That was 2008 though Scott. Last time I saw him play was against Mexico and he really didn't fit into Capello's system. You lot have played with your right back fairly deep and Evra charging forward - Brown just doesn't look accomplished enough on the ball to do anything but sit deep and as a centreback, he'd be well down any list of English players. Not totally his fault because he had Walcott in front of him against Mexico, but he's meant to be a fairly senior player who'll help young players through the game.
Wasn't really an individual mistake - just purely that he's not good enough to fit into any system which requires your right back to be more versatile. Not axe grinding mate or sniping because of his club team. He's a good defender. But to play at fullback (and even at centreback) the game is moving on again and he's not sufficiently rounded enough as a player to do that at the highest levels outside of fitting in with how the manager sets up his team.