perhaps inundated was not the proper choice of words but compared to what we had in the past I dont think Joe Cole Ashley Young Downing and if needed Barry is that bad, do you?
Crucially he has done this since Heskey was brought back to the fold which enabled him to play his normal game. The midfield being sorted to prevent everyone flooding into the hole or simply punting long-balls to him has also helped. Any changes to the attacking composition of the side needs to take those factors into account.
Once Downing moves on (I think he will in January or at the end of the year) Adam Johnson will take his place at Middlesborough. He is more than ready to fill his shoes, he is also faster and will take on people. Has also played many games for the Under 21's and scored a few.
I doubt he'll be moving unless silly money is offered. Middlesbrough don't need to sell and Downing seems happy enough there. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/middlesbrough/article5254249.ece Johnson is hot and cold and I don't think he's ready to start regularly in the Premier League, but he does need more regular first team football. He could do with going to a promotion chasing Championship club for the second half of the season then go back and push for a first team place next year.
Well last year he was loaned to Watford on a three month loan and played 12 times and scored 5 times but was recalled to Middlesborough due to consistent top performances. Ironically after he came back Watford started dropping in the league. This year he has put in some good performances, along with scoring that right footed volley against Man U. He has been tried on the right wing, but I don't think that worked out for him. He has proven himself in the Championship, I think he would be better suited to go on a month, or a three month loan to a team in the Premier League who are in need for a more attacking threat, probably a relegation threatened team. WBA would be a good choice IMO.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/7762100.stm Green is looking good for West Ham. I think he warrants a place in the team.
We have got a nice depth chart for the squad. Only the GK position is lacking in depth. We dont just depend on a handful of big names now. Like in past tournaments we were so desperate we had to pick injured players. Like Rooney in 2006 and beckham in 2002.
here is to hoping some of those lads (Hart, Young, Agbonlahor, etc) actually get a few games under their belt prior to a major tournament unlike the Walcott debacle under SGE.
Capello would never make that blunder. Leave out tested veterans for a youngster who had never played a single game at top level.
agreed. It was another fine example of SGE caving the pressure of the media. Quite frankly I love the fact that Capello has yet to do that and it must drive the hacks and pundits wild that they continually call for Owen and others to be included only to see Capello ignore them and still have success.
As I remember it that decision came completely out of left field. I certainly don't recall any media campaign for Walcott's inclusion prior to it; the hype machine started afterwards.
I remember it differently with the media stirring things up beforehand, but if you remember it differently then so be it.
There was defo no media campaign for Walcott or any journos suggesting it, that decision shocked just about everyone. Looking back at it now, it even seems suspicious to me.
fair enough, although I do remember some talk going on about would SGE take a gamble on Walcott before the selections as one of the pundits made some big hubbub about Walcott not even playing for Arsenal's first team and having no business going over the likes of Defoe and Bent. IIRC there were serious concerns about the front line during the pre selection period as both Rooney (metatarsal) and Owen (which time was this) both having pretty serious injuries. Crouch was the only healthy foward we had and I just remember this ground swell of support coming for Walcott out of nowhere- probably too many reminiscing about Owen and that goal vs Argentina- and suddenly he was in the squad. Perhaps got my timeline off as I would put a good bet on the media shyte starting before the team was announced, but it wouldnt be the first time I was wrong.
Having taken Walcott Sven should have had the balls to throw him in there. Down to 10 men vs Portugal he could have been played as a lone striker and his pace would have suprised the heck out of a slow Portuguese defence. Players like Theo are at their best when they have acres of green crass to operate in as he has shown on many occassions.
Walcott would have been way out of his depth in a quarter-final at WC 2006 though. With ten men you can't risk throwing on a boy with no experience. Lennon who was far more developed at the time came on and provided the pace too. The Portugal back four wasn't really that slow either.
Could'nt have been worse than what happened and compared to Walcott the defenders were very slow. Twelve months later Walcott destroyed Germany's u21's...in Germany.
There is a rather big difference in quality between Germany's U-21s and Portugal's senior team. And a year is a long time for a youngster.
Because we lost the game it's too easy to simply say we may aswell have thrown him on but we could just as easily and more likely lost the game in 90 mins or extra time had he came on. He was a talented player then but nowhere near good enough to play. He was very raw, inconsistent and easy to bully off the ball. Remember he is a player who relies on confidence too. So what would happen to what was at the time a boy in a situation like that if he didn't do well? Like sendorange says a year later is a long time for a player of Theo's age. He was far more improved then at the time of the Germany U21 game. He was still way off playing for the senior team then too though.
I think we may have a chance of breaking into the semis in 2010, obviously we could even go further but I don't want to tempt fate!