Capello Picks Pace, But Will He Use It This Time?

May 12th, 2008 | by: Daryl | Comments Off

Fabio Capello has named a 30 man squad for the games against USA (May 28, Wembley) and Trinindad & Tobago (June 1, Port of Spain). All in all looks good, with plenty of exciting young pacey players. And David Beckham.

Full squad below:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), David James (Portsmouth), Chris Kirkland (Wigan)

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), David Wheater (Middlesbrough), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), John Terry (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Stephen Warnock (Blackburn Rovers)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)

Forwards: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth), Dean Ashton (West Ham United)

Capello named Young and Agbonlahor to his last 30 man squad, and then cut them when it was reduced to 23. He also kept Theo Walcott around but kept him on the bench, and sent England out to play France with no one who could perform the basic task of running fast with the ball.

But after seeing Walcott burn Sunderland this weekend and Young’s classy goal against West Ham, I’m convinced at least those two will play some part in these games.

Uncapped players are Dean Ashton (just found form for West Ham) Tom Huddlestone (new target for fat jokes, but good on the ball) Phil Jagielka (jack of all trades, master of none) Stephen Warnock (quietly impressive for Blackburn, but yes, we have a left back shortage – then again, which national team doesn’t?) David Wheater (can’t say I know much about him, but I’ll tust FAbio) and Joe Hart (only 20, but how great would it be to have an England goalie start young, start well, and make the position his own for years to come…)

Not sure how many of these guys will play. I’m hoping all of them, at some point. But it’s time Capello’s team started taking shape. World Cup qualifiers aren’t all that far away.