Traditional England needs a new look
When England coach Roy Hodgson and the FA saw the group to which they would compete in this summer in Brazil, no one could have been happy about it. Quietly, yet not so quietly, England have one of the toughest groups in the draw – a Suarez led Uruguay side that have one of the best attacking tandems in the world, a resilient as ever and talented Italian team who on their day can still put in a very strong shift, and a tricky quick attacking Costa Rican side who while minnows, should never be underestimated…it is the World Cup after all.
The perennial problem in regards to the English national team, at least from this supporter’s perspective, is that they routinely select the popular players, but not the right players. There is something to be said for wanting to bring as much experience as possible to the finals, however there is also prudence in the system of taking younger players who offer something new and refreshing to the national team despite their relative inexperience at senior national level – just ask Germany, Holland and Spain, as these three nations routinely select a few younger players purely based off their domestic form and their skill set as footballers. Popularity does not come into play, strictly what they could bring to the side. If there was ever a time for a shake up in the national team where new blood is brought in at a much larger rate, it is now. England’s performances on the pitch have been in drastic decline for a few years now – the old guard must be phased out and it must be time to start looking towards the future past this summer, and what better way to blood new players than in a World Cup that England have no realistic chance of ever coming close to winning.
That said, let’s take a look at the 23-man squad I feel should be given serious thought not just for this summer, but progressing onwards to further World Cups and the European Championships.
Goalkeepers:
Joe Hart – currently not on form and not guaranteed to start for City, but he still has redeeming qualities as a shot stopper and currently the most experienced goalkeeper who can realistically be selected. Would not necessarily be the England number 1.
John Ruddy – one of the better natural keepers in the BPL, Ruddy is certainly on the rise. Plying his trade at Norwich produces plenty of evidence each week to warrant his inclusion in every England squad. He certainly has what it takes to oust Hart for the number 1 shirt.
Frasier Forster – you would have to travel to Glasgow to catch a glimpse of the gigantic keeper, but you would not hear one negative comment about his performance. Incredible agile for such an imposing player and the youngest of the three, he would not start for England just yet but by Euro 2016 it could be a realistic scenario.
Defenders:
Leighton Baines – without question the most complete left back in England, he must be considered a guaranteed starter in this position. Defensively very sound and excellent going forward, Baines adds another dynamic to England, which they have been missing in that position. Let us not forget how ruthless he is on set pieces.
Kieran Gibbs – the now first choice left back for Arsenal, Gibbs is a player in the exact mold of Ashley Cole. Very fast, can deliver a good final ball and has a very high work rate, which must be required for senior national level. Now that Cole is pushing his mid-thirties, this is the ideal second choice for the position.
Phil Jagielka – not only is he one of the best center backs in the BPL, but he along with Baines have forged an incredible understanding at the back for Everton, which has translated to the national team. Certainly would be one of the two starting in the center of the back four.
Michael Dawson – some would not put him near the side, but he is one of the better center backs you will find. Supremely committed and excellent in the tackle and in the air while possessing a strong positional awareness, so much that he is known for goal line saving tackles routinely. At age 30 he has a wealth of club experience and would deserve a chance in a major tournament.
Chris Smalling – big and quite mobile for someone of his stature, Smalling is the future of the Man United back line. Can double as a right back when needed, he is excellent in the air, however his one downside is that he needs improvement in his strength. Could earn a starting birth given his versatility and his agility and quickness, which would complement Jagielka well.
Phil Jones – say what you will, but he is a rather underrated center back. Nowadays he is selected in midfield or at right back for Man United, but his preferred and best position is at center back. He possesses a high work rate, is versatile and strong in the tackle. Moving forward past the summer, if he forms a mainstay partnership with Smalling, that would be supremely beneficial for England.
Kyle Walker – undoubtedly the first choice right back at current and for good reason. Possesses bags of pace, is excellent going forward but has the wherewithal to track back as soon as required. Also provides solid service into the box from deeper areas – his forged understanding on the right with Townsend will be crucial for England for years to come.
Nathanial Clyne – no one rates him for England at all, but make no mistake, he has propelled himself into one of the high-tier right backs in the country and has done so very quietly. Like Walker he has pace to burn and likes to get forward, but he is exceptional in the defensive third. Should something happen to Walker, Clyne would make a strong replacement.
Midfielders:
Steven Gerrard – an England mainstay and current captain, this will be (or should be) his last hurrah in an England shirt. Still capable of playing those pin-point diagonal balls as well as running the show in midfield, the only question marks come in consideration of his fitness levels – they have been in sharp decline over the past few years. Playing in an anchor role should limit the physical requirements to allow him to feature in one last major tournament for the Three Lions.
Michael Carrick – there are few better central midfielders in the BPL, it’s as simple as that. Blessed with an amazing ability to pass in all ranged and calmness on the ball that England will require, Carrick also possesses a strong engine – the ideal midfield partner for Gerrard.
Jonjo Shelvey – when he was shipped to Swansea, it was a blessing in disguise for England. For such a big and strong player, he possesses quick feet, a strong eye for a telling pass and is not afraid to crack one from distance. He is also exceptional when attacking set piece deliveries. Now that he is playing regular football for the Swans, there is no reason he should not be given a seat on the England flight.
Ross Barkley – an early season revelation under Roberto Martinez at Everton, Barkley is the perfect blend of technical ability and strength. He plays more like a German (think Toni Kroos) than an Englishman, and that is by no means a negative connotation. Very strong on the ball and taking players on, he also possesses strong play making qualities as well as not being afraid to take a pop from outside the box. Whether he would see significant time in Brazil remains to be seen, but he is certainly one for England to build around moving forward.
Andros Townsend – burst onto the England scene with dazzling performances recently, Townsend has played himself into a near guaranteed starting birth on England’s right flank. Another young English talent who prefers to be creative with the ball at his feet, he is the type of winger England has been seeking for years now. Along with Theo Walcott, they provide devastating pace and quality that will trouble even the staunchest defenses.
Theo Walcott – inconsistent in the past, Walcott has finally stepped into his shoes at Arsenal and those performances translated well for England. Literally one of the fastest players on the planet, Walcott is a true speed merchant – he lacks the ability to take players on, but given the potential creative players England can field, all you need do is give Walcott a through ball and watch him go. He does lack a quality final ball, but he is a solid finisher and prefers to tuck inside and get a sniff on goal than stick to wide areas – this quality makes him a huge threat and one England can benefit from.
Adam Lallana – one of a cadre of English players currently playing fine football for Southampton, Lallana very recently received call-ups for England in recognition for his domestic performances. Another technically gifted creative player, he is versatile in that he can play on either flank or just behind the striker. Given the lack of strength England possess on the left, do not be surprised to see him feature there often in the coming years, especially this summer (should Welbeck not be in the side).
Ravel Morrison – a recent revelation this season for West Ham, yet another young English player who is not traditional. Loves to take players on and excels when he has space to roam and dictate tempo. He can slot in on the left, behind the striker or in the midfield – his one draw back is that he does disappear from matches easily, though that may be a product of playing for West Ham rather than a personal flaw. His inclusion would be equal to that of Walcott in 2006 – not expected and may not feature but will be huge in the years to follow.
Strikers:
Wayne Rooney – his role in the side pending, Rooney is crucial to any success England will hope for in Brazil and in the coming years. He is what makes the England attack tick and his work ethic, on his day, is second to none. Bullish without the ball and with the ball, he simply makes things happen. As a key player, he also draws attention away from others, creating valuable space which players like Townsend and Sturridge would exploit. He possesses one of the finest shots in the side and after all, what would a World Cup for England be without him.
Daniel Sturridge – once he moved to Liverpool and was allowed to express himself, the talent that he showed glimpses of at previous clubs was there to stay. Very calm in front of goal and a strong finisher, he could very easily lead the line with Rooney slotted just behind him. He possesses top grade pace as well and is creative in his own right. He is without a doubt one of the few English strikers who can even make the grade for the national team currently.
Rickie Lambert – very late onto the England stage, he has shown very well every time he has been included. A well-balanced striker all around, he excels in the air, can crack a dead ball with the best of them and is a very strong finisher from both inside the box and out. His one drawback however, is that he lacks pace to obscene levels. He is a true target man however and the fact that he is physically strong (something Crouch was not) he could come in handy against sides such as Italy who are hard to break down – with Lambert, all you need is one cross to settle the matter.
Jay Rodriguez – he fourth installment of Southampton players in this squad, Rodriguez has arguably been their best player over the past two seasons. A striker by trade who can deploy on the left due to his pace and ability to take players on, Rodriquez is a near shoe-in for selection at current. His understanding with Lallana and Lambert could prove incredibly effective as well, which is something that England have lacked for quite some years.
“On Standby/On the bubble”:
Micah Richards – fitness depending, Richards is still a gifted defender. Capable of deploying both at center back and on the right, he is blessed with a combination of pace and physical presence that most England defenders do not have. He is also strong in the air and not afraid to get stuck in, though at times does make the odd bad tackle. Again however, his fitness record is abysmal however if fit, could push for a place.
Luke Shaw – Southampton’s fifth and final representative, Shaw is a fantastic player. Excellent in the defensive third, and like Gibbs and Baines, very strong pushing forward. He also has the ability to take a decent set piece (you can never have too many of those in truth). The fact that he has yet to be capped by the senior side is the only downside. Should something happen to Gibbs, Shaw could well be called upon to back up Baines.
Jack Wilshere – his form has dropped recently for Arsenal and the young midfielder may miss out on the plane because of it. Everyone remembers his dazzling performance in the friendly against Brazil – this is what he is capable of. Small in stature but an utter nuisance to play against, he is technically gifted and has a fantastic work ethic. Even Germany midfield maestro Bastian Schweinsteiger once stated how Wilshere was one of the toughest players he had ever played against. If he returns to form, there is no reason why Hodgson would not select him to go to Brazil.
Jordan Henderson – the Liverpool midfielder is finally living up to the expectations that came with his 20million pound price tag, which Liverpool paid to acquire his services. He at least certainly deserves a look over Tom Cleverly, whose selection still baffles many England supporters. He too possesses a strong wok ethic and is surprisingly strong going forward, as well as possessing the ability to take a look at goal from distance. On current form, if he can sustain it for the duration of the domestic campaign, he may well play himself on to the plane to Brazil.
Fabian Delph – Delph was highly sought after during his time at Leeds United however it would only garner a move to Aston Villa where up until this season he was never given a true chance. This year he has created a strong reputation for himself through hard work, possessing a big engine, technical ability, oodles of pace for a central player and his ability to be a box-to-box player (something England do lack in abundance). Further down the pecking order for selection, he is however one we should all fully expect to feature consistently after the World Cup.
Danny Welbeck – talented he may be, but the United striker does not possess natural goal scoring abilities that would see him feature consistently, or at all currently. He is blessed with pace and he has a good understanding of space which affords him access to multiple channels on the pitch, but that would not be enough to get him into the side. He is similar to Sturridge in style and physique however and should something happen to the Liverpool hit man, Welbeck could very well be called upon.
Bare in mind to those who are reading, that this is an opinion piece. From where I am sitting from a rather knowledgeable supporters standpoint, this England side possesses plenty of pace in wide areas, technically gifted players, strong work ethic and the right amount of star power blended with talented yet largely unknown youth on the grand stage. England will have to make quite a few changes to their tactics and the types of players they select if they are to become serious contenders for the World Cup and European Championships far beyond this summer. Germany has laid the framework for success in Europe, as has Spain, and there is nothing wrong with taking a page from the playbook of your rivals. The traditional English game can no longer last in international competitions and they will have to mold to the times if they are to be taken seriously again.