or not, seems poised to be the most divisive subject come squad announcement time. The Gunners star has played only 72 Premier League minutes this season because of injury.
Hodgson has continually suggested that he will save a spot for the 24-year-old, but he would not be in our travelling party. He is a fitness gamble, and doesn’t deserve his pick ahead of other players.
Only a couple of wingers are needed because Hodgson has forwards who can play on the flanks. Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana have yet to make their mark for England, but are the best options we have.
Danny Welbeck would have been on the plane, and a probable starter, had it not been for his untimely knee injury. We are replacing him with an extra striker, rather than another natural winger.
There was support for Hodgson’s Newcastle United favourite Andros Townsend, Michail Antonio and Theo Walcott, but not an outstanding candidate, as there was when we polled potential strikers.
England may only take 2/3 wingers because of FWs who can play out wide. Sterling, Lallana and…#Euro2016 #MUFC #AFC — CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) May 13, 2016
Forwards: Jermain Defoe, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge
Jermain Defoe’s form for Sunderland has earned him a place in our squad. Fifteen league goals for a struggling side is a phenomenal return and there is nobody we would rather have on the bench.
Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy look poised to compete for a starting place, and may even play together in a diamond formation, or with Vardy out wide. Daniel Sturridge represents top-class back up.
Wayne Rooney may find that the competition for attacking places is so stiff that he is moved into midfield, where he has impressed for United in recent weeks. The captain will and should start.
Rooney, Kane & Vardy are going to #Euro2016, & probably Sturridge too. If England take a 5th striker, it should be:
— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) May 13, 2016
Andy Carroll is a different option that has been overlooked in favour of Defoe. A sizeable 30% of our Twitter followers would like to see Hodgson take a chance on 18-year-old Marcus Rashford.
But Walcott is out of favour with both the COS writers and our polled audience after an awful second half of the season, meaning that there is not a single Arsenal player in our 23-man squad.
Follow @JoeFish08 on Twitter, and bombard him with abuse if you disagree with his selection!
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