Anglo-Spurs backbone
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 11:21PM King. Dawson. Lennon. Defoe. Crouch. Huddlestone. Six of the best. All called to the provisional England squad by Fabio. Out of the six, I'd say two are certain. Two deserve to go. One of the remaining two should be awarded with the honour of being part of the final 23. Leaving just the one who will miss out, but might well be a candidate for the future.
Rewards for all regardless for a fantastic season. Tottenham Hotspur, the club with the English backbone. And bionic knee. It's a bit early doors, what with the season only just ending (well, almost - still the FA Cup to play out and Pompeys certain win over Chelsea) but I'm beginning to get the itch for the World Cup. I always do. Not that I'm ever obsessed with qualifying matches, but when we're involved in the main show it's fairly difficult to ignore it. As much dislike as I have for the likes of Terry, Gerrard, Lampard etcetc, I'm hoping the Tottenham contingent do us proud, to prolong the wide smile on my face through the summer and into next season.
King - Utterly deserves an England swansong. Proved his knee can survive 4 consecutive games on the trot. Colossus of a player and the best we have at the back.
Dawson - No pace. But makes up for it in the way of determination and bravery. A sort of raw version of John Terry. Just without the **** qualities. Proper 110 percenter is our Daws.
Lennon - Only just back. Has to go because he's best at what he does. He's no speed merchant (unlike Theo). He can pass and cross (unlike Theo). He doesn't have a book out and doesn't have his photo plastered over the celeb pages of tabloids (unlike Theo). He's a player who has improved and developed and terrorised sides prior to his injury (unlike Theo). And now he's back, granted he's only had a couple of appearances, but rather than be nothing more than an option asked to run directly at tired legs (Theo) in the final stages of a game, he can start and be used effectively over 90 minutes. Does concern me though, this nations obsession with Walcott. Johnson, SWP, Walcott, Lennon. Decisions, decisions, hey Fabio?
Defoe and Crouch - The best of the rest that England have available to them. Which isn't a lot. Heskey? Rather Crouch. Bent? Okay, let's repeat ourselves again - he feeds off scraps and counter-attacks, loose balls in the box. Ask him to play as part of a cohesive unit, inter-linking, intelligent moving...no chance. So yeah, JD and Crouch are far superior options. Even if JD has gone off the boil, and tbh lacks the ability to play himself onside at times.
Huddlestone - Mobility. Lack of adaptability. He'll only be able to play one way and we'd have to accommodate him. In the right game though, he could ping the ball about Hoddlesque. And he has proven more than capable at times, but arguably lacks the top level experience and 'testing' to be worthy of a risk in a high-pressured game. Does deserves his place in the final 30 though. Just think he's the most obvious to be left behind.
Good luck to all of them. In Fabio we trust, right?
Brings me nicely onto the below youtube clip. New Carlsberg advert. I must be more easy than a Sunday morning, because the hairs on the back of my neck stand up watching this. And I can't be the only person who gets a little choked up with the lovely Bobby Robson touch.
Reader Comments (43)
You say Lennon's 'no speed merchant (like Theo)' . Some mistake surley?
It's my first post on here and I'm first to post, which seems to be much desired these days!
So chuffed for all our boys, fully deserved each and every one of them.
I just hope they survive the Cappello's next cut. Carragher can do one as far as I'm concerned.
\\\cheers for the blog spooky, always a good read
Damn it! I wasn't even first was I?!!
6 out of 30 is a reflection of the quality of the club 20% of the initial squad and the Woolwich nomads get 1 out of 30 and he cant get a good run in their team so i guess it proves the gooners are a foreign club,if yyou did,nt already know it
Love to see them all go unlikely as it is. Then I would feel like I'm actually cheering on Spurs and would therefore care about how England do. I'm English but have found it increasingly difficult to get too enthusiastic about them, in recent tournaments. Terms like 'Golden Generation', 'Beckham's world cup hair cut' (thank fu*k we won't have to suffer that bollocks this time around), 'WAGS' (whoever coined that term is without question a c*nt) and God forgive him 'the robo-dance' have broken my spirit when it comes to England. That and the thought of a John Terry statue being erected should we achieve the impossible.
Dawson should go to SA.
thank god for that spooky thought it was just me but the add really does its job and get the hairs up and addrenaline pumping. God this must have been a great season as now imagining England winning the world cup with a spurs core. This summer is sure to be even better re gossip now we are in the CL. Have signed my 2&3 yead olds up to one hotspur as well as a renewal for myself, I fucking love being a yido. ps think social services may be intouch as my 3 year old daughter shouts its harry redknapp whenever our leader is on the TV
Just thought I'd add that it's great to see that Gomes has made the final 23 for Brazil. He fully deserves his place and I hope he gets the chance to play. I think our former left back gilberto is in the squad too (unless it is a different gilberto). Also glad to see Bassong (left out of the ACN squad) and Assou Ekotto in the Cameroon preliminary 30 as well.
i really hope this fabiano rumour is true! would be a perfect partner for JD.
brazil-anglo spurs: gomez, sandro and fabiano!
Going on last transfer window, don't expect too much in the way of action. I expect 2-3 signings max.
Goalkeeper.
Defender.
Striker.
youd be called a white supremacist in the states with a headline like that
Ooh racist
lol supremacist? only 2 of the 6 players are white!!
Glad to see Gomes in the Brazilian Squad too
Although Sandro is just in the reserve list - I was hoping to catch a bit of him playing in June
Re the video.I think it's a great shame that something that features such a great line up of English icons is only put together to advertise a piss poor,HIGHLY overated foreign beer.It's been the case for years that the more funny/clever/expensive the advert is.....the worse the beer is.Fosters,XXXX,Carling,Carlsberg etc etc.Great adverts,shit product.Anyway,rant over...this is a football site !
Just renewed my season ticket online.(can't believe that actually worked) £777....strewth.Could have saved about 8% of that by not going to Burnley.As we walked away an oldish bloke patted me on the shoulder and said "Good luck in Europe".Which was nice.I think he meant it !
Just seen the Blackpool result.Blimey.What a great start to the season that would be.....a sunny weekend at the seaside.Better than January '91.That was mental.I had to clean my specs every few minutes because of the salt blowing off the sea.Possibly the coldest game ever.Everton in the 80's on the old wooden terrace runs it close though.Oxford and Brugge the two wettest.....Have I started something here ?!
Let's be honest - Barring injury to other candidates, one of King and Dawson is making the 23.
I expect 4 to go to SA: Lennon, Defoe, Crouch, plus King or Dawson. As for Hudd - I don't think he'll make the 23 - unless Barry/Carrick/Milner get injuries. Hudd - not everyone's cup of tea, but you cannot argue with the facts - central midfield for a top four Premiership team. In the same company (while not as good) as Lamps, Gerrard, Fabregas, Scholes, Ballack, Deco, Fletcher - and not too many of those are English and available.
The other thing to remember is that Barry is in the provisional squad and injured. There could be a gap in central midfield - and I would give that to Milner if Barry does not make it. Then we'd need back-up. Let's all remind ourselves that Lamps and Gerrard CANNOT play together in central midfield. Players of that stature should be able to, but they can't - it's a mental thing. I think only once did it work for England but against weak opponents.
yeah people in the states wouldnt read the article to know that though
Think spurs playerswould be better off staying behind and resting, have a hectic season ahead. If some go and play well the big clubs will take'm or may get a serious injury
Spursmass, apparently you haven't been visiting this blog enough to realize there are quite a number either currently-living-in-the-states or real 'murcans posting on this site. Or maybe you're attempting some pre-tournament trash talk? Bring it, dude! Bit worried about that first match in South Africa? Yeah, it's been 60 years since the US beat England in the World Cup, but it's also been 54 years since England managed to win it. FYI, the US beat Spain in a tournament in SA last summer and England couldn't even score against them in a friendly the last time you played them. Oh, and our players can take penalties, even Landycakes has got his peno-mojo back (thank you, David Moyes.) You know why Capello has the crocked Hargreaves on his reserve list? Because the Canadian born and raised, German trained player is the only person who can pull on an England shirt and not bottle it when he puts the ball on the spot.
Well, that was fun!
I was feeling pretty conflicted when I saw that preliminary squad list. Pleased for all the Spurs players, but I seriously would rather face Terry and Ferdinand than King and Daws on June 12. I'm hoping Capello goes old school for the first match, Terry gets sent off, the US wins, and for the next two matches King and Daws get to strut their stuff.
very excited for the England v. USA game...definitely will be fun to see multiple Spurs against my Americans. while i routinely root for Germany alongside the USA in World Cups (for heritage reasons...), I gotta back my Spurs.
30 days!!
Ledley, Crouchy, Azza and Hudds will be boarding the plane to SA. Daws is all heart but not quite good enough for a World Cup, while Defoe has gone completely off the boil towards the tail end of the season and remains incapable of scoring against quality opposition. Hudds, I think, will surprise a few people by getting in the squad ahead of Carrick.
Nice touch about Sir Bobby.
Just on Sandro as I see his name mentioned here and there and it seems there is some debate about him.
As I understand it Sandro is not ready for the first team and nobody is claiming he is. He is a prospect who in his first season will be a back up for when Wilson is injured. Because playing in the Premiership is very different to what he is used to and we will have to coach him a lot before he is ready.
Now if I got that wrong someone correct me especially if you are that rarest of all creatures... someone who has seen him kick a ball outside of youtube.
Do not get me wrong , i love Lennon and the way he improved his game but for the moment Johnson seems a better option on the right wing for you guys
I ll be supporting England during the WC but my money is on Spain ...
Yuk. Using dead people to sell pissy Danish lager. Hairs on the back of your neck? Vomit in the back of my throat for me. Ah well, each to their own. Didn't realise Bobby Moore had gone to Narnia though.
Brace yourselves for a barrage of "We can do it.. BELIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEVE!!! And buy our product or you're a traitor" style advertising before inevitably crashing out on pens as soon as we play anyone who's any good. Cynical? Yup!
King, Lennon, Crouch, Defoe will go for sure. Too much competition in midfield for our Hudd.
Ironically, I sort of detached myself from the Carslberg bit of the advert.
I've always thought Adam Johnson was a player. That we never went in for him baffles me, especially after Boro's relegation. Linked to Downing but not Johnson, in the same way that we bought Postiga not cRonaldo, etc. Mind you we did get Bale and he'll be a helluva player after another year with us, injuries not withstanding.
Walnut. I've not liked him since he signed for the scum and went to the world cup on the back of bugger all. Ridiculous. Even the kids are saying that his books have no end product.
Lennon. 4 weeks. More than enough time to get back into the groove.
Azza first choice right winger, Johnson first choice on the left. If Thudd does make it, I'll doubt he gets many minutes on the pitch...a shame really, as he could really light up that stage.
ShelfLife - Will that be the only John Terry erection?
Oh, and LOL @ Didn't realise Bobby Moore had gone to Narnia though.
Rio's back packs up in the quarters, Rooney gets kicked to bits in the semi. King, Lennon, Crouch and Defoe play in the final, and TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR WIN THE WORLD CUP!
Sorry, just thought I'd add to the ridiculous hype we're about to be fed.
If our players win the WC can we build a statue outside the new stadium and go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on about it forever and ever?
where the hell is Jenas in the WC squad.... lulz
For those that go, how much value will this timely experience prove in our CL campaign next season? Little, reasonable or loads?
Good question, Desktop. I guess it depends on how the individual players perform and how the team as a whole does. Ledley played some as a sub for Terry or was it Rio, 8 years ago and it really seemed to do great things for his confidence. Lennon was cool as ice coming on for Beckham in Germany, but can't recall any particular change in him when he came back. If anything the exposure seem to make oppo teams realize that (at that time) the pace was blistering, the crossing--mehh. Just hope there are no injuries.
I thought Capello had said he was only picking in players in form so how come no Zamora? Any views?
Loads, considering we have a lot of young players who have no CL experience or competitive international experience for that matter. If they come back from the world cup having played a big part, it will help their development no end. Not to mention experience of dealing with the pressure of playing massive games and with England our media always makes sure the players and manager are under the maximum amount of pressure. If teams with our players do well it can only massage their egos too and thats what you need going into such a massive season. After all we still have a lot to prove (consistently finish fourth or higher, have a good run in the CL, etc) before the top 3 and Europe's elite will take us seriously as contenders.
But on the downside of all this (knee jerking i know) the important players will be tired and even a bit football weary at the beginning of the season , a period that is going to be a lot more important next year with the CL quali and all that
we need to get to the group phase to be taken serious and to justify being one of the top 10 (top 15) teams worldwide when it comes to finances
belgian has just made my point for me. Absolutely delighted at potentiall 6 spurs players in the England team.
But we could potentially see Gomes, BAE, King, Dawson, Bassong, Huddlestone, Defoe, Crouch and even Dos Santos away until July with only a month or so to recover before the CL qualifiers which I pretty much care more about than the World Cup. Selfish I know!
At least Croatia didn't qualify!
Tiredness shouldn't be too much of an issue as I imagine our lot will spend most of their time on the bench. Lennon would've been a shoe-in for right wing but I think his injury problems might see him being eased into the competition so that he's up to full speed by the knock out phase. TBH he's missed so much football this season the WC will be good for him. Good to rub shoulders with the 'elite' too, experience some of that winning mentality in close quarters.
Fatigue will be more of an issue for Chelsea, Arse, Utd.
I think there are a number of 1 to 1 battles in the squad....
Carrick or Huddlestone. Ones had a great season the other has been poor.
Defoe or Bent. One has scored a load, but thats the extent of his talent, the other offers more but has gone off the boil.
Barry or Parker. Probably determined by injury situation
Johnson or J.Cole. Maybe both. Cole has not been great since injury but Johnson is the only left footer which makes me think he is a cert.
I do not see Dawson challenging anyone which kind of makes him a spare part. I think its Rio, Terry King and one other which is probably carragher becasue he can do RB as well....So its proabably Upson or Dawson in case King does not make it.
Warnock or Baines...not bothered really, both capable.
Carrick to the WC? Would make a mockery of Fabio's selection.
@ ziegemonster: Maybe Capello didn't pick Zamora because, in going through the list of possible players in alphabetical order, he just didn't have a spaces left when he got to 'Z' (no offence to your moniker intended!). Maybe the same logic that omitted Zamora included Upson.
Really delighted for our players - it's a measure of their progress, and a public acknowledgement of it, too. It also increases their value - not that King could be sold, or that Lennon should be. The international experience can only extend their all-round game and character.
Fascinating theory, Desktop, but as happens so often with the really fun ones, disproved by empirical evidence--Zamora was offered the spot but turned it down cause his achille's is shot and he'll be headed for surgery in a matter of days, per today's Guardian.
Too bad about the Europa Cup result, but still, credit to Fulham, at 2-1 (extra time) very respectable result. And glad for both goal scorers, Davies and Forlan. Loved Simon when he played for us, total grafter, completely honest. Always fancied Forlan as a player. Funny, despite two golden boots, he's never really gotten the plaudits he deserves.
Speaking of under-appreciated, what's up with the no love for Daws? An awful lot of journos have him in their team of the season (and the ones who don't have Ledley--very few have both, which is kind of strange.) He's been awesome for us all year, whether he played with Ledley or anyone else. And I'm pretty sure every time Ledley played, it was with Dawson.