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.