The FIFA World Cup qualifiers are over and debate will stir up on who should represent England in South Africa. The following list shows players playing the most minutes during qualifiers for Fabio Capello:
David James 525
Ashley Cole 694
Rio Ferdinand 538
John Terry 719
Glen Johnson 616
Steven Gerrard 531
Gareth Barry 675
Frank Lampard 890
Theo Walcott 457
Wayne Rooney 760
Emile Heskey 508
The most striking statistic is that of Frank Lampard who continues to demonstrate consistency and reliability for England. Amazingly, he has missed 10 minutes of qualifiers for England.
There are several questions which naturally follow from the above:
Who will play in goal for England?
James, Green, Kirkland, Foster, Carson, Robinson …
Who will play on the right side of midfield?
Walcott, Lennon, Milner, Beckham, Gerrard …
Who will play alongside Rooney?
Heskey, Defoe, Crouch, Owen, Agbonlahor …
After returning from injury, can Joe Cole take the left sided position?
Please discuss!
We have one goalkeeper position to fight for, assuming James and Green get taken.
There is a back up left back position between Bridge and the in-form Baines.
Lescott and Upson look set to back up Rio and Terry.
Then there is a real fight for a back up right back.
Lampard, Gerrard, Barry, Lennon, Milner all look set to be picked.
Rooney, and three others up front between Bent, Heskey, Cole, Crouch, Defoe, Owen
This leaves 4 positions for Hargreaves, Walcott, Joe Cole, Wright-Phillips, Downing, A Young, and all possible right backs. Hargreaves is fit and playing well should fill the right back slot, leaving space for Walcott, Joe Cole and one other.
Outside looking in?
Jenas (starting to play again)
Huddlestone (versatile)
Carrick (not sure what is going on with him atm, but if he finds his form he’s as good as Barry)
Rodwell (Maybe too soon, but a future star)
Bullard (easy to forget that he worked his way into the squad before his injury problems)
Dunn (playing well, the next Gazza? not quite, but is making moves)