It is quite evident that Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are not capable of playing effectively in the centre of midfield together. Both are world class midfielders but one must be dropped in order for England to be effective in games against strong opposition.
At Liverpool, Gerrard plays as an attacking midfielder with Xabi Alonso playing much deeper. Likewise at Chelsea, Lampard plays just behind the strikers (or striker) with Makelele offering protection to the central defenders. The two players have the knowledge that they have someone behind them at all times if they happen to loose the ball. For England, however, this is not the case.
Both players like to attack and when the two are partnered in central midfield, Gerrard is the one who is asked to play deeper than Frank. However, Gerrard is a rip-roaring all-action player and is unable to simply sit in one position which means that the two players often play high up the pitch leaving little or no protection to the central defenders. Paul Scholes is the player England miss. He was a player who liked to attack but he made late runs into the penalty area which meant he was able to play deeper shoulder-to-shoulder with the more defensive midfielder such as Nicky Butt.
If England are ever to succeed in a major tournament with the squad England have, Steve McLaren must choose either Gerrard or Lampard to play alongside Carrick or Hargreaves. My personal choice would be Gerrard and Hargreaves as both players have a lot more to their physical game than Carrick and Lampard. However, if either are missing, England have the knowledge that they have two of the best covering players in Carrick and Lampard.
The only alternative is to play Gerrard on the right. This is a position he has played for Liverpool and England and has done well at. With Beckham now out of the frame, England's right side of midfield is looking for candidates and Lennon, Wright-Phillips and Pennant are all capable of filling it well. However, if McLaren is adamant that he cannot drop one of the two, Gerrard is quite capable of playing in that position.
Ideally, England's best midfield would be...
RM - Lennon
DM - Hargreaves
AM - Gerrard
LM - Cole
And the second choice midfield would be...
RM - WrightPhillips
DM - Carrick
AM - Lampard
LM - Downing
Both midfield options are formidable as long as the players are played in their natural positions. Steve McLaren was brave enough to get rid of Beckham but now he needs to make a firm decision on the 'Gerrard or Lampard' saga.
Thursday, 8 February 2007
England 0-1 Spain : Review
England's loss to Spain continued England's dismal run of matches without a win. Steve McLaren merely discounted it as a friendly but when a team is running low on confidence, a team should show more vigour when playing at home (albeit a friendly) and should try to do more to win to lift spirits.
England started at a pace but this lasted a mere 10 minutes and the match was dominated by Spain for the remaining 80 minutes. England's tactics were once again a shambles and there was no balance to the team at all. After playing the failed 5-3-2 system against Croatia, Steve McLaren should have played a solid 4-4-2 making sure the players picked played in their natural club positions. Shifting Frank Lampard to the left and playing Kieran Dyer just off Peter Crouch up front was never going to work.
With England's dismal run of games, Steve McLaren should have used this game in one of two ways. He could either have fielded a near full team of fringe players who would have had the appetite to do well as this would have served them with a chance in an England shirt or he could have fielded his strongest team to help boost confidence ahead of England's forthcoming trip to Israel next month which incidentally, is now a must win. Instead, he decided to field a team where he played players out of position and this disrupted any balance and thus this match was a waste of space on the international calendar.
Lets start at the back. Steve McLaren was right in giving Ben Foster a chance. With Paul Robinson and Chris Kirkland guaranteed a place and struggling for form respectively, giving Ben his chance was fair, especially after his superb form in a struggling Watford team.
The fullback positions were filled by the Neville brothers. With Ashley Cole struggling (and also suspended for the Israel match), Phil Neville was given the leftback berth where he struggled as he failed to deliver anything in the box as he tended to cut in to use his right foot. Wayne Bridge should have been given this slot as he is the only natural leftback England have other than Ashley Cole. We also know what Gary Neville is all about after his 88 caps so Micah Richards should have been given the rightback slot as he did well against Holland and he is likely to be Neville's successor in waiting. He should be used in all future friendlies in my opinion to build up his raport with the England team. Jonathon Woodgate and Rio Ferdinand were a good pairing in the centre and Woodgate looked very comfortable in the backline. His reading of the game and pace really offers England another quality centreback. He could quite easily oust Ferdinand or Terry if either lose form if he stays injury-free himself. That was probably the only plus point from the game.
In midfield, Steve McLaren decided to field Wright-Phillips down the right, Carrick and Gerrard through the centre and Lampard down the left. I had no problem with Wright-Phillips, Carrick and Gerrard but playing Lampard out of position down the left was asking for trouble. He naturally cut infield and this left Phil Neville (another player out of his natural position) with both Ramos and Angulo for company. Had Spain used the right flank more effectively, they would surely have reaped much greater benefit. With Gareth Barry in the squad, he should have started off in the leftback slot with Stewart Downing playing just in front of him and Steve McLaren must play Bridge and Downing against Israel. Carrick also looked out of form. He struggled with his passing, failed to stamp any authority on the game and offered little protection to the central defenders. He had my support at the World Cup as he can be a fantastic player on his day, but he needs to stamp his authority in midfield and make sure he sits directly in front of the defence and distribute the ball long with his normally good passing game. He should now be demanding the ball from the central defenders which he fails to do.
Up front, Steve McLaren got it all wrong. Andrew Johnson should have started alongside Peter Crouch as he is the only player England have who can rival Michael Owen as a player who plays along the shoulder of the last defender. Peter Crouch struggled up front as Dyer (although he worked none stop and unselfishly) naturally drifted back into midfield rather than staying up front with Crouch. This left Crouch stranded and thus England's attack was totally negated. He received nothing from the referee and the Spanish defenders were able to cope with his height all night.
Overall, the performance from England was lacklustre. Shaun Wright-Phillips did well as did Jonathan Woodgate and Ben Foster (although he only had one save to make). With 60,000+ supporters braving the cold weather, they were right to boo at the end of the match as the players didn't bother putting on a show and McLaren's lack of tactical heed could do nothing to change the match. He never changed the tactics and never encouraged or pushed his players on. Of the substitutes, only Micah Richards and Joey Barton looked as though they were bothered and both should have started from the outset with Richards starting instead of Gary Neville and Barton starting instead of Gerrard or Lampard.
Spain controlled the match and David Villa was a constant menace and Pablo at the back was authoritive and strong. Xavi dictated the midfield and single-handedly along with Silva eliminated Gerrard, Lampard and Carrick.
Next month's fixture against Israel is a must win for England and Steve McLaren must use his strongest players which means Robinson in goal, Neville and Bridge in the fullback slots, Terry and Ferdinand in central defence, Lennon and Downing on the wings with Hargreaves and Gerrard/Lampard in central midfield and Crouch and Rooney up front. Nothing other than a win will do.
England started at a pace but this lasted a mere 10 minutes and the match was dominated by Spain for the remaining 80 minutes. England's tactics were once again a shambles and there was no balance to the team at all. After playing the failed 5-3-2 system against Croatia, Steve McLaren should have played a solid 4-4-2 making sure the players picked played in their natural club positions. Shifting Frank Lampard to the left and playing Kieran Dyer just off Peter Crouch up front was never going to work.
With England's dismal run of games, Steve McLaren should have used this game in one of two ways. He could either have fielded a near full team of fringe players who would have had the appetite to do well as this would have served them with a chance in an England shirt or he could have fielded his strongest team to help boost confidence ahead of England's forthcoming trip to Israel next month which incidentally, is now a must win. Instead, he decided to field a team where he played players out of position and this disrupted any balance and thus this match was a waste of space on the international calendar.
Lets start at the back. Steve McLaren was right in giving Ben Foster a chance. With Paul Robinson and Chris Kirkland guaranteed a place and struggling for form respectively, giving Ben his chance was fair, especially after his superb form in a struggling Watford team.
The fullback positions were filled by the Neville brothers. With Ashley Cole struggling (and also suspended for the Israel match), Phil Neville was given the leftback berth where he struggled as he failed to deliver anything in the box as he tended to cut in to use his right foot. Wayne Bridge should have been given this slot as he is the only natural leftback England have other than Ashley Cole. We also know what Gary Neville is all about after his 88 caps so Micah Richards should have been given the rightback slot as he did well against Holland and he is likely to be Neville's successor in waiting. He should be used in all future friendlies in my opinion to build up his raport with the England team. Jonathon Woodgate and Rio Ferdinand were a good pairing in the centre and Woodgate looked very comfortable in the backline. His reading of the game and pace really offers England another quality centreback. He could quite easily oust Ferdinand or Terry if either lose form if he stays injury-free himself. That was probably the only plus point from the game.
In midfield, Steve McLaren decided to field Wright-Phillips down the right, Carrick and Gerrard through the centre and Lampard down the left. I had no problem with Wright-Phillips, Carrick and Gerrard but playing Lampard out of position down the left was asking for trouble. He naturally cut infield and this left Phil Neville (another player out of his natural position) with both Ramos and Angulo for company. Had Spain used the right flank more effectively, they would surely have reaped much greater benefit. With Gareth Barry in the squad, he should have started off in the leftback slot with Stewart Downing playing just in front of him and Steve McLaren must play Bridge and Downing against Israel. Carrick also looked out of form. He struggled with his passing, failed to stamp any authority on the game and offered little protection to the central defenders. He had my support at the World Cup as he can be a fantastic player on his day, but he needs to stamp his authority in midfield and make sure he sits directly in front of the defence and distribute the ball long with his normally good passing game. He should now be demanding the ball from the central defenders which he fails to do.
Up front, Steve McLaren got it all wrong. Andrew Johnson should have started alongside Peter Crouch as he is the only player England have who can rival Michael Owen as a player who plays along the shoulder of the last defender. Peter Crouch struggled up front as Dyer (although he worked none stop and unselfishly) naturally drifted back into midfield rather than staying up front with Crouch. This left Crouch stranded and thus England's attack was totally negated. He received nothing from the referee and the Spanish defenders were able to cope with his height all night.
Overall, the performance from England was lacklustre. Shaun Wright-Phillips did well as did Jonathan Woodgate and Ben Foster (although he only had one save to make). With 60,000+ supporters braving the cold weather, they were right to boo at the end of the match as the players didn't bother putting on a show and McLaren's lack of tactical heed could do nothing to change the match. He never changed the tactics and never encouraged or pushed his players on. Of the substitutes, only Micah Richards and Joey Barton looked as though they were bothered and both should have started from the outset with Richards starting instead of Gary Neville and Barton starting instead of Gerrard or Lampard.
Spain controlled the match and David Villa was a constant menace and Pablo at the back was authoritive and strong. Xavi dictated the midfield and single-handedly along with Silva eliminated Gerrard, Lampard and Carrick.
Next month's fixture against Israel is a must win for England and Steve McLaren must use his strongest players which means Robinson in goal, Neville and Bridge in the fullback slots, Terry and Ferdinand in central defence, Lennon and Downing on the wings with Hargreaves and Gerrard/Lampard in central midfield and Crouch and Rooney up front. Nothing other than a win will do.
Welcome to England 3 Lions
Firstly, let me thank you for taking the time to visit the England 3 Lions blog.
The aim of the blog is to offer football supporters a place to discuss topics concerning England's national football team. And the blog encourages serious discussion. Topics will be posted throughout each month about England's forthcoming matches, results, tactics, selection etc. Viewers will then have the opportunity to comment on the topics and to provide their thoughts and opinions.
The blog has been made opensource which means anyone can view and comment on topics without the need for registration. I will moderate comments and will maintain the throughput of the blog to make sure it remains a serious resource and not just a slanging blog as many of these already exist on the net. This means swearing, unruly behaviour and remarks which may offend will be removed.
Please take the time to read topics and please feel free to add your comments and help make England 3 Lions an active and resourceful blog.
The aim of the blog is to offer football supporters a place to discuss topics concerning England's national football team. And the blog encourages serious discussion. Topics will be posted throughout each month about England's forthcoming matches, results, tactics, selection etc. Viewers will then have the opportunity to comment on the topics and to provide their thoughts and opinions.
The blog has been made opensource which means anyone can view and comment on topics without the need for registration. I will moderate comments and will maintain the throughput of the blog to make sure it remains a serious resource and not just a slanging blog as many of these already exist on the net. This means swearing, unruly behaviour and remarks which may offend will be removed.
Please take the time to read topics and please feel free to add your comments and help make England 3 Lions an active and resourceful blog.
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