Hopkins

Can we just get one thing straight and out of the way. The team selection was not disrespectful to the fans. Not only do you pay for a ticket, knowing full well that someone else is going to pick the team and therefore you might not agree with it but they have hardly disguised the fact that there would be changes have they? Every round of every competition has seen similar changes this season, and at any opportunity anyone at the club is asked about the cup they have talked about how it's a chance to "give the other players an opportunity". If anyone paid and traveled to that game expecting to see a full strength team then it's their own fault. The performance from the players picked on the other hand....

He's pretty crap, but Carlton Cole is worse.

No idea, both are wrong though. Just makes them a laughing stock. Here is the rule. Neither Morgan or Januzaj qualify. 1. A Player who, under the terms of art. 5, is eligible to represent more than one Association on account of his nationality, may play in an international match for one of these Associations only if, in addition to having the relevant nationality, he fulfils at least one of the following conditions: a) He was born on the territory of the relevant Association; b) His biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of the relevant Association; c) His grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the relevant Association; d) He has engaged in a minimum of five years education under the age of 18 within the territory of the relevant association. — Home nations agreement It would need all nations to agree to it being scrapped and that isn't going to happen because 1) It doesn't benefit anybody but ourselves in the long run 2) We didn't agree to it being scrapped when Scotland wanted Nacho Novo 3) It would seriously open up the possibility for FIFA to turn us into a GB team.

Should be Hart, Forster, Foster Baines, Cole, Jagielka, Jones, Smalling, Cahill, Clyne Wilshere, Henderson, Carrick, Milner, Chamberlain, Lallana, Rodriguez, Shelvey, Adam Johnson Wellbeck, Rooney, Lambert, Sturridge. It will be... (FACT! baring Glen Johnson being out and injuries ofc) Hart, Forster, Foster Baines, Cole, Jones, Jagielka, Smalling, Cahill, Walker Gerrard, Lampard, Carrick, Wilshere, Henderson, Chamberlain, Lallana, Milner, Townsend Wellbeck, Rooney, Sturridge, Carroll

Nope. The home nations agreement rules out him and Janujaz from qualifying for England, no matter how long they stay here for. Still baffled how anyone thinks otherwise despite the rules being pretty clear.

Ashely Cole will not be part of any swap deal ffs Also, I highly doubt Lukaku will either. I don't think Chelsea will be up for selling him for a start but if they were he'd fetch a similar price to Shaw, so why they'd use him in a deal with us is beyond me. He'd also have his pick of clubs, Champions League ones too, so I doubt would be interested in joining us.

Do we really need Banega?

Don't think we'd 100% take Walker if everyone was fit, so I certainly don't think we'll be taking Clyne if Johnson can't make it. Walker, Smalling and Jones can all play there.

No they won't. The other home nations would have to agree to allow him to be picked and there is very little reason for them to do that. 1) It would mean it becomes a free for all. England would get the best players and further widening the gap between them and other home nations. 2) FIFA (Remember that they implement this rule. It's only a gentlemans agreement in name. They too would have to agree to it being changed) would seriously look at turning us into a GB team. That wouldn't benefit any home nation. 3) It hasn't been changed for other home nations when they have wanted players (Nacho Novo springs to mind) so why would they change it for us to pick Schneiderlin or Januzaj? If it does ever get changed it would have to be for a seriously talented footballer and not Morgan or Januzaj.

He's not eligible but don't let facts stop a pointless debate.

Hahahaha it's not possible to just bin it. It's a FIFA rule. One team can't just ignore it, the others have to agree to it as well. That isn't going to happen because then it just becomes a free for all and that obviously plays into Englands hands and leaves the others behind. Not only that, but if all the home nations did agree to opt out then FIFA would look very seriously at turning us into a GB team and none of the home nations would want that.

It's all the home nations that agreed to opt in. To get out of it, the others would have to agree to it. That, I'm sure you'll realise is highly unlikely because it just leaves England to pick all the best players they can and the others to fall further behind. No. He's not eligible to play for England now and never will be. Did you read the link? Or are you, like the media, just choosing to ignore it? I CBA right now to look into the specifics of those cases but the agreement and the rules for it have been altered numerous times over the years. Now though it's quite a clear criteria. 1. A Player who, under the terms of art. 5, is eligible to represent more than one Association on account of his nationality, may play in an international match for one of these Associations only if, in addition to having the relevant nationality, he fulfils at least one of the following conditions: a) He was born on the territory of the relevant Association; b) His biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of the relevant Association; c) His grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the relevant Association; d) He has engaged in a minimum of five years education under the age of 18 within the territory of the relevant association. — Home nations agreement

He's not. This will explain why. http://sport.stv.tv/football/international/242115-explained-why-manchester-uniteds-adnan-januzaj-cant-play-for-england/ It's absolutely baffling and laughable that the media and even members of the FA including Hodgson seem to not know about this rule.

He'll never be eligible for England so Lallana is wrong.

Can't imagine it will be Capello. If it is, Spurs will have to pay pretty big money to get him out of his Russia contract. Think him being at the game is a coincidence. He was also at the Chelsea game the day before.

So what makes the best fan and why is that the correct way to behave at a football match? Am I the only one who couldn't care less about the atmosphere, the passion, the noise, the songs the crowd sing when I go to a match? I'm there for the football. I find it pretty laughable that some of you can't get your head around the idea that other people have other reasons for going to the game than you and therefore are able to enjoy themselves differently to you. You might like jumping up and down, singing songs and making as much noise as possible, some others might not, either way it doesn't matter. Get over it.

FIFA do recognise it as a rule. You'd also need all home nations to agree to remove it, which won't happen because it will further weaken every nation except England. Without it, not only would it turn the home nations into a farce but I doubt it would take long for FIFA to demand the home nations become a team GB. It won't be happening, we can't just rip up an agreement and other than the short sited arguement of "Morgan would be able to play for England OMGZZZ how good would we be!" it is an idiotic idea.

The criteria for eligibility to represent a home nation is: 1. A Player who, under the terms of art. 5, is eligible to represent more than one Association on account of his nationality, may play in an international match for one of these Associations only if, in addition to having the relevant nationality, he fulfils at least one of the following conditions: a) He was born on the territory of the relevant Association; b) His biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of the relevant Association; c) His grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the relevant Association; d) He has engaged in a minimum of five years education under the age of 18 within the territory of the relevant association. — Home nations agreement Ratified by FIFA. We are treated differently to other nations.

It's not possible because of the agreement with the other home nations. The amount of people oblivious to this in the media especially is baffling.

Morgan can't play for England because of the home nations agreement. Not because of some tournament somewhere. It's the same reason the united kid can't play for England either. Not that either of them would want to anyway. The level of intelligence regarding this subject really is laughable. Especially from the media and The FA.

Sturridge will play Friday. Just because they are not training today doesn't mean they won't train sometime this week.

Well that's complete nonsense. They were 3-1 down in a 2 legged tie when he took that job. They were far from already most of the way to winning a Champions League.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Atsu go out on loan pretty quickly. I fancy Moses to stay at Chelsea as he counts as a home grown player.

Why anybody would actually want that to happen is beyond me. Imagine this league with mainly British players. Jesus, it would be utter dire to watch. There is no proof what so ever and very limited logic that forcing more English/British players to play would improve our national team. Not only that, but why everyone is fixated on improving the National side when they play a few times a year rather than watching talented, exciting footballers on a weekly basis is also beyond me.

No. That rule about foreign players being able to play for England if they aren't picked for their national team (AKA the hype about Arteta) is a myth. A gentlemans agreement between the home nations means that is not possible.