JT And Ash Miss Belarus Game

[Modueke]

I know JT was probably a no-go for this game, but it appears Ashley has a hamstring injury too. Maybe we are playing the Liverpool card and not risking these two in the international games. After the fans got behind Ashley so well the other day, maybe it's good news for him.

Cole and Terry will miss England's trip to Belarus

England will be without John Terry and Ashley Cole for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Belarus.

The England captain has failed to recover from a back injury, while his Chelsea team-mate Cole has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Terry also missed England's 5-1 win over Kazakhstan at Wembley on Saturday.

"It's disappointing to lose two very experienced players in John Terry and Ashley Cole for the game in Belarus," said England manager Fabio Capello.

"Unfortunately they have no chance of playing, so it is best they return to Chelsea."

Rio Ferdinand stood in as captain in a match that saw Cole targeted by home fans after a mistake that led to the visitors' goal.

Cole strained his right hamstring in that victory and a scan on Sunday revealed he will not be fit enough for the match against Belarus.

Terry resumed running and some light gym work on Sunday but did not train on Monday and will not join the rest of the squad as they fly out to Minsk on Tuesday morning.

Capello now needs to decide whether Matthew Upson, after a less-than-convincing outing on Saturday, will remain alongside Ferdinand at the heart of England's defence, while Cole is likely to be replaced by Wayne Bridge at left-back.

Bridge's last competitive appearance for England was the 3-2 home defeat to Croatia last November that denied Steve McLaren's side a place at Euro 2008, while Cole is Chelsea's preferred left-back, ahead of the former Southampton man.

Joleon Lescott is another option for Capello, with the Everton defender capable of filling in at either centre-back on or the left.

The England manager will also consider whether to employ Gareth Barry in a holding midfield role after a disjointed first-half team display against Kazakhstan at Wembley.

Barry was replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips after a goalless first period, with England reverting to a 4-4-2 formation, and the change seemed to work as they looked much more dangerous after the break, but it did leave them more vulnerable to the counter-attack.

"I have time to decide whether to play a holding midfielder in Belarus," said Capello.

Victory in Belarus would create history for England by opening a World Cup campaign with four straight wins, but Capello has warned his team against complacency and expects a tough test.

"They are not conservative at all," he said.

"They move all over, like Arsenal, and pass the ball a lot. Belarus are a very dangerous side and this game will not be easy."

Source

[Gem]

As long as its not serious for either of them then good.

Luckily for England, Wayne is a fantastic replacement for Ash.

[BlueBeard]

As long as its not serious for either of them then good.

Luckily for England, Wayne is a fantastic replacement for Ash.

F*ck England, luckily for Chelsea Wayne is a fantastic replacement :huh:

[Gem]

Not lucky for Chelsea, we buy the best, no luck involved, business smarts. Lucky for England Wayne is English and quality ;)

[Valerie]

Every time I read the title of this thread, I think "what the hell has Cole been up to with Miss Belarus?".

[byatt]

Ash will be fine for Chelsea, just Fabio protecting him from the fickle England boo boys, and for me the rest will do JT good

[Lofty]

Every time I read the title of this thread, I think "what the hell has Cole been up to with Miss Belarus?".

A threesome yet. JT and Ash: Miss Belarus game. And here is the very lovely Katsiaryna Litvinava, Miss Belarus 2006:

[mad_mac]

Cech didn't start against Slovenia either

[Lofty]

I've actually heard suggestions this week (bet you can't guess where) that JT feigned injury to get out of playing for England.

I can't quite decide whether I should be more outraged at the above, or the fact that a thread bearing the name of a certain whiny voiced Scouse git has been at the top of this section for so long. Which is of course, one of the main reasons I'm actually making this post.