Stones joins Baines and Jagielka in England squad

On another note titter starting to heat up with Welbeck on loan rumors, allegedly at Finch Farm now.

So few if the England youth players actually make it to the EPL that if hey can't make it here what chance do they really have?

On a positive Ledson and Kenny reply do appear destined for top tier football!

Am surprised that the likes of Brewster and Dowell are not in the youth squads as well especially given that the academy team won the league last season.

I say this, by the way, not to line up with the pro-EFC-defence point of view — getting thinner each week, I think — but to point out how slim the pickings seem to be for England right now, and not just at the back.

Jags-hoofer-howler is one of the jammiest defender geezers in a long while. He is nowhere near international class and he is a first pick for England. Such is the poverty of pickings. If Terry had not hung his England jersey up there is no way that Jags would have started in Brazil.

Again, just to make sure that folks are in no doubt about which side of the fence I am on: that central defence pairing has to be broken up for us to have any chance of winning anything or squeezing into the top 4.

As an England fan I'm completely underwhelmed by the current squad. There are some good players in there but if our midfield options are Jack Colback and Fabian Delph we're not going to be worrying many opponents. I still don't understand what Huddlestone has to do to get a game for England. He's effective in the Premier League and his style and strengths are far more suited to continental and international football.

It's also very bizarre that someone who doesn't get in the Everton team is in the England squad. Has that ever happened before?

RE: Wellbeck...hmm, well that is interesting. I don't necessarily rate him super highly, but he'd give us another option definitely.
If we did have him it'd be a total turnaround in terms of forward options. Pre-season we thought we might end up starting with Naismith and then Kone to come back in.
Now we have Naismith, Lukaku and Eto'o as options plus possibly Wellbeck AND Kone to come back in. An embarrassment of riches!

We'd certainly have the squad to challenge on all fronts then, although having said that with Pienaar and Barkley out we do look short of playmaking cover (please no-one say Osman) behind the front players - so maybe we still need one more?

We also do need a manager to understand that keeping hold of the ball with an extra back-player and defending a lead isn't a sin.

I would be delighted if the Welbeck rumour was/is true; he would top off an already brilliant transfer window. I canÂ’t help but think we wouldnÂ’t have signed EtoÂ’o though if we were going to push for the Welbeck signing but hey, how would I know! I hope you are right.

Good news for the development of John Stones that he is again included in the national squad; itÂ’s all extra experience gained so all good. Also fantastic news that so many of our youth lads are being called to represent England at younger age groups.

ItÂ’s all looking very good at the minute but now we have to start putting points on the board, startling this week at home to another title contender. After two draws already, a win is would be hugely significant, although itÂ’s a big ask.

In my opinion, this is about the worst England squad EVER!!!

I'd rather Engand left them alone to be honest, being consistently described as rubbish can't be good for their confidence.

But the choices are sparse aren't they ?! Terry, Ferdinand, Cahill....what next ?

Jagielka, Lescott, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Caulker ?