I was amazed last September by the news coming out of the media regarding Wayne Rooneys International ban. After what was a stupid lash out in Englands last qualifying game Mr Rooney has been handed a three match ban, which will see him out of the Euro group stage. That is if Mr Capello takes him, which I have no doubt he will.



Last September I wrote that we should leave Rooney behind and give the youth a chance and because he would only be 26 years old when the Euros kick off I thought that leaving him behind for the competition may once and for all focus the guy on what is important in International competitions. To take him would be to reward him and how will he learn when there are no consequences? Take a child around a grocery store and if the child has a tantrum you do not then reward them with a candy bar, even though they inevitably improve their behaviour when standing in line next to the candy racks! Leave him behind, let him watch it on TV and hopefully he will think twice before lashing out again.
                                                   
I didn't think that Capello should just leave Rooney at home either, I thought Terry, Lampard and Gerrard have a case to answer for their performances in the recent tournaments. Maybe it would be more beneficial for England to shift their focus from actually winning a tournament to looking to the future and giving future players much needed experience.

Supporters paid lots of money following England to South Africa in 2010 and for what? A handful of half hearted performances. The reason given was that the Premier League season was too long and players were tired. Really? How many other teams had players in the squad that played in England for the season? Then, as if to rub salt in the wounds, the English supporters traveled home and were met with pictures of the 'tired' England players partying and living it up. Every big International competition is the same.
Playing for England used to be a privilege but in recent years it has turned into a boy's club for a select few. Despite the change of managers at the helm of England and the lack luster performances the same handful of players continue to be selected.

It would not be a bad thing to take some eager young players and give them a chance. Germany in the last World Cup had only three players aged 30 or above and 14 aged 25 or below. For me, and I know things change as the season continues but if the Euros were to start right now and I was England manager, then this would be my 23:

Goalkeepers: Hart, Foster, Loach

Defenders: Richards, Cahil, Baines, Jones, Walker, Dawson and Smalling

Midfielders: Downing, A.Johnson, Young, Parker, Walcott, Milner, Wilshire and Barry

Strikers: Welbeck, Agbonlohor, Defoe, Carroll and Bent.

Yes I know they wouldn't win it but I think they'd give the competition their all, and have experience at the end of it. But that was last year, things have changed and Fabio Capello is no longer England Manager, Roy Hodgson is. Roy is a guy I think can get the best out of these players, the way Bobby Robson did in the 1990 World Cup. He is a hands on football manager, something Capello really wasn't and with the addition of Ex Player Gary Neville added to his coaching staff I think the roster of 23 could be looked at. So with a month to go before the tournament, this would be the guys I'd take:

Goalkeepers: I'd keep with Joe Hart and Ben Foster. Joe had a great season with City winning the title and Ben Foster was Hodgsons number 1 pretty much all season while manager of West Brom. However instead of Loach I think the Norwich goalkeeper, John Ruddy deserves a call up. He has had an exceptional season with Norwich and looks more than capable of taking that step up to the International level.

Defenders: Joleon Lescott, Steven Taylor, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, and John Terry should be added to Micah Richards and Gary Cahill named earlier. With Kyle Walker out and Rio Ferdinand looking to be excluded it would be good to have at least one older head at the back. John Terry would fill that role, despite his off field distractions should still be able to do a job for us.

Midfielders: Johnson, Young and Downing are all out from my original 23 as they have either not had enough minutes under their belts this season for their club sides despite being fit, or just have not impressed. In comes Gerrard, Lampard and Carrick who have played well this season, despite adversity in the case of two of them. Scott Parker would still be in my squad if not for the latest news he may not be fit and so I would switch him for his team mate Tom Huddlestone, whose place may only be under threat if Scholes decides to come out of International retirement!

Strikers: So now to the strikers, and which five to select? Call for Grant Holt to be included have been loud but to be fair this was one season and I am still unconvinced he can make that next step up. For me Rooney after this season has to be a 'must take' despite his now reduced two match ban. Peter Crouch is one of those guys that can always score for England and will add height to the attack, although someone still needs to teach him to jump! Final places go to Jermaine Defoe, who despite playing a bit part for Tottenham does have that speed and ability to nick a goal, Bobby Zamora who deserves his place just for the work rate he has shown this season and finally the last spot is a tossup between Sturridge and Welbeck, possibly the Chelsea guy gets the nod ahead of United who, despite having less starts has scored more goals this season.

So that is me, what do you think? Let me know