Here we go again
It’s come slightly earlier this time round. Usually, every four years or so, England players will start getting injured in late March/early April, and face a race to get fit for the World Cup. This happened in successive tournaments – first Beckham in Japan and South Korea, and then Rooney four years later in Germany.
But for 2010 (which, henceforward shall be known as ‘England’s year’), it’s only February and already we have a player all but ruled out. As much as I hate Ashley Cole, he’s the best left-back we have, and possibly the best in the world. This is worrying, bordering on tragic news that he has probably a 10% chance of playing for England in the World Cup.
However, what annoys me more than the fact that we’ve lost a great player, is the way the tabloids will inevitably treat this. Within minutes of the story breaking that the injury was more serious than first thought, columns had sprung up reminding everyone (as if we need reminding) that Wayne Bridge is next in line.
Oh, but hang on, Bridge was caught up in that story wasn’t he? The one with John Terry? What? They might have to play together?
Top-notch journalism – I don’t know about you, but I for one would have struggled to come to that complex conclusion without the help of Fleet Street. As if they hadn’t tried to sabotage England’s year enough already, they now have an absolute gem of a story which provides them with so much scope.
I bet the editors on Fleet Street – probably rosey cheeked, flushed and slightly nauseous from all the champagne lunches they’ve been treated to since they started to maul John Terry, couldn’t believe their luck. Then again, they probably had the work experience kid working dilligently on a voodoo doll of Ashley Cole.
I think maybe my anger probably stems from the fact that England’s year is already starting to go tits up, when I thought this time (THIS TIME) it would be different. Anyway, there’s a simple solution to this problem: Capello should come out and say ‘I’m picking Leighton Baines, so do one’. That would shut the papers up, and there’d be no more rumours of dressing room divides.
And the work experience lad can go back to doing the photocopying.
It is just fantastic how the media in England can attempt to destroy the national team’s attempts to win major trophies, whilst at the same time putting enormous pressure on them by claiming they should win the World Cup.
I think Cole will be back for the World Cup though. Not the rest of the Prem season, but in time for South Africa. And either Baines or Warnock will be ahead of Bridge for left back spot. In fact, I’d like to see both called up for England’s next friendly.