Wayne Bridge quits England squad

[Panda]

Wayne Bridge has made himself unavailable for international selection following the John Terry allegations.

Bridge says his position was "untenable" and he has made the decision "for the good of the team".

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8536491.stm

[Robin]

Oh dear, Cole, Terry, Bridge, this is really not what we need ahead of the World Cup!

[Shireblogger]

Unfortunate, as Bridge is the sort of player you need in a successful world cup squad. Mature, versatile, reliable. But his decision is completely understandable.

If only we had some options at centre back, then the obnoxious Mr Terry could be sacrificed.

[frag]

Feb 25, 2010 14:56:30 GMT 1 Shireblogger said:

Unfortunate, as Bridge is the sort of player you need in a successful world cup squad. Mature, versatile, reliable. But his decision is completely understandable.

If only we had some options at centre back, then the obnoxious Mr Terry could be sacrificed.

I agree with Bridge's decision, but I do wonder who would have left (or been forced out of) the England squad if Bridge had been the cheat and Terry the innocent party... probably still Bridge. Terry might have released a statement similar to Bridge's today, and then pressure would have built up on Bridge to stand aside.

[madmurray]

I think its a disgrace.

John Terry should be sacrificed, he done the dirty so axe him.

[Maximo Mark]

Why?

John Terry is our best centre-back. Wayne Bridge is a good but not great left-back. He'll never be first choice and hasn't been as good as Leighton Baines or Stephen Warnock since Chelsea signed Ashley Cole. As far as I'm concerned Wayne Bridge shouldn't be quitting the England team as he shouldn't be in it in the first place.

[Kim]

It should have been JT pulling out, and not just of the football!

[o]

At least they have a ready made excuse when we get knocked out of the quarter finals!
Team morale/harmony.

[madmurray]

Feb 25, 2010 22:29:37 GMT 1 Maximo Mark said:

Why?

John Terry is our best centre-back. Wayne Bridge is a good but not great left-back. He'll never be first choice and hasn't been as good as Leighton Baines or Stephen Warnock since Chelsea signed Ashley Cole. As far as I'm concerned Wayne Bridge shouldn't be quitting the England team as he shouldn't be in it in the first place.

Because it was JT that done the dirty. It should be him that is hanging his head in shame, not Bridges.

I dont care if he's the best player in the world or not. He should be punished not bridges.

[Chris]

There was a phone-in debate about this on Radio 2 at 1pm. Seemed to be quite evenly split really between those supporting him and those saying he should have carried on playing.

[Panda]

Feb 26, 2010 22:02:47 GMT 1 madmurray said:

Feb 25, 2010 22:29:37 GMT 1 Maximo Mark said:

Why?

John Terry is our best centre-back. Wayne Bridge is a good but not great left-back. He'll never be first choice and hasn't been as good as Leighton Baines or Stephen Warnock since Chelsea signed Ashley Cole. As far as I'm concerned Wayne Bridge shouldn't be quitting the England team as he shouldn't be in it in the first place.

Because it was JT that done the dirty. It should be him that is hanging his head in shame, not Bridges.

I dont care if he's the best player in the world or not. He should be punished not bridges.

Terry has been punished.

[madmurray]

In what way?

[Panda]

He was stripped of the England captaincy.

[Chris]

Correct. There was a guy ringing Radio 2 who said his best mate in the army, serving in the same regiment, shagged his wife but yet they still managed to serve together afterwards. He'd no choice as you can't just get out of the army in a day but he said he bit his lip and got on with it.

[madmurray]

Feb 26, 2010 23:48:04 GMT 1 Panda said:

He was stripped of the England captaincy.

I didn't realise that he had.

I just dont think that it is fair for Bridge to miss out on the world cup.

If he goes, he will be blamed for upsetting all, if he doesnt go, he will still get blamed.

JT seems to be escaping it all.

[ligerdog7]

so he play in 2days match v terry not england von gve it go huhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
i herd day force bridge play gets sack i say do try both

what wussy
fabeo names england side at 8pm 2day think he say ever add bridge
oggyes kool
mooo
yooo
nooo diigtyy
uppp
g ;D

[Maximo Mark]

Feb 26, 2010 23:55:36 GMT 1 madmurray said:

Feb 26, 2010 23:48:04 GMT 1 Panda said:

He was stripped of the England captaincy.

I didn't realise that he had.

I just dont think that it is fair for Bridge to miss out on the world cup.

If he goes, he will be blamed for upsetting all, if he doesnt go, he will still get blamed.

JT seems to be escaping it all.

He can go. It's his choice not to go. No one is forcing him to not go. I don't see why he'd be blamed anyway? You don't have to like someone to be part of the same squad and play in the same team. Kolo Toure and William Gallas didn't get on, they were a good partnership for Arsenal. Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole hated each other, but they were a great front pairing.

As far as I'm concerned I support England and I want Englad to win the World Cup. We've got far more chance of doing that with Terry in the squad than we have with Wayne Bridge.

Wayne Bridge retiring is no loss at all. Left-back is probably the area we now have most depth in. 9 Premiership teams first choice left-back is English, and then there's also Nicky Shorey, Kieran Gibbs, Jolean Lescott, Phil Neville and Gareth Barry who've played there for England before or will do in future (Gibbs). Losing one of those left backs? As long as it's not Ashley Cole there's no loss.

[Tom]

Feb 25, 2010 14:56:30 GMT 1 Shireblogger said:

Unfortunate, as Bridge is the sort of player you need in a successful world cup squad. Mature, versatile, reliable. But his decision is completely understandable.

If only we had some options at centre back, then the obnoxious Mr Terry could be sacrificed.

Largely agree with that.

I've never really liked Terry and after his various indiscretions off the pitch this season think he's a total tw*t, but i have always respected him as a player. But the whole saga seems to be affecting his game atm and unfortunately there seems to be issues with all of the England defenders who've played under Capello atm.