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Osman: World Cup Comment Was No Joke
Osman: World Cup Comment Was No Joke
Tuesday, 1st Jun 2010 08:45

Former Town defender Russell Osman says he wasn’t joking when he said that England boss Fabio Capello should take Connor Wickham to the World Cup instead of Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey. The 51-year-old ex-centre-half was co-commentating on England’s European U17 Championships final victory over Spain for Eurosport when he made the remark.

Osman, who was capped 11 times by England, said: “I wasn’t being flippant. It’s not bias, either, because I played for Ipswich.

“Of course people will question why Capello would take Wickham to the World Cup but my reply would be, “Why not?” Sven Goran Eriksson picked Theo Walcott four years ago and he was 17 with even less experience than Wickham.

“If there’s one area of the England team where we are possibly a bit short it’s up front. We have a problem knowing who to play alongside Wayne Rooney and another when it comes to putting the ball in the net.

“Wickham could do it. He’s not a boy, he’s a 17-year-old man and with his ability allied to his physique I genuinely think he’s a one-off.”

Osman is clearly a huge fan of Wickham, who is rated at around the £10 million mark by this morning’s papers: “He can do the lot. He hit two good left foot shots for his goals in the semi-final and an excellent right-foot drive in the final.

“He’s just as strong as Heskey and has a better eye for goal. And here’s the frightening part – he’s still growing.

“At the moment he’s 6ft 3in tall and weighs 14 stone but from my own experience I reckon he will be 19 before he stops.”

Capello will announce which of his 30-man provisional squad have made the 23 for South Africa later today. Surprise calls from outside the 30 are not expected.


Photo: Action Images



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Blueknight85 added 14:41 - Jun 1
The Dos Santos family really need to grow up and get over themselves

http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/sport/dos_santos_could_quit_mexico_squad_1_381701

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austractor added 15:02 - Jun 1
Its great that connor is doing well, but I am glad Roy is looking after him because its getting abit ridiculous now (the hype) and if there is one thing Roy did right it was to not get too excited about him - yet.

The championship is not the premiership, and the U17 tourny is not the world cup. no doubt he is good, but he needs a holiday and another season in the championship before anything too crazy happens with him.
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Dale added 15:02 - Jun 1
I don't know what happened to the link, but here it is again: http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/56/42/69/fifawcsouthafric
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BecclesBlue500 added 17:03 - Jun 1
Here we go again - let the poor lad be!!!!! Only the most exceptional of talents (e.g. Rooney, Maradona) can hit the top domestic/international scene at 17yrs of age and play comfortably; name me a 'top' (or even middle ranking) Premiership striker who was playing for a (frankly) average Championship club last year??? I can't think of one either!!!!!!

But we seem to do this thing where anybody under 20 looks like they have potential, we've practically sold them to a Premier League team for £x million - why?????

Let's remind ourselves that we were incredibly lucky to have Good Old Sir Bobby at Newcastle around 1999 - 2003/4 ish; during which time he took Bramble (??), Dyer (speed/agility of a race horse; brains of a rocking horse) and Ambrose (I actually rate him as the best of the three) from us at very very 'healthy' rates - I often reflect that that was Sir Bobby's way of helping us with our financial problems. Since then we convince ourselves that we have a conveyor of premiership stars coming out of Playford Road.

Darrent Bent aside, we've told ourselves that Haynes (West Ham/Arsenal for £3m?????), Bowditch, Westlake, Clark (to name but 4) are (or were) all being watched by Arsene and Alex and are the next great thing - poor sods never stood a chance!!

Seriously, remind me what it was about Danny Haynes that convinced us (and we were convinced) that he was off to West Ham for £3m - on what planet was that lad ever a premiership player??? ditto the rest.

I accept that sometimes Prem clubs gamble on talent - buy it young, stick it in the reserves and see how it matures/settles but surely we should be talking about how CW will be the linch-pin of our frontline and arguably team for the next 3-5 years, not telling ourselves that we're clever buggers for coming up with a nice young bit of talent that without question (seemingly) is destined for a career at the very highest level??
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IpswichElvis added 17:09 - Jun 1
Heskey going to the World Cup instead of Bent???? WTF?????? I agree with Blueknight when I say that I now have no interest in watching the English team in the World Cup. Fu@%^ng Heskey???????? Has Capello been getting advice from Keane??
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Wickets added 17:47 - Jun 1
Just seen your reply big foot blue, we live and learn, many thanks.
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Deanoipswich4ever added 18:35 - Jun 1
I think connor wickham would be a gd england player he's got a gd attaduide gd skills, and he scores some very skilled goals aswel, like a newcastle away (i was there) ps. i'm 14 and had a season ticket 4 about 9 or 10 years and i've been 2 9 or 10 away games :) and also keep behind keane :)
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Seasider added 19:15 - Jun 1
Like many have never rated Heskey and why he is in team at expense of Darren Bent I dont know apart from could it be that Benty hasnt had any good games for England,many Spurs fans didnt rate him either.
Connor would get good service from likes of Lamps and Gerrard etc,better than previously;but he isnt going so end of
I very much hope that Keane plays him on a regular basis this coming season,if he is still with us,Connor I mean as RK will probably get another 2 or 3 months;but he is talking about bringing in another 4 or 5 players so the turmoil looks to be continuing at Portman Rd amongst the playing staff !
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tractorboynathan added 20:47 - Jun 1
ChambersM You are spot on mate!
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yorkshireblue added 21:38 - Jun 1
Erm, Steve Morison? The 26 year old that did so well at Northampton he was sold to non-league Bishop's Stortford, and this month declared himself for Wales. Do you think he would do that if he had a sniff of an England place?
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shoopdelang added 00:10 - Jun 2
Alright lets be honest here. No matter Heskeys clumsy donkey stereotype or how bias the most loyal of town fan can be. Can anyone really claim that Wickham is better than Heskey? Absurd
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