Capello Names 30man Provisional Squad

In the midst of a Zola sacking from West Ham, a McClaren move to Wolfsburg and Roy Hodgsen being voted manager of the year, Fabio Capello has named a provisional 30man squad for South Africa. Only 23 will get the nod, so who will get a ticket?

The 30 players are as follows:

Goalkeepers – Green, Hart , James

Defenders – Baines, Carragher, A. Cole, Dawson, Ferdinand, G. Johnson, King, Terry, Upson, Warnock

Midfielders – Barry, Carrick, J. Cole, Gerrard, Huddlestone, A. Johnson, Lampard, Lennon, Milner, Parker, Walcott, Wright-Phillips

Strikers – Bent, Crouch, Defoe, Heskey, Rooney

Fundamentally, all 3 keepers will go and 5 strikers are needed, taking up 8 places and meaning that the likes of Bent can rest easy. Paul Robinson is the only notable absentee, and may be slightly disgruntled at being left behind for Rob Green. However, both are unreliable, and so although one may go and not the other, James and Hart should both be preferred, meaning that it is only pride that should be effected, as opposed to England’s hopes. As if we need the third choice keeper to be called upon, the situation will already be dire.

5 strikers are a must, as they are ultimately the ones that Fabio, and all of England, will look to for goals. Heskey, although he fails to score, is clearly going to start alongside Rooney. Crouch provides an excellent alternative to the Aston Villa striker, posing both an aerial threat, whilst also having great technical ability on the ball, allowing him to provide the finishing touch of a goal to his play. Bent and Defoe however, will both provide competent performances, with their goals in the Premiership justifying a place on the plane.

With 8 places gone, this mathematically leaves 15 places left. Midfielders are surely in greater need than defenders, therefore, linguistics provide that 8 midfielders will go and 7 defenders. On this basis, 3 defenders out of the 10 need not be invited, whilst 4 midfielders will be left watching the television with the rest of us commoners.

7 defenders are to be taken, with Terry, Ferdinand, A. Cole and G. Johnson certainties. This means that 3 out of the remaining 6 need to be chosen. Baines is the only out-and-out cover for left-back, therefore, on this basis he should get a slot. Upson, King, Dawson, Warnock and Carragher fight it out for the final 2 defensive positions. King and Dawson are the obvious choice, based on performance this season. However, this my leave the right-back area unprotected, with only G. Johnson able to play there. On this basis Carragher, who has returned from international retirement after having his worst season in a long while for Liverpool, may unbelievable be chosen ahead of one of the Spurs back two. King is better than Dawson, and should not be required to play many games in a row, therefore King and, to my disbelief and slight concern, Carragher may get the final slot. As for Upson and Warnock, both simply are not up to the required standard.

The midfield poses similar problems. Gerrard and Lampard are the only two certainties. However, it is safe to deduce that James Milner has earned the right to a ticket. Lennon and Barry, despite having late injury problems, both deserve a summer holiday in South Africa also. This of course, means that there are 8 men left, with only 3 tickets.

Joe Cole, despite having a season full of injury, has international experience, versatility and was undoubtedly one of England’s best players in the last World Cup. All three of these reasons provide adequate justification in my eyes, to say that Capello should back the 28 year old. Adam Johnson has sparkled in the latter part of the season for Manchester City, easily outperforming Walcott and Wright-Phillips, so despite his international inexperience, I would at least take him to Africa.

The last place therefore is between Parker, Huddlestone, Carrick, Walcott and Wright-Phillips. Effectively, it is match winners that need to go to South Africa, impact players that can be brought off the bench to turn a match, and out of those 5 Walcott is the clear winner. On this basis, the Arsenal man should take the final spot on the plane.

So, in my view the 23 man squad should look like this:

Goalkeepers – Green, Hart , James

Defenders – Baines, Carragher, A. Cole, Ferdinand, G. Johnson, King, Terry

Midfielders – Barry, J. Cole, Gerrard, A. Johnson, Lampard, Lennon, Milner, Walcott

Strikers – Bent, Crouch, Defoe, Heskey, Rooney

The unfortunate few to get so close yet miss out:

Carrick, Dawson, Huddlestone, Parker, Wright-Phillips, Upson and Warnock.

Whether Fabio agrees with me, only time will tell.