Football365.com columnist John Nicholson thinks that the FA should create a new Championship team – England FC – made up entirely of young English players, to serve as a means of training young players outside of the usual system. Is it genius or just batshit?

Best manager in the world!

Steve Mac has named a humungous 28 man England squad for the friendly against Holland. He know you can only play 11 at a time, right?
The only eye-popper is the inclusion of 18 year old centreback/right back Micah Richards. Kieran Richardson misses out, which is fair enough – he’s rubbish, but a [...]

Hopefully Steve Mac will wield his axe, chop a few big names down to size, and add some fresh blood when he names his England squad tomorrow for the friendly against Holland on November 15th.
Aaron Lennon is back from injury and looking impressive for Spurs, so I’m expecting the dribbletastic right winger to get a [...]

According to The Independent, Stevie Mac is having informal dinner meetings with all the England players to discuss what went wrong against Croatia (and Macedonia), and what they’re going to do next.

Steve McClaren has hinted that Theo Walcott could get another go in the senior team in one of the two friendly games before Euro 2008 qualifying resumes.

Rumours are circulating that England will line up in a 3-5-2 against Macedonia, with Stewart Downing missing out. More here.

It will probably look like this:
GK: Paul Robinson
CB: The Neviller (G.)
CB: Rio Ferdinand
CB: John Terry
RWB: SWP
LWB: Cashley Cole
CM: Steven Gerrard
CM: Michael Carrick
CM: Frank Lampard
CF: Peter Crouch
CF: Wayne Rooney

In form Everton striker Andy Johnson has dropped out of the England squad with a hamstring injury, so Charlton’s Darren Bent has been called up to replace him, doing his now familiar last minute yo-yo between under-21’s and senior squad.

Steve McClaren says he twice asked Paul Scholes to come out of international retirement, and has twice been told thanks, but no thanks. The red-headed midfielder hasn’t worn an England shirt (not professionally anyway) since Euro 2004.
McClaren asked Scholes once when he took over from Sven (who seemed convinced Scholes was a left mid) and [...]

Steve McClaren has announced his England squad for the Euro 2008 qualification double-header against Macedonia (October 7th, home) and Croatia (October 11th, away).
Rooney is back after his suspension for organ-grinding, meaning a return to Under 21 duty for Darren Bent, and Scott Parker makes a deserved return thanks to Owen Hargreves broken leg.
Despite dropping [...]