Benji Posted 7 October 2005 Share Posted 7 October 2005 About time! THE call for bold leadership, aired on these pages, was only a few hours old when Sven-Göran Eriksson responded by dropping Rio Ferdinand yesterday. Although the Manchester United defender’s poor form demanded discussion, few had expected that Eriksson would axe such an established member of his England team.With David Beckham handing over the penalty responsibilities to Frank Lampard, it appears that England are undergoing a welcome makeover as they head into critical World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Poland. Beckham has proved his humility in passing on the spot kicks, while, in dropping one of the big names hitherto regarded as untouchable, Eriksson has at last bared his teeth. Omitting Ferdinand from the side to face Austria at Old Trafford tomorrow might be regarded as one of the easier calls for a head coach given that the centre half has shown such slackness since the 2002 World Cup finals, when he was outstanding. The eight-month ban for failing to take a drugs test was by far the most remarkable episode, costing him a place at Euro 2004, but there have been dozens of misadventures, mostly self-inflicted. Socialising with Peter Kenyon, the Chelsea chief executive, in the midst of contract negotiations with United epitomised the arrogance of a footballer who has been indulged for far too long by Sir Alex Ferguson. The United manager’s only sanction has been to deprive Ferdinand of the vice-captaincy. Extraordinarily, it has taken Eriksson to administer the sort of sizeable shock that just might force Ferdinand to question his priorities (he went nightclubbing on the eve of the FA hearing into his drugs test). Forced to choose between John Terry, Sol Campbell and Ferdinand for the first time since the latter was banned, Eriksson went on form. That has not always been the top of his selection criteria but Terry has made himself undroppable, while Campbell has impressed in his five matches for Arsenal since coming back from injury. The pair were superb together in the 0-0 draw against Turkey in Istanbul that secured qualification for the 2004 European Championship finals and, although Terry did not quite hit those heights again in the tournament itself, he has made himself first choice not only through his consistency for Chelsea but also his determination and leadership. Campbell will be hugely relieved. It has been a difficult year for him, with injury and loss of form persuading Arsène Wenger to leave him out of Arsenal’s victorious FA Cup Final team in May, but he has rarely let his country down in his 65 appearances. Eriksson has paired Campbell and Terry, his two no-nonsense stoppers, on six occasions, and the only defeat came in the penalty shoot-out against Portugal 15 months ago. Ferdinand has played in some of England’s worst performances, including embarrassing defeats by Northern Ireland and Denmark. For United and England, his concentration slips unless someone such as Gary Neville is barking at him. He is the most talented of the three because of his speed and comfort on the ball but, as Jamie Carragher pointed out yesterday in a tribute to Terry, the priority for defenders is not looking good but stopping the other side scoring. Ferdinand’s culpability for both Fulham goals against United on Saturday may have sealed his fate, but Eriksson is known to have harboured concerns for weeks. When reports surfaced after the defeat in Denmark that Ferdinand’s place was in jeopardy, the defender sought assurances from the Swede that he was not being held responsible for the 4-1 thrashing. They were forthcoming but, at that point, Campbell was not available. For the past couple of days, Eriksson has done Ferdinand the favour of appearing to keep his options open  he even used all three centre halves in training again yesterday  but he could no longer delay the news that Ferdinand will miss out as England try to secure qualification for Germany. Eriksson will hope that his decision, the most high-profile axing in more than four years with England, will act as a jolt to the rest of the squad. The Swede’s management style relies on a close relationship with his senior players but there have been mounting fears, even within the dressing-room, that it has all become too cosy. Aside from Ferdinand’s absence, the team against Austria is as expected, with Peter Crouch in for the suspended Wayne Rooney. An England XI lacking balance on the left will line up: Robinson, Young, Terry, Campbell, Carragher, Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Joe Cole, Crouch, Owen. I really don't rate rio, terry is easily the best defender we have, then sol cambell. In fact, i'd rate carragher above rio, he started well following the end of his drugs ban, but recently he has been truely shocking. Finally mr sven has made a good decision Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellman Posted 7 October 2005 Share Posted 7 October 2005 About time! Terry and Sol at the back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted 7 October 2005 Share Posted 7 October 2005 Rio can't tackle, can't head two major problems for a defender!! he is probably the est in the business at nipping in for a quick interception butfor the rest of the time he is just a big clumsy oaf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SystonFox Posted 7 October 2005 Share Posted 7 October 2005 he is overrated, clumsy and plain dumb. calling stupid offsides when he should be tackling (for reference take fulhams goal last weekend) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchy_lcfc Posted 7 October 2005 Share Posted 7 October 2005 he is overrated, clumsy and plain dumb. calling stupid offsides when he should be tackling (for reference take fulhams goal last weekend) Absoulutly RIGHT!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Libertine Posted 7 October 2005 Share Posted 7 October 2005 So chuffed about this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitesh Posted 7 October 2005 Share Posted 7 October 2005 England have never lost with Terry and Sol at the back...so get them in, play beckham on the right with Joe Cole on the left, lamps gerrard in the middle and we are sorted! Play some decent football the good old way and we will start winning!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexikokopops Posted 7 October 2005 Share Posted 7 October 2005 England have never lost with Terry and Sol at the back...so get them in, play beckham on the right with Joe Cole on the left, lamps gerrard in the middle and we are sorted! Play some decent football the good old way and we will start winning!!!!! Someone didn't read the above article: Eriksson has paired Campbell and Terry, his two no-nonsense stoppers, on six occasions, and the only defeat came in the penalty shoot-out against Portugal 15 months ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thracian Posted 7 October 2005 Share Posted 7 October 2005 Cluck, cluck, it's the bench for Donald Duck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossporterlc Posted 7 October 2005 Share Posted 7 October 2005 ' date='Oct 7 2005, 07:13 PM' post='189538']Someone didn't read the above article: technically didn't lose in the 90mins then, counts as a draw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anish Posted 7 October 2005 Share Posted 7 October 2005 Good decision if it's true, I'm not convinced until I see the team sheet later on. I'd rather have Carragher than Rio on current form too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted 8 October 2005 Share Posted 8 October 2005 he is overrated, clumsy and plain dumb. calling stupid offsides when he should be tackling (for reference take fulhams goal last weekend) and also Blackburns winning goal the week before when the ball was on the edge of the area he was looking lost around the penalty spot and didn't even notice until the ball was in the net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitesh Posted 8 October 2005 Share Posted 8 October 2005 ' date='Oct 7 2005, 07:13 PM' post='189538'] Someone didn't read the above article: i did read it, i was just using it as my main argument! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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