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. 

Manchester United 2 – 1 Liverpool (11/02/2012)

Two strong teams lined up in a game neither could afford to lose and it was Sir Alex who came out on top with his blend of youth, intelligence, experience and hard work.

In a game that started under an Evra/Suarez black fog and a lacking an ‘all clear’ handshake there was little animosity on the pitch and a sense of purpose from both teams.

Liverpool started the brightest and immediately pushed forward with Suarez and Kuyt running the channels well; unfortunately they were met by a staunch United defence and excellent tracking back from United’s attacking players who as soon as the game settled made both Liverpool strikers took fairly anonymous.

Wayne Rooney’s two goals in 3 minutes exemplified United’s killed instinct but the work of two of his teammates allowed move after move to find its way into the Liverpool half and Sky’s Man of the Match 

Rooney to play the game at his tempo.

Paul Scholes played a neat passing game that allowed a hardworking attacking outfit in front of him time and more importantly space to get onto the ball; a lesson for any central midfielder Scholes used his teammates to great effect and rarely misplaced a pass, or relied on the killer balls to get a move going. His body shape and control on the ball was only matched by Rooney who was devastating in all parts of the pitch and had Liverpool players scrambling.

The quality on show from both players only materialised because of their target man, channel running lone forward Welbeck who played magnificently and worked tirelessly to get himself all over the park, especially in the first half. In their own half Welbeck put Liverpool under huge amounts of pressure and allowed Giggs and Valencia to take their defensive duties seriously and time to get into attack.

This all amounted to a fairly average and stagnant performance from Liverpool who defended in numbers and failed to push United back until they changed to 442. Suarez looked full of purpose but he found it difficult to get any extra time on the ball and wasn’t helped by a slow passing midfield and dropping Gerrard.

Wayne Rooney who should have had a hat trick continually tested Liverpool in midfield and attack and looked comfortable with Scholes behind him and Valencia racing up in support. His first goal on 47mins typified his ability and Liverpool’s frailty, as a corner missed by everyone dropped to his right boot and allowed him to volley the ball past Reina with Johnson left stranded by Rooney's movement..

In the 50^th minute Rooney struck again as he was found by a fantastic Valencia who deftly played a ball into Rooney’s path allowing him to slide the ball in-between Reina’s legs. It typified United today who won many 50/50 balls and pressurised Liverpool in every part of the pitch.

On 80 minutes a Charlie Adam ball into the box and a mistake from Ferdinand, who was caught out by the flight of the ball, dropped to Suarez who duly tucked the ball past de Gea. Adam who came on with 15minutes to go allowed Liverpool a little more room and a better shape to force United back but ultimately the goal came out of nowhere and Liverpool did little to trouble United after that.

A well deserved victory for United that puts them top overnight and leaves Liverpool tittering on the edge of mediocrity.

Though United deserved the victory the game will be overshadowed by two tunnel incidences, a lack of handshake from Suarez (though Evra enjoyed the pantomime of it all), Ferdinand sticking up for this left back with the same gesture to Suarez, a foolish celebration and two passionate interviews from the opposing managers.

On the pitch the match was without incident and at the end of the day that was what mattered.