A Welcome and the World Cup
I know. The last thing the web needs is another football blog. However, I’ve chosen to create a new one and I do have my reasons…
First of all, I enjoy reading about football. The sin I most often commit is turning to the back page of the paper before I read about the rest of the world. Whether this is an indication of my lack of culture, I don’t know. Frankly, I don’t care.
There are a number of quality websites on which to read about the beautiful game: the BBC has some great blogs from people like Phil McNulty and Michael Gray, whilst The Guardian (my rag of choice) also has a great team of football writers. Football365 is great at speaking ‘on the level’, and it is that website which provided the inspiration for this one.
Whilst there is always plenty to read, I feel like most football blogs come with just a touch of the cynicism that is synonymous with journalism. More importantly, any sports journalist worth his salt will always remain neutral and objective. As a fan, not a professional writer, I felt like creating the kind of blog that recreates the conversations you have with your mates down the pub. Full of bias, insults, false optimism, and wagers which can only be solved by a Google when you get home (often leaving one person, usually me, with a red face and a bit of debt).
The one thing that has stopped me from starting a blog before is the feeling “why would anyone care what I have to say?” This is why I want to make this blog more interactive – this isn’t my column for me to spout off to you. I want people to get involved on the comments page on every post, and start writing their own entries too – no censorship, even if you are an Arsenal fan.
Becks had to rush off to his Fleet Foxes audition straight after the match
To get the ball rolling, I thought I’d start with something a bit topical…Me and two friends were at Wembley last night – we were all there for the first time, and what a fantastic place it is. Shame the result was overshadowed by facial hair, but to tell the truth, it wasn’t the greatest of games. Just being at the stadium was worth the entry price alone though - I’ll post a proper entry later with a bit about the stadium and some photos too. In the meantime, the papers and the web are full of opinions about who is going to South Africa and who’s staying at home. So I thought I’d put down the 23 that I would take. This isn’t who I’d take if the World Cup was tomorrow, but come the end of the season, I reckon my squad would look like this:
Goalkeepers:
- David James
- Rob Green
- Paul Robinson
Defenders:
- John Terry
- Rio Ferdinand
- Phil Jagielka
- Glenn Johnson
- Wes Brown
- Ashley Cole
Midfielders
- Steven Gerrard
- Frank Lampard
- Gareth Barry
- Owen Hargreaves
- Aaron Lennon
- Theo Walcott
- Joe Cole
- David Beckham
- James Milner
Strikers
- Wayne Rooney
- Emile Heskey
- Peter Crouch
- Jermain Defoe
- Darren Bent
I’ve had to compromise – this is part who I want to go, and part who I know Capello will definitely take. I’m not taking Shaun Wright-Phillips because he was rubbish last night, despite scoring. Lennon and Walcott are streets ahead of him. I’m not taking Bridge – Milner or Barry could play at left-back if they needed to, and there’s not a chance that Ashley Cole isn’t going to start.
I’d think about swapping Bent for Owen, because Capello seems to ignore Bent for some reason, although he bangs them in whenever he gets a run of games. If Owen bags 12 in the Premier League and a couple in important matches in the Champions League this season, the manager will find it hard to ignore him – particularly if he links up well with Rooney. Right now, I can’t see Owen staying clear of injury, so I’ve put Bent down. We’ll have to take his phone away so he doesn’t tweet during the flight though.
Either way, I think we need five strikers (remember 2006?). You look at the five there, and there are a few decent combinations to start with, and to come off the bench. Add Walcott into the mix as a potential striker as well, and I think we’re pretty well covered for goal scoring options. I’m afraid Gabi Agbonlahor isn’t making my flight. He does a decent job whenever he plays, but I just don’t think he fits the system. The pacey super-sub seat on the plane is reserved for Jermain Defoe.
Two massive IFs are Joe Cole and Hargreaves. They’re both excellent assets to the squad, so to think we qualified largely without them is hugely encouraging.
The fact that Beckham is going to South Africa cannot be disputed now can it? What a man. The fact that he got man of the match last night was a bit farcical, but no one can doubt his worth to the squad, if not always the team. Sod it, even if he doesn’t make the playing staff, employ him as a coach. We need him in South Africa!
Who would everyone else take? And more importantly, does anyone think we can actually win it? These are issues that will rumble on throughout the season. I love World Cup year…
Considering we are a country renowned for our defence and centre back pairings, I am not overly confident in the cover we have for Rio and JT. I would probably go for Upson over Jagielka though, he has been out for a long time and it will be interesting to see how soon he can rediscover his form.
Same situation in centre midfield with Hargreaves and Carrick fighting for the last seat on the plane. Totally agree with your omission of SWP, never rated him, far too small. (The same reason he was rejected at Forest when he was about 12 – imagine how small he was then!)
I am still undecided on big Emile, everyone raves on about what he offers to the team, but I still want my strikers to chip in with at least a few goals.
Overall this is definitely one of the strongest England squads, a great blend of youth, pace, grit and experience. I still can’t see anyone beating Spain though, not even Brazil.
Nice blog Rich, nothing like a good bit of football debate!
Cheers Pricey…
I know what you mean. Obviously Rio and JT are first choices, but I’m unsure on Upson, Jagielka and Lescott. I went for Jagielka because I think he’s got the most potential, whereas the other two have probably already shown how good they are – quite mediocre. It’s a shame that two of the best English centre-backs are so injury prone – Woodgate and King. Otherwise, I think they’d both be on the plane. However, you never know, if one of those two (most probably Woody) can get a decent run of at least 20 games under his belt going into the end of the season, then there’s no reason why he shouldn’t go.
I’m not convinced about Emile either, but it’s just what Fabio’s settled on and I think we just kind of have to accept it. I’ve read in the papers today that Crouch wins more headers and also scores goals. You can’t argue with that, but I still don’ t think he brings people into the game as much as Emile. Rooney would probably choose to play with Heskey over Crouch any day, and although he doesn’t officially get a say, this must have some bearing on selection as he’s far and away our best player.
I’ve got to say though, I’m not as worried as some about Rooney getting injured. It seems common belief that we can’t win unless he’s in the team, but if you look at our options, we have pace, height and natural finishers, so with a few adjustments it can work.
I know what you mean about Spain, there’s no doubting that they’re the team to beat. But don’t underestimate Brazil – they’ve finally got a good striker in Luis Fabiano.
Bowkett, nice little blog you have going here, however a few disagreements. Again I agree with the old Beckham man of the match thing, as Capello said, “its like giving Barack Obama the Nobel peace prize”, however to not have him in the World Cup squad, just for inspiration and cool-headedness to the younger players would be idiotic, perhaps a tad suicidal to our nations dreams of winning the world cup, If Capello feels the need not to choose him, then sack Pearce and make him the assistant!!!
I agree with the choice of goalies, dont think theres much of an option really, however defence, I think Capello, being Italian will take 7 defenders, ommiting a midifielder. I think he’ll take
4. JT
5. Rio (despite playing like a conference player at the mo)
6. Upson
7. Johnson
8. Cole
9. Brown (though he hasnt played and is a baked bean, purely he can play across the back, shame)
10. Bridge
11. Lampard
12. Gerrard
13. Barry(Judas Prick)
14. Carrick
15. Beckham
16. Walcott
17. Downing, not because he’s a villa player, but because we need a left winger whos left footed(again I know he’s not playing for club, but will Capello actually omit him?)
18. Milner
19. Rooney (The new Jeff Hurst)
20. Heskey (Not that I like him,ruins villas formation, but he does work for england, and I think Crouch will miss out)
21. C. Cole
22. Defoe, (he was the mistake last world cup, not taking him)
23. Agbonlahor (again not because he’s villa, but every manager thats ever worked with bent has commented on his attitude, even if gabby doesnt play, would you want someone that ruins the harmony of the squad? plus he’s pace is frightening, even if he is an idiot)
Though my real interest poses in the players who I think will be ommited, Lennon, Micah Richards, Ashley Young, Peter Crouch, Jagielka, Curtis Davies, Ben Foster, Joe Cole.
I think its hard to say we have a strong squad, but when you look at some of the names not on that plane, and the ones that are, the balance for the first time since 96 feels right, and I do think come 11th July there will be alot of drunken englishmen getting rat-arsed.
The only shame being it will be JT lifting that trophy and not Golden Balls
Cheers Paddy.
I don’t think Don Fabio will forget about Downing, but he’s proven that we don’t need a left foot. He likes playing the 4-3-2-1, with Gerrard on the left coming in, and if not him, then Milner. That’s why he can afford to take Lennon as well – you have to admit that Walcott has only had one good game in an England shirt, and Lennon isn’t consistent enough either, so it’s worth taking both.
I think he’ll sacrifice a defensive place because you need Joe Cole in the squad as well – Brown can play across the back, but if you have a dedicated reserve centre-back as well as Hargreaves who can also play full-back, I don’t think we need to worry.
Micah Richards needs to decide whether to be a full back or a centre back – his time will come, at least he’s still involved with England, even if it is only at U21. Foster’s had his chance and just isn’t confident enough. This might change by the end of the season, but I pesonally would rather have Robinson as a third keeper because at least he has experience at the World Cup.
Hello there, good to see the world cup has got everyone talking already. As it has been stated that bias opinions will be welcomed, I feel I must make the case for a certain Ryan Shawcross. He plays a full ninety every week, has no issues with injury and has to be one of the most consistent centre-halfs in the country. Not only is he a rock at the back, at 6″5 or thereabouts he is useful going forward as well (although without Rory’s rockets he may feel a tad lost).
Overall I agree with most aspects of Bowkett’s squad. However, I would probably opt for Foster over Green providing he continues to play regularly at United this season. Robinson should go in my opinion, experience counts for alot and he’d be my second choice behind old Calamity.
Downing should stay at home for sure, he has never been particularly exciting in an England jersey, and with Joe Cole and Stevie G as potentially left-sided midfielders, there’s no place for him.
Gracias amigos
Nice Blog Bowkett.
I tend to agree with most of your team choices, Im not sure about Robinson but as a third keeper then sure why not take him, as you say he has the experience unlike Foster.
I would pick Upson ahead of Jagielka as I personally consider Upson a better overall defender but I agree with the rest of your choice of defenders but I think paddy should be careful with his racist “baked bean” remarks to one of Englands Finest. I think it would be interesting if they threw old G’Nev into the mix though, I wouldn’t pick him, but be funny is Fabio did.
I totally agree with your midfield bowkett, best you can have I think (Unless scholes decides to put that shirt back on,lol), no need for wright-phillips, he was shit against Belarus, no strength at all. Disagree with Paddy, Downing over Joe Cole…you taking the piss. Cole can play that left side a lot better than Downing could, you say we need a left footed winger, bollocks to that, we need a left winger who can make those runs into the box, open up space and can make those vital crosses. Downing makes one good cross in ten.
Now as for the forward situation it is tricky. I wouldn’t take crouch because even though he supposedly scores more than Heskey, I still think he is shit. I think what Fabio sees in Heskey is his strength and ability to be the link up man between the midfield and the front man (Rooney). Crouch has no strength, he struggled against Belarus to keep hold of the ball, I know he scores but throughout his whole career I have never had confidence when crouch has the ball. So for forwards I would say:
Wayne Rooney
Emile Heskey
Carlton Cole (Michael Owen if he gets on a hot streak and isn’t injured again before world cup)
Jermain Defoe
Darren Bent
I know Fabio doesn’t like Bent but you can’t argue with his scoring a club level, however, will he be any good as a super sub, would he bring that needed goal in extra time in the final when its 1-1 England vs. Spain…
You make a good case for Shawcross Rich. I think his time will come in an England shirt, and it’s good that he’s been involved with U21s and that, but I think he lacks experience. Being a rock at the Britannia every week, bullying forwards and keeping them in his back pocket is a far cry from trying to handle Torres and David Villa in the World Cup final – in Jo’burg with about 200million people watching.
Having said that, Upson or Jagielka don’t have Champions League experience, which is why I’d take Woody if he can stay fit – he’s played in a Champions League semi-final with Leeds and played for one of the biggest and best teams in the world (and Real Madrid).
Buckley, there’s no way that Capello will take Defoe, Bent and Owen, so if Mickey does get on hot streak and scores a few in the Champions League, he’s bound to replace Bent on the plane.
Yeah but I was thinking about who I would take and it was a choice between Owen replacing Bent or Cole and I put Cole because Bent has been playing so well at club level but we all know Owen probably wont hit a streak and so wont be going.
As for Shawcross, his time will come but it would be setting the wrong example to put a player in the squad who a couple of months after World Cup will be in Championship(oh no he didnt)…
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