Where’s the Revolution?

August 24th, 2010 | by: Rob |

Rodwell Wilshire So an U21 squad has been announced and, dissapointingly Jack Wilshere, Andy Carroll, Jack Rodwell and Micah Richards are all in it. Which is fine except…well I’d be hoping for a revolution in a way. We could be calling these players up to the full squad.

I’m usually a pretty small picture kind of guy, but in this case, we need to stop thinking about now, and start thinking about 2-4 years time. Why can’t we build a team of youngsters – or at least include them in the squad! – and start thinking of the future.

I find the short termism of the England team a bit alarming. I can sort of see why – If Fabio took a team of youngsters to the qualifiers and we were anything less than really successful, the pressure would be on for his head. He’d need either the media or the FA strongly onside to do it, and its a shame but he probably has neither.

What do you think? Is the Under 21s still a useful place for players to gain experience? I imagine its nothing like playing for the full side, I can see its only use in showing us what players aren’t considered old enough to play for the full time.

It is surely time to start afresh isn’t it? Fabio Capello was today discussing the idea of giving Paul Scholes one more chance to come out of international retirement. I can’t see him taking the bait, so its besides the point – but what is the point is giving Scholes another few games for his country, regardless of his current form? How much longer is he going to be able to play for England? No long enough. Fabio needs to start looking forward, not back.

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Seif

1/Wilshere: Although he started Arsenal's first 2 games it was clear he would be back in the U-21s because Capello needs to bring a holding midfielder alongside Lampard, Gerrard and Barry (Scholes, Huddlestone or Parker, i hope it isn't Carrick)
2/Carroll: He is in the Zamora shape and is in a straight battle with Carlton Cole and with the U-21s struggling to qualify it's important we keep him there especially in the case Rooney is deployed as a lone striker.
3/Rodwell will never play for the seniors before he holds down a regular starting spot at Everton; He didn't play any minute in the last Everton game!!
4/Richards will not be a regular for City this term with Boateng expected to be their first-choice RB and is too inconsistent to be considered for England.
https://england.worldcupblog.org Ethan

I think there's still room for Wilshere as a winger.

I wouldn't have Carroll anyway.

Agree completely on Rodwell – it's a sensible policy as well.

I always like Richards – I fancy him to have forced his way back into the squad by the end of the season.
http://www.soccerlimeyinamerica.com SoccerLimey

I completely agree, Rob. The mere fact that the media are now calling for Scholes, who probably, on current form, merits inclusion, and David Beckham, shows that Capello is back to his old tricks again. His fear of using young players will leave us in the same predicament that we were in 6 months ago. As good as Scholes is and as much as I respect and revere Beckham, you have to go forward.

I know this smacks of “conspiracy theorist garbage”, but it never ceases to amaze me that these veterans always seem to get injured just before call-ups to the National squad. Lampard's groin injury is a common soccer problem which causes minor pain and discomfort with surgery and rest being the ONLY cure. You would have thought that he would have had this simple corrective surgery done in the summer after the World Cup.

I also read yesterday that Terry needs “a period of rest and rehabilitation”. Give me a break. This is the 2nd week of the season.

I mentioned after the World Cup that either Capello goes, or you shelve the veterans bar a couple of automatics, and go with youth. I still advocate that. Capello needs to go and this comes from someone who pre-South Africa, was a staunch advocate of his abilities to be successful. I've done a complete 180 on him.

Granted, it's tough to re-tool a National squad given the FIFA calendar which seems to go from qualifying to tournament back to qualifying again. I think the only thing we can hope for is that England can make it through this season's qualifiers without being out of contention in the Group, and then next summer, arrange a tour overseas, say to South America, or maybe Central America. Don't take any veterans, only young players. They will not be tired, because they will have most likely sat for at least half the season, and stick them out in the cauldrons of Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico and see how they perform.

Then we'll know where we stand.
Seif

A post svp on the rubbish squad selected for the upcoming qualifiers!!
http://www.soccerlimeyinamerica.com SoccerLimey

I'm not sure that you can call it a “rubbish” squad. Based on Capello's personal prefernces, I doubt you could expect anything else at this point.

I guess we should wonder what happens if we should lose the first two games.

Get your resume ready !!
David P

Having seen the announced senior squad, I agree with your post 100%.

Players that are not playing for the their clubs should not be in there. SWP? Carrick?
Players not in form also should not be there. Upson, C. Cole? Really?

The one player not playing for his club I will give a pass to is Gibbs as he is not there to play anyway, it will be a learning experience for him.

I would rather lose a game looking forward with a team blending youth and experience. I suspect the starting eleven will at least have some of that. I want to see Walcott and Johnson terrorising the opposition. But I am anxious that some cringe-worthy substitutions will be coming.

I thought Fabio was fab for a while, but now I think he is collecting his salary till 2012.