Shout if you think Gary Neville should go to the World Cup
Right back is a problem position in the England team, and with Wes Brown presumably out of the World Cup running, much of the focus is turning to the Christian Bale in The Machinist lookalike, Gary Neville, to fill his spot.
If he’s fit, Glen Johnson appears to be the only real option as a starter, but who should be his back up? Does Capello go for a specialist right back, or a versatile defender who can also cover the more central positions?
And, if so, who?
Below are some options. Let us know your thoughts with a vote and a comment.
Time was when the England centre back berth was keenly contested by a group of players who could probably stroll into any other team on the planet. There’s a rich tradition at the back - Bobby Moore, Phil Thompson, Terry Butcher, Tony Adams, Des walker, Sol Campbell. Not to mention the lesser names of Mark Wright, Keown, Carragher, Woodgate during the small window of time before his body revolted, Southgate regardless of THAT penalty. The list is actually endless.
All of which makes the current dearth of World Cup contenders all the more remarkable, and slightly worrying. Both Ferdinand and Terry have endured seasons to forget, and the back up of Upson and Lescott will hardly fill the nation with confidence.
Spurs talisman may call time on his career, for his own good…
It was all smiles around White Hart Lane this Saturday, as Heurelho Gomes‘ heroics and a wanky penner from derided ex-Spur Darren Bent propelled Tottenham to 4th spot, after a 2-0 victory against Sunderland. However, not everything went to plan for Harry Redknapp’s men - vice-captain Ledley King was subbed, through injury, 10 mins after the restart.
So far this season King has only played a full 90 minutes five times in eight league games, despite his infamous ultra-low intensity training sessions. Contract up for renewal in the summer, the Spurs backroom have a genuine dilemma on their hands as to whether the defender should stay on - and the cons are stacked against him.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, professional sportsman Ledley King saw fit to launch an alleged alcohol-fuelled racist attack on a nightclub bouncer. For his troubles, he spent a night in a police cell, where, according to sources, he continued to proclaim his superiority over the rest of humanity through tearful eyes:
The drunk Spurs captain “cried and sobbed” in a police cell after trying in vain to get officers to let him go, it was said.
Two men being dealt with at the same station said the star alternately ranted and pleaded with the cops, bragging that he earned £83,000 a week.
They claimed the England ace - arrested after a nightclub row - shouted at the sergeant: “Boss man, boss man, I don’t deserve to be here - I’m rich.”
“Boss man”? Was Ledley locked up on the Green Mile or something?
One of the witnesses was also keen to stress that the Tottenham star lost control of his bodily functions
Perennially injured defender makes Mr Capello’s cut
Everton’s Leighton Baines and Manchester Utd’s Ben Foster made the cut in Fabio’s squad for the England friendly against Slovakia on Saturday and World Cup qualifier against the Ukraine next Wednesday, but the biggest shock came in the inclusion of Ledley King.
1. There are already five other centre-backs in the squad whereas there is only one recognised right-back. Therefore it would have made more sense to include another full-back like Luke Young.
2. Ledley King is supposedly incapable of playing two matches in a week, which means he won’t be much use at the World Cup.
3. Harry Redknapp said that King doesn’t even train between Monday and Friday at Spurs because of his problems. So either there won’t be much chance for the coaches to assess King in training, or he will get heavily involved in training and risk an injury that could jeopardise Spurs’ European hopes.
4. There is a perfectly fit and in-form Spurs centre-back who has been ignored in favour of King - Jonathan Woodgate.
5. England perform better when Matthew Upson plays, meaning he should be comfortably established as Capello’s third-choice. The West Ham defender’s England win percentage is 77% compared to King’s 58%*.
*We may or may not have been scrapping the barrel a bit for reason number five.
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