Life After World Cup

June 30, 2010

So in an attempt to make three lions fans look at the positives and possibly in a last ditch effort to keep his job, Fabio Capello has promised that in the next two years, while England prepare for Euro 2012, several young players will break through.

While many fans will see the separation of the so called ‘Golden Generation’ as a positive step I still think the likes of Gerrard, Lampard and Terry have something to offer the national team. I believe it is not a case of players not caring but more individuals terrified when they pull on the white shirt due to the pressure it brings. Obviously if England were suddenly filled with less experienced/ famous names that would lower the expectation levels.

I believe however this is slight desperation from the Italian. Not just desperation but actually unfair. For example, do the likes of Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere need the added pressure of being touted as future England stars when they haven’t yet established themselves into the Arsenal first team. Is it appropriate that Capello is now telling a country we should rely on the likes of Gabriel Agbonlahor, Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson when he deemed them not good enough for South Africa.

Here we will look at the players Capello has promised a more active role in his squad selections.It should be noted that the Italian as gone back on his promises before, only playing in form players and those who were fit.

Jack Wilshere

Arsenal youngest ever player to appear in the Premiership. Impressed in Carling Cup and Emiraites’ Cup outings before being loaned out for experience to Bolton. Owen Coyle admires him so much he wants to take him on for a second season.

Many agree with Arsene Wenger’s and Capello’s belief that Wilshere has a future at the very highest level of the game (perhaps a replacement for Cesc Fabregas) but it is unfair for an 18 year old, yet to start in the League for Arsenal, to be spoken as England’s next break out star. We know what has happened to another Arsenal player in a similar situation called Theo Wallcott.

Kieran Gibbs

Capello was having a look at Gibbs before he broke a bone in his foot in November. Arsenal like their left backs in a certain way and Gibbs has been taught to play in a style similar to Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy. If Arsene Wenger got a big money offer for Clichy he would feel he has a ready made replacement.

With Ashley Cole seemingly doing his best to burn all bridges with England fans (Cole claims to dislike them) Gibbs should earn his first cap in the next couple of years.

Michael Dawson

It’s not hard to work out after the World Cup that Dawson was viewed by Capello as 6^th choice centre back. However Carrager will now seemingly disappear again until the next tournament when he will again come out of retirement, King may not get another chance to prove his fitness after his dodgy knee lasted 45 minutes in Africa and Upson may forever be scared by his performance against Germany.

Dawson arguably played as well as any English centre back last year and it was always seen that Capello would wait into the Euro qualifiers to have more of a look at Dawson, now that’s guaranteed to happen.

Owen Hargreaves

With out any question if Hargreaves was fit he would have gone to South Africa and would have made a difference. His availability would of not meant such an over reliance on Gareth Barry. If he can rediscover his best form then he will challenge for Barry’s place or Capello may even use both meaning a change in formation.

Gabriel Agbonlahor

After a World Cup where England managed just two goals every striker who just missed out must fancy their chances of breaking through. Agbonlahor is one of them. He scored 16 times last season for Aston Villa and would of given the side much needed pace. If he can prove his consistency with another solid season at Villa Park then he deserves a chance as much as any one.

Adam Johnson

Capello has always liked the look of Johnson and for a long time it seemed that the Manchester City winger would be taken to Africa as England’s wildcard, someone to bring on in the last 10 minutes. Would have featured more after the World Cup no matter what England had achieved.

Theo Walcott

Ironically the man whose confidence has taken such a battering from Capello is the man the Italian is now talking up to try and save his job. If Fabio does leave then it is Walcott who provided him with the best moment of his international managerial career with his hat trick in Croatia.

No one did anything in South Africa to prove that Capello was right not to take the Arsenal winger. Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright Phillips both failed to impress.

Walcott is a confidence player and allot will depend on him having a good start to the season with Arsenal.

Bobby Zamora

Zamora’s form was such a surprise last season that it is mainly believed that if the Fulham man had not needed surgery in the summer he would have been the unexpected name on the flight to Africa.

The test for Zamora is to avoid second season syndrome. After 21 goals last year the spotlight is now on him to do it again with other clubs prepared to pay serious money for his services. There is no guarantee that Zamora can repeat his heroics from last year.

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