I want passion, motivation, tactical awareness and results (The Worst Job in England?)

Member Name: opinions4u

Product:	The Worst Job in England?
Date:	31/03/03 (258 review reads)
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England have, for the first time ever, defeated the mighty Liechtenstein. It was admittedly the first meeting of these two nations. Without a doubt, England did not impress against a nation with a population smaller than Burnley.

So, who were the players on display?


In Goal
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David James. As a child of the seventies, I recall the days when keepers like Phil Parkes and Joe Corrigan were simply not good enough for a team that could choose from the best two goalkeepers in the world, Ray Clemence and Peter Shilton. James is at best a liability. He is poor at dealing with crosses and has been throughout his career. Some of his displays in his days at Liverpool were erratic, and while his shot stopping reflexes are among the best, an international goalkeeper he is not. Unfortunately, Seaman is still probably our number one, despite his ponytail and the goals conceded against Brazil and Macedonia. Paul Robinson and Chris Kirkland are promising, Nigel Martyn needs first team football. We do not have the goalkeeping riches we used to enjoy.


The Back Four:
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Gary Neville. While the cause of the occasional mistake (positioning against Australia for example), Neville is an essential attacking flair to complement Beckham on the right. Totally committed to the cause, capable of delivering crosses of the highest quality, he is rightly ahead of Danny Mills in the pecking order.

Wayne Bridge. Drawn from the unfashionable Southampton, Bridge is beginning to show a talent and a half in the left back position. While I have not seen enough of him to give a genuine comment, it is possible that his attacking flare and defensive stubbornness will put him ahead of Ashley Cole over the coming games. He was mysteriously substituted against Macedonia, when he was about the only threat on the pitch as we drew 2-2.

Rio Ferdinand. One of our World Cup success stories, Rio has had an
unspectacular first season at Manchester United and his England performances since have been highlighted by an error against Australia. I do, however, believe by this time next year he will be the best central defender in the world.

Gareth Southgate. Excluding penalty shootouts, he has never let England down. But, undoubtedly, Sol Campbell is a better player. Perhaps Jonathan Woodgate is too!

We have a fine looking defence on paper. The goalkeeping position is the one that has to be sorted out.


Midfield

David Beckham. Usually totally committed, he is the inspiration for the team. His broken foot injury cost us the World Cup. He bottled a tackle in the Brazilian half that led to Rivaldo scoring an equaliser. And unable to play with his full gusto in the second half, nobody else was able to drive the team on to the equaliser they were so capable of. He did enough in the foothills of Liechtenstein to secure a less than adequate win for his team. Rightly selected. Rightly captain. But he needs help on the pitch if this team is going to win one of the two trophies worth winning in international football.

Paul Scholes. I think Scholes is a fantastic player, but he tends to score his goals against weaker oppostion (eg Poland, Tunisia, Scotland) and is currently on a barren international run. An uncompromising and uncultured tackler, he should now either be left out of the team, or, preferably, be encouraged to make more runs from deep than he has done in recent fixtures.

Paul Gerrard. The hero of Munich, is was his 25 yard rocket that nestled beautifully in the bottom corner of a German net to put England 2-1 up seconds before half time. It was his goal that saved our blushes against Macedonia. Talented, but injury prone, he is yet to prove himself at the top level and his World Cup replacement, Nicky Butt, is unlucky not to be picked ahead of him. But he does have the potential to deliver that d
efence splitting pass that has given Michael Owen so many Liverpool goals.

Kieren Dyer. Another injury prone player, Dyer is a right footed player who prefers to play in the centre of midfield. To get a regular England slot, he must play convincingly down the left wing. He is fast. He is exciting. He worked well with Bridge down the left. But never quite did enough against what was a pub team, despite the opportunities available to him.

With Danny Murphy, Joe Cole, Ray Parlour, Owen Hargreaves and numerous others, England has strong midfield options. I am at a total loss to explain how none of them, Beckham included, appears to have genuinely delivered on a consistent basis in the last 18 months of England matches.


Strikers:

Michael Owen. Despite a mixed season at Liverpool, Owen is the one we rely on, a little too much, to score the goals. He did it again on Saturday night, did it against Brazil, won the penalty against Argentina and scored the hat trick in Munich. But it is 19 months since our 5-1 victory over our German friends. Is he just a bit too short?

Emile Heskey. While in defence of Heskey he has played some of his internationals on the left of midfield, he has scored only 4 goals in 31 internationals. This is simply not good enough. A goal every three games is a requirement for an international striker. While his size is a menace to the opposition, it also draws England players in to a hoof and hope style that is so unnecessary. If only Shearer had come out of retirement. He would, now, be the perfect foil for Owen.

Vassell, Smith, Beattie, Rooney. Not quite ready for it at international level in my view. Fowler not quite right to play alongside Owen who is rightfully, as one of our two genuine world class players, first choice up front.


Summary:

We have a fine defence and midfield. A world class striker in Owen. But it is a defence that gives away silly
goals. And a midfield that seems incapable of putting notable performances together in consecutive games. Two players, Heskey and James, should simply not be selected in the squad. Let alone playing!

It is time to free up the midfield a little. Scholes needs to be able to make those late runs that have brought him so much success in his earlier England days. Dyer needs to be allowed to attack. Gerrard needs to make that holding role his.

As it is, we are remarkably boring to watch. With the exception of the display against Argentina, which was a marvellous display of grit rather than thrilling and flowing football, we have not performed since we won in Munich. Even our win over a mediocre Denmark team was not a memorable game.

We have the basis of a side that could win Euro 2004. We should have won World Cup 2002. If only because the sides that progressed further than ourselves were so poor. As ever, I suspect we will not quite fulfil our potential. And we will realise Sven is not the Messiah of English football after all. Keegan's motivational skills, Sven's coollness and Wenger's tactical nouse rolled in to one are needed.

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