Goalkeepers Fight for England Role
David James Challenges Paul Robinson for Keeper's Number 1 Position
Paul Robinson has been England’s number one goalkeeper since 2004 when he displaced David James who blundered against Austria in a World Cup qualification game. Robinson has played 37 times for England and since making the position his own, he has been virtually unopposed for the custodian's role. However, following a decline in form for both Tottenham Hotspur and England over the past eighteen months, Robinson now finds himself under threat.
On taking over as England manager, as well as dropping David Beckham, Steve McLaren dispensed with the services of David James who had earned the nickname ‘Calamity’ for his high profile mistakes throughout his career.
Scott Carson
Younger goalkeepers were to be given an opportunity to develop and challenge Robinson for the goalkeeper’s role. Among those who have come under consideration is Scott Carson who was a colleague of Robinson’s at Leeds United before the latter moved to Spurs. Leeds’ financial position saw many players transferred and Carson joined Liverpool. However, he was third choice behind Pepe Reina and Jerzy Dudek at Anfield and spent last season on loan at Charlton Athletic where he performed impressively but was unable to save the London club from relegation. On returning to Liverpool he faced a season on the bench but has joined Aston Villa on a season’s loan to gain further experience. He has again been included in McLaren’s squad for the up-coming games against Israel and Russia but is still waiting to win his first cap.
Ben Foster
Ben Foster is another young player who impressed while on loan. He joined Manchester United from Stoke City in 2005 but spent two years at Watford. He won one cap last season against Spain but his team also suffered relegation and a long term cruciate knee ligament injury has deprived him of the opportunity to challenge Edwin van der Sar for the Manchester United position and Robinson for the England role.
Robert Green
Robert Green has also won one cap but he was out injured for a time last season as West Ham United fought against relegation. He previously played for Norwich City but has failed to add to his single appearance in a friendly against Columbia two years ago.
Chris Kirkland
The third challenger with one cap is Chris Kirkland who was highly regarded as a youngster, tipped as a certainty for great things during his time at Coventry City. He was transferred to Liverpool but his career development stalled as he became the unused substitute on the Liverpool bench. His transfer to Wigan Athletic has enabled him to gain regular football but frequent injuries have also hindered his progress and although he is only a year younger than Robinson, he has only one England appearance.
David James
With the younger goalkeepers failing to put up a sustained challenge to Robinson, the England manager has had to do another Beckham-like u-turn and recall David James. He has won 35 caps but at 37 years is Robinson’s senior by ten years. He has had an excellent eighteen months with Portsmouth and deserves his recall but there is always the concern about the lapses of concentration that lead to major blunders. He impressed in the second half of the game against Germany but then made a mistake against Chelsea last Saturday allowing Frank Lampard to score the only goal of the game at Stamford Bridge.
England's No.1 - Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson’s position has come under threat since last summer’s World Cup Finals in Germany when he looked uncertain under pressure from crosses. His club form remained unconvincing and he managed to keep only six clean sheets in the league last year. Further criticism came his way last year when the ball bobbled under his foot as he tried to kick it clear in Croatia in a European Championship qualifying game. The mistake against Germany when he misjudged the cross and gifted the visitors a goal is now causing the England manager to consider whether he needs to find a replacement goalkeeper for the next games.
If the manager does decide to make a change, David James would appear to be the player in the best position to take over from the Tottenham custodian.
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