Sports Team writer Scott Johnson and Online Sport Editor Matt Bugler dissect the failings of England after a double defeat.
Scott:
When Roy Hodgson looked at November on his calendar, he would have had a few things on his check list. These will have included sorting out England’s best playing system, giving fans reasons to be positive about next year’s World Cup, and proving that plucky England can still stand up to the heavyweights of the international football scene.
However, after an uninspiring 1-0 defeat to Germany at Wembley last night, following a soporific 2-0 loss in the match against Chile on Friday evening, Hodgson will be looking at this checklist with nothing at all ticked off.
Let’s look at the first point on Hodgson’s checklist. England’s current playing style is extremely confused – they play four attacking players (one striker, two wide attacking midfielders and one player behind the striker), yet the defensive style of the team completely negates the effectiveness of all of the attack.
The defenders are constantly being forced to play deeper than their effective position because of the system employed, leaving the front men completely isolated and ineffective against any defence worth its salt. It’s as if Hodgson wants to be attacking, but can’t bring himself to live with the consequences if it goes wrong. However, this approach is just leading the team to stagnation, not to glory.
If you sat through either, or both of the matches, you’ll know that point two on Hodgson’s checklist most certainly hasn’t been ticked off. We were poor against a side that most fans would be expecting to beat should they be in our World Cup group, and we rarely troubled the opposition in a match that any English team should be desperate to win.
So, all in all, we’re not optimistic at all, which is a shame after the final group performances during the qualifying phase which showed more attacking intent. The reversal of mentality when in front of a home crowd will not give any fan confidence about tough matches played in a neutral setting.
Item number three, equally, is most definitely not checked off. Although it was only a 1-0 defeat to Germany, it was in no way their strongest team and we were at Wembley. England rarely threatened and didn’t manage a single shot on target, Andros Townsend coming closest with a long range effort that rattled the post with Weidenfeller beaten.
England also contrived to beat themselves. Take a look at Mertesacker’s winning goal – there were seven England players around the six yard box to defend that final cross, yet Mertesacker beat them all to it, a criminal mistake at international level.
Admittedly, the header was very impressive one and Joe Hart had no chance once it was on its way. Hart almost wrote the headlines again with another mad rush for the ball outside the box resulting in a huge collision with Smalling; thankfully the ball not dropping to any attacking players.
England fans looking at Brazil 2014 are not going to be feeling terribly buoyant, especially knowing that England will be drawn alongside one of the top sides in the World as they are not one of the eight seeds. However optimistic you are as an England fan, two defeats at home can only mean the World Cup draw on December 6th is not going to make for happy viewing for the England camp.
Matt:
Watching England on Tuesday night was almost pointless. Germany’s second string strolled around in the middle of the park, gently caressing the ball back and forth while Roman Weidenfeller earned money for standing still on some grass.
Roy Hodgson didn’t do himself any favours when told England had no shots on target: “What about Townsend’s shot that hit the post? Is that not on target? I rest my case.” No Roy, if it hits the post then it’s not going in. You’re better than that.
Townsend did do one thing though, which other players seem to be unable to do: run with the ball. When he gets the ball he aims to charge forward and gain ground, reinforcing the notion that football is a form of exercise. Many other players seem content to labour around, lob balls over the top and generally create nothing. Seriously, if you can’t find one shot on target in 90 minutes, what’s the point of showing up?
Quite how Daniel Sturridge managed to stay on the pitch for 90 minutes is beyond me, after a more than anonymous performance where he showed zero understanding with Wayne Rooney. The whole formation was a bit of a mess, was it 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1? I’m not convinced that Sturridge can lead the line on his own, but in theory the attacking quadrant should be much more fluid and looking to run in behind defenders.
Some players simply aren’t good enough to be playing international football; the Hendersons, Smallings and Cleverleys of this world should be nowhere near the plane to Brazil. If you’re not playing regularly for your club, you shouldn’t be starting for England.
Adam Lallana had a quiet night compared to his impressive debut against Chile, but he was made to hug the touchline and rarely stray away from the left flank. At Southampton he plays everywhere, giving defenders nightmares with his omnipresence, but for England he’s not going to routinely beat full-backs for pace like Townsend.
Some people criticised the inclusion of Lallana and Jay Rodriguez, which doesn’t make sense considering the Saints are third in the league, with a plethora of English talent. They play continental-style football involving high pressing and interchanging positions, with fitness being the main thing to increase since Mauricio Pochettino’s appointment. Are England’s players really fit enough if they can’t run with the ball or press?
England have to change their mentality now. Increase fitness, play with freedom and try to create chances. Defensive mentality gets you a trip home in the first knockout stage if you’re lucky. Take some risks, try to entertain the fans, play quicker with the ball and do some running. Otherwise nothing has changed since Hodgson’s appointment, and no-one wants a bore-fest like the dross we served up against Italy in Euro 2012.
exeposedev 