Last Saturday, Fabio Capello announced his England squad for the friendly against France.
Matt Jarvis was not included.
What a complete joke.
I’ve bit my lip over this subject the entire week, not wanting to sound like the bitter Wolves fan throwing his toys out of the pram because his favourite player didn’t make the cut.
But having seen last night’s shambolic performance at Wembley, I can contain my anger no more.
For an hour I watched Lescott and Ferdinand shell long balls up to Andy Carroll, who by the way, I thought was absolutely superb given the naff service he received. Not once did either wide player manage to get down the line and deliver a meaningful cross for the powerful Newcastle-man to attack.
Milner consistently tucked inside from the left and on the opposite flank Walcott performed his favourite trick of running very quickly down blind alleys. It made me feel sick to my stomach that Fabio hadn’t given our man his chance, particularly in such a nothing friendly.
Now, to clarify, both Walcott and Milner are fine footballers, as are Adam Johnson and Ashley Young, the other two widemen selected in the squad. And yes, they came up against a much-improved France side that were surprisingly well-drilled.
But the fact of the matter is, Matt Jarvis has played just as well if not better than every single one of those listed above and has done so at a distinct disadvantage, playing for a team struggling at the bottom of the league.
And given that the entire game plan was obviously to get balls into Carroll, I’ve got to believe Jarvo would have made an impact, making his absence all the more difficult to swallow.
I fear that the call may never come now, simply because I don’t know what more Jarvis could have done to stand out.
In the last month, he’s gone to Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford (twice), tormented their full-backs and received almost universal praise from fans and managers alike. Throw into the mix impressive displays at Molineux against Man City, Arsenal and most recently, Bolton, a game that Mr. Capello himself was there to take in and you’re left bewildered by his omission.
I can only assume Don Fabio had left before the final twenty minutes last Saturday, as surely his mind would have been made up had he seen Jarvis consistently skin his full-back, single-handedly dragging Wolves from one end of the pitch to the other.
Given his performances and the media hype that had spread nationwide, it seemed an inevitability that he’d be included, so to check my phone at 7.30pm and see his name missing from the list, was just another kick in the stomach on a completely miserable Saturday of football.
Lets just hope our scorned winger takes out his frustrations on Blackpool this weekend.
I agree that Jarvis should have been given his chance – I am his biggest fan, he is IMO our best player.
However would we really want our player caught up in the sh*t that is our national side? My argument is…
1, Do we want Jarvis put in the shop window of international football?
2, Do we want Jarvis playing extra games with the potential of picking up injury?
3, Do we want any of our players involved in a team where Joy Bothroyd is seen as the future?
4, Given the stick England players get could a call up demotivate Jarvis?
5, As a squad player would we want him travelling with the team and never playing?
I say keep up your good form for Wolves and screw the national side – I can barely be @rsed watching them in the World Cup these days let alone a mid week friendly against France!!!!
Fabio is no good, most of the squad are not good enough at this level and those that are good enough care more about the champions league anyway.
In four years time the press will be telling us we have our best chance ever (again) on winning the world cup – and some of us will fall for it!
Whole heartedly agree Stourbridge Wolf.
I too was gutted when he didn’t make the England squad but after watching the game last night I was glad that he didn’t play. If anything, I think the experience of playing in such a poor England side against a very technically gifted and fast French team would have done nothing For Jarvo’s confidence.
Save it for Saturday Matty and show Cappello what he missed out on. I am not chanting Jarvis for England anymore – Jarvis for Wanderers and they can shove their England caps where the sun don’t shine!!!!
I stopped being interested in England ages ago (around 12 years ago to be precise). I’m glad he avoided the poor performance and avoided the stigma of being associated with the result in some way.
Ah, France 1998 perhaps? With our “best crop of young stars in years” – Owen, Beckham, Shearer et al.
Out in the round of 16 on penalties to Argentina. Losers!
Nail on the head, Stourbridge. My interest was waning for some years before it, but I’ve never really been too bothered to watch England since that very game. And don’t get me started on the so-called “golden generation”.
I never forgave Bobby Robson and the boys after Italy 1990. Lineker, Waddle, Beardsley et al can kiss my @rse – at the age of 16 I remember feeling hollow after our penalty defeat to the Germans! Yes, at that age I had believed the hype we could win it!
That was my watershed moment with England!
Wow… I hear you (and secretly agree) but Jarvis deserves his chance, and if Mick Mccarthy cant keep Wolves in the Premiership then Mat deserves the best possible vehicle to a top club – namely to play for his country
MATT JARVIS FOR ENGLAND !!
Bet you cant wait for the Royal wedding either you patriotic fool!! Ha,ha,ha!!!
I agree aswell, that he would be good for England, but England would not necessary be good for him. And him playing for England would not be good for Wolves. So – to sum it all up – perhaps what happened is for the best, being a Wolves supporter.
UP THE WOLVES!!!
P.S. Looking at the Wolves team – with the things you wrote above about the shortcomings of the England team in mind – I believe we have a situation quite the opposite. We need a player like Carroll to make use of the now excellent crosses that Jarvis produces. But we have none.
Should we use Bent upfront or perhaps Fletcher? Or – clutching at straws – Stearman as a lone striker. It is not unheard of using a central defender as a striker. Anyway, the problem need to be addressed by McCarthy, at least latest in the January window in my opinion. Otherwise we will find it tough to get the goals we need to stay in the Premiership. D.S.
Right who’s going to own up to this username?
Somebody been using too many recreational drugs I think!
Watching the England football team has been my least favourite sporting pastime for some time, a view re -inforced by the recent world cup fiasco, and again because certainly Matt Jarvis deserved a chance.
Matt – your time will come, in the meantime keep making those chances for your team mates, just so sorry you`ve spent half your wolves career protecting a number of inept left backs. Sorry I just couldn`t resist mentioning that again.
The last England match I watched the full way through was when Bully scored at Hampden. I won`t watch another until a Wolves player is picked.
Now where`s that prediction blog for Saturday ????
Jarvis would have done a much better job than the likes of Milner and I’m sure would have created some chances for Carroll.
Its a shame that he wasn’t called up but the real disgrace is that Foley is behind Kelly and McShane for Ireland. What does he have to do to get a chance?
How much different would England have been IF Matt had played?
The ineptness may not have appeared at all, with brilliant wing service from the left.
We’ll never know.
Please do not start a “Capello Out” campaign, coz he may end up at the Mol!!!
My everlasting memory of England failure is the semi final of 1990 in Italy, when Bully was getting ready to come on, and Big fuckin’ Ears scored the equalizer, so Robson kept the little shit on the pitch, Bully, in his prime, didn’t get on at all and Gazza started crying and the rest is history.
Bully would have murdered that German defense at that point of the match, he was unstoppable.
I’ll never forgive Bobby Robson, even though he’s dead, and I’ll never forgive Lineker either, big eared little prick.
Anyway, back to the future.
Matt Jarvis will be the target of others whether he plays for England or not, he is just that good.
The only Premiership manager who apparently has no clue about tactics and opponents is ours, so everyone else will know Matt’s threat, and by extension, how good he is.
Capello, you are obviously not included in this discussion, EVERYONE knows you ain’t got a clue!!!!
Three points on Saturday………………but I’m not sure to whom!!!!
FOMM
I agree Clive – seeing Bully in an England shirt was ace. The jug eared crisp salesman was the pin up of england and preferred to play with Beardsley (as he put everything on a plate for him).
I actually hate the fact Ian Wright got more chances then Bully more than Lineker though. At least Lineker scored goals – Wright was played game after game and didn’t whilst Bull watched on from the stand.
Bully’s two goals against the Czechs were great.
Matt Jarvis wouldve done well in Crapello’s squad, but unfortunately didn’t happen. Like Thomas wrote, just because he is on a struggling team decreases his chances.
Selfishly, I’m glad he wasn’t picked.
I’m not a “supporter” of the England football team anymore. A “fan” yes but no more a fan of the England football team than the Cricket, Rugby or Tiddlywinks team even though I don’t particular follow, Cricket, Rugby…..or Tiddlywinks.
As much as the players say it means so much to them to have the 3 lions on the shirt and play for the country, I really haven’t seen a Pearce, Butcher, Gazza or the like for too long.
Jarvo can concentrate on Wolves instead of being wooed and distracted by the megabucks lifestyle that the majority of our so called finest players live.