Adam Lallana - England

[captainchris]

I'll say it.........I didn't see why the likes of Parker, Young and Milner were so outstanding that they warranted a place in the England team. Why do we continue to pick unskillful 'runners' that will never win us anything at a major tournament? AL is miles ahead of these guys and he should have been there.

 

I know Parker is a central midfielder but you where I'm coming from and indeed AL can play there too!

[hypochondriac]

I thought Parker was decent.

[PhilippineSaint]

As said on an earlier thread sack all those that have not been through the Saints academy

[itchen_dan]

He needs to have a brilliant season next season to stand any chance IMO. Look how good Jarvis was over the course of his 'brilliant' season and he only got the 1 chance as a sub to prove his England ability.

 

Whilst these big names and big earners are at the current age, I can't see many others being tried or tested over the next couple of years. It will be the same group of players under-perfoming each time until the 'golden generation' move on.

[Pugwash]

I too thought Parker had a decent game. But agree that Milner and particularly Young really don't cut it and AL would do a much better job.

 

Oh, and Rooney was absolute ****.

[Elias]

Hopefully the England side will be revamped. Hodgson did well getting a poor side into a hard to beat unit, but too many players just weren't good enough. The side needs new blood, and Rooney needs to know he isn't an automatic selection.

[SO16_Saint]

reason Lallana wasn't in the squad?

 

Purely because he was playing for a Championship club.

 

I think it's different for GK's to be noticed in lower leagues, and possibly more acceptable, than outfield players.

 

We will see this season a) how good he is in the Prem and b) whether Hodgson is willing to 'take the risk'

[Thedelldays]

if lallana has a good season...SURELY he has to be included.

he is exactly what everyone is saying we need. a player comfortable on the ball, very skill full and has a touch of class.

 

it would not be long though before people go on about the lack of pace etc etc

[S-Clarke]

Big year for Adam next year, there's no doubt that he's incredibly talented, but he's never done it at the top level. Will be interesting to see how he gets the better of seasoned pro's, the only reservation I have against him at the highest level is his lack of pace. If he had pace, he wouldn't be here anymore.

 

If he bags a few goals next year and causes all sorts of problems, then he will have to be considered for england in that 'troublesome' left sided role.

[Thedelldays]

Big year for Adam next year, there's no doubt that he's incredibly talented, but he's never done it at the top level. Will be interesting to see how he gets the better of seasoned pro's, the only reservation I have against him at the highest level is his lack of pace. If he had pace, he wouldn't be here anymore.

 

If he bags a few goals next year and causes all sorts of problems, then he will have to be considered for england in that 'troublesome' left sided role.

can't be any worse than ashley young....for a so called top player, who plays for united...he came up woefully short

[supersonic]

Lallana isn't in there for the same reason Lambert isn't, neither have played, let alone excelled at Premier League level

[S-Clarke]

can't be any worse than ashley young....for a so called top player, who plays for united...he came up woefully short

 

He's not bad at club level, just seems to be another player who completely freezes in competitive international games. We didn't see anything from him that we saw at Utd, or Villa. He's gots bags of talent, but looks incredibly nervous out there.

 

Now Milner on the other hand...

[alpine_saint]

Lallana isn't in there for the same reason Lambert isn't, neither have played, let alone excelled at Premier League level

 

This. If he has a couple of good PL seasons, where he drops his periodic relapses into headless chicken mode and learns to take a decnet corner, every chance he will be on the plane to Rio, if Hodgson isnt a complete dork that only looks in the North West and within the M25.

[corky morris]

As much as I think Lallana is top class, he does not have enough pace for Interntaional football IMHO. That said, Milner, Young & Rooney were total poo last night!!

[rshephard3]

I like Lallana a lot and he's been great for us but he'll never play for England. Might squeeze into a squad, maybe a friendly 5 minute cameo but he's not good enough to play for England. Look at the likes of AOC, Wilshire, Adam Johnson. He's not as good as these players. He's comfortable on the ball yes, but why hasn't a Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea, Utd, Arsenal not taken a punt on him? Lets face it, when we were skint someone could have had Lallana for pittance but noone but Fulham were really rumoured seriously. I'd love to be proved wrong but the market rarely lies in football.

[S-Clarke]

As much as I think Lallana is top class, he does not have enough pace for Interntaional football IMHO. That said, Milner, Young & Rooney were total poo last night!!

 

Pace is a funny thing though, I look at the players who excelled for Italy last night - Pirlo, Montilovo, De Rossi - all very slow, not pacey what so ever. Personally that's where I see Adam going in the end, the only reason I have the reservation about his lack of pace is because of his position - left wing.

[MOSaint]

Maybe skillful players should stop being written off at the highest level in this country for lacking in pace or power. I'd take a player with good technique who knows how to find space over a quick player with no skill who runs about like a headless chicken.

[saint1977]

He's not bad at club level, just seems to be another player who completely freezes in competitive international games. We didn't see anything from him that we saw at Utd, or Villa. He's gots bags of talent, but looks incredibly nervous out there.

 

Now Milner on the other hand...

 

Young was poor but based on his displays for Man U I can see why he was picked. Ox-C will be ahead of him soon but Young is a decent squad option rather than firxt XI pick. Milner needs to be told by Hodgson to get a loan move to a club like Villa (where he was before) or Everton because he is going backwards rapidly at City with the lack of games or he'll be frozen out. City won't like it but a player like Milner needs lots of games under his belt to be at his best.

 

Lallana has a decent chance I reckon if he excels, Beattie was picked by Sven when England (on paper at least) had stronger options available. He'll have to continue working on his shooting and be looking to get upwards of 8 league goals next season but the England midfield isn't top drawer with the exception of Gerrard. To be fair to Parker, I think he's done OK and he's certainly more than someone who runs and breaks it up. Anyone who saw his 2 goals for Charlton as SMS would know that. However, his break has come a bit too late in his career and although he'll play in some of the qualifiers, I don't think if we qualify he'll be at WC 2014.

[batterseasaint]

To be considered realistically for England, a player needs to have experience at the top level; champions league or at a push, the Europa League. Young English players do not represent value for money in comparison to foreign equivalents, so the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Utd look abroad, with the odd exception such as Young, Wilshere, Oxo etc. all of whom are getting their chance at international level. Sad though it is, the likes of Lallana need to be playing in the Champions League to play regularly for England. It's the age old argument that our national team is failing as a result of foreign imports.

 

And no England manager has had the balls in recent years to regularly pick anyone from a lower team; because if they lose, the media will accuse them of picking mediocre crap. It's a vicious cycle which results in some very good players slipping through the net.

 

This explains why Gary Cahill suddenly became an instant pick the moment Chelsea picked him. And same with Oxo; does be look a significantly better player now than he did with us? No. The moment he moved to Arsenal, he suddenly was deemed 'good enough for England'.

 

If Lallana has an excellent season, he may get the odd sub appearance in a friendly, but until he plays CL he won't be considered for a full time spot.

[shurlock]

Edit

Edited 25 June, 2012 by shurlock

[shurlock]

Lallana will never play (regularly) for England - even one that had a Damascus moment. He's fantastic on the ball -well at least, in the lower leagues- but his passing and awareness of others isn't actually that special.

[Dig Dig]

As much as I think Lallana is top class, he does not have enough pace for Interntaional football IMHO. That said, Milner, Young & Rooney were total poo last night!!

 

After watching the likes of Pirlo dominate our entire midfield, do you still think that pace is the be all and end all?

[PokingFun]

Lallana will never play (regularly) for England - even one that had a Damascus moment. He's fantastic on the ball -well at least, in the lower leagues- but his passing and awareness of others isn't actually that special.

 

I see his passing ability and the taking of a touch too many at times as being one of AL's weaknesses. He has great control and touch but needs to improve his decision making if he is to make it anywhere near the England squad.

[FloridaMarlin]

I'm not quite sure what this obseesion with pace is all about.

 

Yes, you need quick players in certain areas of the field - up front and wide in attack, and in defence to combat opposition players with pace.

 

Pirlo proved that you don't need to be fast to control a game, but what you do need is the courage to build a team around somebody like him.

You get other players to do the donkey work, and to provide him with the ball. Didier Deschamps was a great player, but he was effectively Zidane's "water carrier2 as Cantona dubbed him.

 

The English football mentality which demands that all players work like dogs labels such a player as a luxury, a tag that MLT had to endure for years.

 

Pirlo and Le Tis both embodied the art of findng space not by using searing pace, but through intelligence.

 

I'm not convinced that Lallana should form the bedrock of England's midfield from the next match onwards, but if England aspire to have creative playmakers like continental teams, then somebody has to be able to demonstrate the willingness to undergo a compete re-think in the way we want England teams to play, and give players who can spot and pick a pass the chance to be the fulcrum of a team, not just a luxurious strolling mummer.

[batterseasaint]

Would be interesting to see if Lallana is elligible for the Olympic squad/ is picked/ is allowed to play by Nic.

[rooney]

Would be interesting to see if Lallana is elligible for the Olympic squad/ is picked/ is allowed to play by Nic.

 

Maybe that was why Stuart Pearce was watching one of our home games towards the end of last season.

[Bearsy]

I'm not sure Lallana would be very useful as the second full-back in Hodgson's innovative 8-0-2 formation, and for that reason I'm out.

[Dig Dig]

I'm not sure Lallana would be very useful as the second full-back in Hodgson's innovative 8-0-2 formation, and for that reason I'm out.

 

This is a good point, if you're a progressive forward thinking midfielder, the england midfield is the last place you'd want to be.

[saint-crinny]

Will need an unbelievable season to get in i think - he was good for us last season, but his form was patchy at times and that was the Championship.

 

I think he is a great player, and have high hopes for him this season, but think England is a bit beyond him.

 

Agree about some of the comments in terms of other contenders - Lennon, Adam Johnson didnt even make the cut for the Euros, bizarely in my opinion considering Milner played every game (he is just so poor), and i would want both of them in my team at Saints ahead of Adam currently,

[Boris Karloff]

I agree his passing could improve, but I think he will have a good season next year. Every team is going to attack us and he could find he has a little more space, especially if NA goes for the diamond a bit more.

 

The thing with AL is you realise how good he is when he is out of the side. We always really miss him. He constantly gives an outlet in midfield and the ball sticks with him, which is something you can't say about Ashley Young. He helps the team play through midfield and that's something England were lacking last night. I'd love to see him in the England team.

[southamptonfclegend]

To be considered realistically for England, a player needs to have experience at the top level; champions league or at a push, the Europa League. Young English players do not represent value for money in comparison to foreign equivalents, so the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Utd look abroad, with the odd exception such as Young, Wilshere, Oxo etc. all of whom are getting their chance at international level. Sad though it is, the likes of Lallana need to be playing in the Champions League to play regularly for England. It's the age old argument that our national team is failing as a result of foreign imports.

 

And no England manager has had the balls in recent years to regularly pick anyone from a lower team; because if they lose, the media will accuse them of picking mediocre crap. It's a vicious cycle which results in some very good players slipping through the net.

 

This explains why Gary Cahill suddenly became an instant pick the moment Chelsea picked him. And same with Oxo; does be look a significantly better player now than he did with us? No. The moment he moved to Arsenal, he suddenly was deemed 'good enough for England'.

 

If Lallana has an excellent season, he may get the odd sub appearance in a friendly, but until he plays CL he won't be considered for a full time spot.

 

Scott Parker doesn't played CL football.. hasn't since 2005...

[Golden Balls]

Hope he makes it. I will make a decent amount of money if him and AOC are on the pitch at the same time.

[batterseasaint]

Scott Parker doesn't played CL football.. hasn't since 2005...

 

If Lampard, Barry or Wilshere were fit (all of whom play for CL teams) Parker would have been a bit-part player. Parker and Henderson were our only options alongside Gerrard.

[sammysaint]

Parker and Gerrard were quality during the euros, i really believe if we could of had Wilshire and Lambert we would of beaten italy, Parker for Henderson was a poor replacement and Lambo could of been 4th choice and been used primary for a pen taker in that situation.

 

I believe Carroll is gonna have some good form this season, i really cant see our defence handling him, Roy is going for players under 25 so he can build a team to beat at WC, now if i remember didnt fulham or WBA get linked with Lallana when RH was there ? so if Lallana does well RH is the sort of manager to give players outside the top 6 a chance.

[CB Fry]

Jay Rod will play for England before Lallana, who I think never will.

 

There. I said it.

[Dazza82]

Jay Rod will play for England before Lallana, who I think never will.

 

There. I said it.

 

True, Lallana is too good for England if you get what i mean his style of play does not suit England. He is much more of a French/Spanish/German type that is where England fall behind not playing our talented players.

[class of 76]

He would qualify to play for Spain.

[Saint_clark]

This. If he has a couple of good PL seasons, where he drops his periodic relapses into headless chicken mode and learns to take a decnet corner, every chance he will be on the plane to Rio, if Hodgson isnt a complete dork that only looks in the North West and within the M25.

 

I'm pretty sure that will have no bearing whatsoever on his England chances.

Also, not once in the last three years has he looked a "headless chicken". Off the pace and uninvolved perhaps, but never, ever like he didn't know what he was doing.

[doggface]

He was carrying injury for a large part of the season. Would not surprise me if he got a call up

[Hamilton Saint]

For all the grief, humiliation, and unrealized expectations he has put England supporters through, Rooney should never play for England again.

[Dig Dig]

I'm pretty sure that will have no bearing whatsoever on his England chances.

Also, not once in the last three years has he looked a "headless chicken". Off the pace and uninvolved perhaps, but never, ever like he didn't know what he was doing.

 

I wonder how many times Alpine has actually seen Lallana play?

[alpine_saint]

I'm pretty sure that will have no bearing whatsoever on his England chances.

Also, not once in the last three years has he looked a "headless chicken". Off the pace and uninvolved perhaps, but never, ever like he didn't know what he was doing.

 

Well, I suppose it depends on your choice of metaphor, I suppose.

 

"Headless chicken" seemed a reasonable fit to me. From what I've seen, its not just a case of him not being off the pulse of the game, sometimes he seems genuinely chaotic.

 

However, its been a while since I saw him close-up, maybe that's improved over the last season.

[saintbob40]

Jay Rod will play for England before Lallana, who I think never will.

 

There. I said it.

 

Cork before Rodders and Lallana but hopefully all three in a Southampton powered world cup winning team.

[Saint_clark]

Well, I suppose it depends on your choice of metaphor, I suppose.

 

"Headless chicken" seemed a reasonable fit to me. From what I've seen, its not just a case of him not being off the pulse of the game, sometimes he seems genuinely chaotic.

However, its been a while since I saw him close-up, maybe that's improved over the last season.

 

I honestly have no idea what you're on about. "Genuinely chaotic" and "headless chicken" suggest to me making runs in the wrong direction, splaying passes 50 yards wide of the mark and hitting the corner flag regularly with shots.

[saintbob40]

I thought Parker and Gerrard both struggled to play the full 90 minutes. Two over 30s in a 442 system v a 451/433 system is asking a lot, especially if they are not 100% fit. Milner is not quick enough to play out wide but is both diligent and intelligent enough. Walcott is quick enough but doesn't play with his head up and is frustrating.

 

As for £20 million Henderson.....one of the biggest footballing mysteries of all time. He had one good half of one season with Sunderland and then went off the boil and then some brainiac at Liverpool shelled out £20 mill.....which leads me to the conclusion that if any of our players play anywhere near the standard of last year we will have England squad members by the end of the season. Perm two from four -Lallana, Cork, Rodders and Lambert and no I have not been at the gin.

[rooney]

Can never undertand when those Sky fellah's talk about the future England Team, Lallana is never mentioned. Just wait until we see him, Rickie, Cork and Rodriguez in the Prem. Pity the former cannot think outside the square.

[Window Cleaner]

As for £20 million Henderson.....one of the biggest footballing mysteries of all time.

 

Not a mystery at all, Dalglish is (or was in management terms) a dinosaur who didn't know what he was doing. I've told you before Comoli wanted Morgan but the price was too high (for a "league 1 player" anyway) and Kenny wasn't having any of it anyway.

Edited 26 June, 2012 by Window Cleaner

[Window Cleaner]

Can never undertand when those Sky fellah's talk about the future England Team, Lallana is never mentioned. Just wait until we see him, Rickie, Cork and Rodriguez in the Prem. Pity the former cannot think outside the square.

 

Simples there again, if you're not playing in the PL (or some other top division) then you aren't England (Spain,France,Italy,Germany take your pick) material. You can be as good as you like in the Championship (unless you're an English goalkeeper of course) but you won't get into the full England side.

[alpine_saint]

Simples there again, if you're not playing in the PL (or some other top division) then you aren't England (Spain,France,Italy,Germany take your pick) material. You can be as good as you like in the Championship (unless you're an English goalkeeper of course) but you won't get into the full England side.

 

This. F**king peasants.

[Toadhall Saint]

Parker did ok. Miner was ok (more to do with his defensive capabilities). As for Young - rubbish (and I'm normally one of his supporters). AL would have done better than Mr Young.