Friday, March 29, 2024

Is the loss of John Terry really such a loss?

Really such a loss?

I keep reading what a major blow it is that England will be without Chelsea defender John Terry for tonight’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro. Terry has dropped out of the Wembley encounter with a back injury.

Association

The Football Association said,

“Terry was assessed by England medical staff on Sunday and will not be fit to play any part in Tuesday’s game.”

The twenty-nine year old defender had an operation in 2006 to cure a back problem and this current injury is likely to be a recurrence. He has a reputation of being something of a ‘warrior’ and is notorious for shrugging off minor problems, but he was forced out of the double-header against Bulgaria and Switzerland with a hamstring injury and this will mean he has only featured once for his country since the World Cup.

Age

It could be that Terry’s age and combative style are beginning to take their toll on his body and it could be with the return to fitness of Rio Ferdinand and the emergence of Phil Jagielka as an international defender and the likes of Gary Cahill and Jones at Blackburn, Terry’s international career might be coming to an end.

My question is whether that really is such a major blow to England?

Impressed

Terry has played sixty-five times for his country and was captain of the side until his ‘off field’ misdemeanours led to Fabio Capello taking that honour away from him. He has featured at Euro 2004 and the World Cups in 2006 and 2010. He has impressed at various times in those tournaments and was included in the team of the tournament at the 2006 World Cup.

Having said that, you have to ask how successful England have been with him at the heart of their defence. The answer is that they haven’t been.

Passionate

Around Europe and the World, Terry’s ‘ heart on his sleeve’, passionate style of play seems to be hugely admired. He was selected in the FIFPro World XI every season from 2005 to 2009. He was UEFA’s best club defender in 2005, 2008 and 2009 and selected in the UEFA team of the year in 2005, 2008 and 2009. You cannot argue with a record like that.

However, those that watch him on a regular basis are not quite so quick to hand out the honours. He was the PFA player of the year in 2005 and he was Chelsea’s player of the season back in 2001 and in 2006. He was selected by his fellow professionals in the PFA Premier League team of the season in 2004, 2005 and 2006, but he has not been selected by them in 2007, 2008, 2009 or 2010.

Recognised

It would seem that at around the time he started to make his mark on the World and start picking up all sorts of honours, he stopped being recognised domestically. Since 2006 he has been handed seven European and World honours but absolutely nothing domestically. I am not sure why this should be the case but those facts must mean something.

I have long believed that John Terry is too slow and not technically gifted enough to be an international central defender. I know I am in the minority with that view and when I have expressed it before over a few beers in a pub people have looked at me as though I were mad. They have insisted that he is the best in the world.

Selected

His fellow Premier League professionals have selected Rio Ferdinand in their team of the year each time they have left Terry out. Last year, when Ferdinand hardly played, the pros picked Aston Villa’s Richard Dunne and Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen ahead of Terry. That must mean something.

Am I the only person who thinks that the loss of the 2010 John Terry is not really much of a blow?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Graham Fisher


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  • Paul

    0 0

    haha, thug Gerrard. let me pick myself off the floor from laughing.

  • Ryan

    0 0

    John Terry is an excellent player; there is no doubt about that. He is definately not the best defender in the world, but he is the best defender for the English squad. He knows how to keep his composure, control his team, and make crucial stops. Ocassionally he makes mistakes because of his pace, but so far England has not produced a better defender.

  • Brad

    0 0

    He’s one of the best defenders in the EPL and for England. that right there should be enough to answer the question.

  • MapleLeaf

    0 0

    yes you are the only one who thinks that. John Terry is not only the best defender in the world but he is a leader among the English. He is the only player who is consistent throughout his performances and does not allow “off field” shanagans harm his form.

  • solidsnake

    0 0

    well. its a mistake to question as if terry is a ‘international level defender’. for me he definitely is. Ppl say hes slow and thats a fact, but it doesnot mean he cant defend well. In fact this season, he showed that in chelsea, even with alex, who is seemingly a slower type of defender, he managed to hold the defence tight and his team conceded less than any other team that have so-called ‘may-be-better defenders’. If you say that losing terry is not much a blow, to me, if you have sufficient defenders who ‘can’ play to a similar extent of defence, its really not a major blow. But of course, there must be some impact.

  • Dylan

    0 0

    thug gerrard? how can you say he has not stepped up to the plate? terry is past his best

  • Adz

    0 0

    It amazes me that even after the Red-Tops print apologies for a false story you still quote this story as Terry’s “misdemeanours”. The simple fact is that he was the strongest on field leader England had. Since that was taken away from him he hasn’t been the same player and NO-ONE has stepped forward as a suitable replacement. Drug-taking Ferdinand, Thug Gerrard, Pro-User Rooney. All fantastic role models for children I’m sure, but none of them are as good a leader. Is he the best defender? Probably he is, but he needs the right partner to play alongside him, and that doesn’t mean Ferdinand!!

  • Adz

    0 0

    It amazes me that even after the Red-Tops print apologies for a false story you still quote this story as Terry’s “misdemeanours”. The simple fact is that he was the strongest on field leader England had. Since that was taken away from him he hasn’t been the same player and NO-ONE has stepped forward as a suitable replacement. Drug-taking Ferdinand, Thug Gerrard, Pro-User Rooney. All fantastic role models for children I’m sure, but none of them are as good a leader. Is he the best defender? Probably he is, but he needs the right partner to play alongside him, and that doesn’t mean Ferdinand!!

  • Dylan

    0 0

    thug gerrard? how can you say he has not stepped up to the plate? terry is past his best

  • solidsnake

    0 0

    well. its a mistake to question as if terry is a ‘international level defender’. for me he definitely is. Ppl say hes slow and thats a fact, but it doesnot mean he cant defend well. In fact this season, he showed that in chelsea, even with alex, who is seemingly a slower type of defender, he managed to hold the defence tight and his team conceded less than any other team that have so-called ‘may-be-better defenders’. If you say that losing terry is not much a blow, to me, if you have sufficient defenders who ‘can’ play to a similar extent of defence, its really not a major blow. But of course, there must be some impact.

  • MapleLeaf

    0 0

    yes you are the only one who thinks that. John Terry is not only the best defender in the world but he is a leader among the English. He is the only player who is consistent throughout his performances and does not allow “off field” shanagans harm his form.

  • Brad

    0 0

    He’s one of the best defenders in the EPL and for England. that right there should be enough to answer the question.

  • Ryan

    0 0

    John Terry is an excellent player; there is no doubt about that. He is definately not the best defender in the world, but he is the best defender for the English squad. He knows how to keep his composure, control his team, and make crucial stops. Ocassionally he makes mistakes because of his pace, but so far England has not produced a better defender.

  • Paul

    0 0

    haha, thug Gerrard. let me pick myself off the floor from laughing.

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