England coach, Steve McClaren, looks like he has decided that the crunch game against Croatia tonight is the time to stamp his authority on the team and drop some big names. Out go David Beckham, painfully two short of a hundred caps, and Paul Robinson after some high profile blunders in goal. I’ll tell you what, a bit more of this strong management style might have been welcome earlier in the campaign: remember the two recent selection successes, Barry and Heskey, both came because injuries forced the manager’s hands.
Carson should be an able replacement for Robinson and Shaun Wright-Phillips , although he blows hot and cold should have the pace to get behind the Croat defence and get some balls into the box. The only question mark is whether those balls will be first time balls whipped to the far post for Crouch, or slid along the face of the goal between the keeper and the six yard line for… Owen…
Oh yeah, he’s not playing.
… and the tough should get going.