Following another impressive yet workman like England win, I am still apprehensive about my Country's World Cup chances.
England fell behind to a decent Egypt side, but a brace from super-sub Peter Crouch and a Shawn Wright-Phillips goal kept Fabio Capello's preparations for South Africa on track.
This performance typified England under Capello as England refused to panic after falling a goal behind kept the ball in a way they never looked capable of doing under McClaren and in my opinion Erickson.
Whilst all seems well in the England camp again following the Terry and Bridge scandal which whipped up a media frenzy a win seems to have calmed everyone however I believe England need that little bit extra to beat the top teams... Sunderland players!
Whilst Sunderland's shocking current form which has seen them go fourteen games without victory suggests the Stadium of light is not hiding a great deal of English talent I believe my club has the answer to Fabio's World Cup woes.
Darren Bent has been one of the most prolific forwards in the Premier League this year in spite of this he did not make Capello's most recent squad.
Bent has managed 15 goals in England's top division this year in one of the least creative sides in the Premier League. The only English forwards who have bettered this statistic are the peerless Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe who have scored 23 and 16 goals respectively.
Wayne Rooney on current form can be considered comfortably one of the best five players in the world so to consider selecting Bent ahead of him would be ridiculous I think there is an argument to suggest he should be selected ahead of Defoe who performed poorly against Egypt last night. Whilst the Tottenham player has scored one more premier league goal than Bent, Defoe has been playing in a side that create many chances whilst Bent has continued his fine form in a struggling side.
Defoe has also lacked Darren's consistency half his Premier League goals have come in just two games. The 27 year old scored a hatrick early in the season against Hull and also added 5 goals to his season's total in 9-1 thrashing of Hull, suggesting he has been more erratic than the Sunderland marksman.
Lee Cattermole's under-21 experience would hold him in good stead were he to be called up to England's senior squad. The 21 year old originally from Stockton on Tees starred in the under-21 side's run through to the final of the 2009 championships in Sweden.
Cattermole also started the current Premier League season superbly. His partnership in Central midfield with Lorik Cana was cited as a big reason as to why Sunderland started the season so well, his three month lay-off with injury also coincided with Sunderland's loss of from and started the current rot the club are still in.
Whilst the high amount of players in England's top division that play centre midfield means Cattermole remains a long shot to make the World Cup squad England's lack of genuine left wingers could offer Kieran Richardson a fantastic opportunity to go to sport's premier event.
The winger has not had the best of seasons often being used out of position at left back; injuries have also meant he hasn't played much football in 2010. Yet one thing which can't be questioned with Richardson is his ability. The former Manchester united player is in my opinion Sunderland's most talented player. He has everything pace, a great touch, the ability to cross or strike a ball and the ability to pass short or long.
Whilst from a Sunderland supporters point of view his failure to play well consistently has been one of the most frustrating things about following the club since they've returned to England's top flight; the glimpses of the player he could become have been special. His two goals in a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light in the 2007/2008 season screamed quality and his thunderbolt of a free kick which won proved a winner in last season's Tyne-Wear derby is one of the greatest sporting moments I've been privileged to witness live at the venue.
Finally Richardson has made a outstanding impact in his only full-international start. He scored two excellent goals in a victory of USA.
On Lee Cattermole: "the high amount of players in England's top division that play centre midfield means Cattermole remains a long shot to make the World Cup squad" so he's not particularly outstanding?
ReplyDeleteOn Kieran Richardson: "The winger has not had the best of seasons often being used out of position at left back; injuries have also meant he hasn't played much football in 2010. From a Sunderland supporters point of view his failure to play well consistently has been one of the most frustrating things about following the club since they've returned to England's top flight." this doesnt really inspire me.
Nice read, shame about the recent run of results. Head up
ReplyDeleteDarren Bent for England???
ReplyDeleteWhat about the likes of Crouch, Defoe, Carlton Cole and Heskey?
6th choice at best im afraid
Although, the stat about Defoe is a good one and I agree that he has not been as consistant as people have made out wherever he has been. He scored goals, but has very dry spells that no-one really picks up on.
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