Which of England’s old guard should be removed?
Last night England were taught a lesson by an intelligent and well drilled France team. The French for the majority of the game were the better side, and if England had equalised in the final moments it would have been harsh. The French played with fluidity, constantly moving and always looking for space. England again played with little nerve or imagination, but this had to be expected considering the age of the England team and the quality of the French.
However, lets not get over dramatic about last night. Kieran Gibbs, Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll all started a senior international for the first time. This was great to see. Fabio Capello picked a big game to play these players in, something we all called for after the World Cup. It is unfair to look at the score in too much detail. It was an experiment from Capello, to see what players could cope with senior international football. In the main the three in question as well as other fringe players all had decent games, though need more time to settle. If England had played woeful opposition, like Scotland’s game on Tuesday, what would we have discovered. The youngsters would have been comfortable and the press would have raved about them for the next few days. In a game against a top quality side, they did well, and Capello should be applauded for giving them a chance on the top stage.
Last night seemed so bad because of the way the media portrayed France in the build up to the game. They underestimated France and it came back to bite them. Instead of the press accepting that France were terrific in parts, they have rounded on Capello and his selection. What can the manager do? Where is the media’s integrity? Three months ago they were calling for such a shake up, now they have got it, they round on Fabio Capello. Last night France were the better team but without a doubt England have the better youngsters coming through. This can’t be ignored.
The question has to be can these players provide competition for the senior players. If we look at the England goalkeeping situation, not many people can question the quality England have. Both Hart and Foster are gaining experience and have played well so far this season. Hart is undeniably number one, but Foster will provide excellent competition – something that will benefit the players and the England team.
England do need to look at the centre back issue. Realistically, how many times will Rio Ferdinand and John Terry play together before the European Championships. For the rest of this season, the signs are not good. John Terry could be out for a couple of months and Rio Ferdinand can’t shake of niggling injuries. Fabio Capello should not be looking at Michael Dawson, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka and Michael Turner to replace both Ferdinand and Terry. It is time for a shake up defensively and such a shake up will provide greater competition in the domestic and international game.
Continuing on in the hypothetical shake up, Andy Carroll did himself proud last night. The England man’s confidence was there for all too see, and if he had been provided with better service, instead of Joleon Lescott believing himself to be a quarter back, he would have caused greater problems. His build up play was excellent – fashioning a chance for Gerrard after a superb knock down. The service to him was pitiful – Sunday league standard at times. Just because Carroll is big it doesn’t mean to say he can deal with punts up fie.ld. England will need to learn to play with Carroll as they have with Peter Crouch. It is a process that will take time no doubt, but and England squad featuring Andy Carroll. Wayne Rooney, Jermaine Defoe and Peter Crouch has quality all around it.
We should be supporting Capello’s selection last night, not rounding on him. It is too easy to be blinded by a defeat to France. Some sections of the media have used lines like, England loose to the only team worse than themselves at the World Cup. France are in transition, and no one can seriously believe had Laurent Blanc taken that exact team to the World Cup they would have performed as bad. England are in transition, and had big injuries last night.
Lets put things into perspective. England need to clear out dead wood from the squad, but it will take time. As well as this, the senior players need competition, Capello is providing them with this. It is very easy to look at the result last night and be downhearted about England. Hey, its what we do. We need to back the youngsters, because they have the quality to do play for England. The transition from dead wood to talented youngsters will take time but we are on the right road.
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Good article I’m a Newcastle fan and I was proud of the way Carroll played I hope he is too. Glad to see there were so many youngsters playing thought Micah Richards, Keiran Gibbs and Henderson did well as well.
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The reason why the English team looked poor is because it is poor. England has produced very few players with creative flair like the French have. The fact is that the Premiership uses a few English players as the core of the side, and then bolts on all the skill and creativity from foreign players. Frankly, the only thing the English players have going for them is that they will run all day and will at least try hard for the team, but demand for all but a couple of them abroad is NIL.
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I cant understand Capello Lennon and Huddlestone Wiltshire should be in the squad when they are fit Carroll would have bean great with Lennons crosses and Toms passes infact we will see this when he moves to Spurs in a swap with Keane Bentley Ten million.
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What the hell is our defence doing, Cappelo must be instructing them to hold on to the ball for as long as they can and then pass it back to the goalkeeper and start again, dont they realise, that what they are supposed to do, is to recieve the ball off of the keeper and advance upfield, yes thats upfield, and then pass to the midfield who then advance upfield and look to pass to a striker and his job is to try and score a goal, it is just as simple as that, you do not have to be fluent in four languges you dont have to be a member of Mensa, just one end to the other in a forward yes forward direction, it does help to look stylish as well, because if you do what i have just said, you may just play again, one sentence Find an ENGLISH manager
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England needs two things serioulsy
1]To choose based on skill & not celebrity status.Why will Beckham that NO serious team want be even considered to play for england? Why isnt Crouch englands most prolific striker always playing?
2]Get the FA & Premier league to penalise rough/tuggish football to encourage good techincal play!
If teams get by playing like Amazon tribe’s men, u can’t expect them to play technical footie when it’s required!
Even with the senior players who are experinced I have never seen england play footie the way France played last night.
If france were wearing Red, one could easily mistake them for SPAIN!
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lol davspurs, think you might be waiting a while for Carroll to sign for your lot, he’s going nowhere mate. 5 year deal signed, bleeds black and white and got the chance to emulate his heroes on the pitch? Don’t believe the media mate, he’s staying put!
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I watched Andy Carroll play against us at Goodison a couple of months ago and he looked very assured…particularly when when the ball was played below neck height…this didn’t happen much last night but he still showed some really good touches. Good to see a younger player getting his chance. Terry is a thug and slow as anything, and Ferdinand used to be good but not all that any more. Lescott is a shadow of the player before he left Goodison. Jags should be in the squad but seriously who does that realistically leave us with? Not many that’s for sure. Hwoever my main concern is in midfield. I think the wings are reasonably well covered but the centre of midfield is woeful by international standards…Gerrard…past his best (as a Blue Nose I hate to say it but he once was one of the best England had). Lampard, Barry, Carrick and co are just not enough. One of the most gifted midfielders in England (other than Fabregas) is Mikel Arteta. No other England player can retain possession like him…and he cannot even get on the bench for Spain. That is a true sign of how far behind we are. I have to agree wih Chiedo…England players are not taught technique enough from an early enough age which is why the midfield is always exposed. Let’s face it and be honest…England’s current world ranking is belies the fact that we are rubbish and it needs addressisng from a grass roots level not just at Interantional level. That being said…Wilshere looks like a breath of fresh air…can’t wait to see him more in and England shirt…just a pity there aren’t more like him around.
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Lets be honest, only Gerrard and Carroll had reasonable games amongst the outfield players. Carroll got nothing in the way of service and Gerrard only seems to shine when he is captain like in the 2nd half.
France are not one of the best teams around but they were so techically superior it was embarassing.
After the World cup it was time to get rid of Capello but now we are stuck with him and the Euros will be another farce.
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Question is, did Capello set out to win that game or try out new players? Does he realise how English fans would be even more upset at a loss to France? Henderson was poor, Bothroyd was out of his depth (when he came on) and what is Jagielka doing at right back with Richards on the bench? Carroll was OK but realistically didn’t do much, needed better supply. Gerrard faded out of the game, Milner did nothing and I didn’t even notice Walcott was playing. Fair enough the team needs a shake up after a bad World Cup but these “top” players are just not performing. Our midfield let us down and we’re just crying out for a good defensive midfielder, in the mould of the French lad M’Vila. Shame that Hargreaves, King and Woodgate have been injury ridden as they would certainly be pushing for a first team place if not being regulars.
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Sorry, but do you really watch/follow football, other that the hit&run EPL? I am in doubt after comments like England has better youngstars coming in future. Have you ever bothered to go through the profiles of French 21 or younger players? Do you know how many French U23 or younger players are starters for La League, Legue 1, Bundes League or Seria A sides?
We should talk a bit about skill or technic of young players in football forums (it’s not sprint for wingers or the Centre forward is not likely to be a basketball centre to hustle it out & creativity should be the key word for midfielders rather quarter backs). 2-1 was a very unfair result for the French considering the dominence they had against a home full house (had it been a boxing match, officials would have stopped the contest after 2-0).
Which unvailed Engilsh youngstars are going to better the French, considering that Benzema, Nasri, MaVilla, Lorris, Shakho, Payet, Ramy, Biabiny, Gourcoff, Remi are in their early 20s. Add the talent & skill that some of the U20 French boys coming with. Please take out some time to watch the likes of Grizmann, Kakuta, Fofana, Mangala, Sithu, Cissokho, Sonogo, Lecazzete, Taffer, Corchia, Rele, Brahimi, Kiyeta, Matuidi or the Lyon no 22 (forgot the name) is doing in weekin – weekout in French or Spanish legue. And these are few names from the country finishing almost always in top 4 of every euro age group tournaments.
France & Spain can play with their reserve team & as host, I ‘ll put my money to beat the English in terms of result. No comments on the style though.
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