England's Liverpudlian Squad - Time to 'Calm Down'

As the UEFA Euro 2012 Championship draws near the England squad are dropping like flies. The latest inclusion of Liverpool's Martin Kelly has brought their representation in the squad up to 6. With their poor league form, this has drawn a great deal of controversy. But if they have invested heavily in English youth unlike many other top teams, then why should there not be a heavy Merseyside presence. Liverpool have provided some of England's finest young talents over a number of years. In addition senior players such as Steven Gerrard, Stewart Downing and Glen Johnson, with 162 caps between them would likely help Henderson, Carroll and Kelly bed in.

I am a big believer in having club contingencies within the national set up. The successful Spain side of recent years has incorporated successful combinations within club sides into the national side. Of course I am not suggesting that Henderson and Carroll are like Xavi and Iniesta, however the bond of club football and consistency this brings is surely something which would benefit at least the team camp and morale if not on pitch performances. Although this heavy presence from the red side of the Mersey was largely due to unforeseen circumstances, one would suggest that it is not all doom and gloom. Their league form was poor, they drew far too many games at home, but the European Championship is not a league, its a cup. Cup football is a different animal as Chelsea showed us with their seemingly impossible cup double and 6th placed league finish, a feat that we will seldom see again. Liverpool weren't too bad in the cups. Reaching the final of both domestic tournaments, in which we saw some of their best performances both as a team and from individuals such as Downing and Carroll. The FA Cup in particular saw Downing score 2 and gain 2 assists in 6 games and Carroll put 4 in the back of the net en route to second place. With both in with a shout of featuring in the opening game of the tournament perhaps the boys from the North West will paint the East red, again.


Jlloyd