There's no doubt that England have had serious difficulties in finding a left sided defender in time for the world cup. Various players have been tried and last night's friendly against Holland was no exception. Fortunately the problems would seem to be solved after the impressive debut of Wayne Bridge. As he's consistently excellent for Southampton week in week out, there's no reason to believe he couldn't perform as well on a regular basis for England.
Wayne didn't put a foot wrong last night. His defensive awareness and positioning were superb. In addition he showed that he is a threat going forward by taking on his man. He showed pace and vision in doing so, both traits in demand form Sven Goran Eriksson.
Wayne's passing was excellent and I don't recall any of them being incomplete and he marked Ronald De Boer extremely well.
Holland's first couple of attacks began down Wayne's side of the pitch looking for any weaknesses. It wasn't long before they had moved their focus to the other side of the park.
Even the experts are beginning to come round to the fact that Wayne is England's best left back. Given the place on a regular basis even the uninformed hacks will realise that some of the best players don't necessarily play for the top two or three clubs. Their blinkered vision has been a little embarrassing for the likes of Bridge and Vassel both of whom showed the class necessary to be England stars.
Here are a few quotes from Wayne's debut, the first form eriksson before the team was announced.
Sven Goran Eriksson
"He's a good attacking full-back, especially in a 4-4-2 system and is playing better this season than last season. Like the others, he deserves his chance. Maybe he will start, maybe not. We'll see."
and after the game...
"Michael Ricketts and Wayne Bridge were both very good. Bridge had a toe problem and had to go off and Ricketts did a difficult job well. He was on his own at times but came out with credit.
"I like to see young players coming in against a very good team. You always have your ideas about the squad but you can always change those ideas. We still have a lot of time before the World Cup."
Bobby Robson
"Wayne Bridge is certainly a young talent, there's no doubt about that.
"He's very clever on the ball, he's good going forward and he can deliver a good ball as well.
"I think he'll turn out to be a fine left-back. He's got obvious potential and it'll be interesting to see if he goes to the World Cup.
Gordon Strachan
"While some footballers are messing around in nightclubs pretending to be celebrities, Wayne is a real footballer.
"Whoever's brought him up has done a good job and they should be very pleased with themselves.
"In this day and age when young people can disappoint you, he's managed to stay away from the yob culture. If you look after your body your body looks after you and Wayne realises that.
"He looks after himself and lives the life a footballer should live.
"I didn't realise how good he was until I got here. He's got pace, ability and there is no problem with his temperament.
Rupert Lowe
"Dean Richards said he wanted to further his career and improve his chances of playing in the England team when he left for Tottenham so in some ways it pleased me to see Wayne Bridge being selected and Dean left out.
"I hope Dean does go on to play for England but Wayne's inclusion disproves his theory that he felt he had a better chance of playing for England as a Tottenham player."
"Credit should go to Sven Goran Eriksson, because Wayne's inclusion shows that he's doing his job properly and watching all Premiership sides. Wayne's a local lad and has come up through our academy so his first England cap will be a proud moment for the club."
Matthew Oakley
"I'll be watching the game at my sister's and am really pleased for him. He had about ten messages on his mobile telling him he was in the squad when he got off the plane from Newcastle but I'm surprised he hasn't been selected before.
"If he was at Arsenal or Liverpool he'd probably have been in earlier. I think he's a better player than Phil Neville and Ashley Cole was only in the Arsenal team for a year before he was called up.
"I've seen Wayne come through and knew what it was like for him when he made his debut.
"You could see he was naturally left-footed from a young age and he was a left winger when he was in the youth team.
"Dave Jones decided to try him at left back because we were struggling for one at the time and when Glenn came in he started pushing on, using the pace and attacking ability that he's always had.
"He's a quiet lad and goes out and does his work and treats the game as a professional should.
"He's always in the weights room and if there's work to be done after training he'll do it."
The Times
Although England trailed, the first 45 minutes had produced a notable success in the performance of Bridge. Never flustered in defence, he was also willing to go on the overlap and Eriksson could do worse than keep the Southampton man in his starting XI and try Ashley Cole in the troublesome position of left wing, where he began his career.
It was a shame that a foot injury forced Eriksson to replace Bridge with Chris Powell at half-time,
Wayne Bridge
Along with Vassell, probably the pick of Eriksson's debutants. Composed and committed at left back for his allotted 45 minutes, he teased Holland with a couple of crosses and should now challenge Ashley Cole for a regular place
The Guardian
It would be no surprise if he [Vassell] were joined by Wayne Bridge, who suffered a bruised foot and failed to reappear for the second half but whose appearance included several bright moments. Quick and compact, keen to spring forward, he is reminiscent of Bixente Lizarazu, the best left-back in the world in recent years. The answer to England's problems on the left side might turn out to be a pairing of Bridge with Ashley Cole, whose instincts might be better served by a more advanced role on that flank.
Henry Winter from the Telegraph
"The most significant element to Eriksson's experiment could prove Bridge's impact, simply because he works well in an area where England lack options.
Until the second half, England had been distinctly second best. The only real upbeat note of an otherwise flat half from England had been Bridge's mature contribution, which was warmly appreciated by the "Wayne Bridge Fan Club" who had journeyed from Southampton.
Throughout his 45 minutes of action, the young left-back looked thoroughly at home at this level, showing an adhesive first touch and a neat way of wrong-footing opponents by dropping a shoulder, such as when he ghosted past
Mark van Bommel in the 15th minute. Having created a chink of space, Bridge looked to slide the ball down the line to the willing Heskey or inside to Gerrard, the outstanding Beckham or Scholes.
There was nothing flashy in Bridge's play; his game is a celebration of simplicity. When Holland held possession, which was for most of the opening period, Bridge's reading of their unfolding attacks helped England out on more than one occasion, most notably when he dispossessed Ronald de Boer on the edge of the box as the half closed."
Alan Hansen
'Wayne Bridge looked very comfortable. He started well and showed real composure. He got a great cross in early on and that settled him into a very competent 45 minutes. At the highest level, you have to be comfortable in possession and he clearly is.'
'He is definitely worthy of another go.'
Sporting Life
WAYNE BRIDGE - Made progress down the left on several occasions and put in a couple of decent crosses for a solid debut.
Onefootball.com
England had made a bright start with debutants Michael Ricketts, Vassell and Wayne Bridge all prominent.
The impressive Bridge centred again on 23 minutes, but Ricketts could not get enough power on his header to trouble Van der Sar.
BBC
Showed no sign of nerves, had few chances to get forward but was soliddefensively. A promising debut before being withdrawn at the break.