Some people would consider being the England manager as a thankless task. Supporters with unrealistic expectations, a media that seem insistent on making life difficult and a group of players that don’t seem capable of replicating club form on the international stage mean that the role as the head coach of the side ranked seventh in the FIFA World Rankings isn’t always plain sailing.

The latest man to have a crack at the job is Roy Hodgson. The 64-year old is unique in the long list of England managers in that he is the first manager to have come into the role having managed another nation beforehand. Whilst some of the experience gained from working with Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates will come in handy as the man in charge of England, I think it is fair to say that there is no job quite the same as this one.

Hodgson has experienced this first hand this week. Two weeks to the day that he was unveiled as the FAs choice to replace the departing Fabio Capello the hashtag ‘#HodgsonOut’ was trending around the world after he announced the 23-man squad that will take part in this summer’s European Championships. It’s true to say that most rational fans of England will obviously be keen to give any manager slightly more than 14 days in the position but is a touch worrying that the new man has attracted doubters already.

The squad itself isn’t full of shocks. Arguably 15 of the selections are present in the vast majority of the squads that have been formulated by fans chatting in the office or at home. The starting 11 that will line up for the Group C opener against France in Donetsk probably won’t fluctuate much from person to person either. The day that a squad is announced is always one that prompts debate, and it’s often in the minutiae that dissenters find problems.

Hodgson has seemingly favoured a safer approach of not dismantling the squad that has been together for the last few years. Whilst some were suggesting that a new look team is the way forward, England will instead be looking similar in many respects to Capello’s side. Although an overhaul of old faces may have been the want of many fans, it is definitely sensible to make use of a crop of players that still have something to offer to the setup. The squad is packed full of experience – over 700 caps amongst the 23 – but there are also a few players making their first steps into the squad. Norwich’s goalkeeper John Ruddy and young Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are called up for the first time and they join the likes of Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones in being newcomers to international football.

Another inexperienced player who caused a bit of a furore with his inclusion was Liverpool’s £35 million striker Andy Carroll. Picked as the lump to which England’s desperate long balls with hopefully stick, Carroll was in competition with the relatively prolific Peter Crouch, one of Hodgson’s former players in Bobby Zamora and Norfolk’s sweetheart Grant Holt.

All of them had valid shouts for inclusion but it was Carroll’s performances in the very late stage of the season that put him at the top of the list. Carroll has been poor for the most part this season but is a genuine nuisance to defenders and has shown – even if it has been in very small doses – that he could be a potential England striker for years to come. He is one of only four strikers to join up with the squad next week and that’s borne mostly out of a lack of options over anything else. England’s three available strikers for the first three games can only count 16 England goals between them, with 15 of those belonging to Jermain Defoe.

Another bone of contention arose from the choice of who would be supplying Carroll. Not many people would have been surprised by the recall of Theo Walcott to the major tournament fray, nor the selection of the ever-dependable James Milner, but lots of people were by the inclusion of Stewart Downing. Another player who came to Liverpool with a large price-tag and hasn’t performed, Downing’s stats of having not scored or assisted in the league this season have hardly been kept a secret.

He is a player with some international experience and has in the past been a genuine threat down the left wing but it is definitely a confusing pick by Hodgson considering quite how poor he has been throughout the 2011/12 season. Whilst the likes of Aaron Lennon, Adam Johnson and perhaps Daniel Sturridge will feel hard done by that Downing has been selected ahead of them, they have hardly set the world alight themselves and would surely have been included if they had performed even a little above average.

The biggest queries of England’s 23 came in the defence. A lot of column inches were given to the question of whether the manager would plump for John Terry or Rio Ferdinand. The main talking point, which was perhaps a touch exaggerated, stemmed from Terry’s alleged racial abuse of Ferdinand’s brother Anton.

Hodgson was quick to quell any of this talk in his opening press conference and reinforced it whilst naming his squad at Wembley by confirming that ex-captain Terry’s presence in the squad was purely for footballing reasons; as indeed was Ferdinand’s exclusion. Although Terry polarises opinion amongst fans he is probably ahead of Ferdinand in terms of footballing ability nowadays and therefore it is probably the right choice. Time will tell whether it was the correct selection for squad harmony though and it was perhaps a bit of a risk for Hodgson to pick Terry.

The other defenders also raised a few eyebrows. The left back role is Ashley Cole’s and in Leighton Baines England have an able deputy, but the other fullback position has left many supporters stumped. Kyle Walker, the PFA Young Player of the Year, was probably going to be the first choice at right back until a broken toe ruled him out.

That left matters as a shoot-out between Manchester City’s Premier League winning Micah Richards and Glen Johnson. Richards would have been a lot of people’s starter with or without Walker, so it was a massive shock for him not to be included at all. Admittedly Richards was second choice to Pablo Zabaleta towards the end of the season but it is difficult to make a case for Johnson over him this season.

I suggested earlier this week that flexibility in a player makes him more desirable and that is the reason that Phil Jones has been selected over Richards, Hodgson obviously seeing value in an extra midfield player over a specialist right back.

The overall feeling of the squad is that it’s a last chance for a lot of players. For all of the medals that names like Terry, Gerrard and Lampard may retire with, their England performances have hardly been stellar. With Hodgson showing that he is capable of leaving out big names, these players will hopefully feel a sense of urgency in what will most likely be their final shot at a major tournament.

England will go into the games as real outsiders for making any sort of charge for a medal, and that would have been the case regardless of the squad named this week. What Hodgson has done though is pick a group of players that he feels will work best for his method of playing, with some genuine class apparent in a few players.

With the time available to the new setup it will be nothing short of a miracle if England make a dent in the late stages, but the team that Hodgson selects to face France will certainly be the one with the best shot.

Another season finished – another season of false nines, inverted wingers and deep lying playmakers. Rather than the conventional end of season awards, this review takes a tactical view towards the season past.

Formation switch of the season

It wasn’t the first time Wigan had played with a 3-4-3, having played three at the back for fifteen games this year, yet for Roberto Martinez to adopt such an obscure system at a time when Wigan were bottom of the table, facing a run against five of the top ten sides and seemingly doomed for relegation, took courage. It paid off with some memorable victories.

It was also notable for its contrasting applications. For example, against Arsenal it was a ruthless, counter attacking shape, yet against Newcastle United, Wigan were able to take the game to their opposition, control possession and emerge 4-0 winners.

Substitution of the season

Sergio Aguero may have scored the winning goal, but it was Yaya Toure’s double a week earlier that had effectively won Manchester City the title. City had been unable to break through Newcastle’s stubborn defence, so Mancini introduced Nigel de Jong for Samir Nasri in a move that was largely consigned as being defensive, but Mancini wasn’t placing any extra onus on defence or attack. He was simply adding a different type of attacking player to the final third, and it proved crucial.

Toure isn’t what you would call a superstar, especially considering City’s lineup, but he may be Mancini’s most valuable player. His versatility across all three variants of central midfield combined with a high level of technical and physical ability makes him a rare player, and City sorely missed him in his absence at the African Cup of Nations.

Switch of the season

Can a manager get credit for a switch he is essentially forced into? When John Terry was sent off against Barcelona in the Champions League semifinal second leg, with Gary Cahill already injured with a hamstring strain, Jose Bosingwa was required to play centrally with Branislav Ivanovic, and Ramires was moved to right back. Bosingwa had been poor defensively for most of this season, yet put in an outstanding performance.

Despite it being enforced, Roberto Di Matteo was probably glad the change was made. Against Messi and Barcelona, you don’t need physically strong players who are best dealing with aerial threats. Instead, you want agile players who can both track and mark space and player.

Most tactically improved team

Antonio Conte was painted with unfair brushstrokes even before his first game as Juventus coach, and was able to shrug off the criticism to mould a flexible and efficient winning side. In terms of shape, he conceded his favoured 4-4-2 shape after the signing of Andrea Pirlo from AC Milan necessitated midfield protection for his new playmaker, and a 4-3-3 was the best answer.

Yet Juventus, as is the hallmark of a good side, were able to adjust in game according to the pattern of play to a 3-5-2, most notably against Udinese and Napoli. Shape aside; Juventus were also the most improved stylistically. Conte was able to implement a demanding pressing system centred on ball possession, and they became one of the hardest working sides in Europe. They share a resemblance to German champions Borussia Dortmund, and the two clubs endeavors in Europe next year will provide an interesting subplot to their title defenses.

Juventus’ undefeated record in the league and appearance in the Coppa Italia final is testament to the motivational, management and tactical abilities of Conte, and it’s made all the more incredible when you remember his only previous experience had been in winning promotion with Siena and Bari from Serie B.

Signing of the season

If Juventus were the most tactically improved, then the board should get much of the credit in regards to their capture of Andrea Pirlo. AC Milan may always rue the day they let the classy playmaker leave for their rivals, on a Bosman, no less. Credit to Conte for building his side around the ageing Italian, who showed, along with Paul Scholes, that age is no barrier for the deep lying playmaker. His passing range and ability to control the midfield was instrumental as Juve finished undefeated.

The Courage Award

Hard to categorize, but hard to leave out, so Pep Guardiola’s 3-4-3 variants warrant a newly invented category. Needing to find a way to integrate Cesc Fabregas into the side, Guardiola took what seemed like a huge gamble in removing a defender and adding another midfielder to his side’s shape. Yet given Barcelona’s dominance of possession, it wasn’t a bad move. It gave them more numbers in midfield and a new dimension to their attack.

It wouldn’t be unfair to say that Guardiola probably tried to implement the three at the back system onto his side earlier than he should have, most famously in the semifinal against Chelsea, yet he must take credit for being brave to introduce a relatively new system upon his side when 1-0 down in the first Clasico. Sergio Busquets became a “false six”, Carlos Puyol man marked Ronaldo, and Fabregas scored the winner.

Imminent trend of the season

Away at Arsenal, needing to score to keep pace with Manchester City, Sir Alex Ferguson pushed Antonio Valencia back to the right side of defense. In theory, a defensive move, yet overlapping Park Ji-Sung from a deep position, the winger could push into space and send in the cross for the winner.

Ferguson has never really been regarded as a tactical revolutionary, yet United this season have in flashes played with a defensive player higher up the field which allows an attack minded player to thrive from a deeper position. With football becoming more and more congested, this unusual approach has many practical applications, yet probably still needs fine-tuning.

For example, Park Ji-Sung played the advanced midfield role against City, presumably to guard against Yaya Toure’s forward runs and secondly to allow Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes to pull the strings from deep, yet the Ivorian won his individual battle and the influence of the two Englishman thus waned.

Performance of the season

For his versatility, energy across the pitch and ability to transition from defender to attacker, it goes to Ramires against Barcelona. This season the Brazilian has emerged as one of Chelsea’s key players, and his arrival on the big stage was underlined by his emphatic chip at the Nou Camp, which swung the momentum of the tie towards Chelsea.

He played two different roles in both games – in the first leg (and a third of the second) he played on the left wing, and his job was to transition from tracking back to form a bank of four to exploiting the space in behind the Barcelona defensive line. He then turned into a right back following John Terry’s dismissal. It is a huge shame he picked up a suspension to rule him out of the final.

Team of the season

A sentimental choice given Bilbao may not actually win any competitions, yet Athletic were one of the most exciting sides to watch in Europe this season. Their victory over Manchester United thrust them into the public profile, yet reaching two finals (like Liverpool) can’t mask what is essentially a low league position.

Unlike the Merseyside club, however, Bilbao have performed without signing any new players, while the integration of players from the academy across the season hints at a style that can sustain them for years. Bielsa’s changes have been well documented by better journalists, but for the sheer excitement and unique approach they provided, they are the team of the season.

Manager of the season

There are lots of candidates here, and it’s difficult to narrow it down to one when you consider the varying goals and structures at different clubs. Therefore, this award is shared across three surprising nominees:

- Alan Pardew, Newcastle United: Pardew has already been acclaimed for his work in guiding Newcastle to Europe this season with the Barclays Manager of the Season award. It’s hard not to applaud his efforts though; nearly all of his signings were excellent, they played some very pleasing football – particularly towards the end of the season – and were able to transition well from their 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 following the signing of Papiss Cisse.

- Paul Lambert, Norwich City: FourFourTwo revealed in March that Norwich City would have been eight points worse off this season without intervention from their manager, and that’s evidence of Lambert’s reactive tactics. That generally indicates defensiveness, yet Lambert must take credit for recognizing his side’s shortcomings yet being tactically aware enough to equip them best for victory.

- Rene Girard, Montpellier: For Montpellier to be even remotely close to challenging for the title is astonishing. Oliver Giroud and Younes Belhanda will get most of the close attention in the transfer window, but Girard could be a surprise candidate for any of the manager positions opening up at the ‘big’ clubs around Europe. Montpellier play a fairly standard 4-4-2 centered around the contrasting partnership up top and the dynacism of wide players Cabella and Ait-Fana, lead by the young captain Yanga-Mbiwa. However, their shape betrays their exciting style, fostered by the outstanding man-management of Girard.

Partnership of the season

A surprising choice, admittedly, but much of Swansea’s success must be attributed to their metronomic central midfield pairing of Joe Allen and Leon Britton. As were Xavi and Iniesta in 2009, it’s almost impossible to separate one from the other. Both are fundamental to Swansea’s system of ball retention, and symbolize everything that was good from Brendan Rodgers’ side this season.

Player of the season

Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Maybe they’re just both very talented footballers.

As Kenny Dalglish gives back the keys of Anfield to the owners of Liverpool Football Club, a lot of questions are left in the air. The Fenway Sports Group have come with a reputation of wanting to build organically and harvesting on the authenticity of their ‘brand’. There’s no one more authentic and real, especially with regards to the fabric of Liverpool than Dalglish.

When the King was anointed last season with a permanent contract after doing the job which Roy Hodgson was meant to be doing, the club were united and optimistic of their chances of grabbing that elusive Champions League spot. The owners, it seemed, understood the history and what makes Liverpool special. However, these owners are businessmen and damage limitation, in their point of view, was needed after a disappointing campaign. Dalglish was relieved of his duties.

Along with Dalglish, several other key figures off the field have been handed their papers and shown to the door. The Head of Sports Science, Communications, Director of Football and unsurprisingly, the Assistant Manager were slowly relieved in the past few weeks. It begs the question as to who is now making the decisions at the club to help progress its development and push them up to what seems to be Narnia at this stage.

These are key decisions which are being made by people who relatively have little understanding of football. Many claim the decisions to relieve certain people were made purely after the whole Luis Suarez affair and how much damage that was to the ‘brand image’ of Liverpool. FSG are businessmen and don’t have the emotional investment as owners did decades ago, so for them this has to be a squeaky clean investment. Sponsors have to be attracted to the club so they will want to invest and help bring up the value of the club for the owners to get that return on investment as quickly as possible.

In business, more so than sport, the idea is to have someone earmarked and sounded out to replace the existing individual. With news that Roberto Martinez is to be approached, it suggests the club are unsure as to who will be the main person come the start of the season.

Indeed, FSG understand sport, winning and how business strategy can help build a successful club but with any sport, specialist knowledge is required immensely and making an appointment based on ‘success’ can lead to Liverpool having another Roy Hodgson on their hands. A man appointed by a banker whose main criteria was to find capital for the club.

In that sense, is hiring a Director of Football more important to the club than hiring the manager? It has to be the priority on the list of things to do because Liverpool could be left with a situation where the owners have appointed a manager which the Director of Football doesn’t feel would be able to help progress the long term strategy of the club.

The aforementioned posts which need to be filled require a Director of Football, less so the Communications role. In essence, FSG have to ensure that the new Director of Football is someone who is not only football savvy in understanding the game and knowing which manager would be able to work with him, the owners and managing the expectations of the club but is also business savvy after Liverpool were made to pay Waitrose prices for players of Lidl quality.

The Moneyball methods have come under huge scrutiny after the amount of money which was spent on players who failed to justify or live up to their price tag. What former Director of Football Damien Comolli was accused of was spending far too much in a market which is already overpriced and lacking real quality whilst the teams around Liverpool found excellent value for money across Europe. The best case in point being Newcastle, who didn’t unearth anyone from Sudan or Turkmenistan, but instead players of reasonable quality, good value who were capable of working under fans’ expectations and slotted immediately into the style of the team.

FSG can’t be made to feel aghast and as though penny pinching will help solve the problems of the club. As Manchester City and Real Madrid have shown this season, success comes when a club spends, albeit wisely. If sell to buy is the policy for Liverpool, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Liverpool fall further away from the pecking order.

In truth, Liverpool need to appoint a Director of Football as soon as possible to oversee the process of bringing in a new manager, coaching staff, medical staff and scouting network. The DoF will also help devise a strategy, along with the Americans, to bring the club to the summit of English football again. With the European Championships arriving soon, managers and players will be in huge demand after the euphoria of a few select performances and to avoid the catastrophe which saw them overpay vastly for Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson, Liverpool will feel they need to learn from past mistakes fast.

As much as Liverpool are seen as a club who are wildly romantic about the past, maybe the owners feel that sense of inertia has to change for things to progress. Who the man that heralds the change will be, remains to be seen.

The news that everyone was expecting was confirmed at 5pm this evening, Kenny Dalglish has been sacked by Liverpool. Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the club’s owners made the move after a season that ranked as Liverpool’s worst in the top flight in thirty years, though which also saw their first trophy success in six years as they lifted the Carling Cup. Whatever the rights and wrongs of Dalglish’s sacking (for the record I was slightly over the fence on the side of him leaving), it has come to pass and it is time to turn our attention to who should replace him.

There are many names being bandied around, the most often mentioned in the short time since the news broke have been Roberto Martínez and Rafael Benítez. I, however, would make seductive glances in the direction of André Villas-Boas.

I can hear the screams of derision now, “what, the guy who got sacked by Chelsea?” but when did being sacked by Chelsea mean anything other than John Terry hadn’t taken much of a liking to you. In my eyes it’s almost an endorsement. It seems that those with short memories have forgotten that this is the same man who went an entire league season unbeaten with Porto, winning 27 of their 30 games, and is the youngest manager to have won a European trophy.

Liverpool are in a position where they need to build for the future. Part of my issue with Dalglish (and was from the time he was appointed on a permanent basis) was that I didn’t see the long term plan. In Villas-Boas, given time and the backing from the board that he didn’t receive at Stamford Bridge, I believe they would have the right man to take on the long term project.

At the same time, he has also shown in his, admittedly short, career so far that he is capable of quickly turning things around for a club. When he took over at Académica in October 2009, the club were rooted to the foot of the table without a win in the league. By the end of the season he had guided them to 11th place, 10 points clear of the drop. He then took over a Porto side who had fallen eight points short of champions Benfica and in his one season at the club led them to the title by 21 points.

His style also fits the club. Jamie Carragher may not be enamoured with the high defensive line and pressing game, but for the majority of Liverpool’s players it would suit them perfectly, and as was speculated recently on The Anfield Wrap podcast, may well be a style to get the best out of goalkeeper Pepe Reina again. Furthermore, the very thought of Luis Suárez being used as a wide forward in a Villas-Boas team should be enough to get any Liverpool fan excited.

Of course, despite my flippant comments at the start of this article, it would not be right to ignore his failings at Chelsea. He struggled to exert his influence over powerful players within the dressing room (some have argued that he tried to change too much, too soon) and results on the field were not good enough for a side which had mounted a title challenge in the previous season under Carlo Ancelotti. However, I do believe that had he been given time and the backing of the board at Chelsea, he would have made a success of his time there, and I strongly believe the same would be the case at Anfield.

FSG have made a huge move in sacking Dalglish, one which was inevitably going to divide the fan base that ‘The King’ had united. If they were to appoint Villas-Boas and the right structure around him, it would be a step in the right direction and a sign that their ruthless removal of so many at the club was not a mere stab in the dark.

The UEFA Euro 2012 tournament is just around the corner; in case you didn’t know and such is the way with major football tournaments, they are preluded by a string of “big event” television adverts.

Carlsberg has unveiled their effort as The Carlsberg Fan Academy, the one-stop shop for every England fan who thinks he needs a little preparation help ahead of the three week competition.

Academy chief Des Lynam is supported by England legends Peter Shilton, Bobby Charlton, Stuart Pearce and Ian Wright, ex-Olympic gold medallist Linford Christie, explorer Ray Mears and actor Brian Blessed as they put England fans through their many paces.

Get involved and show your support here – www.carlsbergfanacademy.co.uk.

Ryan Keaney is back from holidays and is joined by Simon Furnivall and Andy Hunter to review the final day of the Premier League season.

They discuss the top, middle and bottom of the league and how the final day shaped matters as well as reflecting on what was an incredible season of action.

Tune in, download or subscribe on iTunes to The Football Project podcast.

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England don’t do prepared. It’s a true rarity of the modern age if the English National Football Team goes into any game, let alone tournament, without some question marks hanging over the side. This year, in the build-up to the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine, the nation awaits Roy Hodgson’s squad announcement – his first one in charge of the country.

He looks upon a mixed bag of talent at his disposal. The end of a generation labelled ‘golden’ is now transitioned with a mix of youngsters who are definitely not thought of as highly. Whilst the old guard of David Beckham, Michael Owen and Sol Campbell may have all but gone, players such as Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and Ashley Cole are still right in the mix for inclusion. The gap between the guards, old and new, is bridged by a number of players who have amassed caps in mediocrity. Gareth Barry, a player who has collected over fifty England caps without being noticed, probably typifies the one-dimensional average-ness that was the England side circa 2006-12.

In Hodgson, England have a safe pair of hands. There won’t be tactical questions posed of his side, nor can you expect a player in an England shirt given to him by the ex-West Brom boss to not know his role. Euro 2012 has probably come too soon for Hodgson to really stamp his mark on the set-up, but expect to see solid foundations on which the next few competitions can build upon.

The first selection for Hodgson’s debut as England manager will be an easy one. Joe Hart, freshly crowned as a Premier League champion, is undoubtedly England’s number one. Behind him in the pecking order are a number of keepers who have had a go in the jersey and a couple of unproven players. Hodgson will take his pick from Robert Green, Scott Carson, John Ruddy, David Stockdale and Ben Foster (although retired from England duty he has been playing for Hodgson this season). It’s probably a tournament too soon for the promising Jack Butland who has impressed massively in promotion chasing Cheltenham’s side – on loan from Birmingham – although there is probably no harm in throwing him in.

His first possible headache comes in selecting his defence. Hodgson has inherited a good set of defensive players but they come with a problem that he may feel he doesn’t need. John Terry, a player who has probably been England’s first choice centre back for the majority of the previous two managers’ reigns, seemingly splits the opinion of most fans and players involved. His sins are not a secret to anyone reading this and the new manager and his coaching staff have to weigh up whether Terry is that good. i.e. enough to potentially split his camp.

That being said, England aren’t short of replacements. Hodgson can call on four of the before mentioned Terry, Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones, Terry’s Chelsea team-mate Gary Cahill, the versatile Phil Jagielka or Manchester City’s Joleon Lescott. They will definitely be supported on the left by the ever-reliable Ashley Cole (most likely backed up by Leighton Baines), but the right full back position is a touch trickier to second guess. Glen Johnson in England’s no. 2 incumbent but Micah Richards, probably a shoe-in on his early season form, and the PFA Young Player of the Year Kyle Walker mean that Johnson will be lucky to even make the plane.

The midfield is arguably England’s strongest area. A lot could depend on whether Hodgson can persuade Paul Scholes to return to the international fray having called time on the national stage eight years ago. He will likely be joined in Ukraine by Scott Parker, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. It is possible that another berth will be taken by a more defensive minded central midfielder and that will be a battle between Michael Carrick and Gareth Barry. On the wing England have a number of options without any player 100% in. Ashley Young, who had the season ended in September, would have been the first name on the teamsheet, will likely go, as will Arsenal’s Theo Walcott – still looking for his first appearance at a major tournament despite joining the England squad in 2006. There are arguments for James Milner, Adam Johnson, Aaron Lennon and Stewart Downing(!) but most think that it is a bit too soon for the undoubtedly talented Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The biggest area of doubt comes up front. Hodgson has already confirmed that England’s star player Wayne Rooney will be in the squad, but his two-match ban at the start of the competition throws the selection of others into doubt. Being a striker light for the first couple of games may force England to take a fifth striker, meaning that a player like Daniel Sturridge would be preferred for his versatility. Hodgson and his physio staff have been keeping a very close eye on Darren Bent’s fitness and the general consensus is that he will be fit enough to make the squad. They will most likely be joined by Danny Welbeck and the traditional ‘big man’ option. England are not short in that area. Peter Crouch, Bobby Zamora and Grant Holt all have legitimate claims for a place. They seem to have been barged out of the way by Andy Carroll who has rightfully plundered his way into contention with two excellent performances against Chelsea at the season’s death.

The piecing together of a 23-man squad isn’t easy, and the generally accepted tact of two men per position is thrown a touch into jeopardy by the necessity to take an extra frontman. I think that Hodgson will adapt the tactic of selecting three goalkeepers, seven defenders, eight midfielders and five forwards. This is dependent on picking players who can slot into extra positions; a big plus for a player like Phil Jones – capable in a number of places but not overly competent in any, but does mean that a potentially stronger backup XI is sacrificed for the general layout of the squad. Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott become especially valued as backup fullbacks, whilst a striker who can play out wide definitely adds a string to their selection hopes bow.

It’s true to say that this isn’t England’s strongest squad in recent times and it would have to be considered a success for the Three Lions to make it to the knockout stages. That said, there are still some very good players at Roy Hodgson’s disposal. It could be the case that England, with relatively little pressure going into a major tournament for once, find stability in the likely to be regimental and standard system that Hodgson will play. I, for one, certainly hope so.

Predicted Squad – Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Robert Green, John Ruddy – Defenders: John Terry, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, Ashley Cole, Micah Richards, Kyle Walker – Midfielders: Paul Scholes, Scott Parker, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick, Ashley Young, Theo Walcott, James Milner – Attackers: Wayne Rooney, Darren Bent, Danny Welbeck, Andy Carroll, Daniel Sturridge

Manager: Franciszek Smuda
Captain: Jakub Błaszczykowski
Best previous Euros performance
Group Stage, 2008
Qualified via
Tournament hosts
FIFA Ranking: 65th
Tournament Odds: 50/1

As the lowest-ranked team in this year’s European Championships, many expect Poland’s mark on their home tournament to be very minimal. Placed into a group containing 2004 Champions Greece, 1996 finalists Czech Republic, and a Russian side ranked number 11 in the world, it’s understandable why they are favourites for an early exit from their own party. However with a lowly ranking position mostly due to the fact that they haven’t played a competitive match since October 2009, there is a real chance that the Białe-Orły could be ready to cause a shock-or-two this summer.

Having made their first appearance at the Euros in Austria and Switzerland four years ago, the Polish National side entering this year’s competition is very different to the one which stumbled out of the 2008 tournament at the group stage under Leo Beenhakker. Just six of the 2008 squad found their way into current coach Franciszek Smuda’s initial selection of 26 players, heralding a new generation in Polish football. But although there is a new quality to emerge wearing the White Eagle on the chest, whether they are ready to compete on an such a high-profile stage could be a different matter.

Over the last 2-and-a-half years, Smuda has been tinkering with his squad in preparation for June. After being brought in following the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup in South Africa, the former Wisła Kraków and Zagłębie Lubin boss has switched from the 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 favoured by Beenhakker, to a counter-attacking 4-2-3-1 currently favoured at many clubs in Poland. The formation also allows Smuda to utilise what he considers his best eleven in positions suited to them, instead of shoehorning them into a pre-existing tactic. Knowing that Poland are not blessed with huge amounts of individual talent, Smuda feels that by working as a solid unit he can get the best out of his squad.

Smuda’s initial 26-man squad (it will be whittled down to 23 at the end of the month) was announced back on May 3rd, and for the most part was fairly conservative. Only the inclusion of Legia Warszawa’s young Rafał Wolski and Michał Kucharczyk, as well as Lech Poznań’s 20-year-old defender Marcin Kamiński on the fringes of the squad could be classed as surprises.

A big worry for the nation is that with three of the strikers netting only a combined 7 times this season – and also playing for just 2044 minutes between them – Poland could be heavily reliant on Robert Lewandowski to hit the back of the net. But if Lewa, Jakub Błaszczykowski, Ludovic Obraniak, Wojciech Szczęsny and co. are all able to carry on their form from this season, it’ll be a problem Smuda won’t have to worry about.

Possible Starting XI: (4-2-3-1) Wojciech Szczęsny; Łukasz Piszczek, Damien Perquis, Marcin Wasilewski, Sebastian Boenisch; Dariusz Dudka, Eugen Polański; Jakub Błaszczykowski, Ludovic Obraniak, Maciej Rybus; Robert Lewandowski.

Key Player: Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund, Germany) – If you haven’t heard of “Lewa” over the past 12 months, where on Earth have you been? After firing Lech Poznań to the Ekstraklasa title in 2009/10, he attracted the attention of Borussia Dortmund; and with an offer of around ?4.5million tabled, the 22-year old was soon on his way to the Westfalenstadion. Eight goals in his opening season helped the Yellow-Blacks to their first Bundesliga title in 9 years, but it was in 2011/12 where the Warsaw-born striker made his presence felt. Lewandowski’s 22 goals and 8 assists not only helped Dortmund to retain their crown, but also made him one of the most wanted strikers in Europe. With rumours of interest from England, Spain and Italy, a good tournament could seriously raise his value.

One to Watch: Ludovic Obraniak (Bordeaux, France) – He might not be as well-known as some of his fellow compatriots, but Ludo’s form has improved immensely since his switch from Lille earlier in the season. Struggling for a starting berth in the Les Dogues line-up, Obraniak was one of the players who heeded a warning from Franciszek Smuda that he was only interested in picking players who were playing regularly. Following his move to the south-west of France, the attacking midfielder has netted four times and gained many plaudits in his 15 appearances. If given a less-structured role behind Lewandowski, he could quite well be an integral part of Smuda’s side.

Ryan Hubbard is a Polish football expert and the editor the excellent EKSTRAKLASA Review. You can follow him on Twitter @Ryan_Hubbard and check out his excellent work on the Euro 2012 host cities for In Bed with Maradona.

Over the last few years, the Bundesliga has really begun to establish itself as one of the best leagues in Europe. Something that had gone over the heads of a lot of Premier League fans but the recent influx of Bundesliga talent has gone a long way in opening the eyes of English fans. This is in no small part to players like Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse and one former Reading star, Gylfi Sigurdsson.

The Icelandic midfielder was loaned out by Hoffenheim in the winter transfer window and made an immediate impact in Brendan Rodger’s Swansea City side. Understandably, people questioned Hoffenheim’s decision to loan out such a talented player during a time where they were struggling in the league and were in danger of being dragged down into a relegation battle.

Sigurdsson’s move from Reading to Hoffenheim in the summer of 2010 was a big step up for the player but one that was received with a lot of enthusiasm given his time in England. Watching him play for Reading, it was clear that he would play for a big club one day and the move to Germany was a start. His spell with Hoffenheim would be mixed however, and definitely not helped by four coaching changes in two years.

His first two coaches, Ralf Rangnick and Marco Pezzaiouli, were sticklers who it took a lot to impress. Despite being that season’s top scorer and eventually the Fans’ Player of the Year, he struggled to make a solid run in the starting lineup and was mostly brought on after the hour mark in most matches. Though the fact that Sigurdsson could come off the bench 19 times and still win the club a fair amount of points on his own was a testament to his ability.

It should have sparked something in the mind of the coach to arrive that summer, Holger Stanislawski. Instead a pre-season injury kept him out of the first month of the Bundesliga. It may not have seemed like a problem, but with Stanislawski trying to employ an intricate tactic, it would’ve been vital for Sigurdsson fitting in with the rest of the squad to be part of the preparations.

Upon his return, he simply couldn’t find any form, disrupting the tactics of the side as the team began a bad run in the league until he was eventually dropped from the squad. Playing in a much deeper, possession-based role than what he is used to certainly didn’t help.

Sigurdsson left on loan with the coach citing that he needed to find some form. It did make some fans nervous as sending a first team player out on loan is a clear indication that he’s on the way out. The club had been trying for over a year to cut its losses and become a self-sustaining club by the time owner Dietmar Hopp decides it’s time to step down.

With the appointment of Markus Babbel just weeks after Sigurdsson’s departure and the sacking of Director of Football Ernst Tanner, the obsession with trying to become a self sustaining club was seemingly thrown out the window.

The club have already confirmed the signings of Tim Wiese and Eren Deriyok, stating their intentions for the coming 2012/13 campaign and with players of that calibre coming into the club it would be foolish not to include one like Sigurdsson. That being said, Sigurdsson is simply a better fit for the Premier League than the Bundesliga and that undoubtedly contributed to his terrific performances for the Welsh club.

Hoffenheim don’t seem particularly keen on keeping the midfielder. Not to mention the player himself has stated his desire to stay with his current club. With Sigurdsson also proving his Premier League calibre, Hoffenheim would definitely look to sell him to balance out the books.

Interestingly, Hoffenheim have already rejected a bid from Swansea for the Icelandic midfielder because the offer was far too low. Whether it’s a sign that Sigurdsson might be forced to stay at Hoffenheim is unclear. But with the way he’s performed in the Premier League, there’s no doubt that big clubs are already swarming to capture his signature.