before not after.
Fabio announced his 30 man squad a few minutes ago and on first viewing the Italian’s rating has him on the same level on the index as McClown and Svennis.
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.
One deserves his place, Hart, has had an outstanding season with Brum, some great saves along the line and commanded his box well. The other two, dear god, Calamity James has failed on the big occasion time and time again, oh and he went down with his club this year. Green wasn’t far from joining him, he’s not great but I’d have him ahead of James but behind Robinson who has been far more impressive than Green since his move back up North.
Defenders: Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock.
A couple of things stand out there. First up is Carragher?? Christ he’s never been that great, reasonable at stopping those that are, and was even shitter than usual this season, wouldn’t have ever been mention if not for the team he played for. Let’s not forget also that he spat the dummy because he either didn’t play or play in the position he wanted. And then when he missed a penalty last time round said he’s glad he missed it for England and not his club. Is he gonna whinge when he’s played at fullback because he shouldn’t be in the centre ahead of Ledley and Dawson.
I’ve come to the conclusion he is only included because it is felt his squeaky high pitched whiny voice is the perfect anti-lion deterrent needed for the England base in South Africa.
I’ve gone on about past managers taking players who weren’t fit to tournaments and Fabio is no different. No not Ledley, who has shown he can handle the pace over the run-in it’s just training he misses, but Ferdinand. Who has played fewer games than Ledley this season and when he has been on the park he has been embarrassed on numerous occasions. So fit and not in any form.
Upson, a dithering deer in the headlights not a patch on the Spurs duo. At least Baines is in there.
Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Oh look it’s the usual suspects. What has Gerrard done this season to justify a place, certainly nothing this season nor any previous appearance in an England shirt. Barry is he going to able to play in any games? Johnson deserves his place as there’s not much choice on the left and he’s a good few months at Citeh. Milner has to go and should be a starter in the centre. Cole, Joe Cole has been useless all season, one decent game right at the end and he’s in the squad and then you’ve got a retarded lump of gooner saying Cole should go and Lennon hasn’t done enough this season to justify a place. How short the memory, he’s a far better option than both Cole and Walcott, or indeed Wright-Phillips.
Who really wants to see Wright-Phillips run into a defender and lose the ball, time and time again. Or who wants to see Cole have all the field in front of him only for him to stop and let the defender get back just so Cole can do “a trick” and try and beat him?
Parker, poor man’s player, that’s why he’s at West Spam. The Hudd, doubt he’ll get into the final 23.
Forwards: Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney.
Slim pickings. Yes Bent scored a load of goals in the league but does anyone really believe he’s an international player. The 21st century Andy Cole. Final seconds of a big game do you want him through one on one with the ‘keeper? You know come the big moment he’s going to be stood there looking confused at what happened.
Heskey, has even played for his club this season? Oh he must have he’s got a whole 3 goals in the league.
Defoe well as I pointed out yesterday it’s been a season much like that before the last World Cup finals for the Spurs player. Started off with a bang then went patchy then went missing. And that’s what he ended up doing last time, missing the finals. He should go this time but has to buck up his ideas a bit.
Six Spurs in the 30. Which is great for the club. But even with such good players available I just don’t see Fabio doing any better than his recent predecessors.
Of course I’ll be very happy to be proven wrong.