Barry and Barton axed from McClaren's squad
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Joey Barton and Gareth Barry are the major casualties of Steve McClaren's urgent need for results after the England coach named a streamlined 23-man party for the crucial Euro 2008 double-header against Israel and Andorra.
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Despite not doing much wrong in the recent friendly defeat to Spain, neither man has made McClaren's squad for England's first competitive fixture since the dismal loss to Croatia in October.
Barry's omission in particular is a slight surprise given Ashley Cole - who is selected - is suspended for the Israel encounter and his regular left-back deputy Wayne Bridge is injured.
It confirmed Jamie Carragher and Phil Neville are vying for the defensive berth from a squad where 13 players are due to play twice in 48 hours over the weekend, culminating in FA Cup quarter-final replays on Monday.
McClaren has already joked he will be watching the replays 'with his eyes closed' fearing the damage the extra fixtures could cause to his planning.
Having slipped to third spot in Group E, England need to pick up at least a point in Tel Aviv to ease the pressure on McClaren and retain a realistic hope of reaching next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland.
Of the side which started against Spain at Old Trafford, only four players are likely to keep their place when England look to follow Croatia's lead by winning in Israel.
Peter Crouch is injured and Shaun Wright-Phillips has been axed, although given his lack of first-team opportunities at Chelsea, it is surprising the winger was picked at all.
Michael Carrick, Jonathan Woodgate, Kieron Dyer and Ben Foster can expect places on the bench at best unless McClaren thinking dramatically alters over the next week.
Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson has already been guaranteed a recall, while his White Hart Lane team-mate Aaron Lennon seems certain to occupy the left-sided spot in a four-man midfield which will see Steven Gerrard start on the right.
Rather than inhibit the Liverpool skipper, McClaren feels the move offers Gerrard the freedom to attack, especially now Owen Hargreaves is back.
Squad: Robinson (Tottenham), Foster (Man Utd, on loan at Watford), Carson (Liverpool, on loan at Charlton), Neville (Man Utd), Richards (Man City), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea, capt), Woodgate (Real Madrid, on loan at Middlesbrough), Carragher (Liverpool), A Cole (Chelsea), P Neville (Everton), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Lampard (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Parker (Newcastle), Carrick (Man Utd), Dyer (Newcastle), Downing (Middlesbrough), Johnson (Everton), Rooney (Man Utd), Defoe (Tottenham), Bent (Charlton). -
they were not even used as subs most of the time so it makes no difference whether they are in the squad or not
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Mart slams Barry axe
MARTIN O’NEILL reckons Steve McClaren is crazy for dumping Gareth Barry out of the England squad. Aston Villa skipper Barry, 26, was excluded from the Three Lions party for the upcoming Euro 2008 Group E qualifiers with Israel and Andorra. And his club boss O’Neill fears national coach McClaren is suffering from ‘big-club’ syndrome.
O’Neill said: “You have to ask ‘If Gareth was playing for Manchester United would that make any difference?’ “I don’t know the answer. All I know is he’s had a fantastic season for Villa and I’m not sure what else he could have done. “Could he have played any better for anyone else? Again, I can’t answer that question. “But what I would say is that it would’ve been exceptionally difficult for him to have done so.”
O’Neill is even more stunned at Barry’s snub, considering both our first-choice left-backs — Ashley Cole (suspended) and Wayne Bridge (injured) will miss out against Israel. The Villa boss added: “Perhaps it should instil a greater desire for Aston Villa as a football club to improve our position in the Premiership and be classed as a really good team. “The fact of the matter at the moment is that we are not. The reality is we’re a really good club but we’re not a great side. “And we’ve not been a great side for a considerable time.
O’Neill’s main fear is the negative effect McClaren’s brush-off could have on his versatile captain ahead of tomorrow’s home Premiership clash with Liverpool. He added: “It’s very disappointing for him, especially after being brought back into the squad for the last game.
“I assume he was recalled for how well he had been playing for Aston Villa — but that form has continued. “So if you are asking me ‘What’s changed?’ you’re asking the wrong person, because I have no idea. “He’s had a fantastic season and puts his heart and soul into every game, every week.
“That’s why he’ll be very disappointed and frustrated at the moment.” -
