England's World Cup is in disarray. Tales are leaking out of in-house bickering, rebellion in the ranks with squad discontentment over Fabio Capello’s tactics and his apparent aloof attitude.
When England unpacked their cases in the Hotel Royal Bafokeng Hotel in their Rustenburg World Cup HQ it appeared everything in the garden was rosy.
Now it appears an out of control rotavator has careered through the well-tended patch leaving an ugly churned mess.
If the Three Lions opening draw against the USA was a shock to the system then the soulless stalemate against Algeria beggared belief.
England fans have suffered down the years but surely nothing was worse than the appalling fare dished up last Friday night.
MEN Sport asked on Saturday if this was the worst England team ever. Here we canvass the opinion of former United and City stars capped by England.
JOE CORRIGAN:
It’s not the worst England team ever but it is certainly not the best England squad we have ever had.
The hype before the tournament was way over the top and that has come back to bite us.
But I still think we can put out 11 players from the pool in South Africa who can turn this around. I still think our best XI is good enough. It is not the end of the world yet. We are not out of it. We have not been beaten so you have to hope that something good will be around the corner.
Of course some things will have to change and that is down to Capello because Friday against Algeria was very poor. There are no excuses for that.
The wider picture is that we are discovering now that the Premier League might be the hardest in the world but it is not technically the best. The Spanish League is better and we are suffering. Our choice is also suffering because of the number of foreign players blocking the English youngsters coming through. I was in Liechtenstein in May with the England U17 squad who won their European Championships but I wonder how many of them will have their progress hampered by foreign players standing in their way?.
PAUL PARKER:
Capello’s squad is not good enough. It is not a great pool of players. We have reached the point where you think about how do you change the side that has under-performed in the opening two matches? But you are struggling to come up with names.
You have Joe Cole who could alter things in midfield. There is Jermain Defoe up front who might bring something to the party but other than those two there is nobody who can change it.
I think the problem with our club sides and national team is that we are obsessed with going for experience all the time and that is having a detrimental affect on younger players.
I know the Germans lost their second match but they still look a good squad and about 50 per cent of them came through together in their U21 side.
We don’t have enough players at that age being given the chance. There is now such a huge gap from U21 to the seniors and there shouldn’t be.
I think the U21s and seniors have to be integrated more. Even going back to my day we never got involved with the seniors until we were picked for them. Young players have to get used to the full squad and have to learn by being around the senior experienced men.
PETER BARNES:
It is not the worst England team but I have to say some of the body language in the camp is the worst I have seen.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see clearly that something is wrong in the squad. If they are bored and team spirit is low then Capello should let them go and have a drink, relax and have a laugh because at the moment team spirit looks non-existent.
On the field I think he needs to bring in Joe Cole and play
4-4-2 and either Peter Crouch or Jermain Defoe up front with Rooney.
The big problem we have though is that we do not have a surprise up our sleeve. Everybody around the world watches the Premier League and they all know everything about the players Capello has.
That’s why I think he made a big mistake not taking City’s Adam Johnson. He would have been a bit of an unknown package and that would have given opponents something different to think about. We needed a fresh face.
DAVID SADLER:
Pre-World Cup I would have told anyone who asked me and was prepared to listen that the team Fabio assembled was good enough to get to the quarter- finals at least.
So I cannot say that despite what they have shown us that this is now the worst England team ever. I never expeted that label to be put on them and I don’t think it should now.
Another two matches down the line we could be in a different frame of mind entirely.
But there is no doubt whatsoever that they have under-performed. There has been no zip or endeavour and even if people don’t think England are technically the best around we have always had effort and determination to call on.
Nobody sums up those latter two words better than Wayne Rooney. We at Old Trafford are so used to seeing him zooming around the pitch, marrying energy and resolve with his skill.
But there is nothing there in South Africa. You have to wonder what is wrong with him?
Is he not fit? Has he fallen out with the people in charge? It seems to be more than a lack of form and somebody on the management team has to come up with an answer to it.
The same goes for the rest of the squad who just haven’t cut the mustard.
Is this England's worst?
June 21, 2010
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4-5-1 Gerrard behind Rooney, Joe Cole on the left SWP or Milner on the right.
Simples !!!!!
David Sadler is right. This on paper is a very good squad so you have to say it's not just the players under performing - something else is amiss. Perhaps Peter Barnes is also right?
no sorry dont agree this is by far the worse england team get real guys take of those multi coloured specs and look at this ordinary bunch there simply not good enough end of
can you please tell me who the worse team was please gee whizz you guys
This is nowhere near the worst. Poeple of a certain age will remember the side that failed to qualify for 1974, 1976, 1978 and 1980's tournaments. And as for the actual performances, we started off really really badly in 1986 and 1990 and ended up doing much better than we dared believe. This side just needs a win and they'll be fine!
I got to agree with Peter Barnes about the body language, because with 5 minutes to go you just knew the game was over,,,, I was hoping more that we never conceded a goal and lost because the players just looked lost, even Gerrard looked lost, and he had the captains armband!!!
In the absents of Rio I'd have given the armband to Rooney, simply because of his winning attitude and desire.
Is this the worse England squad ever? No, BUT its probably not even better than some of the past squads that never qualified for previous world cups, lets remember we had a fairly easy qualifying group, some of those squads in the past had harder groups.
Got to say im so glad there are so many overseas players in the premiership. What sort of rubbish could we be watching, its certainly affecting English football though, the pride and passion has long gone and replaced by the greed and riches of players and agents.Who were Important players are past there best, Terry is a prime example and there are at least another 4 or 5 more. I would have liked him to take some young hungry players, Adam Johnson being one of them instead of some of the prima donnas.
World Cup latest...Monday Spain meet Honduras in Jo'berg, on Tuesday Greece meet Argentina at Polokwana and on Weds England meet France at the airport...
No: Keith Curle, Pallister at left-back, Carlton Palmer and Andy SInton.
Type your comment here...Capello has got so many things wrong but he does show great passion on the touchline, though and seems a good bloke actually, that notwithstanding however:
Jamie Carragher was ultimately included because he's Gerrard's mate and it was considered Stevie Me's mind might be distracted by the possible turmoils at Liverpool this summer.
No Adam Johnson. No Scott Parker.
A persistence with 4-4-2 and a devolution into long-ball.
Still playing Gerrard on the left.
An abysmal use of the build-up games.
Rob Green starting in goal.
No chances for Joe Hart.
If Paul Scholes didn't want to play [why ever not?] then why not Danny Murphy instead?
Shaun Wright-Phillips.
No Joe Cole, yet.
David Beckham mincing about on the touchline trying to strike more poses than Rodin; why is the reserve right-winger apparently judging better players than him?
Unfortunately, although completely correct, John Terry lost the plot at the press-conference and it's going to be counter-productive.
Michael Carrick has been poor by his previous standards this season but we MUST play football and nobody else can prompt the possession game from deep better within this squad. However, he's not Gareth Barry so Stevie Me won't want his second bessie mate out of the team. I'd play:
James
Johnson Dawson Terry Cole
Gerrard Carrick
Lampard
Anyone Rooney Cole .
I definitely agree with Joe Corrigan that there are too many foreign players in our league. We should concentrate on our own "home-grown" talent.
On paper we have sent out some very good players. Good but far from great. We should still get through to the next stage. But we have to admit we are not world class.
Simple solution, leave Rooney on the bench, make the opposition wear United shirts, then you will see the England team sweat blood to win, you know, "cup final" syndrome! lol
I think it's now time for all and sundry, to get behind the team! If England win, then my guess is everyone will be shouting how we're going to bring back the trophy. I had to stay up until 4 in the morning. Being in Australia, does not have it's merits when it comes to tourniments like the World Cup. I was as disappointed as anyone else in the world. Now is the time to get behind the Endland team that is choosen for the last group game, and out sing the stupid vuvuzela's.
There obviously seems to be something wrong. We watch these same guys week after week putting in great performances against some of the best players in the world. I don't accept that the pressure is to blame. They are well used to pressure, or should be. We can all accept losing to a far superior side but will not accept performances like the Algeria match. There was no heart, no passion and certainly no will to win. Obviously we want a victory against Slovenia but more than that we want to see us play with all guns blazing showing some fire.
With regards to the gap between under 21's and Senior team the solution is in the hands of our still completely amatuer FA. We need to do like the Spanish league and play Premier league reserve teams in the lower leagues. It would develope our young players and also generate some well needed revenue to the lower leagues. The majority of Barcelona's team came through that system.
Not the worst England squad but it's average at best. We've too many players whoare passed there best, injury prone or not good enough to hold down a regular spot with there own clubs.
There's no way King, Ferdinand, Carragher, SWP, Heskey, are able to do a job for England but unfortunately there's not the quality coming through to replace them. Adam Johnson, Scott Parker and either Agbonlahor or Young should have been given a chance.
Anywhere you go at the moment from infant school kids to grandmothers, everyone has an opinion about this England team.
Whilst they may underestimate the coaching acumen of Capello, one thing is crystal clear to even the most casual observer - ENGLAND NEED GOALS. 1 goal in 2 games simply is not enough.
So, we need to start scoring and fast, the earlier in the Slovenia game that we score the less defensive Slovenia will be able to play, thereby giving us a better chance of scoring another goal and opening the floodgates.
So, I think we need to go 4-3-3 and go all out for goals, goals, goals with Defoe and Rooney playing just behind Crouch. Drop Lampard and play Joe Cole, Barry and Gerrard in midfield.
Chences of Capello adopting my plan - Zero. Heskey to start again, England to go out after losing 2-1
Type your comment here...never in the field of sporting conflict have so many been paid so much and done so littlle..
But we always start slow... But ain't gona' win it...
WE NEED 'BRITISH' PLAYERS IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE DOWN THE TRACK AND WE MAY WELL ACHIVE THE RESULTS WHICH WE ALL CRAVE FOR..................... ALL THE PREMIER LEAGUE TEAMS HAVE A YOUTH TEAM, SO LETS GIVE THEM A GO.............. REMEMBER '66.................
it may not be the worst squad ever, but the performance against Algeria was definitely the worst showing I've ever seen. It's all well and good that Peter Barnes says we have no surprises in our ranks, however, Joe Cole is vastly experienced at this level and has a great footballing brain, so he must be used in the final group game. If we cast our minds back to 1986 in Mexico, we were awful until skipper Bryan Robson re injured his shoulder and coupled with the loss of Ray Wilkins, meant Bobby Robson was forced to rejig his team. The attacking partnership of Beardsly and Lineker then became the new spearhead and England went out to 'The hand of the Cocaine snorter'. This was pure luck I know, but we all need a bit of that. Capello must change things.
Stroll on August 14 th..............
[quote name=Doc Savage]Type your comment here...Capello has got so many things wrong but he does show great passion on the touchline, though and seems a good bloke actually, that notwithstanding however:
Jamie Carragher was ultimately included because he's Gerrard's mate and it was considered Stevie Me's mind might be distracted by the possible turmoils at Liverpool this summer.
No Adam Johnson. No Scott Parker.
A persistence with 4-4-2 and a devolution into long-ball.
Still playing Gerrard on the left.
An abysmal use of the build-up games.
Rob Green starting in goal.
No chances for Joe Hart.
If Paul Scholes didn't want to play [why ever not?] then why not Danny Murphy instead?
Shaun Wright-Phillips.
No Joe Cole, yet.
David Beckham mincing about on the touchline trying to strike more poses than Rodin; why is the reserve right-winger apparently judging better players than him?
Unfortunately, although completely correct, John Terry lost the plot at the press-conference and it's going to be counter-productive.
Michael Carrick has been poor by his previous standards this season but we MUST play football and nobody else can prompt the possession game from deep better within this squad. However, he's not Gareth Barry so Stevie Me won't want his second bessie mate out of the team. I'd play:
James
Johnson Dawson Terry Cole
Gerrard Carrick
Lampard
Anyone Rooney Cole .[/quote]
[quote name=Doc Savage]Type your comment here...Capello has got so many things wrong but he does show great passion on the touchline, though and seems a good bloke actually, that notwithstanding however:
Jamie Carragher was ultimately included because he's Gerrard's mate and it was considered Stevie Me's mind might be distracted by the possible turmoils at Liverpool this summer.
No Adam Johnson. No Scott Parker.
A persistence with 4-4-2 and a devolution into long-ball.
Still playing Gerrard on the left.
An abysmal use of the build-up games.
Rob Green starting in goal.
No chances for Joe Hart.
If Paul Scholes didn't want to play [why ever not?] then why not Danny Murphy instead?
Shaun Wright-Phillips.
No Joe Cole, yet.
David Beckham mincing about on the touchline trying to strike more poses than Rodin; why is the reserve right-winger apparently judging better players than him?
Unfortunately, although completely correct, John Terry lost the plot at the press-conference and it's going to be counter-productive.
Michael Carrick has been poor by his previous standards this season but we MUST play football and nobody else can prompt the possession game from deep better within this squad. However, he's not Gareth Barry so Stevie Me won't want his second bessie mate out of the team. I'd play:
James
Johnson Dawson Terry Cole
Gerrard Carrick
Lampard
Anyone Rooney Cole .[/quote]
Hey Doc, can't you get any of your Wonder Elixir & cure all, out to the squad, only 1 Dollar a bottle from the back of the medcine wagon. As for Carrick, he's a total joke, your selection of 'anyone' up front with Rooney is interesting, I suggest my Grandma, she's got better ball control than Rooney & Heskey combined!
Plankman, Robin's dysfunctional Leather-clad mentor, Plank Cave, Brazil,
If you're not interested in other people's thoughts, why are you reading them?
"As for Carrick, he's a total joke"
He might not be world class but he's the best option in the squad, unless you're happy playing hoofball.
"your selection of 'anyone' up front with Rooney is interesting, I suggest my Grandma, she's got better ball control than Rooney & Heskey combined!"
Great insight: Rooney's vastly overrated ability is exactly why United are one of the best teams in the world. It's amazing how a rubbish team can win so much, hey?
The fact I'd play Joe Cole on the left would intimate to anyone with a brain that you'd seek some balance on the right; ideally I'd have played Adam Johnson, but without him it's anyone, from: Milner, Lennon or Shaun Wright-Wasteofspace.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating and based on the performance so far I would say this is the worst England team ever. Paradoxically, the squad has the necessary individuals to make it one of the best and against all logic I keep hoping it will finally come good against Slovenia.