Three Lions Optimism..

afternoon.


A week has passed since the international break and after another eventful week in the Premier League, there is much food for thought regarding the course of the English National team and its future.
6 points was a good outcome, if perhaps not merited (are u reading Robert Earnshaw). The squad in my opinion has real potential but only if certain players are included and used in the right combination.

Lets look at the way England lined up against Bulgaria:


                                                                   HART

SMALLING                      CAHILL                              TERRY                       COLE


    WALCOTT                  PARKER                     BARRY                DOWNING


                                                                                        YOUNG
                                                                ROONEY                                                                       

Now how they did versus the welsh::


                                                                       HART


SMALLING                      CAHILL                              TERRY                       COLE


    MILNER                   LAMPARD                   BARRY                DOWNING


                                                                                        YOUNG
                                                                  ROONEY

During his time at the Villa, Ashley Young had always seemed to be on the fringes of the starting 11. But now, with his move to Man Utd, he seems to have a new lease of life, in no small part to to his newly found understanding with club mate Rooney. The way these two feed off each other is seemless. These two pretty much pick each other for the Starting XI.

This poses interesting questions about Englands other attacking players and where they may fit in, or not. But lets look at the back line first - an area I am going to focus on...


At The Back:

John Terry would appear to be the only one left of the old guard that is an automatic selection - if fit. Rio Ferdinand has seen better days; He has lost about 40% of his pace and there are beginning to be serious questions asked of his ageing limbs, with him picking up groin strains and muscle injuries. So where else do we look?

As I have previously written, this should be Gary Cahill's breakthrough year; he's now 25 and is gradually becoming one of the Premier League's better defenders; He is solid, works tirelessly, is particularly mobile and at times deadly in front of goal - certainly for a defender. This was underlined by his goal on his debut against the Bulgarians. They way he took his chance; The way he stayed in a dangerous area but most importantly his composed finish in tight area. As his second cap against the Welsh showed, it looks like Cahill is here to stay.

I was very impressed with Chris Smalling, also on international debut. A centre back at heart, yes, but when utilised as a full-back, Smalling adds another level of defensive offensive, if you will. For a guy of 6 foot, he has a better eye for a cross than many other diminutive wingers wouldn't. Smalling's other attribute is that he is quite pacy and can break down any potential counter-attacks. Smalling still has much to garner, against the big european teams, but already his place is beginning to look assured as a better alternative to Glen Johnson, who lacks a defensive nouse, as any sane Liverpool fan will atestify.

As far as Ashley Cole goes, I have no real vision of a left back that could take his place, except that is, Leighton Baines. One may go as far as to say Baines' delivery into the box is equal to, if not better than Cole. Baines lacks strength in the defensive department though. But the biggest hindrance to his chances are his own personal problems of homesickness. If he can overcome this, then he has a real chance of breaking through. IF

Kieran Gibbs would be the other full back to push for Cole's place, but currently he is going through a tough time with injury and like Baines, has defensive issues. he needs to strengthen his physique for this to happen.
A few other names are starting to emerge from the shadows following big money moves in the summer...

First there is Phil Jones. This guy is a bull. He looks terrifying when on the ball (for the opponents). He can run at defences with ease when utilised as a holding midfielder  and even then as a centre back, he still enjoys jaunts forward as he portrayed in his 2 assists against Bolton at the weekend. Jones is powerful and his heading ability for someone so young is impressive. He is also built well. I can see him slotting into a main centre back role, but also as a holding player to add more steal to an England midfield, that the likes of Milner, Barry and  the outgoing Lampard may not. If not there he could adequately fill in at right back. It will
be interesting to see where he will do the majority of his playing time...

From a personal view, Id love to see Roger Johnson get a fair shot. During his time at Birmingham, his performances were often match winning ones, or indeed match saving ones. But he was never really considered. In March he was called up to the squad,
but injury denied him a debut cap which was a huge shame. I am a big fan of Johnson and am slightly surprised that a bigger club than Wolves didnt come in for him. He's 26, not young, but most certainly not past it. He adds a real steel to the back line, as well as guts and goals. The only problem is I'm not sure where he comes down the pecking order as it stands. I hope Capello and future bosses do the right thing.


Defensive Pool;   Terry, Cole, Cahill, Richards, Jones, Smalling, Lescott, Baines, Glen Johnson, Warnock, Gibbs, Ferdinand, Roger Johnson, Upson;


Through the Middle:


The midfield picture is less clear, as far as permanent fixtures are concerned. With Gerrard struggling with niggling injuries and Lampard being ushered out (about time) the new England midfield is in the process of being molded and melded together. Scott Parker appears to now be a definite starter. As is Theo Walcott, who we will go onto later and Gareth Barry. So what are the other options?...

Firstly, there is Wilshere, who when fit is a first teamer. His dynamicy is unmatched as far as English players go. He is best utilised right in the middle of the park, where he can create and run at teams. His absence for the Wales game was keenly felt. Someone who has a real shout at establishing himself is Tom Cleverley. In his time on loan at Wigan last season, he was often the stand out player. Now, since his return to Man Utd, he has forced his way into the starting XI, ousting Carrick and replacing the retiring Paul Scholes, thus partnering Anderson in the midfield.

Cleverley has had an impressive start to the season, which has had a direct impact on United's transfer dealings in that position, or lack thereof. For England though he could easily play on the right or left of midfield as a supplier, but also as tenacious tackler and distributor.



Matt Jarvis of Wolves could definitely do a job as a left winger, but that very much depends on the way other attacking players are utilised. Stewart Downing also, could also play on the right and has slightly more pace than Jarvis. Lately - after being the darling of Steve McClaren's England tenure - with many asking as to why he merited inclusion, his performances for Villa and more recently Liverpool have seen him earn his call up. Then there is Ashley Young, as mentioned. But it is his positioning or where he is played that will determine the forward options for England...


Midfield Pool:   Young, Wilshere, Barry, Parker, Lampard, Gerrard, Henderson, Jarvis, Downing, Milner, Cleverley;


Up Front:


England's striking options are plentiful. But the right combination and balance has to be reached. Currently, Rooney plays as the sole striker, with Ashley Young the provider just behind him. This formation leaves England's options limited in a 4 4 1 1 formation. Looking at the strikers individually there is much to ponder...

Danny Sturridge could quite easily be a starter. A lot of people have said that with 5 strikers, and more at Chelsea (Torres, Drogba, Anelka, Lukaku, Sturridge) he would find it increasingly difficult to make a place in the starting line up his own, if, as indeed he did, refuse a move away from Stamford Bridge to fight for his own place. But with Torres' currently goal drought and Didier Drogba's concussion, Sturridge is beginning to fight his way into the line up. His sublime, if not, outrageous finish against Sunderland, highlights that he does not lack confidence.

The other big loan striker breakthrough was another Danny, Welbeck. He would appear to be battling Javier Hernandez for a starting berth at Old Trafford, with Dimitar Berbatov increasingly falling out of favour.  
If utilised as a front two, Sturridge and Welbeck could work together very well, both very pacy and technically sound.

outside of these two, there is Zamora, who continues to impress at Fulham; Andy Carroll of Liverpool, but with his current problems on and off the pitch, there remains a big question mark over him; Jermaine Defoe needs to recapture his goalscoring prowess, but will continue to knock on the door and Kevin Davies exists as a real goal threat, for a sometimes lacking England threat,


Attacking Pool;   Rooney, Carroll, Welbeck, Sturridge, Zamora, Davies, Defoe;

So with all this said what could we be looking at come next summer in Ukraine and Poland.

well, potentially this.



                                                                HART




SMALLING                CAHILL                                TERRY                      COLE


                                                               JONES




                   CLEVERLEY                  WILSHERE                 PARKER 


                                                                                   YOUNG


                                                               ROONEY


or...




                                                                HART




   JONES                     CAHILL                                        TERRY                  COLE




   CLEVERLEY/MILNER                WILSHERE               PARKER/GERRARD   



  STURRIDGE/WALCOTT               ROONEY                 YOUNG/WELBECK


but really, there is much to be concluded...