Critics: Mancienne lacks the experience for England bench

PUNDITS HAVE rounded on Fabio Capello for calling up Chelsea’s Michael Mancienne to the senior England subs bench, despite the defender’s lack of top-level unused substitute experience.

Mancienne, who is currently on loan at Wolves, is expected to pull on the hallowed Three Lions tracksuit top for the friendly against Germany tomorrow, but critics fear it may be too much, too soon for the promising youngster.

“People are saying that Michael has the potential to be a world class benchwarmer, but this kind of early international promotion could damage him in the long term,” said Steve Bull, who won 30 unused substitute caps for his country in a glorious career.

“The German substitutes will be international class, and it’s quite possible that Mancienne will find himself repeatedly dragged out of position onto the running track around the pitch, or be completely outclassed by the experienced warm ups of Phillip Lahm and Torsten Frings.”

However, Mancienne has been watched on numerous occasions by Fabio Capello’s scouts, who highlighted his abilities to wear large stadium jackets and look cold behind his manager.

Steve Claridge, profiling the starlet in his scouting column in The Guardian, also noted that Mancienne possessed ‘incredibly quick banter for a lad of his age’, setting him apart from slow-witted rivals for the role like Michael Carrick and Micah Richards, who only know three jokes each.

Wolves Manager Mick McCarthy also thinks his loanee is ready to make the step up to international bench-warming. “His tame shots at the reserve keeper during half time are second-to none,” the ex-Ireland manager said.

“Of course, we don’t want to get carried away and hype the lad up unreasonably, but Michael’s ability to look bored for 90 minutes and go for the occasional jog up and down the touchline has been an inspiration since he came here.

“I’m not saying he’s there yet, but in time he could be as good as England’s greatest ever unused substitute, Tim Flowers.”

Published January 13, 2009

Related Posts