The Stiles Council: the England national football team

Roy Hodgson will name his squad for UEFA Euro 2012 on Wednesday lunchtime, and speculation is rife as to which players will make the squad. Because I’m largely incapable of independent thought, I tasked a bunch of football bloggers and tweeters to come up with their own squads so that we can all point and laugh at how different they are from the real thing.

Huge thanks to everyone who submitted their chosen squad. The rules were simple: 23 men, qualified for England, listed and emailed to TSC in time for publication. There will be more to follow.

The comments box below this post is there for you to use, so if you agree or disagree with these lists, or want to add a list of your own, feel free.

James Griffiths (The Matlock Fan)

Joe Hart, Robert Green, John Ruddy; Kyle Walker, Ashley Cole, Joleon Lescott, Phil Jones, Gary Cahill, Michael Dawson, Leighton Baines, Glen Johnson; Michael Carrick, Aaron Lennon, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young, Scott Parker, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Steven Gerrard; Wayne Rooney, Grant Holt, Jermain Defoe, Daniel Sturridge (Darren Bent if fit), Danny Welbeck

Alex Lawson (Footy Matters)

Joe Hart, Scott Carson, Robert Green; Micah Richards, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Phil Jones, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole; Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Stewart Downing, James Milner, Gareth Barry, Scott Parker, Ashley Young, Michael Carrick, Adam Johnson; Theo Walcott, Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll, Jermain Defoe, Grant Holt

Andy Broomhead (@BroomOwl)

Joe Hart, Scott Carson, David Stockdale; Joleon Lescott, Leighton Baines, Ashley Cole, Gary Cahill, Phil Jones, Glen Johnson, Micah Richards; Ashley Young, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Theo Walcott, Gareth Barry, Scott Parker, Adam Johnson; Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Grant Holt, Andy Carroll, Danny Welbeck

Simon King (@KingSi)

Ben Foster, Joe Hart, Paul Robinson; Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Phil Jones, Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, John Terry, Kyle Walker; Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, Scott Parker, Paul Scholes; Adam Johnson, Daniel Sturridge, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young; Jermain Defoe, Grant Holt, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck

Will Taylor (@TheUnusedSub)

Joe Hart, Robert Green, David Stockdale; Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines, Kyle Walker, Micah Richards, John Terry, Gary Cahill, Joleon Lescott, Phil Jones; Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Scott Parker, Gareth Barry, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Johnson; Theo Walcott, Daniel Sturridge, Andy Carroll, Darren Bent, Wayne Rooney

Charlie Anderson (@CAndersonFTBL)

Joe Hart, David Stockdale, Scott Carson; Micah Richards, Glen Johnson, Leighton Baines, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Gary Cahill; James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ashley Young, Adam Johnson, Scott Parker, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, Leon Britton; Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck

The first thing that stands out from these squads is that there is a lot of love out there for Grant Holt. Being completely honest, I’m not completely sure how he’d get on in an England shirt, and I don’t believe he had any hope of going to the European Championships under either Fabio Capello or Stuart Pearce. Roy Hodgson, however, represents both a clean slate and an embracing of pragmatism. Could that mean a surprise call up for the Norwich City striker?

Secondly, it’s clear that options in the centre of midfield are considered to be largely limited to established players. With Jack Wilshere injured and Tom Cleverley not long back from a lay-off of his own, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker form the core of the squads contributed here.

Finally, a quick word for Leon Britton. The Swansea City man has played a huge part in a very impressive Premier League season for his team under Brendan Rodgers, and his selection by Charlie – a magnificent football brain and no mistake – is a deserved reward. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely at this stage that he’ll be bound for Poland and Ukraine this summer.

Over to you…