It's been a while since I posted anything so I'm going to do a quick recap of everything that happened over the last few days. Main Headline:
The main headline of the weekend is league runners up Manchester United defeated double winners Chelsea in the FA's traditional opener to the new season 'The Charity Shield'. It was quite a convincing win for United with Antonio Valenica opening the scoring in the first half with a simple finish.
I didn't watch the first half as I was watching the Cricket & completely forgot it was even happening shows how much The Charity Shield means to a neutral football fan) but from reviews and several friends Facebook status' I did not miss a great deal. The second half I did watch & I was very impressed with Manchester United's new star Javier Hernandez. He looks to have very good movement, I wouldn't say he has blistering pace but he has enough pace to worry defenders & he seems very alert in the box. He took up an excellent position for his goal I want to say he took it well but how he manages to volley the ball onto his own face goes beyond me. Chelsea did manage to pull a goal back after Saloman Kolou put away the rebound from a powerful Daniel Sturridge effort but a third goal by Manchester United ended all hopes of Chelsea mounting a comeback. I have to say Dimitar Berbatov's goal was an absolute delightful finish lobbing Chelsea reserve goalkeeper Hilario from the edge of the box leaving the keeper in no-man's land. Berbatov even celebrated with the Manchester United fans which was something that didn't happen a lot last season. Everybody knows Berbatov has talent so maybe this is the season he steps up and shows he can be a Manchester United player. On a side-note it was a masterclass from man of the match Paul Scholes who has not lost anything over the pre-season. His passing was outstanding and after a discussion with a close friend I have to say he is the best English player since Paul Gascogine. Fabregas staying at Arsenal (For now):
There won't be many Arsenal fans who actually cared about the Charity Shield yesterday but the biggest news coming out of Arsenal this weekend is their captain Cesc Fabregas will be staying at Arsenal for at least another year after respecting Arsenal's decision not to listen to offers from Barcelona.
Now that Barcelona have admitted defeat in re-signing for at least another year Cesc Fabregas must focus on getting fit and helping Arsenal try and end the long run without a trophy. News coming out of Arsenal is that Robin van Persie and Fabregas himself will miss the first game of the season against Liverpool. This is a blow for Arsenal but Arsenal proved last year they are capable of winning games without their big names. Responsibility will fall on Samri Nasri and Andrey Arshavin to supply new signing Marouane Chamakh to score the goals that could give Arsenal a big advantage over rivals Liverpool and Manchester City and Tottenham who play each other on the first day of the season. Capello announces England squad:
Fabio Capello this weekend announced his first England squad since a dismal World Cup campaign. Capello has left out David James, Robert Green, Michael Carrick, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe. Emile Heskey and Jamie Carragher who retired from International football after the World Cup are also missing.
Fabio Capello has kept his faith in the big names who flopped this summer with Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ashley Cole and captain Steven Gerrard all being named in the squad alongside Gareth Barry, Glen Johnson and James Milner. Fabio Capello hands Theo Walcott a re-call alongside Darren Bent and Adam Johnson who missed out after being named in England's provisional 30 man squad. Ashley Young and Paul Robinson earn re-calls alongside Phil Jagielka who after an injury hit season looks to be batling it out alongside Bolton's Gary Cahill and Tottenham's Michael Dawson for a place in the back four alongside John Terry.
In the new England era Capello has turned to two Arsenal youngsters - Jack Wilshire and Keiron Gibbs. Jack Wilshire has impressed Capello and after a successful loan spell at Bolton has returned to Arsenal looking to establish himself as a regular in the Arsenal first team. Bobby Zamora and Carlton Cole replace Jermaine Defoe and Peter Crouch in the squad, this has surprised many but many feel Bobby Zamora deserves his chance after a very successful season at Fulham. England squad in full to face Hungry on Wednesday:
Andrews View:
First of all, what is the actual point of this friendly? The season hasn't even started yet, so how can Fabio Capello possibly drop and select new players to build a new era. FIFA and the FA argue that with competitive internationals in September this is a chance for International teams to warm up for these qualifiers. How exactly? I'm not exactly sure. If England have the same squad available in a months time I will be amazed.
So the squad? Where do I start? I understand David James being dropped as he is now 40 and has just joined Bristol City. Robert Green must feel very hard done to and must have doubts over his International future. Joe Hart and Ben Foster are the obvious choices for the future but I still don't understand why you need three goalkeepers in each squad when only two of them play. Ashley Cole is the best left back we have giving him the first 45 minutes makes sense with Keiron Gibbs making his debut in the second half. Keiron Gibbs will learn a lot from Ashley Cole but what are Michael Dawson, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka really going to learn by playing alongside John Terry against Hungry?
If Gareth Barry is injured, even if it's minor and after such a poor World Cup why is Tom Huddlestone not even in the squad? What was the point in even selecting him in the 30 man provisional squad for the World Cup if he's not going to be selected in the next squad.
There is no Joe Cole which again surprises me but Fabio Capello was obviously not impressed and only seemed to play him in the World Cup to answer questions from the media and fans. Theo Walcott should of never been left out the World Cup squad and Capello now knows it by dropping Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips who both had awful World Cups. I would expect Walcott to start on the right side of a three with Ashley Young playing on the left side of Wayne Rooney.
I could go on forever with this squad but my final point is the call of Bobby Zamora who in my opinion is not International class and I would of much prefered to see Gabriel Agbonlahor given his chance as I see him having a better chance of being part of England's Euro 2012 squad.
The main headline of the weekend is league runners up Manchester United defeated double winners Chelsea in the FA's traditional opener to the new season 'The Charity Shield'. It was quite a convincing win for United with Antonio Valenica opening the scoring in the first half with a simple finish.
I didn't watch the first half as I was watching the Cricket & completely forgot it was even happening shows how much The Charity Shield means to a neutral football fan) but from reviews and several friends Facebook status' I did not miss a great deal. The second half I did watch & I was very impressed with Manchester United's new star Javier Hernandez. He looks to have very good movement, I wouldn't say he has blistering pace but he has enough pace to worry defenders & he seems very alert in the box. He took up an excellent position for his goal I want to say he took it well but how he manages to volley the ball onto his own face goes beyond me. Chelsea did manage to pull a goal back after Saloman Kolou put away the rebound from a powerful Daniel Sturridge effort but a third goal by Manchester United ended all hopes of Chelsea mounting a comeback. I have to say Dimitar Berbatov's goal was an absolute delightful finish lobbing Chelsea reserve goalkeeper Hilario from the edge of the box leaving the keeper in no-man's land. Berbatov even celebrated with the Manchester United fans which was something that didn't happen a lot last season. Everybody knows Berbatov has talent so maybe this is the season he steps up and shows he can be a Manchester United player. On a side-note it was a masterclass from man of the match Paul Scholes who has not lost anything over the pre-season. His passing was outstanding and after a discussion with a close friend I have to say he is the best English player since Paul Gascogine. Fabregas staying at Arsenal (For now):
There won't be many Arsenal fans who actually cared about the Charity Shield yesterday but the biggest news coming out of Arsenal this weekend is their captain Cesc Fabregas will be staying at Arsenal for at least another year after respecting Arsenal's decision not to listen to offers from Barcelona.
Now that Barcelona have admitted defeat in re-signing for at least another year Cesc Fabregas must focus on getting fit and helping Arsenal try and end the long run without a trophy. News coming out of Arsenal is that Robin van Persie and Fabregas himself will miss the first game of the season against Liverpool. This is a blow for Arsenal but Arsenal proved last year they are capable of winning games without their big names. Responsibility will fall on Samri Nasri and Andrey Arshavin to supply new signing Marouane Chamakh to score the goals that could give Arsenal a big advantage over rivals Liverpool and Manchester City and Tottenham who play each other on the first day of the season. Capello announces England squad:
Fabio Capello this weekend announced his first England squad since a dismal World Cup campaign. Capello has left out David James, Robert Green, Michael Carrick, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe. Emile Heskey and Jamie Carragher who retired from International football after the World Cup are also missing.
Fabio Capello has kept his faith in the big names who flopped this summer with Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ashley Cole and captain Steven Gerrard all being named in the squad alongside Gareth Barry, Glen Johnson and James Milner. Fabio Capello hands Theo Walcott a re-call alongside Darren Bent and Adam Johnson who missed out after being named in England's provisional 30 man squad. Ashley Young and Paul Robinson earn re-calls alongside Phil Jagielka who after an injury hit season looks to be batling it out alongside Bolton's Gary Cahill and Tottenham's Michael Dawson for a place in the back four alongside John Terry.
In the new England era Capello has turned to two Arsenal youngsters - Jack Wilshire and Keiron Gibbs. Jack Wilshire has impressed Capello and after a successful loan spell at Bolton has returned to Arsenal looking to establish himself as a regular in the Arsenal first team. Bobby Zamora and Carlton Cole replace Jermaine Defoe and Peter Crouch in the squad, this has surprised many but many feel Bobby Zamora deserves his chance after a very successful season at Fulham. England squad in full to face Hungry on Wednesday:
Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Birmingham), Joe Hart (Manchester City),
Paul Robinson (Blackburn)
Defenders:
Wes Brown (Manchester United)
, Gary Cahill (Bolton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), John Terry (Chelsea) Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Aston Villa), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Bobby Zamora (Fulham)
England troubles:
Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson and Manchester United defender Wes Brown have retired from International Football days after being called up by Fabio Capello. Five players including Darren Bent who today has withdrawn from the squad missed Monday's training but are expected to train tomorrow ahead of the friendly on Wednesday. John Terry and Frank Lampard took part in the warm up but sat out training and Gareth Barry missed out with an ankle problem. Capello has just 16 available players for training on Monday giving more opportunities to Bobby Zamora, Keiron Gibbs and Jack Wilshire who are all expected to make their debuts on Wednesday.
Andrews View:
First of all, what is the actual point of this friendly? The season hasn't even started yet, so how can Fabio Capello possibly drop and select new players to build a new era. FIFA and the FA argue that with competitive internationals in September this is a chance for International teams to warm up for these qualifiers. How exactly? I'm not exactly sure. If England have the same squad available in a months time I will be amazed.
So the squad? Where do I start? I understand David James being dropped as he is now 40 and has just joined Bristol City. Robert Green must feel very hard done to and must have doubts over his International future. Joe Hart and Ben Foster are the obvious choices for the future but I still don't understand why you need three goalkeepers in each squad when only two of them play. Ashley Cole is the best left back we have giving him the first 45 minutes makes sense with Keiron Gibbs making his debut in the second half. Keiron Gibbs will learn a lot from Ashley Cole but what are Michael Dawson, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka really going to learn by playing alongside John Terry against Hungry?
If Gareth Barry is injured, even if it's minor and after such a poor World Cup why is Tom Huddlestone not even in the squad? What was the point in even selecting him in the 30 man provisional squad for the World Cup if he's not going to be selected in the next squad.
There is no Joe Cole which again surprises me but Fabio Capello was obviously not impressed and only seemed to play him in the World Cup to answer questions from the media and fans. Theo Walcott should of never been left out the World Cup squad and Capello now knows it by dropping Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips who both had awful World Cups. I would expect Walcott to start on the right side of a three with Ashley Young playing on the left side of Wayne Rooney.
I could go on forever with this squad but my final point is the call of Bobby Zamora who in my opinion is not International class and I would of much prefered to see Gabriel Agbonlahor given his chance as I see him having a better chance of being part of England's Euro 2012 squad.
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