24 year-old Newcastle winger Andros Townsend has been named by manager Roy Hodgson in the 26 man England squad for the friendlies leading up to the Euro 2016 Championships in France next month – and this squad will then be reduced to a 23 man squad for the actual Championships.
Andros Townsend scoring against Swansea
Andros has seen a big uptick in both his form, visibility and the publicity he has received since joining Newcastle United from Tottenham in January.
Townsend has been one of Newcastle’s best players this year with four goals and two assists for the team.
Here’s the 26 man squad just announced by Hodgson.
21 comments so far
Rotonda heights
May 16, 2016 at 11:08 AM
Comment #1blofal
the sad fact is i don’t think ash gives a rats if bad blood persists, in fact i think he positively thrives on it. The guy’s a wrongun.
Even now has Ash grasped that all his penny pinching in the past on poor administrators, 3rd rate managers and unsuitable players, followed by his last desperate gamble throwing 82M at a poor manager in SM, ably assisted by further incompetents C&C is not the way to go.
yes rafa will cost, winners generally do, but if come september it’s agent bruce or a similar low grade journeyman, the disconnect between fans and ash could become permanently irreparable and everone a lOser.
jayphoto
May 16, 2016 at 11:09 AM
Comment #2Great result yesterday but make no mistake, those players did it for themselves! No coincidence it was wijnaldum, sissoko and janmaat that played well. Id bet money they are the first 3 away!
Expect a mitrovic kick off too, his family are absolute nut jobs! They won;t want to see him in the championship!
Guessing a lot of players will wait to see if rafa stays so they can use it as an excuse to go if rafa leaves
jayphoto
May 16, 2016 at 11:13 AM
Comment #3Reckon Ashley will want a good manager! He needs us back in the premier league quickly! Last time we had a team that could manage itself and though i couldn’t stand him, Llambias seemed more switched on than Charnley.
This time we’ve gone down with more talent rthan last time but less leadership players, we need a strong coach!
Lets be honest, no matter who we sell or buy, next year we are celtic in the scottish league, it won;t be an achievement if we win the league, we should be walking it!
WheresSholaNow
May 16, 2016 at 11:22 AM
Comment #4Delph, Wilshire, Stones, Barkley, Rooney, Henderson what a joke.. Noble, Antonio, Shawcross, Ward-Prowse, Defoe (sad to say it) all deserve to go ahead.
Oldgit1
May 16, 2016 at 11:23 AM
Comment #5@ Jaysphoto some good points raised by you. I believe that the reason Neil Warnock is being mentioned is that they can then upgrade (. In their eyes) to Steve Bruce thinking they have done us a favour.
I so hate Ashly and charnley
Rotonda heights
May 16, 2016 at 11:25 AM
Comment #6jay don’t tempt fate, we could be away a long time if ash cocks it up again with more dumb decisions!
Personally wouldn’t be bothered if Mitro goes, zero pace, misses loads and is a hothead, 2 reds this season alone. Much rather see Arma getting in behind defences, rather than the lumped long high balls forward.
Sissoko, well he can do one for me, forever bleating on about wanting away to the CL. Incredibly poor touch and another who doesn’t know where the net is. But Rafa could get the best out of him.
Wijni – real shame, bags of skill but heart of a pea at times, especially on the road. Missing in action far too often, but again But Rafa could get the best out of him.
Janmatt – poor defensively and wasteful getting forward. Wouldn’t miss him and Anita has really emerged in that position, plus MBabu in reserve.
jimmysmith
May 16, 2016 at 11:27 AM
Comment #7It would be harder not to come straight back, than to miss out. Newcastle are far too big for the Championship, and would likely have it wrapped up by early April if Rafa were the manager. The discussions will I’m sure include the backing to guarantee it, but will be focusing more on the level of investment in players and infrastructure once back.
Lindisfarne
May 16, 2016 at 11:28 AM
Comment #8I hope the selection of Whiltshire, Henderson and Rooney has not been fully decided as there are others on the list that are more deserving.
beermonkey
May 16, 2016 at 11:38 AM
Comment #9RH
like you say rafa can get the best out of these players
but i would like to keep mitro so many times our striker becomes isolated and he can hold the ball up and we have no1 else that can do it
although i expect if rafa stays that wont happen
wigi townsend shelvey i would keep but
sissoko and janmat i am more than happy for them to go
The overrated Frenchman
May 16, 2016 at 11:39 AM
Comment #10Not saying they picked the wrong players, but that’s a very average group when you look at it overall. Not a world class player to be seen.
Hail Wor Ashley
May 16, 2016 at 11:42 AM
Comment #11Well deserved. Don’t see how fans of other clubs on Twitter could be strident in their views against his inclusion, but I suppose thinking for yourself is a rare thing amongst the football community and they long ago decided Townsend wasn’t up to scratch. They cannot be seen saying “I don’t know.”.
Been amazing since he arrived. Best buy since Cabaye.
Take Henderson or Rose for instance, I know their style of play, but I honestly couldn’t tell you how their form is overall and whether they merit inclusion because I simply haven’t watched them week in week out.
Wilshere however has barely kicked a ball this season and Rooney is questionable, but suppose he’s an older head now with plenty of Championships under his belt, so even if he doesn’t start will be good to have around.
bettyswallocks
May 16, 2016 at 11:45 AM
Comment #12I can’t agree with you on Mitrovic Rotonda. He’s still young enough to develop and learn. In my opinion he needs to stop trying too hard to impress and find some composure in front of goal. If he stays, a season in the Championship will help his development considerably.
beermonkey
May 16, 2016 at 11:51 AM
Comment #13hail
rooney is captain and roy said he would be going as for players like henderson and wiltshire bearly kicked a ball since xmas so for me there no goes
think rose has been good all season from what i have seen but its hard to judge from 5 mins on motd
does danny simpson not deserve a call up
jayphoto
May 16, 2016 at 12:02 PM
Comment #14Couple of things i’m hopeful on next season –
The team needs building from the back and built around Lascelles! Hopefully Mbemba too!
Armstrong and Aarons get the game time to improve and develop! Adding Toney into there too, hes got potential!
Hoping Townesend and shelvey stay. Think both might, shelvey already said he would!
If we go into next season with a spine down the middle of Darlow/Elliot, mbemba and lascelles, colback and shelvey and armstrong (with hopefully townesend and aarons wide) we have a really could base to start
I’d keep Colback and dummett. They are more than good enough at that level!
think its a realistic expectation! No relegated side ever really loses more than 6 players and i think we;ll have Krul, Colo, Taylor, Janmaat, Gini, Tiote, Cisse, Sissoko and probably mitrovic looking to leave adding to possibly Thauvin (think he’ll stay myself), Saivet , gouffran, doumbia that takes up past 12 potential first team squad players leaving. Can’t see it happening at all! Reckon it’ll be 5 or 6 max with a few being told they have to stay for a year. Wouldn’t shock me if the club do that with Gini and Mitro to be honest
premier
May 16, 2016 at 12:08 PM
Comment #15Just what he needed with a cut price buy out clause!
Tsunki
May 16, 2016 at 12:10 PM
Comment #16I think young Mitrovic is a Desert Eagle, liable to go off under little control and with disastrous consequences. 🙂 I think his sending off was already in motion when he glared at the Ref after his little tussle ha ha ha looked like he was going to nut him.
On Townsend – this could be a very good thing, selected for England, if Rafa stays he might relish a bit of running his boots in in the championship and having a good year of winning under his belt. If he stayed the course he could end up in a good Toon side, otherwise he’ll do his upwardly mobile ambitions no harm.
scout
May 16, 2016 at 12:12 PM
Comment #17Why would Townsend leave for a club like Bournemouth or watford. He will stay on and become a legend.
G
May 16, 2016 at 12:19 PM
Comment #18Scout, I think the sensible option for Townsend would be for us to loan him to a Prem team for the season, in order to help him fulfil his international ambitions, assuming he would want to leave of course?
jayphoto
May 16, 2016 at 12:20 PM
Comment #19I agree with only taking Vardy from leicester. Leicester work because they are a complete team, but take the individuals out of it and the talent isn’t amazing. Players like simpson and drinkwater have done great for leicester as their role in the team suits their weaknesses but I think they’d be found wanting alongside higher class players.
Vardy is worth having alone for his pace and stamina.
I’d have taken defoe , and i probably would have tried to convince john terry, aswell as taking Carrick.
Experience of defoe, carrick and terry would have been useful amongst the younger players and for me terry and carrick are still a level ahead of cahill and henderson at this point in time. Fair enough build for the future, but be nice if england entered a tournament to try and win it rather than just give players experience for the next tournament.
Terry alongside stones/smalling to guide them, carrick alongside Alli would fit for me.
a 4-3-3 of
Hart
Walker Terry Stones Rose
Carrick, Dier, Alli
Townesend Kane Sterling
with Barkley and Vardy as impact subs if you need to get a goal and Rooney and Milner as steady subs if you need to see it out….
SPRINGY
May 16, 2016 at 12:25 PM
Comment #20confidence is huge in football,there are a lot of players in our ranks could do with a championship winning challenge,winning and scoring loads of goals(as long as that happens) to boost there confidence….enrique is a prime example,was poor to average for us the season we were relegated,but after a season of winning and playing good football,and gaining a shit load of confidence,he was class and earned a move to liverpool on his performances,granted he should stopped here coz it went tits up,but that confidence could be gained and make the whole team all the stronger…. but would need to win the championship and gain promotion at first attempt with rafa as manager….hopefully.
JP...from The Rock
May 16, 2016 at 12:30 PM
Comment #21We should offer Townsend a new contract with better pay and get his stupid clause out the way.