Manchester United defender doesn’t want Arsenal keeper in the England team: But he’s happy to have an Italian manager!
by stresster on October 9th, 2008
| 309 words |
Since David Seaman hung up his boots and gloves, England have had a problem with the position of goalkeeper. David James would probably be my first pick at the moment, with the Portsmouth cat having had an excellent time of things since signing for Pompey. Last campaign, he was one of the Premier League’s outstanding perfomers, although it’s clear that he’s not getting any younger. Meanwhile, Paul Robinson and Scott Carson have both struggled when given a chance for the national team, although help could be at hand from an unlikely source.
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has an English wife and has never represented the Spanish national team. Which means that Fabio Capello can pick him for England, if the Italian was that way inclined. Not that everyone is in agreement with this potential selection, with the Press Association reporting that Rio Ferdinand has reservations.
But Ferdinand told BBC Five Live: “That’s for the FA to decide but I’m sure if he was picked for Spain he would play for Spain in front of England. So if that happens I don’t think it’s really working right.”
He added: “So if Spain had picked him now and he had a choice of playing for Spain or England who is he going to pick?
“I’m sure he’d pick Spain so that means he is not English.”
What about your international manager Rio? Don’t you think he’d shun England for the chance to manage Italy? The Arsenal keeper is a lot more English than Capello, having played in the Premier League for a number of seasons and now being married to an English lady. Is the Manchester United defender wrong to make this sort of comment, especially as Almunia could yet be called up and feature in the same team as the ex-West Ham player?
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LMS - October 9th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
I also question his comments in light of a certain “English” midfielder who is also his club teammate. Said midfielder may have an English parent, but was born and raised in Canada, and began his club football in Germany, never having lived in England until his transfer to Manchester United.
And he has not lived in England as long as Manuel has.
But he has said that he ‘feels English’, so maybe that makes it better in Rio’s eyes…
Rudi - October 9th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Rio is right, for once. Hargreaves parents are both English so that is different. Almunia is a) Spanish and b) Shit so let’s not worry about it.
Paul London - October 9th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Sorry Rudi, Almunia’s claims are at least as valid as Hargreaves’. Or are you saying that your parents’ nationality is more important than your own? If Almunia qualifies, then he qualifies. If you (or Rio Ferdinand) don’t like that then blame the authorities and not Almunia.
And since when did being shit stop anyone from playing for England?!
Trevor - October 9th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Does it make a differnce!!
Look at Deco for Portugal!
Im a Man U fan but i dont think any of the english keepers would make it into the top 4 keepers in the league! in my opinion!
Would be a good improvement on David James who although has done well for portsmouth he can not handle the presure!
more to the point, have you seen David James warm up! He runs about and practices with no ball talking to himself!
Taxi!! Straight Jacket for James!!!!!
Gavbert Himona - October 9th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Rio Ferdinand - complains about Fifa doing not enough to fight racism then the same day says that a player who will soon qualifyn to play for England should not be picked. This looks like double standards to me or he’s just not very bright ?
kevin - October 9th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Almunia may get picked. But he’s gonna be thrown out of the team as soon as he starts making blunders.
Englishman & englishman, Chris Kirkland & Ben Foster, two keepers whose development has been halted due to injuries in the past. In case of Foster, he’s still injury prone!
These two could have been the next big thing otherwise.
Tommy Livebird - October 9th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Carson is performing well at the moment. Take a good look at him my friends.
786 - October 11th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Carson was the sole reason England never qualified for the Euros. Foster is just fucking brilliant, he’ll be first-choice no problem, but he’ll struggle against Tomasz Kusczhak.