Banks Worried About England's Lack Of Star Goalkeepers
England goalkeeping legend Gordon Banks has admitted that Fabio Capello's lack of choices between the sticks could cost the Three Lions the chance of winning the World Cup in the summer.
West Ham United's Robert Green has been the keeper most used by Capello, but Ben Foster and David James have also played for the Italian.
Joe Hart, currently on loan at Birmingham City from Manchester City, has emerged as something of the form candidate for the job, whilst Paul Robinson could yet be in with a chance.
"I think that is one of the positions he is going to be thinking about on a regular basis. All of them seem to be in and out of form," Banks said, according to Press Association Sport.
"If I was in the manager's boots I would make sure I got someone looking at all the ones I was thinking about week in, week out.
"You have got to know what you are looking at because sometimes a goalkeeper can play well when a team loses 3-0.
"But they have all been up and down and you can only make the decision at the end of the season, if you have got someone looking regularly and making sure they find the right one.
"I think that is one of the positions he is going to be thinking about on a regular basis. All of them seem to be in and out of form.
"I would put in the one playing the most consistently well. Unfortunately the manager has got very few to pick from because the Premier League is full of foreign goalkeepers.
"And until we know the situation with James, whether he is going to get back playing again, we don't know."
Banks, 72, is a man who provided some of the World Cup's most iconic images during the 1966 and 1970 tournaments. He is relishing the prospect of next summer's tournament and feels that England do have a good chance of winning it.
He is concerned about Capello's options up front though, as well as in goal.
"It would be great for the team to bring the World Cup back to England," he added.
"It has been a long, long time. I think we are overdue to get it back here.
"If they start well, playing good football, not conceding and scoring a few, I think we'll have a chance.
"They have had some excellent results of late, which gives them confidence, and we got through the group quite comfortably.
"They seem pretty sound defensively and the midfield are working hard.
"But I'm sure the manager's having a little doubt who to play up front, who to get the goals. That's where we might be lacking a bit.
"Wayne Rooney is playing really well, probably the best he has played in his career, but I wonder what would happen if someone went man on man with him, not giving him much leeway.
"We might find it difficult - but Jermain Defoe is also playing really well, he is knocking goals in.
"Every four years even people who are just slightly interested in football get glued to that screen. It's terrific.
"You want to see players that haven't done much before doing something for your country or players you have never heard of standing out like a sore thumb and knocking goals in.
"I think it's fabulous and I really am looking forward to it."
