Post by Deleted on May 24, 2014 17:54:09 GMT
I was delighted for my old pal Rickie Lambert when he had his place in England's 2014 World Cup squad confirmed – it was fully-deserved.
I became good mates with 'Lambo' during our time at Bristol Rovers together.
A lot of people spoke about it being between him and Andy Carroll but, for me, Lambo has done it now over a couple of good seasons now. He's certainly not just a one season wonder.
He's a handful at any level of football and if any of the games go to penalties, there's no-one I would rather stick my money on than him.
In general, I think people are more optimistic about the England squad this time around.
I don't think the expectation is necessarily there, but Roy Hodgson is giving the young lads a chance and it's encouraging to see.
They've got a few senior players in there with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard and you need that in a team.
But it will give the likes of Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling the chance to show what they can do on the world stage and I'm excited to see it.
We could go there and play safe and get nowhere, so fingers-crossed, by giving the younger lads a chance, they might not have the pressures on them that previous squads have been under.
I'm definitely more optimistic and I'm thoroughly looking forward to it.
It's definitely going to be a good one!
Bristol Rovers will find it tough after dropping down
IT'S frightening when you think how far my former club Bristol Rovers have fallen.
I was gutted when I left them in 2009, but one of the main reasons I did that was because they were building a team for the Championship.
I left them as a very comfortable League One side, so to see them joining us down in the Conference next season will be tough.
It's hard to take as an ex-player, especially one that does care about the place and someone who had good years there.
My lad's a Bristolian so I've got to look out for them haven't I?
But when you look at it, it's a long season and statistically they were one of the worst two teams in League Two – that's why they find themselves where they are.
I've no doubt they'll sign some good players this summer and they'll be a threat next year.
Just like we saw with Luton this season, Rovers will command some big crowds and will regularly have 5,000 or 6,000 a week, which brings its own pressures.
We know ourselves how tough it is down here after dropping out of the league. We've been down here a few years now and we know what it's all about.
Fingers-crossed, that will give us the upper hand and it will be our year.
Plenty of time left for signings
IT'S still really early days in terms of getting new players in at Blundell Park.
With Conference contracts, you stop getting paid when they finish. Whereas in the Football League, you get your wages for May, June and even July sometimes.
So there will be plenty of players who have been let go by league clubs that have got two or three months to sit on offers and wait.
You don't see a lot of movement at this stage of the summer.
I know Forest Green and Kidderminster have signed a couple of players but, in general, it's been quiet.
It's just a case of being patient and seeing who's available.
If I was a fan, I wouldn't be getting too concerned that people aren't coming in early.
There's plenty of time to go yet, in order to make sure we get the right players.
Read more at www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Disley-World-Grimsby-Town-skipper-England-s/story-21132740-detail/story.html#4fueecxLoRCsIhpm.99
