It is now time to switch to a new Money AM football blog as the world cup is now over and we all look to the future.....World cup 2010 is over, Bravo Espana, and Forlan, once again and bring on the new season !.....I never expected the last thread to be such a success...thanks all.... so this new one might go on for years without the need to edit the title...we shall see...

World Cup 2014: England boss Roy Hodgson considers taking Ross Barkley to Brazil instead of Michael Carrick

Roy Hodgson is making it a straight head-to-head battle between Ross Barkley and Michael Carrick for the final midfield spot in his 23-man World Cup squad





World Cup 2014: England manager Roy Hodgson considers taking Ross Brakley to Brazil instead of Michael Carrick

Big impression: Ross Barkley's performance against Man City caught the eye Photo: PA








By Matt Law, Football News Correspondent

1:31PM BST 04 May 2014

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Roy Hodgson is considering the bold move of taking Ross Barkley to the World Cup instead of Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick.


Barring injury to other players, it is understood that Hodgson, the England manager, is making it a straight head-to-head battle between Barkley and Carrick for the final midfield spot in his 23-man World Cup squad.


Hodgson visited Old Trafford and Goodison Park on Saturday as he tries to decide between Everton youngster Barkley and Carrick.


With Hodgson naming his squad next Monday, Barkley appeared to nudge himself ahead in the battle by scoring a brilliant goal and producing an impressive performance against Manchester City in front of the 66-year-old. Earlier in the day, Hodgson watched United and Carrick produce another uninspiring display in a surprise home defeat to Sunderland.


Hodgson’s choice is complicated by the fact that Barkley and Carrick are different types of midfielders, with varying degrees of experience.


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Barkley’s performance against City summed up what he could give Hodgson’s squad in terms of goal threat, attacking play and forward passing. The 20-year-old has been a regular in Hodgson’s squads, but has made just three senior international appearances and is yet to start for England.

Carrick offers Hodgson more of a defensive midfield option and the 32-year-old has amassed 31 caps. He missed out on a place at Euro 2012 because of confusion over whether he had retired from international football.

Having returned to the England squad for World Cup qualifying, Carrick’s form has dipped with United’s and Hodgson has warned that out-of-form United stars could face Brazil heartbreak.

He has also suggested that an experienced player could miss out. It seems increasingly likely that Chelsea veteran Frank Lampard will be part of the squad which would increase the chances of Carrick staying at home.

“Manchester United are one of the few teams that have had a lot of English players,” said Hodgson. “But football players have to accept unfortunately their England careers are tied up with their club careers.

“If it’s not going well in their clubs, and it’s not going well for them in their clubs, and other players are doing extremely well in their clubs, it does put your position as a national team player under some sort of threat.

“I’m pretty certain that the Manchester United players will understand that there’s no god-given right that, because they’ve played in a few games up to now, they’ll play all the games in the future.

“It’s up to me to pick who the best players for the job are at any given moment. Now that doesn’t mean to say you’ll choose a player for the national team every time he scores. But it does mean you are judging, over a relatively short period, who’s the best man for the job. Who’s the one doing best at this moment? Who’s in the best form?”

Other than choosing between Barkley and Carrick, Hodgson’s other big decision is at left-back and rests on whether to take Chelsea’s Ashley Cole or Southampton teenager Luke Shaw.

So the destiny of this season's English Premier League title has been decided by some bloke in a council estate tracksuit and baseball cap who coaches the Croydon 2nd XI.

Arise Sir Tony Pulis.

Manager of the year :O)

He grew up a Cardiff fan , could have done a good job with our shower but it wasn't to be.

Burnley player of the year.. and it's a Welshman! Some mistake surely Dil -):

http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/article/sam-vokes-crowned-player-of-the-year-041514-1527879.aspx

Cardiff player of the year is a foregone conclusion as we only had one decent player and if Marshall leaves us then no one will blame him.

"Cardiff player of the year"?.. You sure your running one this season -):

World Cup 2018 should be held elsewhere than Russia due to troubles in stadiums that might occur !....big possibility now !.....

Marshall won it Stan as predicted and is the only keeper with 2 saves in MOTD's Save of the Season.

Zaha failed to show for the ceremony and the over rated over paid useless tw&t could face disciplinary action.

ABE if Cole and/or Lampard are involved. Also shouldn't be places for Carrick - burnt out because of no cover at Manchester United for a few seasons, Wilshere - form dropped off plus injury, Walker and Johnson - better off playing without a right back, and Rooney if he isn't 90% or more - Brooking, Keegan, Robson, Rooney. Gerrard will go but how long will he last? And watch out for a selfish display if he makes a mistake - second half against Chelsea.

Fine goal by Yaya last night, showed Burnley how it's done. :)

Cheers,
KidA

Only fine is that all?... and just to remind you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6MJ8wSoLIk -):

Dil, Do you think Marshall will want to stay at Cardiff or want to stay in the Pre-Madonaship and look for a move?

Is it me or have I switched into a different dimension ?...can't understand a thing you lot are on about !...

Can you give an example RF? We might be able to help you.

Dunno Stan but at least we had the sense to get him to sign a new 4 year contract a few months ago so we should be quids in if he does move on but would prefer him to stay.

Caulker and Medel will both go and to be honest neither were worth half of what we paid for them and the sooner Zaha goes the better.

Hope Fabio stays as he's got better as the season has gone on and would be good to have in the championship.

12 hours til we wave the over rated Premier League and its one eyed refs goodbye Bet365 ... 155/1 Cardiff and West Ham double.

Fill yer boots :)

Dil.

"155/1 Cardiff and West Ham double." Stranger things have happened.. So I might have 10p on it -):

World Cup 2014: England manager Roy Hodgson should hold his nerve and commit to youth.
Although he has to think of the here and now when he names his 23-man squad on Monday, he must also plan for the future.

"Jason Burt's 23-man squad:
Goalkeepers
Joe Hart, Ben Foster, Jack Butland
Defenders
Glen Johnson, Calum Chambers, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Phil Jones, John Stones, Leighton Baines, Luke Shaw
Midfielders
Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Jack Wilshere, Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ross Barkley
Strikers
Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck, Danny Ings

The biggest surprise in the England squad I would select for Brazil is the inclusion of Burnley striker Danny Ings. The 21-year-old is expected to be in Gareth Southgate's under-21 squad but his goals - 21 in the Championship this season - and more his all-round play means that Premier League clubs are already looking at him before he faces them next season.
Burnley may have a fight to keep Ings. Roy Hodgson has also run the rule over Ings and he is a contender for the Euro 2016 campaign, so why not use him now? I am a firm believer in giving youth its head and there is no point holding back Calum Chambers, John Stones, Luke Shaw, Jack Butland or Ross Barkley either. Hodgson has 23 players in a squad and there is scope to give younger ones the experience. They are all outstanding prospects."

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Burnley are favourites to go down (no surprise there) but if they could hang on to Danny Ings and a fit again Sam Vokes then who knows, they might just be able to stay up for another season.

I doubt very much if Hodgson will pick DI as suggested above, which hopefully will increase the chances of him staying at BFC for at least a season.

This assumes that Dyche and his team will also stay of course.

An interesting summer to come.

Bye bye EPL but we'll always be BLUE !

Stan , add Bellamy to my list of those than can feck off .... loves his home club my butt ... didnt ome back on the pitch after the game with the rest of the squad to thank the fans for this seasons support because its been suggested apparently he was too busy "powdering his nose" but what the feck would his "home" town fans who grew up with him know ???

..... or why he had compassionate leave for weeks earlier this season !, or wot the feck he was doing in Florida 3 weeks ago when we played Stoke !


Well worth 35K a week , bargain imo !

Visit Wales

Short trips only