Which Seven Players Would You Cut From England’s Provisional World Cup Squad?

Ollie Irish

13th, May 2010

15 Comments

By Ollie Irish

Fabio Capello must cut SEVEN players from his provisional squad of 30 by midnight on June 1st. In Capello’s shoes, which seven players would you ditch?

A reminder of the 30-man provisional squad:

GKs – Joe Hart, David James, Rob Green

DFs – Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock

MFs – Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips

FWDs – Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney

* * * * *

I would get rid of the following baggage:

1. Matthew Upson – He had a mediocre campaign for West Ham and is prone to mistakes on the big stage. Not quite international class.

2. Stephen Warnock – The Villa player is a solid pro but Leighton Baines has had the better season and offers more cut and thrust in attack.

3. Michael Dawson – A difficult call, but we’re stuck with Carragher now (who will surely make the 23, as he can cover Glen Johnson at right-back) and out of King and Dawson, the former Tottenham man has more quality and experience. Dawson’s time will come.

4. Shaun Wright-Phillips – Not good enough, simple as that. Almost certain to miss the cut.

5. Scott Parker – Has had a terrific season, but that’s in the hustle and bustle of the Prem. I don’t think his all-action game is well suited to a World Cup finals.

6. Tom Huddlestone – Assuming Gareth Barry’s ankle holds out, we’re stuck with one of Carrick or Huddlestone. Unlike Scotty Parker, Carrick is suited to the pace of international football. Hudd is a greatly improved player this season, but I have slight doubts about his temperament and athleticism, therefore the Man Utd player gets the nod.

7. Darren Bent – Yes, he’s had a fine season but I still don’t think he’s quite good enough for England. For all his faults, Emile Heskey – the only other striker who might have missed out – is fresh and proven at international level. Plus other players seem to love playing with Heskey, which does matter.

* * * * *

With those players out, England’s final 23 would be:

GKs – Joe Hart, David James, Rob Green

DFs – Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry

MFs – Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Theo Walcott

FWDs – Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney

Looks solid enough to me (and rather similar to my earlier shout).

But who would YOU cut loose?

Posted in Opinion, World Cup

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15 Comments

  1. Kipp says:

    Ollie. Warnock plays for Villa now.

  2. jonnyc says:

    carragher, walcott, bent – none of them good enough

  3. PADDY says:

    P.S warnock is at Villa now

  4. henry king says:

    Joe cole(not Played enough) M.dawson(still behind L.king) P.crouch(overated + not strong enough for international football)) t walcott(overated) l.baines(needs more experience) G. Barry(not fit) S parker

  5. kct says:

    Spot on. Parker was great this season but Carrick is definitely more suited for international football. Wouldve gone for warnock instead of baynes but I agree with the rest.

  6. Luke says:

    I fully agree, pains me that huddlestone cannot reach the 5* form i know he is capable of though as carrick seems like a bit of a ‘nothing’ player.

  7. figg says:

    Funny – just 2 or 3 players from the line-up in the picture above will make the squad!!! :o

  8. Raybuck Luck says:

    I think Bent stays. Strong year, and Defoe just seems to be on the outs with Fabio, getting subbed out of every game he plays. I cant stand Heskey, but if he works well in some friendlies leading up to I wouldn’t have an issue with his WC spot. More worried myself about the wing play, seeing that’s helped Wazza flourish this year. Anyway we can naturalize Valencia before June?

  9. Ping Yang says:

    Jamie Carragher:He will make it, but if I were Capello, I wouldn’t take him. He has had a bad season (everyone in Liverpool has) but he is just not good enough to make the team. Maybe a couple years ago but Dawson is fresh coming out of a successful season. He deserves his chance. Dawson can probably play just as good at right back, Carragher is slow and pathetic on the right. He is not that great of a cover for Johnson. With some training I reckon Dawson can make a shift to right back if needed. That’s how low I rate Carragher.

    Matthew Upson: Not good enough. Ollie is spot on.

    Stephen Warnock: Baines is more of a stronger back up. JUST!!!

    Emile Heskey: This is a tough one. He hasn’t played enough to earn a spot. He might come on as a sub and I can’t see if he can make a big impact. There is no doubt Crouch is currently a better target man. I would prefer Bent’s pace coming off the bench to run at some tired legs than a slower bulky Heskey(who lets be honest doesn’t move quite as well)

    Gareth Barry: Not fit. I wouldn’t risk him. Over rated would make a good cover for a starter. He shouldn’t be a starter in my books. A decent passer and that’s just about it. Had a decent season at City not particularly outstanding. Plays like a DM, and they need someone bigger like Huddlestone. Who is just as good of a passer and is physically stronger. PLUS he is INJURED!!!

    Shaun Wright-Phillips: FAST FAST FAST FAST FAST…… and that’s just about it. Walcott (and possibly Lennon) is just as fast arguably even faster and has a better over all game. A shame Milner doesn’t have that kind of pace,or even Joe Cole(who although hasn’t played a lot, still has that quality to pull something out of the bag. And deserves to be there with his showing at last years finals)

    Scott Parker: Would love to see him run around like a headless chicken at the World Cup but just lacks that quality. Sorry. If he were to play, he would be determined as hell. Just misses out. Carrick has that little extra quality despite his mediocre season at United (mainly on the bench, but still)

  10. Fifthandlast says:

    How can you say Baines has had a better season than Warnock when you originally had Warnock down as a Blackburn player showing that you have no idea how Warnock’s season has been!

  11. Michael says:

    The general rule is, while you can risk taking inexperienced attackers because it gives you a bit of a wild card, taking inexperienced defenders is a cardinal sin. This is why Walcott and Adam Johnson will most likely be on board, but Dawson and Huddlestone will not.

    Inexperience has cost England only recently, with Scott Carson and to a lesser extent, Phil Jagielka coming to mind. Taking Dawson would be too risky.

    You can’t afford to take inexperienced defenders to the World Cup. Just look at the Italian squad that won it last time. Carragher must come, for his experience, even if Dawson has had a reasonable season. One mistake by a young player at a world cup not only destroys hopes, but sometimes even careers. Remember when Carson was to be the next big England keeper?

    The more interesting dilemma is the battle between Defoe and Bent. Defoe started the season great, but wore off gradually. I can’t remember the last time he scored. Bent seems to have recaptured his form at just the right time. I would not be surprised if Bent was on the plane.

  12. chinese boy says:

    adam johnson Yes, he made the good performance in Middlesbrough and Man Blue. But in the England squad, I think is not enough

  13. Bluebybirth says:

    james
    upson
    baines
    warnock
    SWP
    Bent (possibility for 2014)

  14. Bluebybirth says:

    and forgot to say scott parker

    it’s a tough choice this year, especially for keepers:
    joe hart is good, but inexpeirenced

    david james has expirience but has made too many mistakes

    rob green is a medium between both but a west hamn c**t

  15. Brian says:

    Definately not goin in my opinion would be:

    1-Carrick.. has had a shocking season since xmas.
    2-Warnock.. baines is clearly ahead in the reckoning and cole is a certainty.
    3-Parker/Barry.. if barry is fit, scotty goes home..if not vice versa
    4-Bent.. d fact he didnt play at least 20 mins against mexico was not a good sign for him. Not a great team player, has to have attack built around him. Does not offer as much as other strikers and most crucially has not earned trust of capello

    Probably…
    5-Dawson..again didnt play against mexico, behind king,carragher and first choice duo
    6-Upson..had poor season at WHam, still leaves 4 centre halves
    7-Shaun WP…toss up here considering walcott/lennon are in d sqaud its hard to see d need for another speed merchant..joe cole and adam johnson offer something different and for that reason will get d nod ahead of him

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