Terry Pierce - Bothroyd England call-up confirms Capello's madness

Published: 16 Nov 2010 - 09:05:07

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Jay Bothroyd's inclusion in the England squad achieves nothing other than handing out an international cap to someone with no future at international level.

It's not Bothroyd's fault, and he should feel hugely proud and honoured to even be considered for the England squad. But his call-up only serves to further heighten Fabio Capello's utter incompetence.

I am all for experimental squad selections and developing players on the international stage, but the experience that Bothroyd is being given should go to a striker who is young and has the potential to play well for England over the coming years - someone such as Daniel Sturridge, Danny Wellbeck or Nathan Delfouneso.

No player from outside the top-flight should be getting near Capello's squad, no matter how severe any injury crisis is, and if the Italian boss didn't feel comfortable picking a top young player to develop, Kevin Davies should have walked into the squad.

Of course, Davies hasn't got a glittering international career ahead of him, but he has tons of top-level experience and a good goal-scoring record against the best sides in the country. He's also captain of a side sitting pretty in the Premier League and enjoying their best start to the season for some time.

The last player from outside the top flight to appear for England was David Nugent, who was playing for Preston at the time. He was a good Championship striker having a great season, but he was not even close to having the ability and consistency to score regularly at the top level, and neither is Bothroyd.

I don't want to sound as if I have a downer on Bothroyd. He's a fantastic Championship striker who may well soon get the chance to prove himself in the top division.

After a rather nomadic period, he has settled in Cardiff and Dave Jones has turned him into a scoring machine. But he's approaching 30 and is being handed an experience that should only be given to those at the very top of their game, or young players who will use the experience to develop further.

England have a fantastic crop of young players coming through but they must blood them wisely. The inclusion of Jordan Henderson is a step in the right direction but any credibility that Capello may have gained by looking to the future with the Sunderland midfielder is quickly washed away by Bothroyd's selection.

Trouble in Posh Paradise?

Peterborough enjoyed a fair start to life back in League One following their relegation in the summer but over the last couple of weeks things at London Road have turned a bit sour.

Gary Johnson's side have lost six of their last nine and have the worst defensive record in the third tier. Their potent attack has previously managed to overcome their defensive deficiencies but the goals seem to have dried up slightly, resulting in their slump in form and culminating in Saturday's 5-1 home defeat to Charlton.

Money-bags Chairman Darragh MacAnthony's time-share funded bank-balance is shrinking, and his side are tumbling down the table, leaving Johnson as the recipient of the dreaded vote of confidence.

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