With the whole of England looking for solutions to mend a sub-standard looking national side with the hope of becoming a genuinely competitive force in world football by the 2014 World Cup, Harry Redknapp has suggested that Arsenal starlet Jack Wilshere could be the bedrock of the Three Lions’ possible future successes, while insisting that no miraculous improvements should be expected in the near future.
The recently-sacked Tottenham boss, who was odds-on favourite to become Fabio Capello’s successor as England manager before being overlooked by the FA in favour of Roy Hodgson, revealed that he was rather surprised at the ease at which Italy were taking England apart in the two sides’ quarterfinal clash.
“It’s a depressing way to go out as we were dominated by an Italian team that hasn’t looked that special at Euro 2012,” said Redknapp un his column for Betfair. “They were in a completely different class to us.”
Heaping massive praise on Azzurri anchorman Andrea Pirlo, Redknapp continued: “It’s the same old story in international football, you have to keep the ball and we couldn’t do that. Italy dominated possession and, in Pirlo, they had a man who could just run the game. He was on another level to everyone else on the pitch.”
However, Redknapp seemed hopeful for the future, suggesting that Pirlo’s guile and craft could be matched by the 20-year old Wilshere when fully fit.
“In Andrea Pirlo, Italy had a magician on the pitch. But England do have one of our own in the shape of Jack Wilshere and that’s one reason to believe we can improve in the future.”
Redknapp was also very effusive in his praise of Hodgson, suggesting that the former Fulham and West Bromwich Albion manager could not have done more than he did, and set up the team as a strong defensive unit quite admirably.
you areright, but with experience i think frank lampard is far better, am an arsenal supporter but at the moment, lampard in champions league final, return leg in spain, chelsea vs barca,,…i think lamps is a great player he does what ever pirlo does, even more like defending….
Wooh Arsenal have an old fan back, welcome back Redknapp.
Englands Pirlo is not Jack Wilshire (good a player as he is) but either Micheal Carrick (the best English player on the ball, similarly elegant to Pirlo – two footed) or Thom Huddlestone, the best english passer of the ball, well capable of playing the type of passess that Pirlo did, he only lacks urgency and tactical awareness, which is an english problem not a Huddlestone problem.
Jack Wilshere is one of the best players I have ever seen and I am beyond words happy he is a total Gunner.
Lampard has good games but his performances have been hot and cold, both for Chelsea and England – especially in the last World Cup in 2010. Wilshere gives 120% every game, he’s like a rabid greyhound who does just want to catch and kill the rabbit, he wants to make that rabbit know it has been in the chase of its life.
The biggest, BIGGEST BIGGEST absolute BIGGEST testimony of what Wilshere is already about is the respect shown to him by players like Paul Scholes and Arshavin, two seasoned and experienced players who have both said Wilshere is already better at 19 than what they are at the end of their careers. Arshavin circled him as the best player at Arsenal, even when Fabregas was still at Arsenal.
John Terry and other players appear wary of Jack, so this is a big testement to Wilshere’s strength of character and I love the way Jack taunts rivals.
Has Lampard single handedly contained the Barcelona Midfield EVER? Was Lampard 19 when he did this, lol.
Jack Wilshere is wrapped in cotton wool at the moment. His injury is being nurtured because he is PHENOMENALLY important to Arsenal, he is fast on track to becoming Arsenal Captain and England Captain. He is in the proverbial encasement with a sign which states “Break Glass In Case Of Emergency”.
Managers of other teams, including Cappello and also players such as Scholes know more about football than anybody commenting on these blogs … and they speak of Wilshere as a player who comes along once in every 30 years.
If you asked Gerrard or Lampard themselves, they will admit Wilshere is better and they will say it publically. This last bit is what makes the question incontestable. Such players with egos as big as their’s would not say so lightly and definitely not publically.
I wouldn’t swap Wilshere for Messi and Ronaldo combined, not even if Kaka was thrown in with Iniesta. Wilshere is way, way way better player than what average people on these blogs seem to think. If they knew anything about football, they would not be comparing Wilshere with any players in the current England set up – and like I said, they don’t know more than the experienced players and managers who are singing the praises of Wilshere.
And Wilshere is going to become even better …