Game Over For Heskey
Monday, September 7th, 2009
If Emile Heskey were quicker, had a better touch, a more varied range of passing, and could jump to take advantage of his great height, then — and really only just — should be considered for a starting place for England. By those metrics, his inability to score goals could be forgiveable.
Against Slovenia on Saturday, Heskey did not lack enthusiasm or commitment. England demands these things, which is why we love nutters like Stuart Pearce, Terry Butcher, and Wayne Rooney. However, despite Heskey’s earnest and hard-working attitude, we can’t seem to love him.
When the ball comes to Heskey, we — and I mean “we” both in the first-person plural and in the collective sense to encompass England fans — are almost expecting him to achieve nothing positive with it. I find myself hoping that he can hold it up long enough for Rooney or Lampard to link up with him. It’s not really enough is it? I think we should be expecting more of an England player.
If Capello wants a little and large pairing up front, he has the proven option of Peter Crouch and the very exciting prospect of Carlton Cole. Or maybe he can be persuaded to revise his approach and start the in-form Jermain Defoe against Croatia on Wednesday? Either approach would be fine by me.
He wouldn’t drop Rooney. Would he?
