I need a strategy to cope with the fact that Wayne Rooney might be absent from the World Cup. I could face up to it and write an article about how England should organise the attack in his absence, but I’m just not ready yet! Instead I’m going to transfer my attention onto a much more trivial issue. This coping strategy is what psychologists might simply describe as displacement of cognizance from a tangible chronic situational state onto negligible impact conditions.

This is why I think the most pressing issue at the moment is England’s goalkeeping spot. This position hasn’t received much scrutiny of late, but England lack a backlog of talent in this position. Paul Robinson is a worthy first choice and we can feel comfortable with him between the sticks. David James is an able deputy despite the over-documented propensity to the odd clanger, and it is assumed that the second reserve berth belongs to Robert Green. However, I note that Green missed Norwich City’s last four games of the season through injury. The third goalkeeping spot is probably the most anonymous place in the squad and the likelihood of being called upon to play is very slim - but the specialist nature of the between the sticks role means that it is essential to take three keepers in case of injury. As poor old Chris Kirkland is crocked as usual this means there is little competition for the third goalkeeping spot, but if Green is injured, what then?

The top flight in England used to accommodate an abundance of top English goalkeepers. Back in the 1980s talented keepers such as Phil Parkes, Tony Coton and Steve Ogrizovic (who were never  serious international contenders) graced the First Division. Now beyond our first choice trio there just doesn’t seem to be anyone of note. Next best could be Sunderland’s Kelvin Davis - other than that it’s Everton’s perpetually injured Richard Wright or Fulham’s third choice Tony Warner. It seems England’s keepers are no longer the envy of the world.

If Herr Hippo is missing anyone obvious, or if there are any stoppers in the Championship who deserve consideration, then he’d be pleased if you could let him know.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 1st, 2006 at 7:49 am and is filed under Players. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.  Return to home page.