England’s Right Back Problem

That’s right – we – as everyone else – have written about England’s left back dilemma in the wake of Ashley Cole’s injury. But what about our right back? That’s arguably a bigger issue…

Glen Johnson is the man firmly in possession of the right back berth in Capello’s England side. And there are doubts about him – he has been injured for several weeks, and Liverpool are in horrible form. If they drag down the toilet seat thief, or if he gets injured, or if it proves that he is as bad positionally as many suspect, who do we turn to?

The list… erm….

Wes Brown

He is probably next in line. But he is a centre-back who would be playing out of position, is always liable to make an error, and inevitably is injured. He offers little going forward and does very much look out of position when he plays at full back. Against a genuine left winger I certainly wouldn’t have confidence in him.

Who next? Erm….

Micah Richards

Ability and gift wise he should be challenging Johnson. He is big, quick, and strong, and gets forward well. But again his positional sense is in doubt and he has undoubtedly not progressed in the manner everyone hoped after he burst onto the scene with Man City a couple of years ago.

Gary Neville

Is he knocking on the door? Alex Ferguson, no mean judge of a player, trusted him to track Ronaldinho against Milan and he performed solidly, including a less-than-trademark-but-still-occasional excellent cross for Rooney’s first goal. He has the experience, has been there, done that etc, and probably wouldn’t let anyone down. But he has hardly played for an entire season, and there is a definite feeling that, to employ an old, lazy cliche, his ‘legs have gone’.

Phil Jagielka

A great defender, no question. But again he has been out injured for ages, and again he is a centre back who would be playing out of position. Probably too late to play himself into the side in any case.

Owen Hargreaves

If he is ever fit again, he is arguably England’s best right back. However he is also our best defensive midfielder, and if he is fit he will almost certainly play there.

Luke Young

Has retired from international football. Never thought I would lament that…

James Milner

On great form, and probably wouldn’t let anyone down if shoehorned in at right back. Probably. But he would be out of position as well, and that always raises doubts.

Ummm…. I think that’s it. Have I forgotten anyone?

At left back, after Cole, we have Wayne Bridge (if he hadn’t stepped out), Leighton Baines, and Stephen Warnock. Any of those would probably be better options than all the above (were they right backs) save Hargreaves, who won’t play there.

I never thought I would say this, but Glen Johnson is invaluable to England. Fingers double crossed nothing happens to his form or fitness before South Africa. No doubt Capello echoes those sentiments manifold.

The right back issue is more worrisome than the left back one.