Never say Neville again!
by Herr EdAt this time of year it is mandatory for at least one potential England squad member to break a metatarsal. Ledley King has fulfilled this obligation, which is a big shame as he’s a very important part of the England set-up. King is an excellent central defender and in this position is a worthy opponent for the very best international forwards; he can also shore-up the defensive midfield area if required. I think Sven would have penciled five central defenders into his provisional squad prior to King’s injury, and I think Terry, Ferdinand, Carragher and Brown as a foursome still provide sufficient personnel at centre-back. However, the individual brought in for King will have to cover the full-back positions so that Carragher and Brown’s support roles are focused on central defence, otherwise the defensive resources could become overstretched.
This opens the door for either Phil Neville or Owen Hargreaves to join the squad. This won’t be music to the ears for many England fans, but I’m not too concerned. Phil Neville has an abundance of experience, can play in either full-back position or in midfield, and has had a good season with Everton. Hargreaves is the player England fans love to moan about, but he should be shown more respect. A Champions League winner who holds down a place in one of the best teams in Europe, Hargreaves is somewhat ridiculed for his ineffectual England displays. However, his most recent cameos have required him to appear for the last 10 minutes in an already disoriented and misshapen midfield. He also doesn’t play in England and is the least English of the players; this makes him a bit of an unfamiliar outsider and thus a target for playground bullies. Hargreaves has recently rejoined the Bayern Munich starting line-up after injury and, like Neville, is a very versatile player. I’ve picked Neville just ahead of Hargreaves, as he’s a more experienced full-back, but I’d have no problem with either of them featuring in Sven’s 23.
An injury may also shape Sven’s selections elsewhere in the squad. Michael Owen should be able to play in Germany, but question marks over his fitness and post-injury form may prompt Sven to take five forwards. Sven will therefore include Darren Bent and Jermain Defoe, in addition to the obvious trio of candidates.
GK: Robinson, James, Green
DF: G. Neville, Terry, Brown, Carragher, Ferdinand, A. Cole, Bridge, P. Neville
MD: Carrick, Jenas, Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Wright-Phillips, J. Cole
FW: Owen, Rooney, Crouch, Defoe, Bent
April 19th, 2006 at 9:54 am
I don’t reckon Bent will make it into Sven’s squad. Instead the crazy Swedish clown will plump for Ashton.
April 19th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
Sven’s England selections have the inertia of a battleship (if not the firing power). It took countless poor displays to dislodge Heskey, James, etc. I really can’t see Sven picking an uncapped player such as Ashton.
April 19th, 2006 at 3:28 pm
Spot on Herr Ed with one exception. I feel, even though this is strongly linked to bias on my part, that SWP simply cannot go to the WC ahead of the more direct and in form Mr A Lennon, a frighteningly good prospect and someone who will have the benefit of international anonymity. Granted, SWP is the more experienced option, but how many times had GAZZA played for the 3 lions before Italia 90? It was only his blisteringly smashing performance in the victory over Czech(maybe)(4-2)(Steve Bull on target) that gave him a squad berth. A risk indeed, but no more than taking a player who has been left to rot because the club who bought him only did so to stop their rivals getting their challenging mits on him.