Will Allardyce build England on John Terry and John Stones?
New manager hints at recall for Chelsea veteran and says he wants City youngster to deliver on his potential
New England manager Sam Allardyce has just faced the media ahead of his first squad announcement next weekend. Top of the agenda is the possibility of a recall for Chelsea veteran John Terry, who last played for England in 2012.
The new England manager has hinted that out-of-favour Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart would need to find a new club if he wants to keep the jersey. He has also suggested that Marcus Rashford, who has yet to play for Manchester United under Jose Mourinho, may be relegated to the Under-21 set up.
Terry and Stones:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Allardyce's remarks on Terry will spark the most debate even if it still appears highly unlikely the 35-year-old will play for his country again after his fallout with the national set-up in 2012," says Jason Burt of the Daily Telegraph.
The biggest thing in Terry's favour could be Allardyce's determination to turn John Stones into an England regular. He said it was time for the Manchester City defender to stop being regarded as a "potential" star and deliver on his talent.
"Stones's move from Everton made him the Premier League's most expensive defender and Allardyce believes that under Pep Guardiola's tutelage at City the former Barnsley player can be elevated to a new level, just as Gerard Pique was when he was transferred from Manchester United to Barcelona in 2008," says Jamie Jackson of The Guardian.
And that is good news for Chelsea veteran Terry, argues Tony Cascarino in The Times. "As England manager, who would you want John Stones playing alongside? For me the answer is clear: Terry. Stones has got everything apart from experience and that's what Terry would be able to help him with. It would do wonders for his game.
"The only thing Terry lacks is pace, and Stones has that. Terry's heading is exceptional - he is able to direct his headers to team-mates rather than just putting them into space as so many players do. And he is great with his feet. He uses the ball like a midfielder - for a defender his passing is phenomenal."
Joe Hart
Allardyce was candid about the future England prospects of Joe Hart, who is "in limbo" at Man City, according to the Daily Mail.
"Hart will at least get a stay of execution, with Allardyce confirming he will be included in the squad for Slovakia. But that position may change if England's first-choice goalkeeper since 2010 remains on the bench at Manchester City," says the paper. "Allardyce made it plain that he cannot indulge a goalkeeper who is not getting first-team football, and with Jack Butland soon to return to fitness, Hart may be squeezed out of the squad entirely."
Marcus Rashford
The new England boss applied the same logic to Marcus Rashford. "Rashford is not playing now," he said. "It makes it harder for me to select him, as exciting as he was last year and how he burst on the scene."
He said that he was inclined to send the teenager back to the Under-21 set up in the hope that his experiences there could help him break into the Manchester United team.
Wayne Rooney
Rashford was described as a "superior" player to current England captain Wayne Rooney by Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian this week, but Rooney will remain in the England squad although his future as national captain is up in the air.
"Allardyce will name the England captain when the squad meet up. He hailed the incumbent, Wayne Rooney, as a 'fantastic, fantastic captain' but, for now, the manager refused to say whether the 30-year-old would continue in the role," reports the Telegraph. "Allardyce, however, has decided who will lead the team.
"He also contributed to the debate over Rooney's best position, suggesting his future lies where he plays at present for Manchester United, as a 'number ten' behind the main striker."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 23, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - qualifications, tax cuts, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Long summer days in Iceland's highlands
The Week Recommends While many parts of this volcanic island are barren, there is a 'desolate beauty' to be found in every corner
By The Week UK Published
-
The Democrats: time for wholesale reform?
Talking Point In the 'wreckage' of the election, the party must decide how to rebuild
By The Week UK Published
-
The wit and wisdom of Sven-Göran Eriksson
In Depth The first foreign coach to manage England on football, life and death
By The Week Staff Published
-
Gareth Southgate's England: a bittersweet swan song
In Depth History books will favour football manager who transformed culture of football in England
By The Week UK Published
-
Can England's Euros team hold their nerve?
Today's Big Question Three Lions' 'lopsided' opening win over Serbia raises more questions than it answers
By The Week UK Published
-
The England kit: a furore over the flag
Why everyone's talking about Nike's redesign of the St George's Cross on the collar of the English national team's shirt has caused controversy
By The Week UK Published
-
Lionesses will have regrets but their legacy can be ‘incredible’
feature England stars return home after heartbreaking Women’s World Cup final loss to Spain
By Mike Starling Published
-
How English women’s football could become a billion pound industry
feature Building on the success of the Lionesses won’t be easy but it is eminently possible
By The Week Staff Published
-
Lionesses dig deep after Lauren James’s ‘Beckham-esque’ red card
feature England reach the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals after a 4-2 win on penalties against Nigeria
By Mike Starling Published
-
Curse of the Lionesses: what’s causing spate of England women’s football injuries?
Under the Radar Several key players are out of the World Cup, raising concerns about hectic schedules, sub-par pitches and sexism
By Harriet Marsden Published