is it time capello took a genuinely good look at zamora for an england cap. another outstanding performance from him and a very well taken goal tonight after only 21 seconds. + he has had a much better season than cole, agbonlahor and heskey.
Good point about Cole, Agbonlahor and Heskey not being as good as him this season. However the point they did make on ITV that out of the 4, Bobby Zamora is the only one not to have any full international experience and this might be a key factor as to why Capello hasnt mentioned him in his plans as of yet. I see the friendly games against Mexico and Japan though as perfect fixtures to give him that experience though and i hope to see him in the squad.
From an outside perspective, I think you have to look at the different types of striker and how England can best get a wide variety. As a target man to hold up play and lay off balls to oncoming players, I don't think England have a better player than Heskey. Cole and Agbonlahor haven't been good this season, but playing the role of pacey striker is Rooney's anyway so both could be left out. It's not like Zamora has been banging in goals this season but he is in reasonably good form. 19 goals in 42 matches (league, cups and Europe) is a decent return but nothing extreme. It is true he hasn't had much international experience but the games in Europe have shown that he enjoys the big stage. If he continues I think it will be tough for Capello to leave him out. But it all comes down to ensuring variety. I don't know enough about him to comment on how he'll fit into that picture - I think he's a quite pacey fella but I am not sure. England are likely to pick 4 strikers in a 22 man squad. Rooney, Defoe and Crouch are definite choices - so one space left - and that could well go to Zamora... It will be interesting to see. In Denmark the trouble is finding 22 players good enough who's fit and in good shape so a bit of a different selection head ache for Capello
Great post JP, been saying it to my mates for months now, and they've just laughed at the suggestion. They're not laughing anymore, though.
If its between him and Heskey...I rather have the goalscorer than somebody who falls over every so often!
Heskey is sh*t, a striker is meant to SCORE GOALS, something he clearly has no clue how to do. If what we need in the biggest sporting tournement is a big lump who can hold up the ball and win a few headers (something Crouch can also do) but has next to no chance of scoring/showing any decent amount of craft or ability, then please yes take Heskey, if however we want someone who is similar in stature and can do everything Heskey does pretty much just as well as him but also has an ounce of skill and might actually grab a goal or 2 then it's got to be Zamora or Cole. And thank f**k Aaron Lennon is back this weekend, if Walcott goes to the World Cup again it's a joke, he get's worse every time I see him, if it wasn't for his pace he wud be playing Championship football at best.
Heskey isn't a striker though technically, he's a forward (ala a striker who's main role isn't goalscoring)
Maybe so, but I just don't really see how he benefits the team in any way, for me Cole is like a better all-round version of him that can actually score goals as well and similar with Zamora. Heskey is just useless, he has nothing to his game other than a bit of strength, aerial power and work rate.
I agree, that kind of tactic is something you use in the mid-tables/lower ends, if you really want to compete for honours you need an all around striker who is strong, fast and can score/win it in the air.. Heskey is half of that. Cole and Zamora don't fit the bill but are the closest thing you have to it along with Rooney.
Zamora is shíte. I'm all for anyone coming in to knock Heskey out of the squad, but I really don't want it to be Zamora. Classic case of a striker having a good season/purple patch and suddenly they're twice the player ability wise. His movement is still poor, positioning is still poor and the only thing he's really got going for him is his hold up play. And I'd much rather play Crouch for that. It should be: Rooney Defoe Crouch C Cole With Walcott as a support striker. I'm all for outsiders making a claim for the squad, but Zamora? No, just no.
The fact that you think Walcott should even go to the World Cup voids everything else football related you've ever said.
Zamora is far better than Heskey. I'm undecided on Walcott, I don't think he's that good. But I can see because of the climate alot of the World Cup being counter attacking, and Walcott could be good for that. Same with Agbonlahor
Oh, another one who thinks that just because a players game isn't water tight at the age of 22 odd he can't be any good. Walcott stretches teams and suits England's style much more than Arsenals, frankly he struggles in Arsenal's team due to their style of play compared to his. He'd be much better at someone like Man Utd, direct, fast counter attacking football. He might not be as pretty on the eye as Lennon but he can be just as effective. Even the best defenders are scared of pace and having the option of playing him will make the other team defend deeper. It's not all about the individual's ability. Looking at the bigger picture having Walcott as an option is beneficial to the team and that's why he'll go.
He is not even CLOSE to England standard, all he has is his pace, his first touch is appalling, his technique is poor, his end product is crap 9/10 times, why should simply pace alone earn him a place in the side? We have other wingers that can stretch teams with just as much (Lennon) or nearly as much pace (SWP, Young) that can actually put a good ball in, or control it whilst sprinting WITH the ball, something walcott doesn't seem to be capable of as most of the time he runs with the ball he simply knocks it on 20 yards and relies on that pace again, usually resulting in losing the ball or knocking it out of play, or loses it in his feet. Also, you say his poor performances for Arsenal are down to style of play, what is your excuse for his terrible performances for England? And surely, if he doesn't suit Englands style of play either, that alone should mean he shouldn't be going? He has done nothing for England nor Arsenal in the last year or so to warrant being anywhere near the World Cup team at all. He doesn't deserve it and he isn't good enough.
What rubbish man, how much have you seen of him to come to those conclusions. He's prone to the odd lapse of concentration that means his touch gets away from him, but he's comfortably better than SWP and Young ffs. Show Young down the line onto his left foot and he's done. SWP is half the player he was and is worse in terms of running down blind alleys and final delivery than Walcott.
I've seen more than enough of him I assure you, and hold up, you're telling me that Theo Walcott is a better player than Ashley Young, yet I'm the one that's talking rubbish? Erm, I highly doubt you'll find many that would agree with you on that one. And If you're reasoning for Young is because "Show Young down the line onto his left foot and he's done", I wonder what Walcott would be like playing on the left on his wrong foot, considering most of his time spent on the right on his good foot is him scuffing shots, running the ball out of play, being disposessed or over/under hitting crosses? This season: Ashley Young - 42 Games, 9 Goals, 13 assists. Shaun Wright-Phillips - 40, 7, 9. Aaron Lennon - 52, 5, 8. Theo Walcot - 32, 3, 2. The stats say it all.
I am undecided on Walcott. Based on the fact that I think its clear Capello doesn't like Young - who would be perfect for delivering a set piece or two, I think it may wel be the case that Walcott has to go, but HAS to be used as an impact player. In the last game for England I saw him play at Wembley, Walcott was useless, no end product, no promise, and you could literally see his World Cup hopes slipping away from him. However, the performance when he came off the bench in the 1st leg of the Champions League tie with Barca was fantastic. Exactly what you need at that stage of a game, and although his end product is often dodgy - its something you may have to live with in order to have his pace on the field against a tired defense. As for Zamora - he deserves a shot at the Mexico and Japan friendlies. He has had a great season, and for form, barring Rooney, surely there is no better option. And guess what Capello's words were when he took over - from his very limited English at the time... "I pick on form" If he does that, Zamora has to be given his chance.
Zamoras not the answer, a one season wonder Bent should go if he takes a 5th striker without Beckham i think he'll double Walcott up as the back up right midfielder come 5th forward
I would even say Villa were a worse side than Man City, Spurs and Arsenal, so Young has done it in a side with worse players than the above sides!
That is a point.. Trouble is like with the goalkeepers we have good Premiership quality strikers but have no idea if they are really up to International standard (Rooney apart ofcourse and Crouch has a decent scoring record)
I would take 5 strikers personally Rooney, Defoe, Crouch, Heskey and Agbonlahor When heskey plays well then england play well and tbh i think heskey does help the team lot obviously his goal scoring record doesnt mean a lot!! If he isnt playing well and were doing badly then dont play him simple. Thats what i would do anyways Agbonlahor can torment defences, why make a like for like change when were behind or in need of a goal? As personally in the world cup i cant see many of our strikers on the bench changing the game. Sub on agbonlahor and get that raw pace when the defenders are tired they will be screwed!!!
Agreed, David Seamen touched on it the other week. We need to get these players playing Champions League football, but the 'big four' just buy foriegn players.
That is the main problem with the PL, just look at the Arsenal team most weeks, there is maybe 1 or 2 English players that start out of 11.
Get him in the squad, miles better than Heskey. As for the no international experience argument he has been playing in the europa league which is a higher standard than what he will face in most of the games in the world cup.
