Thursday, January 21, 2010
Capello’s World Cup selection Headache - Goalkeepers
England Manager Fabio Capello faces a selection headache in the build up to this summers World Cup in South Africa, with many positions seemingly up for grabs and with only 23 places to give.
From front to back few pundits, journalists and possibly the man himself knows who will play where once England kick off their World Cup campaign aganst the USA on the 12th June 2010. Unlike recent tournaments the first 11 arent easy to predict as they have previously been due to a combination of injuries to players such as Rio Ferdinand, long term absentee Owen Hargreaves, Michael Owens lack of games as well as the emergence of players such as Ashley Young, James Milner, Aaaron Lennon & Theo Walcott. In previous campaigns for the European Championship (excluding 2008 of course) and World Cups you wouldn’t be wrong in believing you can name at least 7-10 of the first 11 with the names Terry, Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Joe Cole, Rooney and Owen likely to feature. However this time around things are different for the England team and perhaps that isn’t a bad thing.
Lets start with the players and positions likely to be filled, if as expected Capello plays a 4-4-2 with one striker and a classic No.10 role. England Ex-Captain, and tabloid favourite John Terry will undoubtedly start at Centre Back, even if his popularity and form both seem on the way down. In midfield Capello has demonstrated during qualifying games that contrary to some journalists beliefs Gerrard and Lampard can work effectively next to eachother in the middle and then Rooney should take up the No.10 role sitting just behind the main striker. This therefore leaves 6 positions up for grabs if our theory proves to be right, so who are the main contenders and where?
Lets start at the back and work forward with the Goalkeepers. England hasn’t really had a solid No.1 arguably since David Seaman, with David James, Paul Robinson, Robert Green and David James again all being given opportunities to impress. No-one can deny the experience and ability of David James, however critics would argue that he has had injury problems this season and is capable of having a ‘howler’ moment and in tournaments such as the World Cup where to win or lose is such a fine line will Capello feel that James ability outshines these cringe filled moments. Another contender is the Blackburn and former England No.1 Paul Robinson. Robinson is a talented shot stopper and sitting behind pretty dodgy defences at his 3 last clubs including Blackburn as well as Tottenham and Leeds he still managed to pull off great performances and maintain the standard to be Englands No.1. However an error in the Euro qualifier against Croatia and susbsequent drop in form for club and country (he was Totenham Hotspur at the time) with England failing to Qualify led to many dismissing Robinson as a potential candidate. However, since his move to the North West last summer Robinson has put on some impressive displays behind an ordinary Blackburn team including performances that helped Blackburn to the League Cup Semi-Final. Thirdly, we have Robert Green of West Ham, potentially the favourite, with obvious talent and ability, a calm nature and skills with dealing with crosses and one on ones as well as great reflexes he could be the main contender. Unfortunately for Green injuries have been hs curse when international duty has come around, leaving Capello with few opportunities to see him play at that level then he may have liked. There are of course the outsiders in the shape of Chris Kirkland and Ben Foster. Kirkland has been besieged with back problems and playing in a heavily conceeding Wigan Athletic team doesnt appear to be helping his chances of making the squad let alone No.1. Foster on the other hand could stand a chance if he played more often but lying at the No.3 goalkeeping spot for Man Utd, and with few games under his belt, the ods would be long on his name appearing on the team sheet unless he gets more games at Man Utd or somewhere else.