AwayGoalsRule.com - Football Forum

that really surprised me bearing in mind his debut was 10+ years ago & he has close to 350 appearances for Utd e.g. O'Shea has 59 caps

Brown is an able back up RB and will probably go to the World Cup as a reserve CB.

There is a distinct lack of quality cover defensively.

You're right he probably will go..but he really isnt able cover for right back. He's bad cover for right back. Didnt even look to sharp at CB today anyway.

He was dire.

to be fair to him.... he's been rushed back, aggravated an injury, rushed back again, played 2 or 3 games, rested then emergency recalled 30 mins before k.o.

....and apart from one poor decision, wasn't THAT poor

....i'd say it's a tad harsh dismissing him purely on today's performance

Probably, but to be fair..i've been dismissing him since he was brought up in this thread.

and was better than Vidic in the last game covered him a couple of times, Although Vidic has been rushed back too

Lordy, the lack of strength in depth really is rather frightening when you see all the names on the page. Anyway, James Milner is a big mover, Theo Walcott plays his way out and no. 23 is a punt...



1 - Wayne Rooney (1)
Okay, 15 of his 19 Premier League goals have come against relegation-threatened opposition, but England's hopes still rest firmly at the very white and we suspect freckled feet of one of the few England regulars in any kind of form.



2 - Ashley Cole (3)
When the alternative is Wayne Bridge, we are very thankful indeed that Mr Tweedy is in probably the best form of his life. That control and finish against Sunderland was Bergkamp-esque, and we don't say that lightly or indeed without gagging a little.



3 - John Terry (4)
Looking at a list of depressing alternatives to the England captain is enough to turn even his most vehement detractors into reluctant fans. Quiely gone about his business for Chelsea this season, and we desperately need him to do the same in South Africa.



4 - Frank Lampard (6)
There's been little that's been spectacular about Lampard this season, but Chelsea's formation is no longer designed to create space for Lampard to arrive unmarked at the edge of the box. He's been decent and disciplined for the Blues - exactly what is expected of him for England in the slightly withdrawn role he occupies under Fabio Capello.



5 - Steven Gerrard (2)
It's been a long time since Gerrard has been outside the top three in this ladder, but it's been a long time since Gerrard was quite this poor. We still see him starting, but he should be taking a very tremulous look over his shoulder at the approaching James Milner.



6 - James Milner (22)
Ah, here he is - the English success story of the season. Whether Milner will start the opening game of the 2010 World Cup is in question, but a combination of startlingly good form and versatility means he is an absolute shoo-in for the squad.



7 - Emile Heskey (5)
Now starting regularly for Aston Villa, he's even scored four goals in his last 12 games for the club, which is a very decent goalscoring record for a supposed non-goalscoring striker. Anyone still want to argue that Michael Owen should go instead?



8 - Rio Ferdinand (7)
From an English point of view, thank f*** he's back.



9 - Gareth Barry (8)
Ever-so-slightly disappointing for Manchester City this season, but the failure of Owen Hargreaves to get out any further than the training-ground means that he's still favourite to make a slightly-effete 2 with Lampard in Fabio's 4-2-3-1.



10 - Glen Johnson (9)
There are (and probably always will be) doubts about Johnson's defensive nous but his cavalier style will reap rewards againt the tournament's weaker opposition. And he has to be a better option than Wes Brown...



11 - Aaron Lennon (20)
Nine assists in 18 Premier League games tells you everything you need to know about Lennon's improved delivery. If he's in his best form and his spindly little legs are in good working order, he will start for England on the right wing in SA.



12 - David Beckham (11)
Ignore all the nonsense in the newspapers - if he's fit and playing in Milan, Beckham will go to the World Cup. There's no fight with Lennon et al for a place on the right wing, he's already there as the one man in the category entitled 'Calm Cameo'.



13 - Jermain Defoe (13)
Three English goalscorers top the Premier League scoring charts (when was the last time we could claim that?) but unfortunately for Darren Bent, Defoe is the one with the electric pace, ridiculously quick feet and a shot far more powerful than his build would suggest.



14 - David James (10)
We still believe James will be England's number one in South Africa if he can prove he can play two games within a week. We know Joe Hart is playing really very well indeed, but will Capello place all his major tournament trust in the hands of a keeper who will have played just a handful of games for England? Unlikely. It's James' place to lose if he can get himself (and keep himself) fit.



15 - Joe Hart (33)
He might not see competitive action in SA, but we suspect he will be there as James' long-term natural successor after a phenomenal season at Birmingham. People feared for his future after Shay Given's arrival at City, but it may well have been the making of a man and a goalkeeper.



16 - Wes Brown (14)
Has been quite frankly embarrassed in recent weeks but Fabio has always picked Brown when he's been fit as decent if not exactly awe-inspiring cover across the back four and we can't see that changing any time soon. By the by, he's now 30, which just seems a bit mental really.



17 - Owen Hargreaves (12)
We're resisting pushing him completely out of the predicted 23-man squad because we have all our fingers, toes and other extremities crossed that he's fit for June. It's starting to look ever-more unlikely but we're optimistic sorts. Not optimistic enough to think that Michael Carrick should play any part in the World Cup campaign, mind.



18 - Matthew Upson (16)
That he is England's third-choice centre-half is both baffling and a source of some considerable worry.



19 - Peter Crouch (18)
Like us, you probably thought he was doing better than his four goals in 22 league games for Spurs this season, but that poor record aside, he is likely to be on the plane to SA if they can find a jet with enough leg room.



20 - Robert Green (17)
England's No 3, England England's No 3.



21 - Joleon Lescott (21)
Just about hanging on but it's difficult to make a convincing case for a defender who has looked burdened by his price tag this season. But if anybody can coax out the form that made him an England squad regular, a pair of Italians can.



22 - Stewart Downing (31)
Non-Villa fans will be saying 'Stewart Downing? What the f***? What about Joe Cole?' but Villa fans will be nodding as they have been pleasantly surprised with Downing since his return to fitness. We already knew Fabio was a fan long before he started playing for a potentially top-six side.



23 - Tom Huddlestone (48)
Slightly left-field, we grant you, but we can see Fabio taking Huddlestone (he's picked him before) to boost a midfield that lacks physicality. And one thing Huddlestone isn't lacking is physicality. It's got to be better than taking Wayne Bridge, hasn't it?



24 - Wayne Bridge (23)
With Lescott, Hargreaves and Milner in the squad, does Fabio really need a reserve left-back? Especially one as deeply average as Wayne Bridge? It might make you feel dirty, but we must all join in prayer that Ashley Cole remains fit.



25 - Joe Cole (24)
We all wanted him to come back and be brilliant. Instead he came back, sometimes plays and usually looks okay. Not good enough in World Cup year, fella.



26 - Theo Walcott (15)
Here standeth a man who has played himself out of contention. Doesn't that hat-trick v Croatia seem an awful long way away now?



27 - Roger Johnson (NE)
We would have given you 100/1 that Roger Johnson would be anywhere near the England squad this time last year, but against all the odds he has been phenomenal for Birmingham this season. On this form he deserves a call-up ahead of Gary Cahill in Fabio's next squad.



28 - Michael Carrick (26)
We've been predicting all along that Carrick will eventually miss the cut, but he will make a fairly big leap up this ladder when we finally accept that Hargreaves will not be going to SA. We're just not ready to let go yet...



29 - Paul Robinson (29)
Probably still (just about) in the reckoning.



30 - Shaun Wright-Phillips (25)
Poor decisions, poor delivery, poor chance of reaching the World Cup with Lennon, Milner and Beckham already on the plane.



THE REST


31 - Gary Cahill (28)

32 - Darren Bent (38)

33 - Ben Foster (19)

34 - Carlton Cole (27)

35 - Ashley Young (30)

36 - Stephen Warnock (RE)

37 - Lee Bowyer (NE)

38 - Scott Dann (NE)

39 - Lee Cattermole (34)

40 - Michael Owen (35)

41 - Micah Richards (41)

42 - Gaby Agbonlahor (36)

43 - Leighton Baines (32)

44 - Phil Jagielka (37)

45 - Jermaine Jenas (43)

46 - Ryan Shawcross (40)

47 - Scott Parker (RE)

48 - Bobby Zamora (NE)

49 - Ledley King (39)

50 - Phil Neville (50)

England Manager Fabio Capello Is Impressed By Birmingham City’s ‘Fantastic’ Joe Hart



Italian warming to Hart's beat...

England manager Fabio Capello has hailed the performances of Birmingham City goalkeeper Joe Hart after the 22-year-old’s impressive form for Alex McLeish’s men this season.

The Blues are enjoying a fine campaign, sitting eighth in the Premier League, and enjoy one of the best defensive records in the division having conceded just seven goals at home and 16 on their travels.

Shot-stopper Hart, who is on loan from Manchester City, has been integral to the Blues success this season and his form has not gone unnoticed by the England manager.

“[Joe] Hart is having a fantastic season," the Italian told BBC Sport.

"He is in good form now. Before he made mistakes, but he makes fewer now because he plays regularly and has more confidence."

Capello also admitted that he was keeping a close eye on the Birmingham man and was impressed with this continued development, adding: “Franco [Baldini] went to see him and he has seen a great improvement.”

The news is likely to be a big boost to Hart with the World Cup finals in South Africa just four months away and the goalkeeping jersey still up for grabs.

His rivals for the position have systemically failed to impress this season, with David James only just returning to struggling Portsmouth after injury, Ben Foster on the bench at Old Trafford and Robert Green enduring an inconsistent campaign with West Ham United.

so.... in the event of Terry/Ferdinand getting injured.... England can rely on King to jump in and see them through the group stages can they???

May as well take Bobby Moore's ashes

oooh 'Arry
Personally, i think Woodgate and Jagielka are better than King to be quite honest

I think it's ridiculous that they even mention him especially considering his current captain Dawson is playing well and is also English. King is a fantastic defender but he can't play 2 games in a week and he can't train so what use is he at a world cup. Are we going to stick one of them plastic men in the penalty box with King written on the back to practise defending or attacking set plays while Ledley watches on?

It's ridiculous and I wish Harry would stop going on about it.

If not injury prone woodgate would have been first choice for england ahead of rio and terry ...

Agree about Woodgate. I remember back when we got Rio from Leeds, the Leeds fans I knew were laughing at us because we'd spent all that money on him, when they regarded Woodgate as their main man and best defender.

so.....Glen Johnson's on his way back

England start looking to the WC Squad and thinking they need a RB and some RB cover...so who is there???

Glen Johnson.... eeeerrrr Wes Brown..... eeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrr Owen Hargreaves

I got a name for you..... and when you finished laughing..... think about it

Phil Neville

the kid can still play....and will do you a job RB, LB & DM, a skipper, been before, knows how to win stuff...... and it'd p!ss his brother right off

I never understood why Phil Neville was left out of the squad in the first place. He is a great utility player that can cover several positions. I'd rather have him in my team before Jenas or Dyer.

When was the last titme Dyer played for England? Had to look twice when I saw him come on against us last night.

Phil Neville wouldn't be the worst choice Wes has been hot and cold this season, Gary Neville is too old these days, Micah Richards struggles with consistency so who knows he might make a late push.

The Everton player I think who will be going is Jagielka if he can get enough games in the run in and is over his injury I'd take him as he can play all the way along the back line and is a quality player.

If the world cup was last summer I think the whole Everton backline were playing so well together they could have all played for England - Hibbert Jagielka Lescott Baines.
This year is very different unfortunately. Neville is probably the only Everton player not playing well at the moment. Jagielka as good as he and as much as I would love him to be at the World cup will surely not be fit enough in time, he's still yet to play even a reserve game (although he is at least ready for that now). Baines has probably been our most consistent player this season and should definitely go, regardless of whether Cole goes or not as I rate him higher than Bridge.

Was Yobo not playing CB with Lescott at LB for most of last season?

Lescott at LB looked solid enough for England his attacking wasn't the best but he was defensively sound and the only way I see him making the world cup squad is if Ashley Cole doesn't recover from this injury or has a set back he might go as cover for Wayne Bridge.

Baines needs a chance in these friendlies and I agree he's played well he's got a cracking delivery as well when he does get forward so I think it would be good if Capello gave him a run out against Egypt as Bridge will definitely start this game.

I agree Jagielka will probably struggle to get into the squad but if he can get back in the next 2 weeks there's still 10-15 games left this season for him to get fitness. Terry and Upson are our only consistently fit defenders, Rio has broken down again, Lescott has been injured at City, King and Woodgate aren't even worth thinking about so I think he's got a chance of getting in. Add to that Gary Cahill the man who has made the last few squads out for the season he's got a chance. Assuming they're fit Rio & Terry are on the plane that leaves 2 spots to fill and I think Jagielka has as good a chance as any of taking that spot.

I think that was the season before last that Lescott played LB most of it wasn't it? Back when for some reason Baines couldn't get a game. My memory is pretty shite so I could be wrong. Maybe I'm thinking the last half of last season.

Either way I would take a half fit Jagielka over a fully fit Lescott to be honest, I think he's that much better. But I think Lescott always been favoured because he can play a bit, he's a rare decent left footed centre back and can cover the left back spot.