Where has the defense gone ?

April 25th, 2010 | by: SoccerLimey |

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In watching some of the English Premier League games this weekend, it has begun to cross my mind that all is not well in England’s defensive unit with only 47 days to go until lift off. What has traditionally been a strong positive aspect of an England team’s style of play, threatens to be a minefield of problems once the squad gets to South Africa in June.

In a perfect world, my starting line-up at the back would read: David James, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, and Owen Hargreaves. As of today, this looks highly questionable to say the least with each one of this group having his own issues to deal with.

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David James has played all season in that coconut shy at Fratton Park, whilst his direct understudy, Robert Green, has not fared much better in that leaky West Ham defense. Owen Hargreaves has a slim to none chance of even making the squad due to a 2 year absence with recurring knee problems so Glen Johnson looks like the realistic starter. Rio Ferdinand doesn’t look capable of stringing together more than a couple of starts at a time without breaking down and John Terry is in the worst form of his life. Matthew Upson played for West Ham (enough said) and Ledley King can’t play and train at the same time. Ashley Cole today started his first game for Chelsea since his ankle injury, and his replacement, Leighton Baines, nearly cost Everton a win against Stoke with a horrendous defensive mistake.

I doubt that Capello even knows what his back line is going to look like on June 12th. Unfortunately, the players who appear to be in the best form currently are not the veterans but are fringe players with no international experience. This applies to all aspects of the team and not just the defense. One shining light however, has been the current form of Michael Dawson. Tottenham have been a solid unit this year in comparison to years gone by, due in no small part to Dawson’s presence alongside Ledley King.

Here’s hoping we get a quick upsurge in this department or else.

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Daniel

ledley is probably too hurt to make the world cup, but he is way more reliable when he plays

dawson is fantastic and if he doesnt make it it will be a mistake, no one cares more about the team and can back his love up with talent
http://soccerlimeyinamerica.com SoccerLimey

I think that a pairing of King and Dawson might not be a bad choice. I’m sure Capello has thought about that option. The stumbling block is King’s knee health
Ash

Okay, firstly, Hargreaves is a midfielder, so I don’t know why you’re considering him for defense, when Terry is perfectly capable? He’s had like 2 bad games in a row following a fantastic defensive season for him aside from his personal life. It’s a question of Ferdinand and King being fit really. Ashley cole should have no problem playing in the summer though which is great
http://soccerlimeyinamerica.com SoccerLimey

Hargreaves, if fit, is England’s best right back option by a country mile. Terry is not the defender he was prior to all his off the field troubles. Those issues play on a player’s concentration and ability to focus and Terry has made several costly mistakes this year that haven’t gone unnoticed.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

I’d disagree about Hargreaves at right back, at least based on the couple of times I saw him play there for England. I’d be happy with a fit Hargreaves at d-mid, but even that’s impossible with only two or so games left in the season.
http://soccerlimeyinamerica.com SoccerLimey

It’s an unrealistic expectation for Hargreaves to be available but Glen Johnson scares the hell out me. He can’t defend at all and with our current defensive woes, he could be a disaster.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Agree, but I’m excited about him going forward. I kind if like the idea of us being a bit reckless and having an attacking right back who can’t defend!
Hammersmith

Did you guys see the Hooligan Firm from America on the BBC’s World Cup roundup tonight? They were going mental saying England was going to ‘die like dogs’ and that ‘Rooney suffers from GERD’…Comical…

Here is their website: http://nononsenseboysusa.com
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It does amaze me how many people think they know more about picking a team than the managers

We can all speculate but at the end of the day we just need to leave it to the manager and trust him. We all know that no matter who is in the team one small mistake could cost us a match and maybe even send us out of the tournament

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http://soccerlimeyinamerica.com SoccerLimey

I trust Capello to do the right thing. That’s why he gets paid all the money, but it’s nice to have our opinions once in a while don’t you think ?
http://angola.worldcupblog.org/ Kiko

It would be scary to see a different combination in central defence. Ferdinand/Terry even when off-form can impose respect on the opposition. This is something that Dawson will not be able to do even if he is in top form.

I think that the last time England played a different back-line in an important match, they paid the price (v Croatia in the final match of the Euro 2008 qualification- the match that cost McClaren the job)
http://soccerlimeyinamerica.com SoccerLimey

In watching Dawson and King tonight, I think they would serve England well if called upon. My only concern is that they aren’t polished ball distributors like Terry and Ferdinand are. They tend to just hack it away and hope, but they are solid and play well together