SVEN Goran-Eriksson's idea to play Shaun Wright-Phillips on the left for England has been met with disbelief by many Blues fans asking: what more does the little guy have to do?
The debate so far has been restricted to the right flank and whether the City winger should replace skipper David Beckham.
But Eriksson has found a possible solution to that thorny decision - keep Beckham in and play Wright-Phillips on the left.
To me, that sounds like a compromise, and international football is not the place for half-measures.
Looking purely at the players' form there can be no doubt that Wright-Phillips is doing better and deserves a crack at the right-wing berth.
He has scored 10 goals already this season and tormented every full-back he has come up against. His pace, balance and ball control are the envy of Beckham, and when you consider that most teams are doubling up on City's pocket rocket, his achievements are all the more impressive.
Wright-Phillips has always carried a threat going forward, but he has improved his defensive play greatly this season. In the past he has been prone to rash challenges but now there is a real maturity to his game.
Shifting him to the left would blunt his effectiveness. Rather than bombing towards the by-line there would always be the tendancy to cut in. And regardless of his talent, playing out of position is bound to upset his rhythm.
The real worry is that if Wright-Phillips is played on the left, and he plays poorly, he may not be given a chance to show what he is really capable of on the right.
Inconsistent
Beckham, on the other hand, has been inconsistent this season. While he has scored a couple of important goals for Real Madrid, he is not guaranteed a first-team place at the Bernabeu.
In December 17-year-old Javi Garcia took his place against Racing Santander and Beckham himself has admitted his form has dipped.
Beckham is of course better at crossing than Wright-Phillips - no doubt about it - but a sweet right foot should not guarantee a first-team place.
On purely footballing grounds then, Wright-Phillips has a strong claim to the right winger's role. He might do okay on the left - but his full potential would not be seen.
But it is not all about football.
Eriksson has a well-known loyalty to his big players, and in this case the matter is complicated further because Beckham is captain.
Eriksson's loyalty is often a good thing because it bonds the team together and gives the players confidence.
The problem comes when loyalties cloud objective footballing judgement. The fact that Beckham is captain should not mask the fact his form has been mediocre this season.
He may be a big presence in the media and on the entertainment pages, but is he really such a talismanic figure as captain? My philosophy on the matter is: pick your best 11 players and make one of them captain.
And on current form, Shaun Wright-Phillips deserves to be in there ahead of Beckham.
Afterall, he was given his chance against Ukraine and buried one of the best goals of England's international season.
The clue is in the name - Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Do you think Beckham should be dropped for SWP? Have your say.
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There is a much simpler solution. Drop Beckham and play SWP in his favoured position! Who was the worst player at Euro 2004? Who missed the penalty that cost us a place in the next round, if not the competition? Who has failed to inspire either the team he captains or play well in any of the qualifiers? Great goal against Wales but what else did he do besides getting booked for a spiteful challenge on Ben Thatcher? Get SWP in, give the captaincy to Gerrard, Lampard or Campbell and get Beckham out until he regains his form, if he ever does?
Typical SGE. He tried to accomodate Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard and Scholes in the same midfield and it didn't work. SGE is not a manager for making big decisions. If Sweep doesn't play well then he'll get dropped and Beksy Weksy will carry on as usual. Total crap!!
Looks like Eriksson is thinking who is next target for leg over is rather than building a strong team.
To leave Beckham who in the last few games was totally useless, and put Shaun Wright-Phillips on the left which means he is out of position is crazy!!!
All I can say LOCK-UP your women as Mr.Eriksson is concentrating more on that than picking a team!!!
swp could play on the left , but why should he . play swp on the right and drop the has-been or play the has- been (beckham) on the left if he is such a great player. but sven wouldn't do that , not till there is a lover's tiff . if sven won't play swp on the the right than he should be sacked , cos he is not picking the best team . but than again i wouldn't let sven manage my boys under 8's team . pick swp on the rigth
dont know why its taken so long for this penny to drop. shaun cutting in from the left wing and shooting on his right foot a la pires henry etc is potentially far more dangerous on the left. i look forward to seeing him devastate hollands right side!
First and fore most if a Nation wants to win anything, the players with the most skill, and best form should Start any given match, that is how confidence in a squad is built up... the best player in any position is played... easy really... Right backs at left wing? Nooo..! Personal feelings removed... A players mental ability to take the pressure of Int'l football the only other consideration bar injury... Beckham has a good passing foot (although SWP is getting better), even Gearge Best questioned his whole game bar his passing years ago when Becks was decent!?!
If Lamps & Gerrard are fit they are first choice Central pair. Becks has no chance of moving them. PUT BECKHAM ON THE LEFT...!! He has so much experience surley he could make the change!?! ;-)
There's a left sided nipper at 'boro who can move him from there in a month or two!!! I know put him in Goal!?!
Beckham can keep the squad Captaincy just give him a while on the bench... Thing is if we do well he won't get back... What has he got on Sven that Sven's so scared of???
I hope Sven opens his eyes and realizes what he is compromising in Shaun. In my opinion fire the Swede.
Time Erikkson was given the boot.
"and tormented every full-back he has come up against" b " sorry but that's not quite true, he got nowt against Reizeger and another experienced fullback whose name escapes me during his recent 'off-colour spell'.
I've never been a fan of Beckham. He's too much up his own bum and Sven is going to make yet another serious mistake if he stands by his captain again. The guys playing badly for Real (and with all those star players around him). Apart from free kicks and crosses he doesn't do much. And to suggest that he gives the team confidence is a joke. He probably has the opposite effect. I wonder how many other England players secretly despise the fame and arrogance of Beckham. He's past it now; especially the captaincy. Look at the International cock-ups he's caused. Nuff said there. No. Give the captaincy to Lampard; keep Gerrard in and make Beckham a sub who never plays unless SWP has to come off because he is injured. Sorted Sven.
What has Beckham done in the past 2 years? Absolutely nowt! He plays Centre mid for Real and on the right for England, Maybe this is because we have Gerrard and Lampard in the centre. But SWP has been unstoppable in 90% of the games he's played this season. 10 goals already and still going strong. Not only this, but he scored on his England debut and give England something different - A bit of pace and ablility to beat players. Beckham had none of these abilities. Give Swp the number 7 shirt!