Being right never felt so wrong

In one blog I questioned whether Remains project fear was toxic enough to turn people to brexit and in this one I structured concerns about 433 and Raheem Sterling. What a bitter sweet week.

Hodgson has finally gone, probably learning nothing along the way, but will England finally accept reality? Our players aren’t individually good enough and our managers tactically inept.

Watching Giaccherini play his part in a team focussed Italy reminded me why I’ve struggled to enjoy England games. We don’t care for winning tournaments.
That’s not to say the players don’t want to win it, I’m sure they do, but their application is consistently limited by the FA and their horrific choice of managers.

Despite a sturdy Euro 2016, Italians recognise there are few players coming through and the quality of Italian football has stumbled. They have as many world beaters as we do.
We also share another troubling problem, strong central players limiting our capability out wide.
Italy found a solution; they employed a manager who rated his players accurately and didn’t need a Neymar or Griezmann.

For England, the problems are obvious. Sterling is not yet good enough, either on or off the ball. Sturridge can’t play in an isolated position. Taking one defensive midfielder limited us tactically. And we had no idea how to use width, either in 433 or by playing narrow with full backs.
Defensively, and pointed out by Lee Dixon against Iceland, the detailing/application was inefficient.
Hodgson really is to blame for this one. And Conte should be admired.

Initially happy enough with the England team I hoped Roy would play narrow and put to bed the myth that selfish central players play wide naturally. But no, our obsession with 433 resulted in a flat approach in attack with a hugely inefficient formation.
Italy’s second goal against Spain is a shining example of what England need. We may want great players doing great things but those times are at the moment behind us. There are no Scholes, Beckham’s, Shearer’s, Gazza’s etc who make a good team stronger. Therefore first and foremost we need a team.

Individually, England aren’t good enough and neither are Italy. But why is Giaccherini in a quarter final, whereas Townsend and title winning Albrighton, Drinkwater stuck at home?
The answer is management, from both the FA and Hodgson.
Would Marc Albrighton get a friendly if he was worth £20million+ with 1.3 million twitter followers? What about Noble?

Why are we still shunning tactics for favourites? I think it’s time we accepted the fans vision of success is very different from the FA’s.

The next England manager must be someone who considers Albrighton an option, who recognises the value of Drinkwater next to Dier and who isn’t concerned about dropping a player without the mental capacity for his tactic. Sometimes the star isn’t a star performer.

They don’t need to be English; they just need to know how to win and why their tactic works.
And we England fans deserve it.

Roy, just play the best players

I was happy enough with England's performance against Russia but I only thought we looked right after Dier scored the opener. I finally saw a use for Sterling.

Lallana did exactly what a forward should do in 433. Pass early, keep the ball moving at your feet unless there's an overlap, draw defenders to create space, try one two's and make sure the pace of play is purposeful. He may not be a star but he played his part and allowed Walker and Kane to stick to useful positions.

Sterling however slowed the play, allowed defenders to settle, waited for tackles, and caused players to recheck runs/come for the pass. I'll keep the head shaking to a minimum.

When I compare other nations players I'm absolutely baffled why someone like Townsend or Albrighton were not embraced as tactical weapons. Euro 2016 will be won and lost though concentration. Either a defender giving himself a moment to rest or an attacker who doesn't take a chance. You need aware players who create chances, good or bad.

However there's no opportunity for change, and I'm not all that disappointed. Though Roy can gain balance, even if it's only playing to the teams natural abilities. 

Therefore I don't think 433 is a tactic England can rely upon. We must play narrow and use our full-backs. We may lack some natural technicians but we have intelligent energetic team players, which frustratingly need some time to bed.
Kane next to Sterling and Lallana forced a false 9 approach, but England need a striker up at all times because Rooney doesn't score from distance any more. Similarly Walker and Rose need two strikers to aim at because they're not precision crosser's.

The balance is still wrong and it will require the best players to play. Milner for example had to start against Russia because Kane would've spent more time on the front foot.
With two tough games to go and the Welsh only needing a draw we need to pray that Sterling's other use is making a Championship player feel inadequate. 

My current Euro 2016 England Squad

Watching England beat Germany reminded me why I love International football; great managers.

International football is as much about the manager as the player, not just for players picked but for tactics employed.

In both these departments England have struggled, which due to a dearth of top talent over the last decade should be a major concern. Sometimes I blame the players, the Lampard/Gerrard debate is a perfect example, but on many occasions I lose my passion for International tournaments the moment the England squad is announced. I, you, we all know what England we're getting.

However, watching England in the second half against Germany, made me look at Hodgson in a different light, had he achieved a tactical shape and balance befitting of an International team?

As Vardy netted it was clear a tactical understanding was on show. With no natural width it was down to strikers moving defenders, midfielder's holding possession and full backs to run into space.

Qualities the goal creating players have a natural fondness for. Clyne makes runs and crosses, Barkley looks to change the direction of play past the centre circle and Vardy is always on the move, especially in the box.

For the first time in many years I'm genuinely excited about England's balance, but I wonder, is this Roy's doing, or circumstance?

The following is a list of players I feel fit the balance of play, players who in my mind should go to the Euros.

Goalkeepers

Hart - Overrated but still highly rated.

Butland - Great season, deserves a chance.

Forster - Every team needs a huge keeper.

Central defence

Smalling - Wanders, can be headless but is the most consistent defender we have. Having a good year and appears more comfortable leading at the back.

Cahill - Not having a good year but we're not blessed at the back and he does have ability, suspect positioning.

Stones - When he adopts a more composed attitude in the box he'll be a real asset. That's up to him. Many ball hungry defenders started off making mistakes, the best ironed them out.

Full backs

Rose - Having a great year and while he isn't the best defensively, both in the tackle and position wise he will works well with Alli, Dier and Kane; that's invaluable.

Clyne - Same as Rose but perhaps a little more composed and weathered.

Walker - Exactly the same as Rose. Best of an average bunch but with more pace than the average gazelle.

Seeing as England do not have wide crossing players, or are unwilling to select them we need energetic full backs to support in positions down down the line. Without that tactic the opposition will be able to settle into defensive positions.

Midfield

Dier - Solid, knows to cover the positions of Rose and Alli. Can play centre back or in either full back position. Growing in confidence too; great to have a defensive midfielder.

Alli - Proper box to box midfielder, can pass, shoot, dribble and more importantly select the right option or not dwell on a decision. Will make mistakes but also create chances.

Barkley - He can play a more midfield based role but is better pushed a little higher as he always wants to be involved. A perfect option when you have full backs bombing on or attackers making runs. Advanced role looks to be Rooney's so it'll be interesting to see how Roy chooses to use him.

Milner - No Milner, no party. I think the time is running out on this legend but he's still solid in every position and makes good decisions. An invaluable trait in the final minutes of games and ones where others are losing their heads.

Attack

Kane - A proper centre forward who makes/finishes his own chances and understands the value of team play. A massively valuable asset for England because his game is versatile by nature.

Vardy - You're told your new club striker is lightning quick, loves scoring, makes countless runs, gives 100% and is humble. What't not to love. Tactically a perfect foil for Kane.

Rooney - If fit he has to go despite not being the Rooney of old. He will finally play in his favoured position with strikers ahead who love to be busy and not overtly selfish. Rooney with time? Yes please. Years of this man wasted out wide with an opportunity to prove himself in the middle. A brilliant passer and creator who is still a great player. The pressure would be off him this tournament; he has a part to play (one last time) and that shouldn't be overlooked.

Welbeck - An enthusiastic player with speckles of quality. Not my favourite but in tight games you need a goal scorer and he loves international football. Admittedly he scores freely against minnows but also gets winners against all-comers at every level. Crouch was wasted when we needed something different, Welbeck probably shouldn't be.

These are my certainties, players who would naturally complement each other and allow us to hold the ball centrally.

My attacking worry has always been out wide, Walcott and Sterling can outpace every defender but both lack the quality and character to play as wingers, they are forwards. The same for Chamberlain.

If you choose to play a 433 with forwards you allow the opposition defenders to settle because attacking players naturally cut back inside; for example the first half against Germany.

Sturridge offers the same problem and to an extent so does Lallana. There is only one English player who fits width as a tactic, Albrighton. He creates danger from his position as left winger but as right winger he's very effective in creating chances, he is of course right footed.

He will never be picked so we must accept that the middle is where we will be most effective and not expect miracles when we play with wide forwards. Roy must recognise this too.

At least this time it'll be Kane and not Sturridge as the lone striker. He'll demand crosses and is very able to play with his back to goal on both feet.

The rest who should probably go

Henderson - Rated highly by Roy but alas not by me. A good player who makes decent decisions and gets up and down the pitch but really isn't superb at anything. Does have a nice pass when he is afforded time and reads attacking play well.

Carrick - Losing Scholes meant we lost a player who passes calmly under pressure, Carrick has proved a decent understudy. We may need that cool head in central midfield, if his knees hold.

Drinkwater - It may be foolish to go to the Euros with one defensive midfielder and Drinkwater has the discipline to play that position as well as be involved slightly higher up. Deserves his opportunity.

Sterling - A sub if ever I've seen one. Poor crosser, average passer, average finisher. He may be a stunning dribbler and incredibly quick but he's got a long way to go to prove himself as a guaranteed England starter. Will decimate a slow defence so will rightly play his part in the tournament.

Baines/Bertrand - We may need another full back, despite Dier being an option. Quality vs. endeavour, Bertrand is fit and has been playing. I'd take Simpson.

Sturridge -  A problem because he's ineffective out wide despite being a chance maker, for himself. Poor passer, too one footed and selfish to play up top alone so he must play with a partner. Sometimes the young talents are eclipsed by the Vardy's of this world, is it time England accepted that?

Lallana - Klopp has brought him back to his best and we're now seeing the confident talent of two years ago. Smart enough to play in the hole, technically gifted enough to wander and keep the ball moving and with enough crossing ability to play wide. Not a bad time to hit form despite not yet meeting the hype.

Honourable mentions (players I would consider until the last minute) -

Noble - A solid player in central midfield who makes great decisions. Great passer, solid striker of a ball, good tackler, very committed. A real shame he hasn't had an opportunity to show why team play is invaluable.

Albrighton - Puffs at 60 minutes but sprints for 70. His mantra is cover in defence and take the ball with you/cross to keep play moving. Predominantly right footed but much better than David Bentley, who got 8 caps when England still had Beckham. Would add something that Kane needs and Vardy experiences.

We choose many one-dimensional forwards, why not choose at least one one-dimensional winger.

Walcott - I still can't get on board with Walcott. He has talent but he's lost so much rawness since joining Arsenal. Poor crosser but intelligent enough to get into the right position, decent finisher but poor decision maker, does cause havoc in the box.

Chamberlain - Better crosser than Walcott but spent his time as an impact performer who is struggling to refine his rawness. Offers more than Walcott out wide but both are subs.

Wilshere - Permanently injured and perhaps not worth the risk. Needs time to recuperate and should be given that. When fit he's definitely a player you want because he links up play brilliantly and is committed to his team.

Luke Shaw - Same as Wilshere, he is constantly rushed back and constantly injured. We cannot afford a wasted space or an unfit player.

Defoe - Still doing what he always does, scores when he starts but quiet for most of the match.

Simpson - Top of the league, resilient and hard working. Gone through the mill and has come out stronger. With so little in terms of defensive quality perhaps taking him as a sub would prove valuable in respect of the Leicester bond.

Jagielka - Everton ship goals but yet he remains and option. England's choices are not that strong and pedigree keeps him involved.

Jose Fonte - Solid, dependable, experienced. Deserves a mention despite his age.

Callum Chambers - He plays for Arsenal so automatically in Roy's mind. A good young player who has been blighted with injury and perhaps poor choices. Moving to Arsenal has not brought him on enough despite showing glimses of ability. I'd prefer a solid defender like Fonte than a young talented one.