Stuart Pearce Selects England Squad For Holland Friendly – Surprise Call-Ups For Micah Richards And Frazier Campbell

Chris Wright

23rd, February 2012

25 Comments

By Chris Wright

“Kids and Psychos love them so…”

Interim England manager Stuart Pearce has just announced his 25-man squad for the Holland friendly at Wembley next Wednesday – a squad that sees a couple of surprise call-ups handed out to Micah Richards and Frazier Campbell.

The squad in full (via FA.com)…

Goalkeepers: Scott Carson (Bursaspor), Joe Hart (Man City), Robert Green (West Ham).

Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man Utd), Micah Richards (Man City), Chris Smalling (Man Utd), Kyle Walker (Tottenham).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Man City), Tom Cleverley (Man Utd), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Man City), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), James Milner (Man City), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Man Utd), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).

Forwards: Darren Bent (Aston Villa), Fraizer Campbell (Sunderland), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Danny Welbeck (Man Utd).

How about that, eh? No Andy Carroll.

First thoughts; With Pearce on selection duty, I’m utterly shocked at the omission of Michael Mancienne. Thought he was a shoe-in.

Elsewhere, for an ‘experimental squad’ there’s a notably high number of ‘the same old same old’ with the only truly experimental element being a player who’s played three games this season after spending 18 months out injured – with Tom Cleverly also far from back on song following a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

Micah Richards definitely deserves a re-call for his form this season after spending so long out-performing yet playing second fiddle to Glen Johnson, though whether he’ll start against Holland is another matter. I fancy Kyle Walker to get the nod from the off, with Micah coming on at half-time or something thereabouts.

Oh, and Stuart Downing is a lucky, lucky boy.

Any thoughts Pies’ fans? Anyone you’d have liked to have seen get a nod? Jack Rodwell, Micky Carrick, Joleon Lescott, The Ox, Danny Graham, etc.

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25 Comments

  1. daz says:

    the ox for downing/ wallcott surely

  2. nicko says:

    Only 3 recognised CBs? Two of which spent most of this season at right back.

  3. MJ says:

    lescott > cahill, ox > walcott, carrick > downing.

  4. budki says:

    I don’t know what is Downing doing there…he has been realy poor this season

  5. ben says:

    the ox and lennon for walcott and downing carrick for barry thats a no brainer

  6. Dragan says:

    Lennon? Defoe? Dont know how walcott makes any team these days.. truly mindless football player. Would put in lennon or SWP in there for him any day..

  7. Martinez says:

    Surprised at Downing’s inclusion,and as a Man u fan also at Ashley Young,as he has only just come back from injury,surely the ox should be there too instead of Downing and lennon instead of walcott

  8. muppets says:

    the ox > walcott, lennon > downing, jagielka > glen johnson

  9. Stewart says:

    He just needs to keep it ticking over until Harry gets there. And then we can have that Tottenham magic as seen last week. A bunch of overpaid prem stars struggling to get a result against lesser opposition in an important tournament. Sorted. As Harry’s accountant would say, 50% sweat, 50% talent and 50% in a secret off-shore account.

  10. gamblino says:

    yeah would surely have been the time to try oxlade-chamberlain.

  11. Room101 says:

    Maybe Downing will clumsily injure himself between now and next week. Then we can see a decent replacement called up- and I include Mark Chamberlain’s son in that sentiment.

  12. Al says:

    not very inspiring, very light at center half, Walcott and Downing are both muck, Adam Johnson is a squad player at city so not sure of his value in there, there is no experimentation in there so i don’t think it can be called an experimentation squad, if thats the best squad England can cobble together I fear for them at the Euro’s. Where’s Lescott/Jagielka/ Oxlade/ no Almunia either?

  13. Connor says:

    carrick for barry? based on what?

  14. Giancarlo says:

    Hahaha oh silly English picking horrible choices.
    I’m on par with the rest-Downing, and Walcott are weird choices. How are Defoe, Jagielka, Lescott not picked?
    Poor Defoe, can’t even get a game in at Tottenham, either. He scores goals, so play him!

  15. Arsenesbrasso says:

    The Ox should get a run out – he’s been pretty handy this season & this is a good opportunity for him to dip his hoof in international football.

  16. patrick says:

    3 right backs? glen johnson would make a better winger than any of those named. keyword: interim.

  17. Andrew says:

    I think perhaps Walcott and Downing get one last chance to earn their salt, or they are done and dusted, getting a much deserved permanent holiday from the international game. This logic probably applies to a number of the selections. Barry carrying that piano down the pitch behind Ozil in South Africa comes to mind.

  18. macd says:

    Danny Graham in for campbell, I think scott sinclair might have been worth a shout as well

  19. sloth says:

    Ox, Lescott, Lennon > Downing, Cahill, Walcott

    Also surprised Sol Campbell isn’t in the squad.

  20. KingEric7 says:

    Frazier Campbell couldn’t get into a bath.

  21. wu tangggg says:

    Ox instead of downing obviously.
    Carrick in for barry
    And Jagialka in for cahill! did psycho see jagielka’s performance against spain??

  22. Papi says:

    Out – Cahill, Downing, Walcott, Young, Campbell

    In (possibly) – Lescott, Alex O.C., Lennon, Rodwell

  23. adhikapp says:

    i dont know which inclusion was more surprising; campbell or downing?

  24. callum says:

    how are walcott and downing in when lennon, jarvis, kightly, carrick, ox all missed out??

  25. Del says:

    Pretty much agree with everything you said Chris. I’d like to see Micah Richards and Kyle Walker start. ;)

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