Less premature World Cup thoughts

So, some 6 months after my original post we're getting down to the nitty gritty of it all. Players being talked out of international retirement, uncapped previously badly regarded players making late runs for the final squad, and even a player who at the time of my last post was playing Championship football has, in some commentators' eyes, done enough to go to South Africa. Tomorrow Fabio names his 30 man squad to be reduced to 23 after the 2 friendlies later this month. For me the 30 isn't that interesting, but the 23 is, and so I will continue to focus on the final squad.

Firstly some acknowledgements resulting from November's pseudo-prediction. Upson has lost form completely, so much so that the sublime but physically flawed Ledley King seems a certainty to go whether Upson does or not. In honesty I was too quick to write Ledley off and while he's not exactly reliable fitness wise he's probably in the best shape he's been in all season, and a fit & on form King is a hell of a prospect. We need our best players. I'm converted.

James Milner is a genuine contender and me saying it was 'too soon' was itself 'too soon'. Especially now with Barry doubtful, his flexibility, and even more so his ability, makes Milner a serious player, and thus a serious contender. I can't now see any reason to take David James. I'll stick by Robbo as the experienced option, but James's confidence can't be too high and I couldn't make him number 1 on form or ability I feel. Joe Hart is a must-take and despite his solitary cap may even be the man for the first team. It would be a massive call but his form is outstanding, confidence sparkling and the nominal number 1 Robert Green could be affected by a relegation battle playing behind a dodgy defence.

Walcott is another one that is, at least, far from certain as things stand. The most competitive position for England seems to be wide, especially right, midfield, and Theo for all his endeavour hasn't quite settled this season into any kind of consistent devastating form. That, and the meteoric rise of the impressive Adam Johnson means he's certainly not a certainty. We will see...

There have also been injuries. Beckham, Gibbs, Barry (probably), Woodgate (who was never fit to be fair!), Brown all appear to have been ruled out of contention by injury. Owen Hargreaves has had next to no game time for Man Utd (a deliberate ploy by Sir Alex??), Joe Cole hasn't broken back into Chelsea's first team straight away since his comeback, various others have struggled with form, fitness and personal lives since November. Heskey has done little at Villa Park due to fitness issues as well as form. All unforeseeable back then.

What was also unforeseeable to me is the apparent determination to persuade Jamie Carragher to return for the tournament. Regardless of any other non-footballing reasons, surely anyone who has witnessed the steady decline of Carragher over the last 2 years at Anfield can't really put their faith in a player who even at his best was nothing more than a determined trier making the most of modest ability for his club badge? There are far more deserved recipients of a ticket to South Africa.

OK, so on the back of all that and more, my 23 to take to South Africa are as follows:

GK: Hart, Green, Robinson

DF: Terry, Ferdinand, King, Johnson, A Cole, Baines, Jagielka, Dawson

MF: Lampard, Gerrard, Lennon, Milner, A Johnson, J Cole, Huddlestone, Walcott

FW: Rooney, Defoe, Crouch, Zamora

To elaborate on one or 2 more of these that I haven't mentioned before: Firstly 3 new defenders I had previously not alluded to. Injury and adultery have taken away 2 reserve left back options. Baines is simply the next in line and while one would hope he isn't required if he is he can provide doggedness to the left flank, and a splendid crossing left foot. Jagielka may have benefited from getting his injury in while others were playing themselves out of form plus his flexibility to cover right back and defensive midfield as well as centre half makes him a good, if unproven, squad player. Michael Dawson has improved without measure this season for Spurs and I believe can actually get better still. He'd be 4th choice centre back but I feel he would be more trustworthy than Upson or Lescott.

Huddlestone gets in due to Barry's injury. It's a massive call (and no, I'm not a Spurs fan, heaven forbid!) but the other options to cover holding midfield aren't great. Carrick is well out of favour at Old Trafford and Hargreaves has played about 30 seconds in the last 18 months. Phil Neville lacks the character at international level. I can think of no other serious contenders. The Hud is another to have improved hugely this season and while I wouldn't pick him in the first eleven he could have a big part to play. Adam Johnson is a great wildcard. Fresh, new, quick, tricky, exciting. He doesn't have it all, but he has quite a lot. Potentially game-changing impact sub material. I understand Joe Cole is struggling to make the 30 (although perhaps his persistence in assisting Chelsea's 8th yesterday will count towards him) but for me he's at most ease on the international stage and thrives in such situations. He'd have to play himself into the first XI during the group stage but potentially a key creative influence late in games. And yes, I've taken Walcott, purely based on his pace. He is electric and that will scare the best defenders. One dimensional as he may be the fact remains that defenders hate playing against outstanding pace. Theo has it.

Finally, Bobby Zamora. Call me a bandwagon-jumper if you must (I have been called worse) but hell, he has come through exceptionally well this season. While Carlton Cole faded badly (partly to do with injury) Bobby has played, scored and generally excelled against some of the finest sides in Europe and at home. He may be a one season wonder but hell, what are the alternatives? Heskey surely can't have done enough now (fingers crossed), Bent has been excellent all season by I stand by my previous comment that he doesn't have the bottle for international football, Agbonlahor needs to work on the physical side of his game. I'm not a fan of the 'big man in front of Rooney' theory and so he would only be a sub but he could have a tangible impact. So there you go.

For what it's worth, my team against Brazil in the Quarters would be:

Hart

Johnson
A Cole
Ferdinand
King

Gerrard
Lampard
Milner
Lennon
J Cole

Rooney

I've always maintained the Gerrard/Lampard issue was a case of poor management, and I'm sure Fabio can make it work. I've dropped Terry for King purely on my own preference.


Anyway, you probably think I'm wrong on all counts. Who wants to fight about it?