The Spurs View: Capello's 30 Man Squad

So here it is, England's 30-man provisional squad for the World Cup finals. Let's have a look at what it might mean for the Tottenham contingent:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.

I see the Italian has opted for the extremely shakey Robert Green over ex-Spur Paul Robinson. I think that's a big mistake, but we can only hope that that berth is considered 3rd choice and so will be largely irrelevant. James is having a decent season and I wouldn't lose any sleep if he opted for him as number 1.

Defenders: Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock.

Common sense has prevailed and Ledders and Daws both get the call. If you assume he wants 2 men for each position then you have to assume 2 CB's are for the chop. I'm 100% sure he will take King, which makes it a straight shoot out between Daws, Carragher and Upson for that last spot. Upson is shit and Carragher has already let his country down once so I think Daws has to be the favourite. Particularly if King goes.

Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips.

I'm extremely pleased he's opted for Cole and Adam Johnson. The former has invaluable experience and the latter has impressed me greatly in recent weeks - with the added bonus of him keeping Downing out of the squad! The odd thing is he's a lefty but I think he plays mostly on the right for City. Lennion is a dead cert to go, and is the most likely to start right side against USA on the 12th. I can see SWP being cut.

The most interesting battle for places is amongst the defensively minded CM's though. Milner is this tournament's Mr. Versatile so Barry, Carrick, Parker and our Hudd are surely battling for one - maybe at the most 2 places. I think Big Tom's game is perfectly suited to International football. He'll get plenty of time on the ball and he's easily the best passer of the bunch, but I don't think it looks good for his chances of going. Cappello will probably stick with what he knows and take Carrick and Barry. I'd rather see Parker go as I think the squad needs a terrier in the middle for when we have something to hold on to. Tom has to hope Barry's injury is long term.

Forwards: Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney.

Would have been a bit harsh on old Dazza to not make the 30 wouldn't it? I still don't see him going though - he's a bit of a big game bottle job isn't he? I think that all depends on the Hesky situation though - I thought Capello wasn't picking players on the fringes of their club teams and Heskey has mostly been a 'last 15 minutes' kind of a guy for a couple of months now, and in fact has only got the full 90 6 times all season. Maybe the big fella deserves one last swan song though - even though I know in advance I'll be swearing at him at least 5 times every game. Benty is going to need to make an impact during these friendlies to stand a chance.

My 23 man squad (from Capello's 30):

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green.

Defenders: Leighton Baines, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Stephen Warnock.

Midfielders: Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Scott Parker

Forwards: Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney.

Come On England!!!