Tragic Football Stories - Let us Kick Around the misshapen Jabulani that is English football right here

England boss Fabio Capello has called up the uncapped trio of Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Bobby Zamora for the friendly against Hungary on Wednesday.

Goalkeepers David James and Robert Green are replaced by Ben Foster and Paul Robinson.

Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson are both recalled having been included in the provisional 30-man squad before failing to make the cut for the World Cup.

Bolton's Gary Cahill and West Ham's Carlton Cole are also in the squad.

now more players in the england team than liverpool and utd - what a hater of english footballers wenger is.

rabble-rousing alternative perspective: Arsene hates English footballers so much he won't even play the ones who are good enough for international football.

How much are tickets for the Hungary game? I tried looking on The FA website but you need to register and get an ID number.

Gah, always the case. I look, can't find the answer, ask, look again, and find it dead easy. They're £40, £30, £25, £20.

David James didn't exactly cover himself in glory today.

Ha, Paul Robinson's retired from international football.

Thanks for the memories Paul, we'll miss you big guy ;_;

I feel a bit sorry for him. I picked him for my fantasy team yesterday and was just thinking that goalies get shabbily treated in treated. They hardly ever get to make a comeback, when they're out it's off to the wilderness never to be seen again. Robinson's more or less teh same player he was when he was longstanding no.1. Obviously he's not great, but he's still no worse than anyone other than Hart and James.

Can't wait for Big Sam's verdict on this affair.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/06/13/article-1286255-0A022B92000005DC-219_468x297.jpg

pour one out

Obviously he's not great, but he's still no worse than anyone other than Hart and James.

― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 8 August 2010 10:56 (3 hours ago) Bookmark

sorry, what?

when did any of the other contenders cost their team points over a prolonged period like robinson did in the jol era (RIP big man)?

anyway, quite what lennon has done to deserve dropping is a mystery to me. fabio trying to get kudos for changing everything while switching round only peripheral figures imo.

abio trying to get kudos for changing everything while switching round only peripheral figures imo.

otm but i guess many things come into play - lennon was rubbish at the wc, watching him in training, 'the capello index', if he's been joining petey in any taxi rides etc. etc.

Another one bites the bullet rather than soldier on http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8896134.stm

haha, who's next then...

Goodness. I was hoping Capello was going to clear the decks and pick the unshowy guys who don't mind doing it for the team. If even they don't fancy it, he'll be on his way ere long.

Not really. Wes Brown ws probably going to be made redundant.

But Robinson? A lot of crap about concentrating on his club career (as if there was less focus before) and family (er what dude you play footie for a living?! What's a few more games adding to that commitment). But the goalkeeping position is really open: James is effectively off, so is Rob Green - only 'marginal' on paper. Wouldn't have lost much by sticking with it for a bit.

The retirements are all spineless. People who think they deserve more. Again, goes w/out saying that Capello's record at club level still carries weight - just great how there is no hiding place for the current bunch.

Can't wait for Big Sam's verdict on this affair.
Said he'd imagine Robinson would change his mind if Capello could guarantee that he'd be 1st choice.

yeah, england need more 'guaranteed first choice' players alright.

I'd only describe the decision to retire as 'spineless' if it was out of fear or lack of fight, tbh.

IMO, an england career doesn't actually matter enough to most players in that pool to qualify.

But the goalkeeping position is really open:

umm... only if hart gets an injury in the next 15 years aaaand then foster isn't available as back-up?

Can't see Hart getting one injury in his career tbh

this is awesome
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/08/08/article-1301389-0ABAB2D1000005DC-809_468x286.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/08/08/article-1301389-0ABAA95D000005DC-967_468x286.jpg

even better if you read it as a taunt tbh

ahahahahahaha

It was out of lack of fear.

only if hart gets an injury in the next 15 years aaaand then foster isn't available as back-up?

Hart was 3rd choice when arguably he should have been 1st for the wc, bit like I said he could've had stuck around.

I really hope this brave effort from some world class genii intent on unseating Capello succeeds. It's about time there was some player power re: England.

i thought that hiring an unquestionable like capello would break it, but tbh he's made himself fairly questionable and weakened his position.

but a new strategy is needed- i reckon gerrard/terry/ferdinand should be the new player managers.

said it before and I'll say it again: MARADONA. Wasn't afraid to drop big name, backbone of the team players like Cambiasso and Zanetti, exactly what England need.

MARADONA for VILLA you know it makes SENSE

england needs gazza.

he's the only person who recognises the england players the way they truly are.

good people. who have done very bad things.

england with gazza mnanager- joey barton gets a call up

'yo joey, it's gazza'

"I've got a dressing gown and a box of chicken"

o_O

Not familiar with the Gazza/Moaty connection, LJ?

nono I am o_Oing at yet another player pull-out and a dude called Frank Fielding being in the squad

Foster is just straight "ooh I'm injured" 3 days before a League fixture shenanigans I think. Wes Brown retiring from international football is about on a level with me retiring from international football.

whatever happened to lee camp

Summer season supporting Bernie Clifton at Skegness Futurist Theatre iirc

I tell you when I know Scotland was in trouble: on 1st June 1997, I sat down to watch highlights of a friendly between Scotland and Malta, and soon realised there was a player wearing a Scotland shirt who I had never heard of before - that man was David Hopkin

― I am utterly and abjectly pissed off with this little lot (Tom D.), Tuesday, June 29, 2010 11:53 AM (1 month ago)

I've sat down to watch a Charlton match and not heard of our striker once - that man was David Mooney - and yeah, trouble loomed

Yeah, I have no idea who either of England's reserve keepers are now. can't remember the last time I hadn't actually *heard* of a Scotland player, but I don't think I could pick, say, Scott Robertson out of a lineup.

when yer reduced to calling up some guy you just made up you know that the darkness has truly fallen and you may as well get it over with and try to Anglify Almunia.

I was just checking that Scott Carson and Chris Kirkland are still alive, and it turns out that they are, though they aren't feeling too good right now.

Anyone watch it?

talk was in the euro thread dude

doh, sorry.

wasn't much of it.

feelin for dawson tbh, tho it's probably truer to say he overperformed last season than to claim he's international quality.

ashley young looked lively but didn't really beat his man, disappointing enough for all teh good reviews this mornin.

Capello half out - next boss to be an Englishman