Be interested to see what people’s opinions on this are now with just seven/eight games left of the domestic season.
A lot’s happened since that last list. Shaw’s crocked, Stones and Clyne have gone off the boil, Carrick and Henderson have been poor, as has Sterling. Meanwhile Vardy’s done enough to warrant inclusion, Lingard’s performing well for United, Rashford’s emerged as a surprise contender and there’s a couple of names that just weren’t on the radar whatsoever.
I’d say my 23, as it stands:
Goalkeepers: Hart, Butland and Forster.
Defenders: Smalling, Jagielka, Stones, Cahill, Rose, Clyne, Walker, Bertrand/Gibbs/Shaw.
Midfielders: Carrick, Henderson, Alli, Barkley, Lingard, Sterling, Dier.
Forwards: Kane, Rooney, Vardy, Welbeck.
There’s 22, with either another midfielder or forward to take. I think Oxlade-Chamberlain has played himself out of contention now and needs a summer to get his head right, Wilshere won’t be ready and there’s really no need to take Milner if we’re playing a 4-3-3 system. Sturridge and Walcott are the most likely options, but Walcott’s having a shocking time of it at the moment, and I can’t see Sturridge as a reliable option.
If Rashford continues his form, there’ll be plenty of pressure from the media for Hodgson to take him.