“The great call”

The Ghana Black Stars injured players are gradually getting better and you know what this means. The country should look forward to a better WC event and most of us can’t wait. As I termed it, “the great call”, is the harder part of the waiting. This is when the final 23 players are supposed to be separated from the initial 30 players.

Most of us would have loved to pick this squad just from the top of our heads; contrary, it doesn’t work like that. The reason is due to fact that the 30 initial players would have to justify for their inclusions. At least, so they say; and therefore, there is an understanding to this fact. What the country is pleading for, though, is the fact that most a times, favoritism from the technical team takes its toll on the final selections. When it comes to that, the best players are usually left behind. This is the concern of every Ghanaian citizen.

Here is the 30 man provisional squad and by the end of the month, seven players would have to be dropped to satisfy fifa’s requirement. Since the manager of the team is busy taking care of the JYI, and whilst the fans are patiently waiting, allow me to take this opportunity to eliminate the possible seven players through predictions.

The highlighted names in the brackets are, to me, the unfortunate players and the reasons of their exclusions are as follows based on a 3 – 8 – 8 – 4 invitational format. (3 goalkeepers, 8 defenders, 8 midfielders and 4 attackers) Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson, Daniel Agyei, Stephen Aholu, (Stephen Adams) Connecting the dots for a solid team, Stephen Adams may be out based on my research because comparing his performances to his competitor’s performances, he is the weaker link. Besides, the team would need only three goalkeepers to make the squad. I left Richard Kingston in the squad; even though, he is not fully fit due to reoccurring back pains, he is the only experience goalkeeper we have, and performs well each time the opportunity is given.

Defenders: John Paintsil, John Mensah, Samuel Inkoom, Hans Adu Sarpei, Rahim Ayew, Lee Addy, Isaac Vorsah, Jonathan Mensah, (Eric Addo) Among the defenders, Eric Addo, to me, though has done an incredible job for the country, has also become a defender who has let the team down lately. It is time the technical team rests Mr. Addo due to several reasons. He defends well but extremely slow and that is dangerous for the team.

Here are few of his facts. WC Qualify match defeat, Ghana (0-1) Libya on September 5th, 2008 was the cause of Eric Addo's feet dragging. Ghana/Tunisia (0-0) in Accra, November 19, 2008, if it wasn't Jonathan Quatey’s experience at the back, with his constant clearance of the balls, two mistakes from Eric Addo would have put sand in our gari that day. February 11, 2009 friendly match between Ghana and Egypt, in Cairo, less than 15 minutes left of the match and Ghana was leading 2-1. A cross from the Egyptian’s side landed in the Black Stars 18 yard box where Eric Addo was positioned to clear the ball out for safety. Unfortunately, he wasn’t quick enough. With an ample time given to then a Saudi Arabia-based striker Emad Moteab, he was able to control the loose ball and drove past goalkeeper Richard Kingson for a 2-2 match result.

There are many. Ghana’s terrible defeat in the hands of Japan (3-4), and to top it all, January 15th, 2010, Ghana/Ivory Coast (3-1) defeat during CAN group stage first match. Instead of Mr. Addo to put pressure on an opponent’s forward, he chose to walk. This was the reason why Coach Milovan didn’t feature Eric Addo again until the last 20 minutes or so of the final match against Egypt. GFA may not agree with me to rest Eric Addo at the moment just because the country lacks defenders, but my point is, as a defender, if Eric Addo has not been able to handle forward players from African cup of Nations tournament, what makes it safe to include him to a whole WC games where other nation’s attackers are much faster. With due respect to him and his fans, allowing him to rest would benefit the country. The best for the country is the ultimate goal at this moment.

Midfielders: Michael Essien, Kwadwo Asamoah, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Anthony Annan, Sulley Muntari, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Stephen Appiah, Andre Ayew, Laryea Kingston, Derek Boateng, Bernard Kumordzi, Haminu Draman

Now two players are out and therefore, left with five for the team to have its 3-8-8-4 set. Let me jump to the forward liners before coming back to the midfielders because the rest of the five players may have to come from the midfield department.

With the attackers at hand, the department is complete and set to go. To me, these are the best forward liners the country possesses and Milovan has already picked the required number. In short, none of the forward players would be thrown out and that is my prediction.

Attackers: Asamoah Gyan, Prince Tagoe, Dominic Adiyiah, Mathew Amoah The Great Call Part II Follows……..