Stones to be named in provisional England squad

They always name a couple of wild cards in the provisional squad don't they - lads who really have little chance of making it on to the plane. But if I was Jags with the season quickly reaching it's climax I would be worried as he has no chance of going to Brazil if he's not in our first-team through injury or otherwise.

Good for John to be getting the recognition. But I think the world cup in Brazil has come to late for him.

.... Or to early, even!

He'd walk it though wouldn't he?

If the Fulham game hadn't been televised I sincerely doubt there would be anyone calling for Stones to be in the England squad. Every Everton fan will tell you that he has tremendous potential whilst still learning his trade and making the odd mistake. One good game on TV and all of a sudden the armchair media are interested. He'll be on his way to Man Utd if the rags have anything to say about it.

Stones will be a top top player, but let's give him a bit of time. Get him in the England U21's and get that whole group playing the right way. That is how you build for the future. Not by thrusting the flavour of the month into the World Cup fold.

It's interesting how much praise Barkley has been getting after one good goal too. Another top player in the making but he has been pretty poor in the second half of the season, yet many people in the media have him on the plane. I sometimes wonder if only Everton fans watch our team.

Good point Phil about Barkley. I think the same of lukaku, he has a terrible first touch at times and isn't gifted at distribution either. Don't get me wrong he can smack the back hard and he knows where the goal is. But he isn't like the Yak or Drogba with his game as the media would like to think.

Would be a poor indictment on English defenders if a lad whose only started about 5 games in the Premiership went to Brazil. Next time round perhaps if he keeps improving.

Good point Phil about Barkley. I think the same of lukaku, he has a terrible first touch at times and isn't gifted at distribution either. Don't get me wrong he can smack the back hard and he knows where the goal is. But he isn't like the Yak or Drogba with his game as the media would like to think.

I say take him and play him, same with the other youngsters that are playing regular football, and playing well. Barkley, Stones from us, Shaw, Rodriguez, Llana from Southampton to name just a few. We all know that we will see Ashley Cole at LB, Gerrard in midfield ( who to be fair still warrants right now) and a host of Man Utd players who get called up just because they are Man Utd players. Sigh!

Agree with Dan, lets take the youth and say go and play, no pressure. Can't do any worse than the last/current lot.

Take the young uns, the seniors will only get knocked out in quarter-finals anyway! Barkley has so much more to improve on before making the jump, his passing and decision-making is often nearly as bad as mine. Stones has a great future; I was at the game last week and he was different gravy – slow and steady may be the order of the day for them both though...

Given time to develop, an England squad consisting of players such as Ross Barkley and John Stones, Lallana, Shaw, Caulker, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rodriguez, Sturridge, Sterling and Townsend has a lot of potential. I would much rather these players were given a chance to show what they can do, instead of the same old faces who represent the country at consecutive tournaments and fail repeatedly to reproduce their club form on the international stage.

Young players learn and develop very quickly if managed in the correct way, something I believe Martinez is clearly doing, especially when you look at the development of Seamus, Stones and Barkley this season.

Gerrard still warrants being in the England team? you are joking Dan, surely.

Look at the German team a couple of years ago, they played youngsters and looked quality,

We all know come the World Cup the usual old heads will be rolled out, Gerrard, lampard, terry, cole.

It's coming up to 50 years now since success for England.

A few more years won't go amiss if England had the balls to play players in form and give the youngsters a chance instead of playing players simply because of the team they play club football for.

The big difference now at Everton is youngsters are getting a chance, Stones, Barkley both getting games, a belief in the team that we are afraid of no team.

Under our former manager it reminded me so much of the England set up, certain players were undroppable and even played out of position to Accomodate them in the team.

How many times did we see a striker taken off to hold out for a goal lead and replaced by a defender.

I love the way Martinez uses his subs like for like.

If he takes a right sided or left sided midfielder off a similar player comes on in that position. If a striker comes off he's replaced with an attacker, not often you see Martinez take Barkley or Del Boy off and replace them with Hibbert or Alcaraz.

If Martinez grabs us 4th place there will be one hell of a piss up and brown brogues donned down Mathew Street that night.

If you look over the last 10 or so years there's been masses of England players who come in too young an age, think they've made it, then even disappear off the club radar.

Obviously Rooney is an exception, but when you think Lineker didn't even get a cap until 24 or 25, surely its best that the kids can put in at least 3 years of solid performances to warrant an England call up.

As for Gerrard, he's part of that 'golden generation' who failed time and time again at tournaments because of a fear of losing. Lampard out, Gerrard out, Cole out. Rooney can stay, but its time a new mentality took over the England dressing room and these big name influences were best gone after 2010.

Completely agree with Nick Entwistle.

Ideally I want these younger players to play together at U21 level for at least 2-3 years before making the step up as a team. However if we really must bring in the likes of Barkley and Lallana then let's do it properly. Lampard, Gerrard, Cole, all out. These players have had their chance and it's time they stepped aside. We don't want these kids corrupted by the mentality that has held England back all of my lifetime.

Start afresh.

As a very wise man once said you will never win anything wIth kids? Plus picking the tried, tested and rather tired media darlings for many years has worked a treat since 1966 hasn't it? even Greece and Denmark have won euros in that period. Personally I don't care less how England do in the World Cup as it will inevitably be the same sterile, turgid, defensive minded shite they always do, particularly with Hodgson in charge.

The World Cup will end and the pundits will rave about the young talents from other countries and their greater technical ability, when the real problem is mindset and confidence. If you want a case study, Nick, you need only compare Everton under Moyes and Everyon under Martinez; suddenly we are decent to watch and go out to win all games.

It must be hard for you, Nick, as it looks certain Martinez is going to beat Moyes's best ever points total in his first season.

Hmmm. Ed, you kind of piss on your chips mentioning Greece winning the Euros. Given their aging squad and decades old catenaccio.

Was that worth saying? Maybe not. Rather like the end of your post.

I'm not pissing on anyone's chips, Nick. The point I was making that despite being two poor sides (Greece and Denmark) they have succeeded. England, despite adopting similar tactics to those sides, have failed to win any competition; therefore, playing with some degree of freedom and flair would at least be refreshing.

So it is worth saying, as not only do England not succeed but they are awful to watch. The comparison I am making with regards to Everton is that we are much better to watch under Martinez as he is more positive and gives youngsters a chance – unlike your idol Moyes.

It seems to me that Roberto Martinez seems more than a tad concerned about Jagielka's fitness.

You have to ask why he is still not match fit to play tomorrow after apparently being 'fit, but not match fit' two weeks ago.

Is it just that Jags is not a naturally mobile fit lad or what?

If there are any concerns at all about his place in Brazil then you could well understand why Hodgson would be having John Stones in his thoughts at the very least.

Roy Hodgson was interviewed on TalkSport and he more or less said that anybody that hasn't been called up won't get the nod at this late stage. In any case, far too early for Stones... but what a prospect.

I hope he doesn't go anywhere near the squad for another year or two. That stuff can wreck the confidence of a player. Let him gradually progress under the tutelage of Roberto.

Ed, Greece may have been a poor but Denmark certainly weren’t a poor side.

First of all, I'll start by saying that I am Welsh though my views would be the same no matter what my nationality was and this is prompted by the rumour above.

Though I like football, first and foremost I am an Everton supporter and my views have always been the same even when Wales had several top class players playing for the Blues, Southall & Ratcliffe etc. My personal view is that International football should be scrapped.

All I care about is Everton and I don't want Everton players to be injured/crippled when playing for their countries. Just look at Ross Barkley: triple leg-break while playing for his country. Just think about how good he would be now if this hadn't happened?

Bill, they were pretty poor and rather lucky to win the Euros when they did, in my opinion. Of course, they were only there by default we aren't talking about the Denmark of the World Cup of 1986 (who were excellent) but the Denmark of the early 1990s.

Personally I would prefer he and Ross not go as they will be lucky to get a kick.

The form of Barry deserves a recall especially if other older players like Gerrard and Lampard get starting roles which, by the way will not help England.

This England squad will struggle I fear and so the less Blues players are involved the better. Let them all rest up good for the Summer in readiness for a great Prem. season in August.

There is no basis for this story, let's move on

Way too inexperienced, and prone to errors - that's not a criticism because the kid has class written all over him. He's just too young at the moment.

Next European championships though, if he continues to play.

I'm glad the lad is getting recognition for his mature performances and that England are acknowledging him as a potential future international. Hopefully this will inspire him to continue to work hard towards fulfilling his potential. I think its a bit too soon for him right now as he needs to stay focused on nailing down his first team place at Everton, but by the Euro's in 2016 he could be an important player for club and country!

Unnecessary pop at Nick there, Ed. especially as you actually agree about the rest of it.

Thank God Terry and Ferdinand (I hope) won't be there, but I'd still take Rooney, Cole and Gerrard from the so-called golden generation. You can't beat a bit of experience and Stones is too green just yet in my book. Should be in with a chance for Euros in 2016 though, and he has been mentioned the Southampton trio and others coming through are proving there are green chutes for England.

Take a look at the existing CB's Roy will have to choose from before you leave Stones out. I mean Smalling or Jones are probably Roy's third choice picks behind Jags and Cahill – so for me it's piss easy to see why Stones has been mentioned.

Also, I can't see how Cole will go to Brazil – the boy's not even playing first team footy. LB will be Baines backup will be Shaw.

Der Kaiser Aus Barnsley

Not arsed if he never plays for England, all I know is if this lad continues the way he's going, two years from now, we'll have some player.

As for him being inexperienced and making the occasional mistake, well yes he is and does, but I'll take that over watching ordinary players (Phil Neville to pluck a name out of the air) using their vast experience to make REGULAR mistakes.