England Must Choose Players On Form, Not Club

Roy Hodgson’s last England squad of 24 contained 19 players from the teams branded ‘the top six’. The regular players like – Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard were all there. Which is fair enough. As they are some of the finest players England has to offer. However, England managers of late have become too accustomed to relying on footballers from the top six: the top six being Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. However, with the inclusion of Newcastle United’s  Steven Taylor in the squad, it left me with some hope.  A hope that the old selection process will change, and that representing England will be more than just a privilege to those who play for teams amongst the ‘top six’

Roll the clocks back to 1966; the year England won the World Cup.  13 out of the 22 England squad members played for teams like Wolverhampton Wanders’ and Blackpool.

Similarly, in 1990; our best finish in an international tournament since 1966. England’s squad contained five players who played away from the English top-flight. 14 out of the 22 taken to Italy played for teams not in the ‘top six’. 

When we look at England’s dismal 2010 World Cup campaign – 16 out of the 23 players taken played for the top six. Fast forward to another Summer let-down by England. The European Championship’s in 2012 proved to have similar numbers of players taken: 20 out of the 23 players taken to the tournament were players from the top six.

Rickie Lambert, Southampton.

The general rule for being an England manager is: If you play for a top-six side, you are an automatic selection.

A great example of this is that of Andy Carroll. While he set the Premier League alight in his and Newcastle United’s return to the Premier League in 2010. He netted 11 times in 20 appearances. This only gained him one poultry England cap; where he was lumped off half way through in order so 6ft7’ Tottenham Hotspur striker could enter the fray. Carroll’s phenomenal form earned him a big-money move to Liverpool in the January of 2011. From there Carroll’s form dipped, but his international career blossomed. 11 goals for Liverpool in two years earned him a place in Roy Hodgon’s England squad.

Surely if 11 goals in two years warrants a place in an England XI, then surely being the highest scoring English player behind Wayne Rooney, deserves the starting berth alongside him?

Surprisingly not. Norwiches’ Grant Holt outscored the likes of Manchester Citiy's Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli in the 2011-2012 season by grabbing 15 Premier League goals. Outscoring all of his compatriots who were selected before him.

However, people say that it was his age that kept him out of the England side – being 31 at the time. 

But surely, this cannot be the case. With Roy Hodgon’s recent selections of Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard – who are all at least a year older than Grant Holt. So was it his age that put Hodgson off? Or was it that he played for a team that finished 12^th in the Premier League?

Another player who is frequently over-looked despite being the most prolific English striker playing in a top-flight division is Gary Hooper of the Scottish Champions – Celtic FC.  Gary Hooper has scored 77 times in 130 games for Celtic. He has a wealth of Champions League experience. At 25 years old, how much longer can England ignore Gary Hooper? 

The argument is that because he plays away from the Premier League, he has yet to be proven. If this is the case then how come Wilfred Zaha, got an international cap?

David Beckham is a soon to be 38 year old, who plays for PSG. Beckham debatably is the best passer and set piece taker in the world. He has a tremendous understanding of the game and a wealth of experience to pass onto the younger generations, he is also the only Englishman left playing in the UEFA Champions League. But he is overlooked.

The argument is: England is building for the future.

But what are we building for? Another quarter final exit at the hands of a team far superior?

This is going to happen time and time again, until we get it right. Regardless of your age: if you play well enough, and prove yourself to be a good ambassador for the Three Lions’. Then why should you be left on the side-lines?

More recently the fantastic form of Southampton’s Rickie Lambert has led to media asking for him to be given a chance with the national side. He without a doubt deserves one. With 14 goals, and being the highest scoring Englishman in the Premier League. How doesn’t he deserve a chance?

The reality is however for players like Rickie Lambert is that a call-up may never come. Playing for England has become more of an exclusive club for those privileged enough to represent a ‘big club’. Over the last ten years, England managers have over-looked players worthy of a call-up due to age and their teams. Look at Kevin Nolan; a fantastic finisher and an inspirational leader. But he was overlooked because of his ties with Bolton, and Newcastle and more recently West Ham United.

Players like Grant Holt will find they will never fit into the star-studded English side that the FA desires. The FA want an all-star side, and the idea of the English national team has become more of an aesthetic one than a competitive team.

This trend needs to be broken.