Fabio Capello has chosen to omit Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand from the England squad to face Sweden and Spain during the upcoming international friendlies. Rooney, who is suspended for the first three games on the European Championships if selected has been overlooked while Capello searches for an alternative forward line for these matches. The England manager certainly has more choices than twelve months ago with the emergence of Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge and the return to form of Gabriel Agbonlahor. Along with Sturridge, Jack Rodwell is called up to the senior team for the first time. However, Micah Richards has been left out oncemore despite putting in some impressive performances for Manchester City in recent weeks. But there is space for fellow city compatriot Adam Johnson who is recalled. Manchester United duo Ashley Young and Chris Smalling, alongside long term absentee Steven Gerrard all miss out due to injury. There is no space for Tom Cleverly who has just returned from the sidelines. The England squad is as follows: Joe Hart (Man City), Scott Carson (Bursaspor), David Stockdale (Ipswich); Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man Utd), Gary Cahill (Bolton), John Terry (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham); Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man City), Adam Johnson (Man City), James Milner (Man City), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal); Darren Bent (Aston Villa), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Bobby Zamora (Fulham), Danny Welbeck (Man Utd). Personally, I would have liked to have seen Micah Richards given his chance, however Kyle Walker also deserves to be given a chance instead of playing Phil Jones out of position on the right. Cleverley and Oxlade-Chamberlain are ones for the future but are obviously deemed not to be ready yet. James Milner and Gabriel Agbonlahor have been in scintillating form and deserve their chance. I presume Terry, as captain will play. Therefore sticking to the 4-2-3-1 used by Capello in recent matches I would use the following team (where / means using different players for alternative matches) for the next two games : Hart Walker Jones Terry Cole Parker Lampard/Barry Agbonlahor/Walcott Milner Sturridge Welbeck/Zamora What do you think?
Don't know who he'll play in central midfield, but if it's Barry and Parker I think I'll have a nervous break-down. They were a terrible pairing against Macedonia; neither looked for the forward pass and Parker in particular looks flustered playing in a position which demands a quality range of passing. I (partly) blame them (and also Cappello for playing them together; and Rooney of course) for Rooney's sending off; he grew more and more frustrated at their lack of decisive passing. Parker should not be near the squad, excellent in the Prem no way near being an international.
What we must remember here is that it is the job of the three behind the striker to push up not Parker and Barry. Parker is a great player and I think he just needs a few games in the team. Personally I think our right back position is the most of concern as Capello really does not rate Richards.
Capello has said Terry wont start, Lampard is skipper and Phil Jones will play if midfield. If Spain pick their strongest team and are really up for this, we could get royally humped!!!
So England XI v Spain looks likely to be something like: Hart Walker Cahill Jagielka Cole Jones Lampard Walcott Milner Sturridge Bent Oh dear :s
We know most of our players are not very good. They might be paid 100k a week but they can only kick the ball with one foot and lack very basic skills in taking free kicks, passing and control. So it is important we play as a team. So England pick a team that will never play together again.
Yes it does seem strange. I just feel that players like Bent and Jagielka have missed the boat and while they are decent players I do not think they will regularly hold down a place in the team. Would be nice if Sturridge and Welbeck play to see how they cope but I am disappointed Richards is not even in the squad and it looks like Parker will not start mysterious seen as we are going to need to try and keep the ball as much as possible.
Parker - Defensive midfielder Barry - Defensive midfielder Rodwell - Defensive midfielder Jones - Centre half Lampard - ****ing useless It's not hard to spot the problem
