England Selection Process Must Change

Squad selection process needs to change if England are to realise the potential.

It is something that has annoyed me for many years, the England football team is rarely picked on merit. The fact is, if you play for one of the bigger clubs in the country you will be selected by the England manager.

If Leicester didn’t win the league last season and Vardy was still banging in the goals, in my opinion he wouldn’t be in the England team. There are players who deserve a chance to shine on the international stage for England. I would love to see Gareth Southgate attend a Championship game, there are a number of players in the division that should be looked at by the England manager. Jonjo Shelvey, Lewis Dunk and Will Hughes are just a few of the names. Dwight Gayle is another one, eligible to play for England and Jamaica. With the recent injury to Harry Kane England are in need of different options up front.

England Could Look Up to Wales

The problem I have is, England have failed to live up to the expectations put upon them for years, so why doesn’t anything change in regards to team selection. England only need to look at how well Wales did in Euro 2016. A team not filled with so called superstars. They had a real togetherness and it showed in their performances on the pitch. Wales had 8 players in their squad who played outside England’s top flight. That is as much proof as any that there is quality outside the Premier League. I may be a cynic but if England changed the mould of selecting players based on the club they play for – we would probably see a side that is able to go a lot further in tournaments.

Jack Wilshere only played 3 Premier League games last season, he still made it on the plane to France for Euro 2016. Wilshere is a fantastic player, however taking a player to a tournament lacking in match fitness baffled me. If England’s fortunes are to change in the future, the selection process must be looked at. It is as clear as day that something needs to change in the national side. I think it is about time that England have a squad of players who have earned the right to pull on the shirt.

Plenty of Quality in the Championship

For those of you who do not watch the Championship very often, let me tell you it is a league with a lot of quality. For some reason Championship players are automatically overlooked by England and I just cannot understand it. England have a number of friendly games each season to test players out. England have enough opportunities to give top English players from the Championship a chance. Even with the likes of Sturridge, Kane, Rose and Henderson out injured, I still don’t think that Gareth Southgate would be seen in stadiums across the Championship.

There comes a time when a team needs a good overhaul and a new strategy. For England, that time came years ago. It is about time that England had a side that made the country proud again. In my opinion, that will not happen if the selection process remains the same. The England team needs a strong manager who is not afraid to change things, unfortunately I do not see Gareth Southgate as that man.