The Selection and The Mysteries of a Odd Fellow

[GhostOfDixie]

Fabio Capello has arrived on these shores with a great club record, but no experience on the International stage.

He also stated although I can't find a direct quote, that he will be selecting players based on form. Well looking at the England squad we can break it down into different areas.

1. Automatic choices, regardless of form
2. Form players
3. Out of form players

Automatic Choices

These are players who have proven to be worthy of a place in the England squad even though they may be having a rough time. Players like John Terry, Ferdinand, A.Cole, J.Cole, Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney, and perhaps David James. Those players will always be picked regardless. But 2 of those players are also form players, ala Rooney and Lampard.

Form players

Players who have had very good seasons for club or country.

Lampard, Rooney, Bent, Green, Hart, Milner, Baines, A.Johnson, Parker, Dawson

5 of those players were dropped from the final squad.

Out of Form players

Players who have not had an amazing season, and not really proved it for England either.

G.Johnson, J.Carragher, S.Warnock, M.Upson, L.King, G.Barry, M.Carrick, A.Lennon, S.W.Phillips, E.Heskey, J.Defoe, P.Crouch

All of those players have had average seasons at best. E.Heskey doesn't even get a game, neither does Wright-Phillips.

The only decision I agree with is the removal of Walcott - he's a garbage footballer with no sense at all, and its right he is left at home - but other than that I am completely aghast at the decision to leave:

Baines out for Warnock - Warnock has played what 10 minutes of International footy and had an average season, Baines has played 2 of the last 3 warm up games and was Player of the Season at Everton.

A.Johnson out for SWP - Adam Johnson is a raw talent with a great left foot, and can be as effective on both wings. Shaun Wright Phillips? can't even get a game at club level for any length of time.

Bent out for Heskey - How has this lad got so many games for England as a striker when Derek Mountfield has a better goal ratio (check that)? Bent top English scorer in the Premier League, Heskey 1 goal all year. For me Heskey and Crouch are very similar players, difference being Crouch scores goals - so what the **** is going on here???

Parker out for Carrick - Carrick one of the worse players to play at Man U since Djemba Djemba! Scott Parker is a hard working, industrius midfielder, who is honest, can pass, can shoot, can get in scoring positions. Carrick is a crab. Again, what the ****????

Dawson out for Upson - I think Dawson has had a decent season, Upson not so much. All I can say really.

So in summary, Capello has picked a squad based on reputation.

What do I think of it? Crap. Disappointed, and not expecting them to do anything.

 

[Neiler]

His selection is quite simple i think hes gone for a squad with players with CL expierence in the main, who he can rely on for a big game attitude and expierence i think that was the decideing factor to be honest.

Even the players who havnt been playing or of form all have big game expierence.

 

[teppic]

I agree. It's the type of squad that is picked by a person who has not watched the Premier League this season, but who has heard of a few big names.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

His selection is quite simple i think hes gone for a squad with players with CL expierence in the main, who he can rely on for a big game attitude and expierence i think that was the decideing factor to be honest.

Even the players who havnt been playing or of form all have big game expierence.

So basically what he said initially was bollocks then?

No CL experience:

S.Warnock, M.Upson, L.King, G.Barry, A.Lennon, S.W.Phillips, E.Heskey, J.Defoe, P.Crouch - apart from maybe Heskey and Crouch, but those 2 are too similar, and only 1 of them is a proven goalscorer.

For me it sends out a message - unless you are playing for top top dollar, then forget it. Pointless anyone trying to get into the squad really.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Heskey and Bent aren't really competing for the same place in Capello's eyes, it was Defoe v Bent and the Italian clearly prefers the Spurs man. By the looks of it Cole and Heskey where up against each other as England's 'powerful' centre forward and Big Em got the nod. Crouch isn't similar, he's more technical but immobile and weak. He's England's freakish option.

Aaron Lennon had a very impressive season.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Heskey and Bent aren't really competing for the same place in Capello's eyes, it was Defoe v Bent and the Italian clearly prefers the Spurs man. By the looks of it Cole and Heskey where up against each other as England's 'powerful' centre forward and Big Em got the nod. Crouch isn't similar, he's more technical but immobile and weak. He's England's freakish option.

Aaron Lennon had a very impressive season.

Well where do you see Heskey? What is his role in the squad? For me we don't have a target man in that team. Rooney plays too deep, so does Crouch, Defoe fails to impress each time he plays for England and **** knows what Heskey does - i'm clueless.

Lennon did ok I suppose, but I felt since his breakthrough 4 years ago he hasn't really kicked on that much. I can see him getting 10 minutes at best.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I'm guessing as a more powerful option, whether it's from the bench or right up alongside Rooney. As I said about Argentina, the manager is there to pick a side that suits his style, it isn't always the case of the best four strikers or the best eight midfielders. Balance is a key word here, and whilst Heskey isn't everyone's cup of tea he clearly benefits those who play up alongside him at International level, whether it was Owen in the past or Rooney.

That's what I gather from what I've read up about the situation. Crouch and Rooney are automatic picks because they are very different - the other two spots where Defoe v Bent and Heskey v Cole.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

I'm guessing as a more powerful option, whether it's from the bench or right up alongside Rooney. As I said about Argentina, the manager is there to pick a side that suits his style, it isn't always the case of the best four strikers or the best eight midfielders. Balance is a key word here, and whilst Heskey isn't everyone's cup of tea he clearly benefits those who play up alongside him at International level, whether it was Owen in the past or Rooney.

That's what I gather from what I've read up about the situation. Crouch and Rooney are automatic picks because they are very different - the other two spots where Defoe v Bent and Heskey v Cole.

I totally understand that. However, why say you are going to pick players based on form when he clearly hasn't.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

It's a shame but it'll never happen, lots of managers say it across the world and never live up to it, the likes of Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney, Cole, Terry and Ferdinand get in no matter what there form.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

It's a shame but it'll never happen, lots of managers say it across the world and never live up to it, the likes of Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney, Cole, Terry and Ferdinand get in no matter what there form.

As I stated at the start of my post. But to be fair, those are big players who have the talent and deserve to be in the squad based on that talent. It's when players like Parker who has worked his arse off, and apparently trained the hardest out of anyone in the England setup, yet he doesn't get in and Carrick does.

It's almost like he wasn't there.

Capello should have picked 23 players and then said these 7 are on standby for the final squad. Lets take a look at them in action, at least 45 minutes each and see how much they want to go to South Africa - but they never really got the chance to - which is odd why Warnock was taken instead of Baines.

 

[Brownie]

The reason they get in no matter what their form is because they are the best players. You need to be at a certain level to be able to do anything at all in international games, how many times do you see players who are amazing for their club handed a debut and be absolutely clueless? We saw it against Mexico when we played without the Chelsea boys. Milner and Carrick got absolutely dominated in midfield because they didn't know how to play in international football. It's like Everton in Europe, players get found out very quickly against technically good opposition.

So I have absolutely no problem with the best players getting picked regardless of their form, it's the right thing to do. Certainly though you could take issue with Ghost's list of players who have been poor for their club and not really proved themselves at a high level either, it would be good to see some promising young players given a chance, particularly Dawson and A. Johnson.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

absolutely. Heskey though can't even get a game at Villa, neither can SWP at City.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I'd agree with that, but you can't have one rule for one set of players and another for the rest. That's why very little is based on form and managers simply pick who they prefer.

One thing I don't agree with is the fact that players are judged on one game, I've seen England's top players get overrun and look all over the place at that level. It's quite funny seeing the media saying a unfashionable player isn't good enough for this level judged on one performance when the top players all have spells where they look poor.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

I'd agree with that, but you can't have one rule for one set of players and another for the rest. That's why very little is based on form and managers simply pick who they prefer.

One thing I don't agree with is the fact that players are judged on one game, I've seen England's top players get overrun and look all over the place at that level. It's quite funny seeing the media saying a unfashionable player isn't good enough for this level judged on one performance when the top players all have spells where they look poor.

Totally mate. If you don't endorse a Fifa product or are not in a Wii commercial your not worth a mention.

 

[Brownie]

Agreed, it is a bit of a joke. Pretty much you have to be really good on your debut or that's it.