Barry a doubt for the world cup - send Thudd !!!

[ravo]

From Sky Sports...

England midfielder Gareth Barry has been ruled out for up to four weeks with ankle ligament damage.
The Manchester City

man suffered the injury in his side's 1-0 defeat to Tottenham on Wednesday and limped off after 57 minutes.
It is a major setback to his plans to compete in this summer's World Cup,

as the South Africa

tournament is due to kick-off in five weeks time.
Barry has been a key player for England under Fabio Capello

and his absence would be a major blow for the Three Lions.

The initial diagnosis of the knock was that the 29-year-old had only suffered a sprained ankle but tests on Friday revealed the injury was worse than first feared.
Very sorry

Capello has regularly insisted that he will only consider fully-fit players in his 23-man squad for the competition, which he will name on 1st June.
City manager Roberto Mancini

said: "I feel very sorry for him.
"Gareth is a fantastic guy and a fantastic player.
"I hope he can play in the World Cup but Fabio Capello and his medical staff must decide.
"I don't know exactly how bad (the injury is), maybe three to four weeks, so I hope he can still go.
"He deserves to play in the World Cup." :violin:
If Barry does miss out then the Italian tactician could turn to the likes of Tom Huddlestone, Owen Hargreaves or even Scott Parker as cover in the holding role.

 

[Marty]

If Barry's out for a month and won't be fit until the opening day - and therefore won't be able to take part in any of the warm-up training camp - then he shouldn't go to the WC. He's a good player, but not THAT good.

Send Thudd.

 

[nailsy]

Not good news for England but could open the door for Hudd. I'm sure he'd be a very good international player.

 

[NickHSpurs]

We were short in the DM area before this, Carrick has not been in very good form.

THudd has got to be in contention even more so now surely!

 

[kcmei]

i dont understand why capello would call up hargreaves or carrick ahead of huddlestone... The plater in form is huddlestone, carrick has hardly played this season and owen not at all... It's a disgrace (in drogba style)

 

[beats1]

I think Hudd has to be ahead of carrick i mean gibson started more games than him lately, but i have feeling if its not carrick in the line up it will be Milner

 

[EmperorKabir]

thudd can set up some nice stuff but is too mistake prone IMHO for world cup air tight football.

 

[donny1013]

Really not fussed about Barry potentially missing the WC

 

[DogsOfWar]

Hudd is certainly good enough to play the central role for England.

He was outstanding doing it for the U21s and this season has made the transition to performing the same role at a more senior level.

Unfortuantely it may be a season too early in terms of experience. But that said Capello knows a decent player and our fourth place finish could give him the justification for going with his instincts.

 

[joey.leone]

Any player who has been a key figure in a team that has finished 4th and potentially 3rd in the premiership is good enough for international football in my opinion.

Hudd has grown so much this season, and will only get better. I think he would do very well for England. I am a bit biased as he is probably my favourite player at Spurs atm. I love them all lol but I think Hudd really can be special, there is no English player who can pass like him. Him and Lennon would be a useful combo at the World cup.

 

[Colonel_Klinck]

I could see Parker maybe getting a nod into the 30. He has been in great form in a team of total and utter shite. Gives everything for the cause.

 

[JerryGarcia]

Huddlestone is made for European and International football. If he get's picked for South Africa he could raise his game even higher so I hope we have tied him to a lengthy contract.

 

[DJS]

Bad news about Barry as he has been a very consistent and important part of the England Team as of late and it's not good the team being disrupted at this stage.

I would take Huddlestone and Parker as replacements as they both offer a different sort of defensive midfielder.

They both need to be given a start with as near to the first 11 as possible in the preperation matches to see which one clicks.

I'd also take Milner as he is aces (would love him at Spurs next season) but he needs to play alongside one of the above, and not be deployed as the defensive one alongside Lampard and Gerrard as that would be madness.

 

[gavspur]

as said, THudd is suited to the International game, his excellent passing along with his much improved tackling/determination could be vital. I think he'll make the squad.