WestHamFirm

Sam1 · Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:28 pm England V France

Fabio Capello's second squad as England manager could feature "one or two" surprise inclusions, under-21 manager Stuart Pearce has admitted.

Ahead of the unveiling of the squad to face France on Wednesday March 26th, Pearce said the Italian boss' choices could make people "sit up and listen".

Pearce made his comments as he revealed the England under-21 squad to face Poland at Molineux.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, Pearce revealed: "You never know; there might be one or two names that have been named in Fabio's squad that make you sit up and listen."

The former Manchester City manager added: "I'm not suggesting they've been left out totally but I'm also not suggesting one or two faces might turn up in Fabio's squad, that's down to him.

"That's not for me to say. As they say, it's more than my job's worth."

Gabriel Agbonlahor and Aaron Lennon, who have been regulars for Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur this season, were both omitted, as was Arsenal forward Theo Walcott.

Also left out of the 20-man squad is Newcastle United centre-back Steven Taylor and midfielders Tom Huddlestone, of Spurs, and West Ham's Mark Noble.

Capello will name his squad for the France friendly on Thursday, with John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard battling for the team's captaincy

InTheNews.co.uk`

Sam1 · Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:08 pm

David Beckham has been recalled to the England squad for the friendly with France in Paris on 26 March.
The LA Galaxy midfielder, 32, who has 99 caps, is in a provisional 30-man squad named by coach Fabio Capello.

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott, 19, has been called up for the first time since the 2006 World Cup finals.

Middlesbrough defender David Wheater, Portsmouth's Jermain Defoe and Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor are also included.

Interview: LA Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas

But Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick and his club-mate, goalkeeper Ben Foster, miss out along with Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon, who has also been left out of the Under-21 squad.

I have had good reports on him from Franco Baldini, who watched him on Saturday night, and also from his club

Fabio Capello on David Beckham

Capello has picked Portsmouth veteran David James, Villa's Scott Carson and Wigan's Chris Kirkland as his three keepers, meaning there is also no place for Tottenham's Paul Robinson or West Ham's Rob Green.

Beckham was omitted from Capello's first squad, for February's 2-1 friendly win over Switzerland, along with Chelsea duo John Terry and Frank Lampard, who both return after injury.

But the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star was watched by Capello's assistant Franco Baldini in a friendly for LA Galaxy in Dallas at the weekend and obviously did enough to convince the Italians over his fitness.

Capello explained: "I always said that when David was fit he could be in the squad.

"I have had good reports on him from Franco, who watched him on Saturday night, and also from his club. I know a lot about David Beckham and what he can offer the team."

Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas has no doubts about Beckham's sharpness and told BBC 5 Live: "David has played in all our pre-season games. He is healthy, excited and motivated.

"Every player wants to be called up on merit. As significant as it is to get your 100th cap, this is a situation where Fabio Capello is calling in a great player to help him with the task in hand.

"I can assure everybody that he is injury free and ready to go.

"We hope he stays that way not just for the game midweek for England but through our season which begins the following weekend.

"Hopefully he will get his 100th cap against France then come back to the US and continue with LA Galaxy as we start our season."

Agbonlahor was selected by the Italian for the Switzerland game but was forced to withdraw because of injury.

Theo Walcott and David Wheater are two good young players who have done very well for the Under-21s this season and when I have seen them play for their clubs

Fabio Capello

Walcott's inclusion comes two years after his first and last appearance for England under Sven-Goran Eriksson, when he became the youngest England international.

The Gunners forward told his club's website: "I celebrated my 19th birthday on Sunday so the call-up is a great birthday present for me.

"I am looking forward to meeting up with all of the lads after the weekend's game."

Walcott and Wheater were called up after discussions with England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce.

Capello explained: "Theo and David are two good young players who have done very well for the Under-21s this season and when I have seen them play for their clubs.

"Stuart Pearce has given me excellent recommendations on both players.

"Next week Stuart has a friendly match so it is a good opportunity for us to consider some of the younger players for the senior squad."

Those named in Capello's first 30-man squad in January who miss out this time are Micah Richards and Curtis Davies, both injured, as well as Ledley King, Nicky Shorey, Emile Heskey and Carrick.

There is a keen interest in who Capello will choose as his captain against France.

Liverpool midfielder Steve Gerrard wore the skipper's armband against Switzerland but previous incumbent under Steve McClaren, Terry, was ruled out of that match because of injury.

The squad will be reduced to a final group of 23 players on Saturday night, even though 13 of the players will play on Sunday when Manchester United host Liverpool and Chelsea take on Arsenal.

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Provisional squad:
Goalkeepers: James (Portsmouth), Carson (Aston Villa), Kirkland (Wigan)
Defenders: Bridge (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Man Utd), Lescott (Everton), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Wheater (Middlesbrough), Woodgate (Tottenham), Upson (West Ham)Midfielders: Barry (Aston Villa), Young (Aston Villa), Bentley (Blackburn), J Cole (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Man Utd), Downing (Middlesbrough), Jenas (Tottenham)
Forwards: Walcott (Arsenal), Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Crouch (Liverpool), Rooney (Man Utd), Owen (Newcastle), Defoe (Portsmouth).

BBC Sport

Peter Parka · Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:18 am

Be glad when Beckham gets his 100th cap so that everyone will shut up going on about it! :roll:

oldhammer1966 · Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:20 pm

Peter Parka wrote: Be glad when Beckham gets his 100th cap so that everyone will shut up going on about it! :roll:

Hope he gets brought on for the last five minutes and then lets move on!!

GREENO FOR ENGLAND!!!!!!!!!

Peter Parka · Sun Mar 23, 2008 5:08 am

OMG! How shit is this!

Robinson returns to England squad
Paul Robinson
Robinson lost his England place against Croatia last year
England coach Fabio Capello has recalled Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson to the squad for Wednesday's friendly in France.

Wtf??? :evil:

Chigwell Hammer 4Life · Sun Mar 23, 2008 11:30 am

Capello really does not like Robert Green ! what has greeny done shaged his wife or somthing ?

:? :?

ferrit · Sun Mar 23, 2008 12:00 pm

Peter Parka wrote: OMG! How shit is this!

Robinson returns to England squad
Paul Robinson
Robinson lost his England place against Croatia last year
England coach Fabio Capello has recalled Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson to the squad for Wednesday's friendly in France.

Wtf??? :evil:
And when you look at how crap kirkland was yesterday i cant work it out :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Sam1 · Sun Mar 23, 2008 12:13 pm

FFS how the hell can he be so blind

Gioseppe · Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:09 pm

Face it, England only has one goalkeeper and his name is David James. Doesn't matter who is on the bench.

Sam1 · Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:09 pm

KIRKLAND OUT GREEN IN

FINALLY...

Sam1 · Sun Mar 23, 2008 7:03 pm

West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green has been called into the England squad for Wednesday's friendly in France after Wigan's Chris Kirkland was ruled out.
Kirkland picked up a back injury during Wigan's Premier League defeat at Blackburn on Saturday.

England coach Fabio Capello reduced his squad from 30 to 23 on Saturday, with Tottenham keeper Paul Robinson coming in for the injured Scott Carson.

David Beckham retained his place and could win his 100th cap in Paris.

Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, Shaun Wright-Phillips, David Wheater and Jermain Defoe were all cut from the squad, while Matthew Upson was withdrawn from because of an injury.

Robinson lost his England spot in the final Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia last year.

Jenas scored the opening goal of Capello's reign in the friendly win over Switzerland last month, but he missed Tottenham's Premier League win over Portsmouth on Saturday.

Capello risks his squad for Wednesday being hit by injuries to key players when Liverpool play Manchester United and Arsenal play Chelsea on Sunday.

The Italian has voiced his concern over the timing of the Premier League fixtures.

"This is a friendly - having said that I'm not ecstatic, not happy about it," said Capello.

"Some of the players I will not be able to train as I would like to."

Capello also justified his decision to bring Beckham back into the squad, having left him out against Switzerland.

"In the previous match I did not call him up because he was not fit having not played any games. He is now fit," Capello told the FA's website.

"When David is fit he can always bring an important contribution because of his vision on the pitch and the fact he can cross the ball and always create chances. Not only from free-kicks.

"It's not my style to call someone up to do them a favour. I will call players in that I believe are useful to the team and with a view on future games and what I need to do in the future.

"I called him up because I believe he is going to be useful to the team."

The Italian added: "Good players are good players whether they play in America, England or in Spain."

And Chelsea's John Terry, who was England captain under Steve McClaren and is a leading candidate to get the full-time role under Capello, has backed Beckham to take the job on Wednesday.

"David is a credit to himself and what he has done is exceptional," Terry told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek.

"If he is going to start or come on, he fully deserves to wear that England armband.

"I am very nervous about joining up with the squad and certainly don't expect to be captain.

"I wish to continue as England captain and fingers crossed I can do that but if not I will respect Mr Capello's decision."

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Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), Robert Green (West Ham)

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Joleon Lescott (Everton), John Terry (Chelsea), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (AstonVilla), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough)

Forwards: Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

BBC Sport

I guess that means he is no longer England's number 6 but England's number 5.

Peter Parka · Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:13 am

Well that was a pile of wank! :roll:

Chigwell Hammer 4Life · Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:23 am

Peter Parka wrote: Well that was a pile of wank! :roll:
I second that , mind you the best part of that night was meeting this bird down epping :D