World Cup Nonsense

[Nigel]

I remember David James playing at Upton Park for many a long year.

His performances were always characterised by a string of outstandingly brilliant saves, interspersed with outstandingly awful errors. West Ham were relegated with him in goal (frequently this optimistic description actually saw him playing in left central midfield and up to 40 yards off his goal line).

He then left the club, stating that a player of his stature needed to keep playing in the Premiership. Where did he go ? Manchester City. Have they done well with him in goal ? Absolutely not.

In the interim, West Ham were promoted and reached the FA Cup final with a somewhat ramshackle goalkeeping roster shared between 20 year old Stephen Bywater and 40 year old Shaka Hislop. Both competent, but neither outstanding in comparison with the international greats. West Ham had hoped to improve their goalkeeping credentials with the acquisition of Roy Carroll, but he limped off the field almost as soon as he arrived. It hasn't held West Ham back, or at least not until a recent penalty shoot-out where the Liverpool goalkeeper took the unusual step of making several penalty saves from the 6 yard line.

But enough of such pointless Wengeresque whingeing, and back to David James. In the circumstances, it looks absolutely critical to me for England's survival that Robinson stays fully fit for the duration of the tournament. Unless we need a left sided midfielder, playing in goal.