Fabio's First Squad
Don Fabio has announced his England squad for the Switzerland friendly and he's flipped the bird to Becks and Robbo, who are both left out. At the same time, he's given Gabby Agbonlahor his first foray in the full squad. The bad news - apparently Capello's a fan of Jermaine Jenas, Stuart Downing and Nicky Shorey.Here's the full squad:
Carson (Aston Villa), James (Portsmouth), Kirkland (Wigan); Bridge (Chelsea), Brown (Manchester United), A Cole (Chelsea), C Davies (Aston Villa), Ferdinand (Manchester United) G Johnson (Portsmouth), King (Tottenham), Lescott (Everton), Richards (Manchester City), Shorey (Reading), Upson (West Ham), Woodgate (Tottenham); Barry (Aston Villa), Bentley (Blackburn), Carrick (Manchester United), J Cole (Chelsea), Downing (Middlesbrough), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Manchester United), Jenas (Tottenham), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Young (Aston Villa); Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Crouch (Liverpool), Heskey (Wigan), Owen (Newcastle), Rooney (Manchester United).
So who's your first eleven from that lot?
posted by gatorbob @ 5:36 PM
7 Comments:
I am disappointed that Becks is not in the squad. Give him his 100th cap and get it over with.
You can't say that he is going to pick by form. Michael Owen is in the squad.
I don't like Jenas and G. Johnson
Don't know about my starting line up yet!!
Did you get the email I sent you about Beckford?
Sources are saying that Downing in on his way to the Lane.
He is definitely in the England squad for years to come
Shame that. Downing can't cross for toffee.
I agree with you, Dave . .. Becks was asking for the cap with all the training he's been doing with Arsenal . . . He deserved it for all he's done.
I'd start Upson.
Agreed. They should have used a fairly meaningless friendly against the Swiss to have a "Thanks Becks" celebration. Make him captain for the day. Have him walk the kiddies around Wembley at the end. He does deserve it.
Absolutely!!
What is Fabio's reasoning. Match fitness?
Isn't Ledley King in the squad? He isn't exactly playing every week!!
Did you see that the England Switzerland match is Live on FSC next Wednesday?!!
Happy to see that
Don't you think that he's sending the same message that SCS sent with his first squad -- that he's the gaffer and that he won't be forced into a decision not of his own?
I agree with Bob that it would have made sense for him to make the Switzerland game Becks' testimonial because of it being a meaningless game. However, with the failure to qualify for the Euros, there are likely to be a few more meaningless games before the ones directly prior to the start of WC2010 qualifying.
I also think that the bit of previous between Capello and Becks does factor into it. It must still sting that Capello was forced to bring the dismissed Becks back into the Real squad where he was a large part of it's ultimate success last year.
I think this squad is not enough of a break from the failed past. Sure he's included bright prospects like Aggy and Young, and included Bentley and Upson, but really, I was hoping for a newer approach. From this squad, you can predict the 11 that will start against the Swiss and I bet that there will be only 1 or 2 new faces.
When I look at this squad, I don't see international quality. I see decent Premiership level pros amongst James, Kirkland, Bridge, Brown(almost, anyways) Johnson, Lescott, Upson, Carrick, Downing, Jenas, and Heskey. I don't see the potential to step up to international class level.
There's not a fullback here that is of the same class as Clichy, Evra, or Sagna, and only one or two of them will likely get a place for France. England's supposed to be blessed in midfield, but who from this list other than Gerrard and Joe Cole could possibly keep out Flamini, or Anderson who are unlikely to start for France or Brazil?
You're right Gator. He most certainly is sending a clear message to Robbo to sort himself out. It's a tough-love approach but perhaps now that Spurs appears to have purchased a Premiership-class defender or two, he'll regain some confidence? Maybe, maybe not. I think that he should have included Robert Green in place of David James. James is very much a man of the past and to include him is that wedge under the door that's an unnecessary distraction.
I don't understand the inclusion of Shorey who is definitely culpable in part for the position that Reading are in.
It's an underwhelming start.
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