There's been muted shocks all over England and parts of the world where transplanted England fans reside. Theo Walcott, the 17-year old Arsenal player has been named in Eriksson's provisional squad, ahead of Spurs' ever present Jermain Defoe and Charlton's free-scoring Darren Bent (who wasn't even named in the back-up list). Not that both were shoo-ins to begin with Defoe clocking in plenty of bench-warming time at club level and Bent terribly unimpressive in the Uruguay friendly. But Walcott hasn't even made his first team debut for the Gunners.
But I must say I am terribly excited. It's like learning that your prudish father was a closet Stones' nut and watches art-house films. It marks a terribly exciting move that should make Eriksson football history's most brilliant outgoing manager or one of the worst gamblers in history. With 19-year old Aaron Lennon of Spurs and Boro's left-wing wizard Downing adding fire to a fat boiling stew, Eriksson has discarded his cautious robe in one quick and daring swoop.
But England has had a good streak with blooding young strikers in recent tournaments. Owen in 98 and Rooney in Euro 2004 has proven that when England decides to gamble, it usually pays off. But While Owen came from the back of a smashing season with Liverpool and Rooney on the back of a smashing goal scored against Arsenal, Walcott has been playing sandbox with the reserves for the past 4-5 months.
It's nice to see the Three Lions coaching team finally letting their hair down to accommodate some danger. Now for the Beckham thing ...
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A Good Feeling?
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Posted by The Geek at 7:48 PM
2 comments:
Is there anyway to justify this other than "Arsene Wenger thinks he's good, so he must be"? Sven admitted he's never seen him play, and probably never heard of him until he joined Arsenal.
I can play "Championship Manager", does that mean I should have been in the running for the England job?
it's quite crazy, and you just know that if he's gotta come back from germany and answer the press, it'd have been a more conservative squad. he seems to have the go for broke mentality, horsing around with decisions like this. he's gone gambling full tilt, and we can only wait and see if it pays off.
i still can't see england winning the world cup under eriksson's tactics. too rigid la. too 1 dimensional.
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