Cascarino: ‘Golden Generation’ Needs to be Culled Now for England’s Future
After England’s pathetic showing in South Africa I would argue that a number of the senior squad may have played their last game for their country. The way the team performed suggests a cull is needed both of the coaching staff and players. The whole attitude of the squad must be questioned as there seems to be too many powerful big ego’s around the current set-up to mould a real ‘team’ together. Therefore, whoever is in charge should be strong enough to radically overhaul the squad. Even if it is a case of taking two steps back to move forward in the future, England need to do just that.
Not enough talent seems to have gone through from the U21’s into the senior side in recent years but England definitely need to rebuild the squad with more youthful fresh talent to shake things up.
Going through the squad, I personally feel David James international career is over and it is time for Joe Hart to be given the number one shirt and a run of games in the side. Joe was the form keeper last season for Birmingham and was unlucky not to have featured in South Africa in my view. Now is the time to give him a chance and find out what he can do at this level. He may not have great experience but he will only get it by playing and surely now is the time to do it.
Like David James, I think Matthew Upson may now find he is surplus to requirements as either Capello or a new manager needs to build for future tournaments. The West Ham defender did not cover himself in glory despite scoring against Germany and form wise, he was perhaps lucky to have made the finals at all.
Glen Johnson is another player who could quite easily be culled as he is simply not good enough as a right-back both in terms of his positional sense and defensive awareness. Fortunately for him, there is little to no competition in that area. Even the stars of the so-called ‘Golden Generation’ are under threat such as Frank Lampard. He is not getting any younger and his displays in South Africa didn’t impress. At times he looked very one-paced and ‘ploddy’ so his chances of playing a big role at the next major finals are slim.
Emile Heskey is another that has had his chance and should now be replaced; Shaun Wright-Phillips is another. Personally I don’t consider either good enough to play for England. I’ve also got doubts over Joe Cole that he is not the same player as he was pre-injury. We didn’t really see much of him at the World Cup but I feel his reputation has improved simply by not being involved as much rather than what he has actually done on the pitch.
Even John Terry’s England future is on the line after his form on the pitch and controversy off it. Wayne Rooney is only 24 and still has a huge part to play for England but he will be under even greater scrutiny now, as the kid was unrecognisable at the World Cup. Whether his injuries were the reason for his poor form we won’t know. At least until the new autobiographies are released at Christmas, then I am sure we will find out.
Rio Ferdinand is also in danger following an injury ravaged season as you can’t have a captain who is very rarely fit. Players like Michael Dawson needs to be given games too. The Tottenham man had a superb season but never looked like getting in Capello’s team. Of course, he may not be good enough at international level but we will never know unless he is given a chance and by that I mean at least two or three games in a row.
The same goes for Adam Johnson, he is young and talented, he was unfortunate not to have got a place for South Africa but now is the time to have a good look at him. England’s old guard have not done the business despite numerous chances, so now the man in charge must blood youngsters and build a team with a formation that works. Players like Jack Rodwell look excellent prospects, give him a chance and get him involved. After the dismal performances of England, these young players simply can’t do any worse. Bring in hungry young players that want to prove themselves and give the man in charge time to mould them into a side.
Although I am advocating a cull of the senior squad, some players need to be kept to help with the transition. Steven Gerrard has to survive but be played at the heart of the new England team in the centre where he can influence matches. Gerrard is still quick and athletic, he didn’t exactly shine against the Germans himself but frustration meant that he often tried to do too much. I would like to see Gerrard next to a player like Scott Parker who would allow Gerrard to be Gerrard on the international stage and influence games going forward. Ashley Cole is still one of the best left-backs in the world despite a quiet World Cup. Wayne Rooney too is only 24, I may have felt he should have been dropped in South Africa but that was simply on his current form. No one can question Rooney’s ability; it was just for whatever reason, he was not at it at the World Cup. Therefore, he would have to be kept on without a doubt.
One thing is for sure, England need to build a side that can play more patiently as there was nowhere near enough football played by them at the World Cup. Michael Carrick didn’t have a great season for Manchester United but if you wanted a player to keep possession of the football then he could have done that. His game is probably more suited to international football and his passing off of both feet is good. However, Capello never gave him a chance in South Africa despite England’s wastefulness and Gareth Barry’s lack of fitness.
If you look at the U21’s there isn’t a great group of players coming through but in that case look further down the age groups and fast track them into the senior side. It’s a big leap but England now have to build a side for the future and take a gamble on young talent to inject some life and enthusiasm into the squad. There is no point sticking with the same players as Eriksson, McClaren and Capello, it simply didn’t work, so try and develop a team rather than a collection of individuals.
It may sound as though some players are being made into scapegoats but that is a consequence of failure. If you work in an office and the company fails, then the staff perceived to not be doing the business will be forced out, this is no different. I’d advocate almost a clean slate for a young English manager alongside an experienced head similar to Diego Maradona and Marcelo Bielsa for Argentina. I’d urge the FA to appoint the staff not on ridiculous long-term expensive contracts but to give them a tournament to work towards with the emphasis on youth. Obviously, this is a results based business, but after the disastrous showing of the so-called ‘Golden Generation,’ the next team are likely to be given more time than previous regimes would have. For me, the current circumstances call for drastic measures if England are to build a successful ‘team’ for the future and that means a major cull.
Tags: David James, England, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, South Africa, Tony Cascarino, World Cup
June 29th, 2010 at 19:14
I agree. I also feel that, in general, not enough Spurs players were given time on the pitch together in South Africa. You might think I’m saying that because I support them but I’m honestly not & would not be saying had we finished 6th. Thing is, with 1 of the highest concentrations of English players, we finished in the top 4 & many of the players were the in form English players in the country even over those who play for the teams above us. For example, Gareth Barry has hardly had a great season whilst Tom Huddlestone has been superb. Dawson has arguably been the best English CB in the country too. I know Lennon had a pretty poor tournament but why was he not played together with Defoe? It was the pair, after all, that destroyed Wigan in 45min. Why was Crouch not favoured over Heskey even tho, not only is his international record superb, he scored the goal to take his club into the Champion’s League whereas Heskey has not even played! I just feel, given the season Spurs have had, our English players weer not utilised to the extent they should have been, despite having 5 in the squad we barely ever had 2 on the pitch together for more than 10min!!!