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The Football Ground; Post your footie/soccer talk here
Topic Started: Aug 22 2007, 06:10 PM (617 Views)
Ninja Boi	Nov 12 2007, 02:13 PM Post #76
The Lego Master Posts: 5,686 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: August 17, 2007	This made me laugh today... :laugh3 David Bentley's shirt for the Manchester United clash at the weekend had the Blackburn winger's name spelt as 'Betnley". As The Sun points out: "If the Rovers staff struggle to spell 'Bentley' then maybe it explains why Zura Khizanishvili cannot get in the side. (Sun, Daily Mail, Times) Posted Image



Ninja Boi	Nov 24 2007, 01:43 PM Post #77
The Lego Master Posts: 5,686 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: August 17, 2007	Saturday, 24 November 2007 Arsenal v Wigan, 15:00 Birmingham v Portsmouth, 15:00 Bolton v Man Utd, 15:00 Derby v Chelsea, 17:15 Everton v Sunderland, 15:00 Man City v Reading, 15:00 Middlesbrough v Aston Villa, 15:00 Newcastle v Liverpool, 12:45 Sunday, 25 November 2007 Fulham v Blackburn, 16:00 West Ham v Tottenham, 13:30 Wednesday, 28 November 2007 Blackburn v Aston Villa, 20:00



Ninja Boi	Nov 30 2007, 04:12 PM Post #78
The Lego Master Posts: 5,686 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: August 17, 2007	Saturday, 01 December 2007 Aston Villa v Arsenal, 17:15 Blackburn v Newcastle, 15:00 Chelsea v West Ham, 12:45 Portsmouth v Everton, 15:00 Reading v Middlesbrough, 15:00 Sunderland v Derby, 15:00 Wigan v Man City, 15:00 Sunday, 02 December 2007 Liverpool v Bolton, 15:00 Tottenham v Birmingham, 16:00 Monday, 03 December 2007 Man Utd v Fulham, 20:00 Wednesday, 05 December 2007 Newcastle v Arsenal, 19:45



Ninja Boi	Dec 29 2007, 08:34 AM Post #79
The Lego Master Posts: 5,686 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: August 17, 2007	Game of the season so far was played on Boxing day! :lol: Chelsea 4-4 Aston Villa By Owen Phillips Shaun Maloney volleyed Villa ahead and Petr Cech's gaffe gifted him a second but Zat Knight saw red and Andriy Shevchenko netted from the spot. Shevchenko spanked Chelsea level and Alex crashed in a third but Martin Laursen equalised before Ricardo Carvalho saw red for a nasty lunge. Michael Ballack's free-kick seemed to have won it but Barry made it 4-4 when Ashley Cole was sent off for handball. At 2-0 down with seconds to go before the interval, an out-of-sorts Chelsea would probably have been thrilled with a point and the chance to extend their 71-game home unbeaten league run. But having played the entire second half against ten men and twice led in the final 15 minutes, boss Avram Grant will be furious with his side's failure to protect their lead. 606: DEBATE What a game! Absolutely stunning! This is what the Premier League's all about leenash_1981 The tone was set from the outset as Chelsea made a sloppy start and early mistakes by full-backs Ashley Cole and Paulo Ferreira saw Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor drag efforts narrowly wide. Villa's wing duo were the chief tormentors of Chelsea in their victory over Jose Mourinho's Blues at Villa Park earlier in the season. And it was no surprise when Agbonlahor worked his magic to tee up the away side's thoroughly deserved opener. Agbonlahor robbed Salomon Kalou and worked some space on the right before finding the imposing figure of John Carew and his clever header back across goal was volleyed in by Maloney. Chelsea were struggling to deal with the pace and direct running of Villa's wingers and Agbonlahor had two further chances. He blazed the first over from a tight angle and saw a deflected shot well kept out by Cech. Chelsea's cause was hardly helped by a thigh injury to the inspirational Frank Lampard, although it did allow Ballack to come on for his first taste of Premier League action since April. The Blues's only noteworthy chance of the opening half an hour came from the boot of Joe Cole but his weak effort was easily saved by Scott Carson. But just as the Londoners began to look like getting back into the match, Maloney doubled Villa's lead courtesy of a terrible blunder by Cech. The former Celtic striker took aim from 20 yards and Cech went down on one knee to gather but got his angles all wrong and the ball squirmed up off his arm and into the corner of the net. At 2-0 and with Chelsea all at sea and Villa in control and full of confidence, the game looked as good as over. But the whole complexion changed deep into stoppage time. Michael Essien scuffed a shot from 25 yards and the ball fortuitously fell to Ballack who got in front of Knight and was bundled over before he could reach the ball. Referee Phil Dowd sent off Knight and Shevchenko coolly sent Carson the wrong way from the penalty spot. Shevchenko then had a glorious chance to level within two minutes of the restart but he shot tamely at Carson from the edge of the box. However he did not have to wait long. Kalou wriggled free on the edge of the box and laid the ball across to Shevchenko who took one touch and spanked home a vicious shot that deceived Carson in the air. Chelsea were rampant and the pressure was relentless. Kalou blazed over, Ballack twice went close from 20 yards but it was Alex who put Chelsea ahead. The Brazilian centre-half Alex brought the ball out of defence, exchanged passes with Shevchenko and showed neat footwork before fizzing a low shot into the bottom corner. Villa though were not beaten and Laursen soon restored parity when he guided a volleyed effort home from Young's beautifully curled free-kick. Carvalho then saw saw red for a terrible two-footed lunge on Agbonlahor to level up the number of players. Both teams were still going for the victory and it was the hosts who seemed to have got it when Ballack stroked home a wonderful 87th-minute free-kick. Amazingly there was still time for Villa to level. Villa kept the ball alive in the box and Agbonlahor's header was cleared off the line by Ashley Cole. Cole claimed it was headed away but Villa screamed penalty for handball and referee Dowd agreed. And Barry showed great composure to earn Villa a deseved point from the spot and put a huge dent in Chelsea's title aspirations. Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Alex, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Kalou, Essien, Lampard (Ballack 26), Joe Cole, Pizarro (Obi 85), Shevchenko (Wright-Phillips 82). Subs Not Used: Hilario, Ben-Haim. Sent Off: Carvalho (80), Ashley Cole (90). Booked: Essien, Alex, Ballack. Goals: Shevchenko 45 pen, 50, Alex 66, Ballack 88. Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Laursen, Knight, Bouma (Harewood 90), Maloney (Davies 46), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Carew (Moore 78), Agbonlahor. Subs Not Used: Taylor, Gardner. Sent Off: Knight (45). Booked: Reo-Coker, Harewood. Goals: Maloney 14, 44, Laursen 72, Barry 90 pen. Att: 41,686 Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire). BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Aston Villa's Shaun Maloney 8.30 (on 90 minutes).



Ninja Boi	Dec 29 2007, 08:37 AM Post #80
The Lego Master Posts: 5,686 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: August 17, 2007	Posted Image



Ninja Boi	Jan 11 2008, 06:28 PM Post #81
The Lego Master Posts: 5,686 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: August 17, 2007	Friday, 11 January 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Tranmere v Bristol Rovers, 19:45 Saturday, 12 January 2008 International Match Kuwait v Ivory Coast, 14:30 Morocco v Zambia, 15:00 Barclays Premier League Arsenal v Birmingham, 15:00 Aston Villa v Reading, 15:00 Chelsea v Tottenham, 15:00 Derby v Wigan, 15:00 Everton v Man City, 15:00 Man Utd v Newcastle, 17:15 Middlesbrough v Liverpool, 15:00 West Ham v Fulham, 15:00 The Coca-Cola Football League Championship Barnsley v Norwich, 15:00 Bristol City v Colchester, 15:00 Burnley v Plymouth, 15:00 Cardiff v Sheff Wed, 15:00 Charlton v Blackpool, 15:00 Hull v West Brom, 17:20 Ipswich v Stoke, 15:00 Leicester v Coventry, 15:00 Preston v Watford, 15:00 Sheff Utd v QPR, 15:00 Southampton v Scunthorpe, 15:00 Wolverhampton v Crystal Palace, 15:00 Coca-Cola Football League One Cheltenham v Bournemouth, 15:00 Doncaster v Carlisle, 15:00 Huddersfield v Gillingham, 15:00 Luton v Swansea, 15:00 Northampton v Hartlepool, 15:00 Nottm Forest v Leyton Orient, 15:00 Oldham v Brighton, 15:00 Port Vale v Millwall, 15:00 Southend v Yeovil, 15:00 Walsall v Swindon, 15:00 Coca-Cola Football League Two Bradford v Notts County, 15:00 Brentford v Chesterfield, 15:00 Chester v Mansfield, 15:00 Darlington v Bury, 15:00 Grimsby v Wrexham, 15:00 Lincoln City v Rotherham, 15:00 Milton Keynes Dons v Barnet, 15:00 Morecambe v Dag & Red, 15:00 Peterborough v Macclesfield, 15:00 Stockport v Accrington Stanley, 15:00 Wycombe v Rochdale, 15:00 Blue Square Premier Salisbury v Oxford Utd, 15:00 Scottish Cup Airdrie Utd v Kilmarnock, R4, 15:00 Celtic v Stirling, R4, 15:00 Clyde v Dundee Utd, R4, 12:45 Cove Rangers v Ross County, R4, 15:00 Falkirk v Aberdeen, R4, 15:00 Hamilton v Brechin, R4, 15:00 Hearts v Motherwell, R4, 15:00 Hibernian v Inverness CT, R4, 15:00 Huntly v Dundee, R4, 15:00 Livingston v Cowdenbeath, R4, 15:00 Morton v Gretna, R4, 15:00 Partick v Dunfermline, R4, 15:00 Queen of South v Linlithgow, R4, 15:00 St Johnstone v Raith, R4, 15:00 St Mirren v Dumbarton, R4, 15:00 The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Championship Second Division Alloa v Berwick, 15:00 The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Championship Third Division Elgin v Albion, 15:00 Forfar v Arbroath, 15:00 Montrose v East Fife, 15:00 The FA Carlsberg Trophy Bishop's Stortford v Halifax, R2, 15:00 Blyth Spartans v Tamworth, R2, 15:00 Braintree Town v Workington, R2, 15:00 Crawley Town v Eastleigh, R2, 15:00 Dorchester v Ebbsfleet United, R2, 15:00 Droylsden v Cambridge City, R2, 15:00 Farsley Celtic v Alfreton Town, R2, 15:00 Histon v Cambridge Utd, R2, 15:00 Newport County v Torquay, R2, 15:00 Rushden & D'monds v Exeter, R2, 15:00 Stafford Rangers v Forest Green, R2, 15:00 Tonbridge Angels v AFC Wimbledon, R2, 15:00 Vauxhall Motors v Burton Albion, R2, 15:00 Weymouth v Kidderminster, R2, 15:00 Woking v Aldershot, R2, 15:00 York v Grays Athletic, R2, 15:00 Blue Square North Barrow v Gainsborough, 15:00 Hinckley Utd v Burscough, 15:00 Hucknall v Kettering, 15:00 Leigh RMI v Redditch, 15:00 Nuneaton v Worcester, 15:00 Solihull Moors v AFC Telford, 15:00 Stalybridge v Harrogate Town, 15:00 Blue Square South Basingstoke v Bognor Regis Town, 15:00 Bromley v Maidenhead Utd, 15:00 Eastbourne Borough v Fisher Athletic, 15:00 Hampton & Richmond v Thurrock, 15:00 Havant and W v St Albans, 15:00 Sutton Utd v Bath City, 15:00 Weston-S-Mare v Hayes & Yeading, 15:00 Scot-Ads Highland Football League Brora v Buckie Thistle, 15:00 Deveronvale v Inverurie Locos, 15:00 Fort William v Forres Mechanics, 15:00 Keith v Fraserburgh, 15:00 Lossiemouth v Wick Academy, 15:00 Rothes v Nairn County, 15:00 Principality Building Society Welsh Premier League Airbus UK v Port Talbot, 14:30 Caernarfon v Carmarthen, 14:30 Haverfordwest v Porthmadog, 14:30 Llanelli v Llangefni Town, 14:30 Neath v Rhyl, 14:30 Newi Cefn Druids v Aberystwyth, 14:30 Newtown v Connah's Quay, 14:30 The New Saints FC v Bangor City, 14:30 Sunday, 13 January 2008 International Match Costa Rica v Sweden, 22:15 South Africa v Mozambique, 14:00 Barclays Premier League Bolton v Blackburn, 16:00 Sunderland v Portsmouth, 13:30 Coca-Cola Football League Two Hereford v Shrewsbury, 14:00 Scottish Cup Rangers v East Stirling, R4, 15:00 FA Tesco Women's Premier League Blackburn Ladies v Doncaster Rovers Belles, 14:00 Chelsea Ladies v Cardiff Ladies, 14:00 Leeds Utd Ladies v Arsenal Ladies, 14:00 Watford Ladies v Everton Ladies, 14:00 The FA Women's Cup Sponsored by E.ON Sunderland Ladies v Birmingham Ladies, R4, 13:00 Monday, 14 January 2008 Coca-Cola Football League One Crewe v Leeds, 19:45 Tuesday, 15 January 2008 The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON Barnet v Swindon, R3, 19:45 Bristol Rovers v Fulham, R3, 19:45 Bury v Norwich, R3, 19:45 Liverpool v Luton, R3, 20:00 Millwall v Walsall, R3, 19:45 Reading v Tottenham, R3, 20:00 Sheff Wed v Derby, R3, 19:45 West Brom v Charlton, R3, 19:45 Coca-Cola Football League Two Morecambe v Darlington, 19:45 Peterborough v Accrington Stanley, 19:45 Blue Square Premier Cambridge Utd v Droylsden, 19:45 Blue Square North Blyth Spartans v Barrow, 19:45 Burscough v Tamworth, 19:45 Redditch v Hyde, 19:45 Blue Square South Hampton & Richmond v Bath City, 19:45 Carnegie Irish Premier Division Cliftonville v Limavady, 19:45 Wednesday, 16 January 2008 International Match South Africa v Botswana, 16:00 Tunisia v Morocco, The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON Havant and W v Swansea, R3, 19:45 Hereford v Tranmere, R3, 19:45 Man City v West Ham, R3, 20:05 Newcastle v Stoke, R3, 19:45 Coca-Cola Football League Two Chesterfield v Rochdale, 19:30 Clydesdale Bank Premier League Gretna v Rangers, 19:45



Ninja Boi	Jan 21 2008, 01:13 AM Post #82
The Lego Master Posts: 5,686 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: August 17, 2007	Big Match tonight! Liverpool v Aston Villa Come on you lions!!! rrooooaaaaaarrrrrr



Ninja Boi	Jan 27 2008, 05:20 PM Post #83
The Lego Master Posts: 5,686 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: August 17, 2007	I just found two superb photos runey took. One from the Villa and one from Man utd. VILLA PARK Posted Image OLD TRAFFORD Posted Image



Wolverine	Jan 31 2008, 12:38 PM Post #84
Dangerous when provoked Posts: 4,695 Group: Admin Member #2 Joined: August 17, 2007	Ninja Boi Jan 21 2008, 01:13 AM Big Match tonight! Liverpool v Aston Villa Come on you lions!!! rrooooaaaaaarrrrrr Who are Liverpool anyway???? WA HA HA Posted Image



Ninja Boi	Feb 2 2008, 04:14 AM Post #85
The Lego Master Posts: 5,686 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: August 17, 2007	This weekends fixtures Saturday, 02 February 2008 Barclays Premier League Birmingham v Derby, 15:00 Blackburn v Everton, 15:00 Liverpool v Sunderland, 17:15 Man City v Arsenal, 12:45 Portsmouth v Chelsea, 15:00 Reading v Bolton, 15:00 Tottenham v Man Utd, 15:00 Wigan v West Ham, 15:00 The Coca-Cola Football League Championship Blackpool v Leicester, 15:00 Colchester v Sheff Utd, 15:00 Coventry v Barnsley, 15:00 Crystal Palace v Southampton, 15:00 Norwich v Preston, 15:00 Plymouth v Hull, 15:00 QPR v Bristol City, 15:00 Scunthorpe v Charlton, 15:00 Sheff Wed v Ipswich, 15:00 Stoke v Cardiff, 12:30 Watford v Wolverhampton, 17:20 West Brom v Burnley, 15:00 Coca-Cola Football League One Bournemouth v Nottm Forest, 15:00 Brighton v Crewe, 15:00 Bristol Rovers v Port Vale, 15:00 Carlisle v Walsall, 15:00 Gillingham v Cheltenham, 15:00 Hartlepool v Luton, 15:00 Leeds v Tranmere, 15:00 Leyton Orient v Southend, 15:00 Millwall v Doncaster, 15:00 Swansea v Oldham, 14:00 Swindon v Northampton, 15:00 Yeovil v Huddersfield, 15:00 Coca-Cola Football League Two Accrington Stanley v Wycombe, 15:00 Barnet v Morecambe, 15:00 Bury v Milton Keynes Dons, 15:00 Chesterfield v Chester, 15:00 Dag & Red v Stockport, 15:00 Macclesfield v Bradford, 15:00 Mansfield v Brentford, 15:00 Notts County v Grimsby, 15:00 Rochdale v Peterborough, 15:00 Rotherham v Hereford, 15:00 Shrewsbury v Lincoln City, 15:00 Wrexham v Darlington, 14:30 Blue Square Premier Exeter v Stevenage, 15:00 Kidderminster v Northwich, 15:00 Salisbury v Forest Green, 15:00 Scottish Cup Aberdeen v Hamilton, R5, 15:00 Hibernian v Rangers/ East Stirling, R5, 15:00 Kilmarnock v Celtic, R5, 12:00 Livingston v Partick, R5, 15:00 Morton v Queen of South, R5, 15:00 Ross County v St Johnstone, R5, 15:00 St Mirren v Dundee Utd, R5, 15:00 The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Championship First Division Clyde v Stirling, 15:00 The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Championship Second Division Airdrie Utd v Raith, 15:00 Berwick v Cowdenbeath, 15:00 Peterhead v Alloa, 15:00 Queens Park v Brechin, 15:00 The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Championship Third Division Dumbarton v Elgin, 15:00 East Fife v East Stirling, 15:00 Montrose v Albion, 15:00 Stenhousemuir v Arbroath, 15:00 Stranraer v Forfar, 15:00 The FA Carlsberg Trophy AFC Wimbledon v Torquay, R3, 15:00 Aldershot v Braintree Town, R3, 15:00 Burton Albion v Histon, R3, 15:00 Crawley Town v Droylsden, R3, 15:00 Ebbsfleet United v Weymouth, R3, 15:00 Halifax v Rushden & D'monds, R3, 15:00 Stafford Rangers v Tamworth, R3, 15:00 Blue Square North Barrow v Redditch, 15:00 Burscough v Alfreton Town, 15:00 Gainsborough v Hinckley Utd, 15:00 Hucknall v Harrogate Town, 15:00 Kettering v Southport, 15:00 Solihull Moors v Leigh RMI, 15:00 Stalybridge v Nuneaton, 15:00 Worcester v Blyth Spartans, 15:00 Workington v AFC Telford, 15:00 Blue Square South Basingstoke v Fisher Athletic, 15:00 Bishop's Stortford v Eastbourne Borough, 15:00 Bromley v Sutton Utd, 15:00 Eastleigh v Dorchester, 15:00 Hayes & Yeading v Havant and W, 15:00 Lewes v Bognor Regis Town, 15:00 Newport County v Hampton & Richmond, 15:00 St Albans v Maidenhead Utd, 15:00 Thurrock v Bath City, 15:00 Welling v Cambridge City, 15:00 Scot-Ads Highland Football League Buckie Thistle v Lossiemouth, 15:00 Clachnacuddin v Nairn County, 15:00 Forres Mechanics v Deveronvale, 15:00 Huntly v Brora, 15:00 Keith v Cove Rangers, 15:00 Rothes v Fort William, 15:00 Wick Academy v Fraserburgh, 15:00 Principality Building Society Welsh Premier League The New Saints FC v Porthmadog, 14:30 Welsh Cup Aberystwyth v Bangor City, R4, 14:30 Bryntirion v Welshpool Town, R4, 14:30 GAP Queens Park v Caerleon, R4, 14:30 Guilsfield v Caernarfon, R4, 14:00 Haverfordwest v Rhyl, R4, 14:30 Newi Cefn Druids v Aberaman Ath, R4, 14:30 Newport YMCA v Llangefni Town, R4, 14:30 Newtown v Llanelli, R4, 14:30 International Match Finland v Poland, 16:00 Iceland v Belarus, 14:00 Malta v Armenia, 16:15 Sunday, 03 February 2008 Barclays Premier League Fulham v Aston Villa, 16:00 Newcastle v Middlesbrough, 13:30 Scottish Cup Hibernian v Rangers, R5, 12:00 The FA Carlsberg Trophy Farsley Celtic v York, R3, 15:00 Blue Square North Hyde v Boston Utd, 14:00 FA Tesco Women's Premier League Birmingham Ladies v Leeds Utd Ladies, 14:00 Blackburn Ladies v Arsenal Ladies, 14:00 Bristol Academy v Everton Ladies, 14:00 Chelsea Ladies v Doncaster Rovers Belles, 14:00 Liverpool Ladies v Cardiff Ladies, 14:00 Africa Cup of Nations Ghana v Nigeria, Quarter Final, 17:00 Ivory Coast v Guinea, Quarter Final, 20:30 International Match Azerbaijan v Kazakhstan,



Ninja Boi	Feb 9 2008, 04:39 PM Post #86
The Lego Master Posts: 5,686 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: August 17, 2007	ASTON VILLA 4 NEWCASTLE 1 :laughter :laughter :laughter :laughter :laughter



Ninja Boi	Feb 9 2008, 05:08 PM Post #87
The Lego Master Posts: 5,686 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: August 17, 2007	One Aston Villa.... theres only one Aston Villa!! :lol: Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image



Neptune	Feb 12 2008, 02:23 AM Post #88
Newbie Posts: 70 Group: Members Member #87 Joined: January 11, 2008	Fantastic win for them! Chelsea were god damn awful on sunday. Why do we put ourselves through it every match eh!



Neptune	Feb 26 2008, 01:24 PM Post #89
Newbie Posts: 70 Group: Members Member #87 Joined: January 11, 2008	I cant believe we lost that cup final! :o



Ninja Boi	Mar 20 2008, 03:26 PM Post #90
The Lego Master Posts: 5,686 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: August 17, 2007	Beckham recalled to England squad Beckham is hoping to win his 100th England cap David Beckham has been recalled to the England squad for the friendly with France in Paris on 26 March. The LA Galaxy midfielder, 32, who has 99 caps, is in a provisional 30-man squad named by coach Fabio Capello. Arsenal winger Theo Walcott, 19, has been called up for the first time since the 2006 World Cup finals. Middlesbrough defender David Wheater, Portsmouth's Jermain Defoe and Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor are also included. But Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick and his club-mate, goalkeeper Ben Foster, miss out along with Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon, who has also been left out of the Under-21 squad. I have had good reports on him from Franco Baldini, who watched him on Saturday night, and also from his club Fabio Capello on David Beckham Capello has picked Portsmouth veteran David James, Villa's Scott Carson and Wigan's Chris Kirkland as his three keepers, meaning there is also no place for Tottenham's Paul Robinson or West Ham's Rob Green. Beckham was omitted from Capello's first squad, for February's 2-1 friendly win over Switzerland, along with Chelsea duo John Terry and Frank Lampard, who both return after injury. But the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star was watched by Capello's assistant Franco Baldini in a friendly for LA Galaxy in Dallas at the weekend and obviously did enough to convince the Italians over his fitness. Capello explained: "I always said that when David was fit he could be in the squad. "I have had good reports on him from Franco, who watched him on Saturday night, and also from his club. I know a lot about David Beckham and what he can offer the team." Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas has no doubts about Beckham's sharpness and told BBC 5 Live: "David has played in all our pre-season games. He is healthy, excited and motivated. "Every player wants to be called up on merit. As significant as it is to get your 100th cap, this is a situation where Fabio Capello is calling in a great player to help him with the task in hand. "I can assure everybody that he is injury free and ready to go. "We hope he stays that way not just for the game midweek for England but through our season which begins the following weekend. "Hopefully he will get his 100th cap against France then come back to the US and continue with LA Galaxy as we start our season." Agbonlahor was selected by the Italian for the Switzerland game but was forced to withdraw because of injury. Theo Walcott and David Wheater are two good young players who have done very well for the Under-21s this season and when I have seen them play for their clubs Fabio Capello Walcott's inclusion comes two years after his first and last appearance for England under Sven-Goran Eriksson, when he became the youngest England international. The Gunners forward told his club's website: "I celebrated my 19th birthday on Sunday so the call-up is a great birthday present for me. "I am looking forward to meeting up with all of the lads after the weekend's game." Walcott and Wheater were called up after discussions with England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce. Capello explained: "Theo and David are two good young players who have done very well for the Under-21s this season and when I have seen them play for their clubs. "Stuart Pearce has given me excellent recommendations on both players. "Next week Stuart has a friendly match so it is a good opportunity for us to consider some of the younger players for the senior squad." Those named in Capello's first 30-man squad in January who miss out this time are Micah Richards and Curtis Davies, both injured, as well as Ledley King, Nicky Shorey, Emile Heskey and Carrick. There is a keen interest in who Capello will choose as his captain against France. Liverpool midfielder Steve Gerrard wore the skipper's armband against Switzerland but previous incumbent under Steve McClaren, Terry, was ruled out of that match because of injury. The squad will be reduced to a final group of 23 players on Saturday night, even though 13 of the players will play on Sunday when Manchester United host Liverpool and Chelsea take on Arsenal. Provisional squad: Goalkeepers: James (Portsmouth), Carson (Aston Villa), Kirkland (Wigan) Defenders: Bridge (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Man Utd), Lescott (Everton), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Wheater (Middlesbrough), Woodgate (Tottenham), Upson (West Ham) Midfielders: Barry (Aston Villa), Young (Aston Villa), Bentley (Blackburn), J Cole (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Man Utd), Downing (Middlesbrough), Jenas (Tottenham) Forwards: Walcott (Arsenal), Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Crouch (Liverpool), Rooney (Man Utd), Owen (Newcastle), Defoe (Portsmouth).



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