Rio Ferdinand Withdraws: Analyzing England's Other Centre-Backs

When the news broke of Rio Ferdinand's withdrawal from the England squad for the upcoming qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro, I started to worry.

But why was I worried?

My primary worry was that England had lost the one genuinely experienced central defender that they still have available (although apparently not one Hodgson has available for any longer).

Hodgson could start himself in central defence against San Marino and I wouldn't be particularly concerned, but the game against Montenegro four days later is a must win if England want to avoid the dreaded World Cup playoffs.

England should, Rio or no Rio, be able to overcome Montenegro. But one more experienced head on the pitch would certainly help put this England fan's mind at ease. It mustn't be forgotten that this England side failed to beat Montenegro home and away in their last qualification campaign. 

Ferdinand would have been a useful asset in Montenegro but he was still just a short-term stop gap. At 34 he was never going to be England's central defensive future and regardless of his latest call-up, Roy Hodgson must have still had concerns with his fitness issues. 

My worries over Ferdinand's withdrawal came from when I looked at England's squad after his withdrawal and saw what remained. 

During England's 2006 World Cup campaign, their four central defensive options were Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Sol Campbell and Jamie Carragher. All high quality central defenders who were all the defensive lynch-pins for the former big four and all at the peaks of their careers (except maybe Campbell, but he was still fresh from scoring in a Champions League final for Arsenal).

Yes, England may have only made it to the quarter-finals of the tournament, but they did only concede two goals in five games on the way there (and this is a piece about defenders, rather than England's shambolic recent history in tournaments). And that was even with Paul Robinson in goal.

Hodgson hasn't been helped by retirements and injuries to several players who would probably still be in the squad, but England now lack depth in a position where they were once arguably the world leaders. 

My secondary worry is an incredibly self indulgent one in that I wrote a whole article last week about Rio Ferdinand's inclusion in the squad, and now I feel a little bit stupid. Cheers Rio.

Here is a rundown of England's current central defensive options for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.

1. Gary Cahill

Age: 27

England Caps: 14

After an extremely unlucky summer in which he was forced out of the European Championship with a very preventable injury (although he was signed by Chelsea last January and won the Champions League and FA Cup just beforehand so I do use the phrase "extremely unlucky" fairly loosely here), Gary Cahill has had a pretty good 2012/13 for Chelsea and England.

Whilst John Terry has struggled for full fitness, Cahill has started 20 league games and made 39 appearances in all competitions. Also through retirements and injuries, he has pretty much become a shoo-in to start all England international games for the foreseeable future (actually I take back what I said at the start, bar the injury that kept him out of the Euros he's had a pretty good time of it lately).

He actually put in a good display for England in their last friendly against Brazil. Yes, he may have made an extremely poor error, which led to Brazil's goal, but he did so with good intention in trying to play out from the back, as per Hodgson's orders. 

In England's last big away game against Poland they played far too deep, with their ball retention utterly abysmal. Cahill's ability to pick out a pass and bring the ball out of defence will help England keep possession better, and hold a higher line away at Montenegro. Something that will be vital for England's progression.

He will also be an added goal threat against San Marino when goal difference maximization will be the order of the day. 

Cahill is currently England's most accomplished available central defensive option.

2. Chris Smalling

Age: 23

England Caps: 4

Chris Smalling is an extremely talented, young defender. But considering the limited amount of games that he's played, as well as his recent injury problems, it is a concern for England that such an inexperienced player is already so high up the pecking order at international level.

He has only managed four games for England, and whilst he put in a good performance against Brazil, it was the first game for his country that he has started as a central defender, having won his previous three caps as a right-back. Throwing him in away at Montenegro in such a crucial qualifier is a very big ask.

In fact, even at club level, he has played as a right-back in the majority of his appearances over the last two seasons. It is also worth mentioning that he is currently not starting regularly for his club, Manchester United, because he is being kept out of the team by a certain Rio Ferdinand.

The Smalling-Cahill partnership is one that could potentially that see England through to next summer's World Cup. 

With Glen Johnson and Kyle Walker competing for England's right-back position, it is very unlikely that Smalling's international future lies anywhere other than in central defence, but he needs more games at the highest level in that position if he is going to continue and progress at the international level.

3. Joleon Lescott

Age: 30

England Caps: 23

Not even in the squad when it was first announced last week, Lescott was called up over the weekend after Michael Dawson got injured against Fulham.

Joleon Lescott has a right to feel pretty hard-done by at Manchester City this season. Despite forming a formidable partnership with Vincent Kompany last campaign that helped them towards their first Premier League title, he has been out of favour with Roberto Mancini without really doing anything wrong.

He lost his place at the start of the season to the inexperienced Matija Nastasic (who in all fairness has had a decent campaign), but even now with Kompany unavailable through injury he still can't force his way into their starting line-up. Unfortunately for England it's just another player in their squad who isn't starting regularly for their club.

Lescott's England career began in unfortunate circumstances. He started England's ill-fated defeats in 2007 to Russia and Croatia, which only helped to develop him an undeserved reputation, for several years afterwards, of him not being good enough at international level. He was not the first, nor last, to be tarred with the brush of Steve McClaren reign (of terror!!!).

But he was consistently excellent alongside John Terry at last summer's Euros. Their "last-ditch tackle" style of defending helping England to a respectable quarter-final exit.

Lescott, however, is not the most technically gifted of defenders. When played alongside Terry or Phil Jagielka (as he was in England's recent qualifiers against Ukraine and Poland) England struggle to play the ball out from the back.

It is a problem which Hodgson went some way to rectifying against Brazil last month, with Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill starting in central defence. I expect the Smalling and Cahill partnership to be utilized against San Marino, but against Montenegro, Hodgson may introduce Lescott in place of Smalling for the added experience that he brings.

4. Steven Caulker

Age: 21

England Caps: 1

Called up by Roy Hodgson after Rio Ferdinand's withdrawal, Steven Caulker is the most inexperienced central defender in the squad.

An excellent debut Premier League season with Swansea has been followed by a very good breakthrough year with Spurs, in which he has clocked up 26 appearances in all competitions.

There has been a dip in form of late, understandably for such a young player, which has coincided with the return of Michael Dawson to favour (which then coincided with Michael Dawson getting injured, which then may coincide with the return of Steven Caulker). But he is still very much in and around the first team and will get plenty more opportunities between now and the end of the season, with Spur's still competing both domestically and in Europe.

He only made his England debut in November against Sweden, but he put in a terrific display, managing to get on the score sheet in the process. Quietly, he would've been chuffed to bits after coming off at 2-1, before Ibrahimovic went and Zlatan'd the hell out of England in the closing minutes. 

Michael Dawson has recently come back into favour for Spurs, but Andre Villas-Boas seemed keen for him to leave at the start of the season. Suggesting that he believes that Caulker is his man in the long run. 

It is unlikely he will get any game time in the upcoming qualifiers (except maybe a cameo against San Marino) but being around the squad and training with England will be a good experience for him, and can only bode well for the future.