England Squad Announced

Crocker · 01-31-2008, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Fabio Capello has named a provisional 30-man squad for his first game in charge of England, with Switzerland the opponents at Wembley on Wednesday.

Speaking about the squad, Capello said: "I have selected a squad of 30 players as I think it is important that all the players are equal from the beginning.

"There are a lot of games before we join up and I think it is better that we are prepared for any injuries. This way we are not expecting to call players up as late replacements when I name a 23-man squad on Saturday evening.

"Franco Baldini and I have been watching many games since we arrived in England and we have tried to see as many English players as possible before deciding on the squad. There were a number of players that we already knew about but there are many we have seen playing live for the first time.

"We will use the time between now and our first World Cup qualifying match in September to look at the players and find the best formula for the England team. I will also look at players who have not been included in the squad this time.

"I have also worked very closely with Stuart Pearce on squad selection and there are some players like Joe Hart, Aaron Lennon, Theo Walcott and David Wheater who are with the U21s this time because they have a very important qualification game against Ireland on Tuesday. In the future these are players that could feature in the senior squad. I believe it is very important for everyone that the U21 team does well and I want to help them achieve success with Stuart.

"I know there has been a lot of discussion about David Beckham. The reason that David is not in the squad is because he has not had any real match practice since playing in November. When I spoke with David on the phone yesterday I advised him that he is still part of my plans and once he is playing regularly in America we will look closely at him again.

"I will go to the Manchester City - Arsenal match on Saturday, while Franco Baldini will watch Tottenham - Manchester United before I name the final 23-man squad on Saturday."

David James, Scott Carson, Chris Kirkland, Wayne Bridge, Ashley Cole, Curtis Davies, Rio Ferdinand, Glenn Johnson, Ledley King, Nicky Shorey, Wes Brown, Jeoleon Lescott, Micah Richards, Matthew Upson, Johnathon Woodgate, Micheal Carrick, Steven Gerrard, Gareth Barry, Jermaine Jenas, Owen Hargreaves, Joe Cole, Ashley Young, Stewart Downing, Shaun Wright-Phillips, David Bentley, Emile Heskey, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Micheal Owen, Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch

thefa.com

thoughts?

BIG DADDY G · 01-31-2008, 02:27 PM

i fink rio is a bit over rated

God · 01-31-2008, 02:36 PM

Only a bit?

Crocker · 01-31-2008, 02:40 PM

Rio Ferdinand is currently the best centre back in the country, he certianly isnt over rated

PeaceSells · 01-31-2008, 02:59 PM

Him and John Terry, when both fully fit, are probably the two best centre-backs in the world imo.

The Phantom · 01-31-2008, 07:39 PM

To say Rio is over rated is laughable. Him and Nemaja Vidic form the best center back partnership in the Premiership. They're rock solid.

No big suprises in the squad. I figured he'd select a few Villa players, since he's been to watch them a few times, and to be honest they deserve to be at least looked at in training. I am a little suprised to see Michael Owen there. He hasn't done much this season, but then again Newcastle have been struggling. David James will probably get the start in goal.

PeaceSells · 02-01-2008, 04:34 AM

I'm a little surprised Green isn't in ahead of Kirkland.

Crocker · 02-01-2008, 04:50 AM

Looking at the goalkeepers, its a little suprising that the two best inform English keepers in Robert Green and Joe Hart arent in the squad.

Tyler Durden · 02-01-2008, 06:48 AM

The U-21's have an important qualifier on Tuesday night and he explained this to be the reason Hart wasn't considered for a friendly match. Agbonlahor on the other hand, was in the senior squad because the perception is that we have a handful of other U'21 strikers to pick from, but very few U'21 qualified goalkeepers.

Personally, I thought it would have been a good and opportune time to have set a marker for picking players based on their form (or lack thereof) and sending out a message that "if you're not in your team regularly and you're not in form then you won't get picked".....I like the fact that would tell players that their international places are not just their whenever and however they are playing.

So, in that regard, I would have left out Ashley Cole (who hasn't started any of Chelsea's last 3 matches....only coming on with 1 minute left in the middle of the 3.....and has frankly dropped his standards considerably this season as a whole anyway). This is all leaving aside any "personal problems" he may have at the moment.

I would also have left out Michael Owen for this match. He's come back and (even though 2 of them were against Arsenal) his performances in the last 3 matches in his latest comeback have shown he is very short of form, pace and direction at the moment.

As for Rio (as mentioned above) I've never seen him in better or more consistent form than he has been this season, so yes, he would very much be in my team let alone my squad.

In each of the above case's I would by no means be severing their international careers, both men hopefully have a long future in international football. However, this would have a been a good opportunity to lay down a marker for where you have to be in regard to fitness and what standard you have to be playing at to be an England international.

The opportunity has been lost.

muchojackdaniels · 02-22-2008, 06:41 PM

I England is gonna keep winning as always.

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England Squad Announced

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