On July 19, 2005, the morning after his dream transfer to the English Premier League champions, Shaun Wright-Phillips must have woken up feeling like the happiest man alive. He had just been introduced as the answer to Chelsea’s right-hand side ‘problem’, and the stage was set for Shaun to proclaim himself England’s best right winger, even pushing for the starting role of David Beckham.
Fast forward ten months and Shaun must now be echoing his adoptive father’s sentiments that he should have signed for Liverpool. It is true that Ian Wright’s comment was ironic, but few would argue that Anfield would have been the most logical destination last summer. Not only would he have been guaranteed all those games where Steven Gerrard, Dribril Cisse, Jan Kromkamp, Steve Finnan and Luis Garcia provided impromptu cover in right midfield, but he would surely have been included in the Sven Goran swan song. Eriksson. As he is, he’s not even on the waiting list.
For once, Sven has shown the courage to select his England team based solely on form. During the 15 or so games that José Mourinho has allowed Wright-Phillips onto the pitch, he has failed to impress and surely Aaron Lennon is ahead of him on merit. It could even be argued that if Lennon had sustained an injury, Birmingham’s Jermaine Pennant should replace him instead of Wright-Phillips. It’s one thing to go for an averagely fit Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney, but despite all the hype, Shaun is really in the same category as Andy Johnson and Darren Bent. All three have only had one solid season in the EPL and remain unproven at the highest level.
A transfer to one of the Big Four clubs should never be enough to guarantee an international spot. Scott Parker quickly learned that to jumpstart his career, it was necessary to get away from Stanford Bridge. Only a brave man would bet that Shaun Wright-Phillips will still be a Chelsea player three months from now.
- outstanding careers October 25, 1981 Born in Greenwich, London nineteen ninety six Released by Nottingham Forest for being “too small” August 18, 2004 Marks on England debut against Ukraine July 18, 2005 Join Chelsea for £21 million