Yes or No, the Euro 2016 squad

[arbboy]

Yes it is a standing joke in the Stoke dressing room that he wasn't good enough to stop that wonder goal. Hence finishing his international career even though him missing for Stoke in the epl moves Asian markets more than virtually any centre half

Shawcross moving Asian markets more than any other centre half doesn't make him better than centre halfs who don't. It just means his 'value over replacement player' is higher than others because the drop off in talent between 2nd and 3rd best centre-half at Stoke is greater than at other clubs.

He should definitely have more than one cap though.

I would agree with what you are saying for sure on both counts to a certain extent.  i equally don't think the gulf betwen Stoke's and Everton's first and 3rd choice centre halfs is much different tbh (or many other epl sides tbh) which is what actually causes the moves.  He might be old school and unfashionable but he is one of the best centre halfs in the EPL of any nationality.

There's some parallels between Stoke and Everton. The toffees seem to look better when it's Jags +1. Also Funes Mori has, numbers wise, had a good season. Looking at some opta stats he ranks first/second out of the three Everton centre halves for  
% Aerial duels won, interceptions, recoveries, clearances and blocks. Obviously they've not all played the same number of minutes but without getting a calculator out at this hour I think that's true for per 90 minutes too.

Agree re: Shawcross but, getting this back on topic, for me he wouldn't be in my squad because I'd only take seven defenders (excluding goalkeepers historically most of the players who play zero minutes at major comps  are defenders for a variety of reasons). His lack of versatility counts against him as does the fact Dier can play centre-half/right back.

I would counter this with Tal's comment.  You have to go all out to win these events.  I would never ever take 3 keepers to these events.  I would happily get beat with 2 keepers in 3-5 games if 2 of my keepers got injured.  I would just suck it up and say 'reallllllllllllllllly?'.  If two of your 3 keepers get injured in a short event like the Euro's it isn't meant to be anyway.  I can't imagine how unmotivated the 3rd keeper must always be on a 6 week road trip like this after a long EPL season.  He knows he is 1.01 to never even get on the pitch.  The vast majority of times you don't need injury cover.  I would always take the best players in each position even if they are total specialists and offer nothing anywhere else.  Going with 'squad players' and 'utility players' like Milner/Phil Nev/Steve Hodge just tells everyone you know you can't win the event.  Balls deep or nothing for me.  

[DropTheHammer]

Interesting point you make about only taking two keepers. Can anyone remember a time in the last ~30 years where two of a country's keepers were injured in the same tournament? Probably never happened? I wonder what it would do to the mindset of the one remaining keeper if the first got injured in an early group game? It may affect his decision making too much.

It would take a brave, brave manager to only take two, fear of media ridicule is high! I can certainly see an argument for taking a specialist penno saver as the third option, though.

[Longines]

http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/uefaorg/Regulations/02/03/92/81/2039281_DOWNLOAD.pdf

s44.02 says 3 of the 23 must be goalkeepers.

[horseplayer]

Arb on the sauce again?

[PathFinder]

Plus you can't register an outfield player as a goalkeeper as he will only be allowed to play in goals. I'm pretty sure a nation tried this before in attempt to find a loop hole

[dino1980]

Plus you can't register an outfield player as a goalkeeper as he will only be allowed to play in goals. I'm pretty sure a nation tried this before in attempt to find a loop hole

North Korea in the 2010 World Cup.

[Sheriff Fatman]

Stones needs a year under a top manager in a proper defensive system, neither of which he currently has. A great talent but not ready to start in a major champs yet

Not being contrary for the hell of it but why do you  say he's a great talent ? I ask because a  lot of people say it but I really don't get it.

Not many centre halves just punt it these days so he doesn't really stand out as a ball player in any kind of special way and, to me, he's a complete flake in terms of any kind of defensive work.

I saw him a lot prior to us selling him to Everton and he was a different class to any other young defensive talent I've seen over the years.  Once he broke into the first team I tipped that he'd be England captain one day, and I still think he has the ability to be world class.  However, he's stagnated at Everton this season.  Not sure how much this is a result of the transfer talk or Everton's deficiencies, but he's probably not helped himself by staying.  I hope he gets a big money move this summer as I think he needs it to develop to the next level (not to mention the sell-on clause that would, in itself, break our transfer record for fees received!)

[TightEnd]

it has been hinted that roy will go a defender light to take an extra striker

7 defenders

with dier able to go cb in a pinch

and clyne able to go left back

would you go one light at full back or centre back?

smalling, cahill, stones, jagielka

rose, shaw/baines, clyne, walker

one stays at home

do you go without jagielka or shaw/baines?

[bergeroo]

Has Dier played a single match at centre back this year? Even if not he still might be better than Jagielka! Personally would prefer the extra cover at centre half.

Full back is more easy to fudge and fit someone in? Move Stones across, play a LB at RB or vice versa, maybe even Milner?

[dino1980]

I'd take four central defenders, two left backs and go one light at right back. Both Walker/Clyne deserve to go but there are more players in the squad who can cover there than at left back. Given the propensity of inverted wingers these days attacking full backs are so important that playing a right footer at left back is really bad IMO.

Edit: It's probably come a month or two too early for him but Flannagan, who seems equally comfortable at right or left back, would be a good squad player to take.

[dino1980]

Has Dier played a single match at centre back this year? Even if not he still might be better than Jagielka! Personally would prefer the extra cover at centre half.

Full back is more easy to fudge and fit someone in? Move Stones across, play a LB at RB or vice versa, maybe even Milner?

In the Premier League only as part of a back three I think. Played there away against Watford on Boxing Day. Not sure about Europa League and other cup comps though.

[George2Loose]

Id leave Clyne at home. He's looked pretty woeful for club and country. Had one decent season for Southampton

[TightEnd]

Id leave Clyne at home. He's looked pretty woeful for club and country. Had one decent season for Southampton

?

He's first choice right back! thought he was very good in Berlin, offers something overlapping too as we saw with the vardy goal

0% he's left at home, surely

[POWWWWWWWW]

I'm not usually a fan of Clyne either but I agree he had a good game in Germany and his pace can be a real threat going forward.
If Shaw if fit and raring to go I think he is a must but he's not even back from injury yet and took ages last year to get back fit. He is a liability when he's not fit. I don't think Baines has been great either this season, what has Cresswell got to do to get a shot?

[Cavey007]

Cresswell? Gotta play for a different team to get looked at :|