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August 30, 2002
(Friday) from Jonathan Woodgate
Time to summon
Bowyer and Woodgate
by Ron Atkinson
Sven-Goran Eriksson names his England squad on Monday and I hope it's
a cause for celebration at Elland Road. There are four Leeds players
I'd like to see called up who didn't go to the World Cup. Lee Bowyer,
Jonathan Woodgate, Alan Smith and Paul Robinson deserve a place and
the first three should start and finish against Portugal a week
tomorrow.
Eriksson has the chance to experiment but I don't want it to be a
friendly where the complete team changes at half-time. There is a lot
of talk about "meaningless friendlies" but they're not meaningless if
you try people out and give them a fair run. It's an opportunity for
Sven to have a good look at fringe players or youngsters who he
thinks might serve him well.
There's no issue with selecting Bowyer or Woodgate after their court
case. Woodgate's done his community service and it's quite right that
he can be picked again. Tony Adams went to jail and then played for
England for years.
Woodgate looked a terrific prospect when he burst on to the scene and
under other circumstances he'd have more than the one cap he won in
1999. I believe he's carrying a slight injury but I hope he can face
Portugal. I'd put him with an experienced centre-half like Sol
Campbell, or with his former Leeds team-mate Rio Ferdinand.
In midfield Eriksson has a prime chance to use Bowyer through the
centre because Paul Scholes is injured. Bowyer tailed off badly last
season but he's out of the blocks running this term. He has the added
advantage of being able play in wide areas but his best position is
in the middle. I hope he's used there rather than in the troublesome
left-hand spot.
What Bowyer brings is zest and goals. He's got the knack of timing
his runs, can contest and challenge - sometimes over-zealously - and
he's got that zip which means he can lift the tempo of a game. What
we need now is to see him in the international arena.
Bowyer takes more flack from fans than Woodgate and his demeanour has
a lot to do with that. He snarls on the pitch, gets in trouble with
referees and you see a lot of animated photographs of him. But on
pure ability he's got a lot going for him.
Smith is another Leeds player with an aggressive streak and he should
learn from Mark Hughes, whom defenders hated facing because of his
physical input. With controlled aggression Smith could be the ideal
partner for Michael Owen.
I don't see Owen and Emile Heskey as a real partnership and it's
interesting that El Hadji Diouf has started alongside Owen at
Liverpool. Smith, though, looks to be the ideal foil and I'd play him
with Owen for about an hour and then with Darius Vassell.
Owen needs somebody like Smith to lead the line, someone who takes
the brunt and is happy receiving the ball with his back to goal. Owen
is still uncomfortable facing his own net and often things break down
on him whereas facing the opposition's goal there's no one better.
Smith was the pick of England's Under-21s over the summer and
Robinson is another from that squad who should be elevated. He's
keeping out Nigel Martyn at Elland Road and ought to be in the pack
for experience.
I wouldn't play him against Portugal because there's more value in
giving David James that job. If David Seaman was injured for the
first Euro 2004 qualifiers, the West Ham keeper would be the logical
successor. Although he's been in a lot of squads he's not played many
matches and this is a good chance.
James' club-mate Michael Carrick deserves a spot as well and I'd
start with him if Nicky Butt doesn't recover from injury. I saw
Carrick play against Patrick Vieira last weekend and I thought he was
tremendous.
Frank Lampard also merits a recall after a positive start at Chelsea
but I think it's a touch early for Jermain Defoe. Apart from David
Beckham, whom I'd bring off for Steven Gerrard at half-time, I would
give the players who start a minimum of an hour and have another good
look at Wayne Bridge, possibly against Luis Figo.
Ron's XI: James; Mills, Woodgate, Campbell/Ferdinand, Bridge;
Beckham, Butt/Carrick, Bowyer, Dyer; Smith, Owen.
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