Mancienne in England squad

[Warren]

What`s his averagew the last five seasons?
How much he played when he was 20 doesn`t really say much about his current injury problems.

His average for the last 5 seasons is around 25 games a season

[JohnnyLambert]

Owen will always score goals. That is what you get from him, goals.

How much he has been out injured really isn't the important point. The important point is if he is fit now and if he is good enough.

He is fit now and he is the best english finisher out there. I don't have a clue to why he isn't picked by Capello.

To even suggest that players like Bent or Defoe is better than Owen is a joke.

There is no current English forward who does it better at International level - Proven!

[Resu]

His average for the last 5 seasons is around 25 games a season

Not to bad that.
When fit Owen is the best english goalscorer, but they seem to do well without him.

[Warren]

Not to bad that.
When fit Owen is the best english goalscorer.

[AFII]

To be honest I think the one to one comparisons miss the point. Capello wants to build a team and squad where the players add up to more than the sum of their parts. Owen can't be relied on to form a regular part of the group which counts against him. It appears also that Capello wasn't impressed by his work in a deeper role at Newcastle and he is not a player who is good at holding the ball up and a Rooney, Cole, Walcott & Owen front four is a bit midget for most managers tastes i would think.

I would have him as a reserve if I was England manager but I think the argument against is quite compelling.

Walcott or Defoe really don't add anything that Owen don't add. Walcott is quick but that's it. His ball control and game intelligence simply isn't good enough.

Defoe is the same type of player but he isn't as good as Owen.

I can understand if Capello want a quick option, Walcott, but to pick Defoe instead of Owen really is puzzling.

[dww]

Walcott or Defoe really don't add anything that Owen don't add. Walcott is quick but that's it. His ball control and game intelligence simply isn't good enough.

Defoe is the same type of player but he isn't as good as Owen.

I can understand if Capello want a quick option, Walcott, but to pick Defoe instead of Owen really is puzzling.

Walcott plays wide. His crossing and use of pace in wide areas is better than Owens. He is a very good player as a wide part of an attacking quartet, Owen isn't. I'm not sure they are competing for the same place.

I agree with you in the sense that personally I think Defoe is a bit rubbish. However the fact he is pacy and usually fit mean that on Capello's squad building criteria he is more of and option than Owen. I would say that for me Agbonlahor offers a better package and would be ahead of either (I know his goal scoring has been less good than the others but he is improving that every year and IIRC is about 1 in 2 this season).

[DannyMan2006]

Give others the experience for the friendly games.

There was no benefit in playing either Beckham or Owen in the Germany game. The main reason is that neither are guaranteed starters. The second reason is that they will learn nothing from the game.

I'm sure Agbonlahor and the others learnt a lot from playing last night. The only good it would have done Owne and Becks was to improve their caps and goal numbers.

If at anytime during the qualifying period either are bang in form and are needed then Capello knows he can call either up with the minimum of fuss. Both are die hard England players who will do anything for the three lions. Neither need to be intergrated into the squad as both are senior players with the respect of their peers and both already have friends in the squad.

If on the other hand Fabio was to pick them everytime, what happens if by no suprise to anyone neither is available to play in the World Cup 2010 due to being injured or lack of match fitness. What then?

All we could do then is either pick someone who has never played or been in the squad before (remember Walcott?) or stick with the crocked stars and hope they last out.

Fabio has got it spot on so far IMO.