Broken Promises as Capello Chooses Continuity

After their shambolic display at the World Cup, England national manager Fabio Capello said he would “introduce new players to give the team new energy and I will use all my experience to take England forward”. This promise, just like the one he made when he first took the job at the end of 2007 regarding picking players in form and not on reputation, has already proved to be an empty one when we look at the squad for the Euro 2012 Qualifiers on Friday and Tuesday week announced last night. Thirteen of the twenty-four men selected were in South Africa, with trio Theo Walcott, Adam Johnson and Darren Bent all having been in the provisional thirty. The stubbornness, some might even call it obstinacy, of the England coach is underlined by the fact two thirds of our current pool were in contention for or made it onto the plane in June.

The percentage of the same old players would be even higher were it not for the fact that Chelsea duo Frank Lampard and John Terry sustained injuries last week. This is not to ignore the other eight players selected, though all but Bolton’s Gary Cahill have been capped. Kieran Gibbs who made his international debut in the 2-1 win against Hungary earlier this month is the youngest in the squad at twenty, with the average age of the players just over twenty-six. Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere has been demoted to the Under-21s and his arrest on Saturday night will not have done him any favours. Everton’s Jack Rodwell who is tipped to be a future England senior regular in the future also takes his place in Stuart Pearce’s squad as does Newcastle’s in-form Andy Carroll.

With the greatest of respect to Bulgaria, England’s opponents at Wembley on Friday, they are a shell of the side they used to be. Long gone are the days of the Hristos, Stoichkov and further back Bonev. Manchester United’s Dimitar Berbatov who has started the season impressively retired from international football at the end of last season, having become the nation’s record goalscorer, but his fire power and skills are a huge miss. It places a huge burden on a player who once plied his trade for the Red Devils’ neighbours at Eastlands Valeri Bojinov who has begun rebuilding his career in Serie A with Parma after a long-term injury. It will fall to Aston Villa’s Stiliyan Petrov to run things in the middle of the park and his namesake Martin of Bolton will be charged to exploit the endeavour of the England full backs. For me the one to watch is Ivelin Popov, heavily linked with a move to Blackburn from domestic side Litex Lovech. The twenty-two year old attacking midfielder was voted the Bulgarian league players’ player of the year last season.

Turning back to England how can Capello justify some of the recalls he has issued? Shaun Wright-Phillips has made only one start from Manchester City’s four games played this season, remaining an unused substitute in the other three in league and Europe. Matthew Upson is part of a West Ham defence that has conceded nine goals in three Premier League matches and sits bottom of the table. It is also difficult to forget his culpability along with Gareth Barry for the 4-1 defeat to Germany, the heaviest lost the Three Lions have ever suffered in a World Cup. Scott Carson’s return to the England fold is also intriguing. Those of us with long memories will recall the West Brom keeper’s gaffe in the 3-2 defeat to Croatia at Wembley which ended hopes of qualifying for the last Euros in Austria and Switzerland that rightfully cost current Wolfsburg manager Steve McClaren the national hot seat. The former Liverpool stopper has largely played in the second tier of English football due to the yo-yo nature of the Baggies. Though responsibility may not lie with him for their opening day 6-0 thrashing by champions Chelsea the message being sent out by his recall is difficult to understand. He has no chance of playing with Joe Hart emerging ahead of Shay Given between the sticks at Eastlands and the penalty saving heroics of Ben Foster for Birmingham. The former is the clear favourite to keep the number one jersey for Friday.

Carlton Cole’s retention surprised me simply because of the good form of Andy Carroll. Both are the same height, excellent in the air and can play that target man role which gives their sides a dimension. The difference between them at the start of the season is end product. Cole has yet to find the net, having had a penalty saved in West Ham’s 3-1 defeat to Bolton, whereas Newcastle’s number nine has scored four goals, including a hat-trick against Villa. I have not been a fan of Carroll’s off the field conduct in recent times, but if he continues to develop and bag goals then the twenty-one year old should definitely be given an opportunity to prove his worth. Spurs pairing Crouch and Defoe thoroughly deserve their returns after guiding their club into the Champions League proper. Though England should not fear Bulgaria, I believe the away fixture with Switzerland that follows it will be more of a test. A full report and analysis on Friday's match will be up after the match.