Fabio Capello showed his ruthless streak on Saturday night, substituting James Milner in the first half against the USA for tactical reasons. It was a clear statement by the Italian veteran that he is not afraid to make necessary changes if things are not working out by sacrificing under-performing players. It was exactly the sort of brave decision that Capello's predecessors Sven Goran-Eriksson and Steve McClaren were accused of shying away from in the big matches.
Whether or not it was the right decision by Don Fabio is another matter entirely. Milner was booked early in the first half after committing himself to two late lunging challenges and had a Rooneyesque look in his eye that suggested he was in no hurry to calm down. Bringing on Wright-Phillips, however, was a bad move.
The Manchester City star offers more pace than any of the alternatives but he has never looked comfortable on the left hand side. Joe Cole would have been a much more valuable replacement for Milner, with the priority of keeping possession away from the Americans paramount at that stage. Even switching Steven Gerrard over to the left and putting Michael Carrick in centre midfield would have been a more satisfactory, albeit conservative, alternative.
For therein lies the core of England's problems. As a team, they are woefully substandard when it comes to simply holding on to the ball. Even Gerrard, who led by example on Saturday, gave possession away far too often in centre midfield.
We cannot avoid the fact that Robert Green made a howling error that cost England three points and the early guarantee of top spot in Group C. A mistake that might occur one in a thousand times showed that Green was overly nervous, which is perhaps an indictment of Capello's decision to name his starting eleven just two hours before kick-off. The team should have been announced a week earlier and tested out against Japan in the final warm-up friendly.
Green was crucified by the scapegoat-hungry English press on Sunday morning but, the truth is, his awful mistake should not have had a bearing on the result.
The Manchester City star offers more pace than any of the alternatives but he has never looked comfortable on the left hand side. Joe Cole would have been a much more valuable replacement for Milner, with the priority of keeping possession away from the Americans paramount at that stage. Even switching Steven Gerrard over to the left and putting Michael Carrick in centre midfield would have been a more satisfactory, albeit conservative, alternative.
For therein lies the core of England's problems. As a team, they are woefully substandard when it comes to simply holding on to the ball. Even Gerrard, who led by example on Saturday, gave possession away far too often in centre midfield.
We cannot avoid the fact that Robert Green made a howling error that cost England three points and the early guarantee of top spot in Group C. A mistake that might occur one in a thousand times showed that Green was overly nervous, which is perhaps an indictment of Capello's decision to name his starting eleven just two hours before kick-off. The team should have been announced a week earlier and tested out against Japan in the final warm-up friendly.
Green was crucified by the scapegoat-hungry English press on Sunday morning but, the truth is, his awful mistake should not have had a bearing on the result.
Unfortunately, a much improved second half bore no fruit and was not enough to save Green's embarrassment. England wasted plenty of chances to get back in front. Wayne Rooney is the man most people are relying on to fire the Three Lions to glory but at the moment he is dropping too deep in his desperation to be involved in every passage of play. Rooney needs to have some faith in the ability of his midfield to find him and commit himself further up the field where he can find the best goal scoring positions.
Capello is also shooting himself in the foot a bit by leaving the only England player with an international average of a more than a goal every two games on the bench. Crouch is not the answer to Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer or even a top form Michael Owen but he deserves a place ahead of Emile Heskey, whose record is poorer than one in eight, even if the Aston Villa forward did play a key role in Steven Gerrard's opener.
With the news that Ledley King's groin injury is more serious than first thought, Capello has a lot to think about ahead of Friday's clash with Algeria. Jamie Carragher (slow), Michael Dawson (untried) and Matthew Upson (error-prone) are the alternatives at the moment and I would rank them in that order of precedence at the moment.
The goalkeeping conundrum continues to hover over the squad and I would urge the Italian manager to make a decision sooner rather than later this week, for the sake of the back four if nothing else, as they will be desperate for some re-assurance behind them.
Algeria and Slovenia were both unconvincing in their meeting on Sunday and should not cause England any real problems. Abdelkader Ghezzal will be suspended for the Africans against Capello's side and the Siena striker will be missed. He looked the most dangerous Algerian forward during his brief second half cameo at the weekend but his ridiculous dismissal will cost him a place in the squad as he serves a one match ban.
Ghana have done England a favour in Group D by beating the technically superior Serbians and now the Black Stars look the more likely second round opponent. Serbia would surely have proven to be a more difficult prospect. With France struggling at the moment, a semi-final place is still a realistic prospect for this England team and from there on luck will play a big part.
Outscoring the USA against Algeria and Slovenia is absolutely crucial. If Capello's side finish second in Group C and draw Germany in the last 16 then England's odds of winning the 2010 World Cup will be significantly lengthened.
Capello is also shooting himself in the foot a bit by leaving the only England player with an international average of a more than a goal every two games on the bench. Crouch is not the answer to Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer or even a top form Michael Owen but he deserves a place ahead of Emile Heskey, whose record is poorer than one in eight, even if the Aston Villa forward did play a key role in Steven Gerrard's opener.
With the news that Ledley King's groin injury is more serious than first thought, Capello has a lot to think about ahead of Friday's clash with Algeria. Jamie Carragher (slow), Michael Dawson (untried) and Matthew Upson (error-prone) are the alternatives at the moment and I would rank them in that order of precedence at the moment.
The goalkeeping conundrum continues to hover over the squad and I would urge the Italian manager to make a decision sooner rather than later this week, for the sake of the back four if nothing else, as they will be desperate for some re-assurance behind them.
Algeria and Slovenia were both unconvincing in their meeting on Sunday and should not cause England any real problems. Abdelkader Ghezzal will be suspended for the Africans against Capello's side and the Siena striker will be missed. He looked the most dangerous Algerian forward during his brief second half cameo at the weekend but his ridiculous dismissal will cost him a place in the squad as he serves a one match ban.
Ghana have done England a favour in Group D by beating the technically superior Serbians and now the Black Stars look the more likely second round opponent. Serbia would surely have proven to be a more difficult prospect. With France struggling at the moment, a semi-final place is still a realistic prospect for this England team and from there on luck will play a big part.
Outscoring the USA against Algeria and Slovenia is absolutely crucial. If Capello's side finish second in Group C and draw Germany in the last 16 then England's odds of winning the 2010 World Cup will be significantly lengthened.
Fabio Capello lo va a tener muy difícil para ganar este mundial. Si te fijas Fabio Capello siempre ha basado sus defensas en grandes porteros. A sus equipos le marcan pocos goles, pero muchas veces le crean bastantes ocasiones de gol. Siempre ha salido adelante gracias a porterazos como Rossi o Casillas.
ReplyDeleteAdemás no ha encontrado la solución para alinear juntos Steven Gerrard y Frank Lampard. Frank Jugó demasiado lejos del área. Es una posición que les exige demasiado poco en ataque a un jugador con tanto talento. Está claro que no dispone en sus filas de un mediocentro defensivo para poder liberar a estos jugadores tan creativos.
Tampoco me gustó la solción que tubo para el ataque. Hesckey no está al nivel de esta selección. No digo que Crouch sea Drogba, pero para mi puede aportar mucho más. Para alinear a Hesckey yo antes adelantaría a Steven y pondria como referencia a Wayne Rooney, que fue dicho sea de paso el que más hizo por ganar el partido junto con un muy incisivo Johnson. Este es mi punto de vista. Seria una lástima que Inglaterra no pasara primera de grupo, porque Alemania es un rival muy bueno. Pero ojo son muy buenos pero muy jovenes.Y cuando los partidos sean a vida o muerte, en octavos, cuartos, etc, los equipos de Capello son otra cosa. Aunque Alemania haya daedo una grandíssima impressión (cosa que yo ya me imaginaba), si se cruza contra la Inglaterra de Fabio...
Very interesting article and great analysis of Saturday’s game!
ReplyDeleteSo should we play Barry against Algeria and hopefully Gerrard + Fat Lampard will then play to their full potential? If Milner is still feeling ill, he shouldn’t be in the starting XI. Put Joe Cole instead. Heskey should start the game against the Fennecs but should be soon replaced by Crouch if he misses ‘easy’ chances like he did three days ago. I still can’t believe he put that ball right into Howard’s hands!! Gerrard must play behind Rooney in a more attacking role. Barry (or Carrick if the former is not fit enough) should protect the back 4. We need clever players in midfield who can hold the ball, pass it and make their opponents run, not the opposite! The US really taught us a lesson in that 1st half! Our performance was absolutely terrible! As for our goalkeeping problems, honestly, I have no idea!!
England should get back to work, focus on the basics and Capello must avoid making rookie mistakes!! SWP on the left?!!! Bring Kind to the WC?!! Algeria might be weaker on paper but if we loose or draw that game, then that will be the end of it!! People back home have spoken of a ‘Golden Generation’, ‘an experienced team’, so boys if you’re reading this, go ahead and prove it!!!! haha
Just as at club level, Steven Gerrard is likely to be a victim of his own versatility. I think there is a big case for Joe Cole starting on the left, Lennon on the right and Steven Gerrard playing just behind the forwards, but that requires a holding midfielder like Gareth Barry or Michael Carrick coming in for Frank Lampard and I don't think Fabio Capello will drop him. He will be more comfortable shifting Gerrard onto the left and playing Barry and Lampard in centre midfield, which was his preferred option when everyone was fit during the qualifying campaign. Lampard can be a matchwinner in the right position but the newly promoted captain simply offers more.
ReplyDeleteHeskey was not a disaster on Saturday but I would still go with Crouch. I'm still not convinced that he isn't just as effective in the Heskey role but with the added quality of scoring goals, which is always a plus with a striker. There is a suggestion that Rooney prefers playing with Heskey because the Aston Villa striker makes runs away from the ball to open up space for the United forward to do his stuff. But is that really what we've come to: a striker who doesn't want the ball at his feet and whose major strength is running away from it?
Despite all these loose ends and doubts, I'm most concerned right now about central defence. Jamie Carragher may have the experience to cope against Algeria and Slovenia but his lack of pace could be exposed with disastrous consequences against a useful opponent.
And then there is the goalkeeper...
Capello currently has problems in every single area. Let's see him earn his money.
I got New Zealand in the work sweepstake...what are my chances?
ReplyDeleteI thought England went ok, The American's did not seem to be able to handle Lennon at all and double teamed him from the middle of the first half for the rest of the match. Unfortunately Wright-Phillips on the other wing was not able to take advantage of the extra space i would liked to have seen Joe Cole as well
ReplyDeleteHi Simon, firstly, you make some valid points, however, I think playing Heskey just because Rooney likes playing with him can't be good for anyone - 1 for all and all for one, there should be no sidekicks, they aren't superhero's.
ReplyDeleteI would love to know your starting line up and formation. I quite like the Idea of Gerrard in behind Rooney with Wayne being the lone stricker...thoughts?
How about giving the Yanks a bit of credit Simon? I was pleased to see the Americans come out aggressive in the first half. The English commentators wrote it off as a comfortable win before the first whistle even blew, making the tie even sweeter for the football lovers here in the States. Howard must also be commended for his work in goal, even after taking a direct shot to the ribs from Heskey's cleats. Cherundolo did an excellent job in the back as well. I was also impressed how the D shut down Crouchy when he came in off the bench. If the US keeps up the quality of play from the first game we should advance to the knockout.
ReplyDeleteA good showing from the Yanks, Slovenia is going down tomorrow!!