In my previous article written before the England vs Italy game, I suggested that England’s many years of hurt would continue, but times could be changing for Team England. Well two games later and for my first point I am a little disappointed to be proved correct quite so easily. As for the second, there is still time, but I still believe time could prove this to be correct too.
England have played 2 lost 2 and have not really had a good chance to win either. You can point to referee decisions and say this player should have been sent off, this should have been a penalty etc… Referee decisions or lack of decisions depending on your viewpoint, affect both teams in the game, so let’s not use that as a reason for England’s failings. For the record, Godin should have been off, would playing 10 men been easier than 11, maybe but who can say, it’s not like England have ripped teams with 10 men apart in recent seasons.
Following Major competitions, there is always the question will the manager be sacked, will they resign? Well before this goes to far, Roy Hodgson has a contract till then end of 2016 European Championship, he sails he will not resign, the FA chairman Greg Dyke, also has commented that Roy Hodgson is staying, so like it or not there will be no change at the top and Hodgson has 2 years to get this right, and that could start on Tuesday v Costa Rica.
England’s Lessons – #1 Tactics
Before it can be put right we all need to understand what is wrong, and the first are to look is tactics. England went in to the World Cup playing a 4-2-3-1 formation, a system that none of the top English club teams employ. Going into the first game the team was still unsure as to who were the best 11 players to have in the starting lineup and where these players should play. The team also lacked the chemistry to play as a team, and to trust each other when the pressure is on.
Steven Gerrard is the proof of this, take his role in the Uruguay winning goal on Thursday night. On a long goal kick and Gerrard decided to take the responsibility whilst running backwards to try and head the ball forward. Maybe a player of international standing should be able to do this, but I would tell you that the Centre-Back just behind Gerrard coming forward to attack the header would of had a much easier job.
I appreciate it sounds like I am having a go at England’s captain, and that is not my intention or the point I am making. Gerrard for a long time was England’s best player despite being woefully managed by a succession of England managers who looked to play him on the left or curb his game for the inclusion of Frank Lampard. Maybe this is a contributing factor, but you see many examples where Gerrard and Wayne Rooney try to do it themselves rather than trust their teammates. When this happens across sports, where there is a Superman trying to do it all, this invariably ends with a mistake from said Superman and the media move on to the next one.
England should not look for another Superman, but instead for a Super Team. If this means calling time on a few international careers right now then so be it! Sentiment be damned, Mr Hodgson your two-year clock will start ticking on Tuesday. Hodgson will need find the formation and get the best players to fit that. If Rooney is your best centre forward then play him there, if in reality Daniel Sturridge is the best centre forward, then don’t move him so that Rooney is happier. If Rooney can’t play on the left then find someone who can, nobody should have a divine right to be starting for England. For the record I still think Wayne Rooney can do a job for England, operating as the no 10′ behind the front man. But like the rest of the team it should be on-form and with an eye on the ultimate job in hand, which is now 2016 Euro’s.
Based on who is in the squad and Roy’s formation here is the team that should play on Tuesday
Joe Hart, Glen Johnson, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Luke Shaw, Jordan Henderson, Jack Wilshire, Adam Lallana, Wayne Rooney, Ross Barkley and Daniel Sturridge. The three behind behind Sturridge need to look to move and interchange and not be rigid and this should include Wilshire attacking from midfield. Next season England need to find a new right back as Johnson is a defensive collapse waiting to happen and the squad need options at centre-back but I think Cahill is the true star of England so far.
Hopefully Raheem Sterling will continue to develop, and I would love to see Danny Wellbeck attack as well as he defends, maybe Manchester United’s new manager will help with that. Also England need to know if they are sticking with this formation or is Hodgson going to change it, for the likes or Rickey Lambert or Andy Carroll. For what it is worth, set your stall out Roy if it is 4-2-3-1 stick with it, don’t change it for anyone. Set your team to out go and dictate the game they will play. England may be beaten a few times, but the players know that is it, this is their role within that system. Hodgson needs to find a team going forward that know their roles and together the whole adds up to more than the sum of it’s parts.
Until then the English will wait for the Rugby World Cup next year, and moan about the weather, it’s what we do!
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