‘Solid but unspectacular’ was the general consensus regarding England’s performance in Roy Hodgson’s first match in charge against Norway in Oslo. Indeed, with English expectations at an all-time low on the back of recent disappointments, England fans would probably be delighted by a summer of similar well-drilled, organised performances provided that results are adequate. The question is should that really be the limit of their expectations?
Most fans’ and pundits’ assessment that the current squad does not possess the players to win Euro 2012 is probably correct. But do they not possess the talent to give their fans something to get excited about or take control of a game against the majority of European nations?
It is a question of managing this talent. For too long, England, and the other home nations, have been guilty of making teams ‘determined’ and ‘difficult to break down’ at the expense of keeping possession and creative play. The cry is that England do not have the players. In reality, it is a question of consistently overlooking or marginalising players who do possess these abilities.
Paul Scholes, famously described by Zinedine Zidane as the world’s most complete midfielder, retired from England duty in 2004 partly due to his frustration at being stuck out on the left-wing, unable to stamp his undoubted authority on a match. It was recently made aware that Michael Carrick had retired from England duty, frustrated by a lack of opportunities. The same Carrick who is greatly admired by Spanish maestros Xavi and Xabi Alonso, who may know a thing or two about midfield play.
Unquestionably two of the most technically gifted English midfielders and best English passers of recent years, they have found themselves overlooked for Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in particular, with a succession of England managers hoping, and for the most part failing, to inspire both to find their admittedly exceptional club form at international level.
However, against the top teams, where England have invariably failed miserably, ball retention is key and for all of Gerrard´s Hollywood passes and Roy of the Rovers performances, and Lampard´s well-timed runs into the box and goals from midfield, neither have shown the ability to consistently keep the ball and dominate the middle of the park.
Due to errors by previous managers, Scholes and Carrick are no longer an option for Hodgson. But will he learn from their mistakes in the future and be the first man since Terry Venables to knit together an England team which fans get genuinely excited about going to watch?
In players such as Jack Wilshire, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Tom Cleverley, there are midfield players available who do posses excellent technical ability and can find a team-mate more often than not. History, however, would suggest that it is unlikely to see all of them together in an England midfield, as the obsession for hard work, grit and determination takes over.
James Milner and Stewart Downing started out wide against Norway in what was a cautious selection by Hodgson. Surely England fans would rather see the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Johnson, Aaron Lennon, Theo Walcott, or Daniel Sturridge marauding down the wings, particularly against inferior teams such as Norway? All have their faults (inexperience, lack of game time, proneness to injury, poor decision-making, greed respectively) but equally all have the ability to make things happen on their day.
Ashley Young’s match-winning performance continued his impressive form in an England shirt and, with a dearth of top quality English strikers, one wonders whether he could effectively combine with club-mate Wayne Rooney in attack. In a forward-thinking team playing possession football on the ground, surely there should be no reason why not?
Whether Hodgson will place more emphasis on technical ability and free-flowing football remains to be seen. If Norway is anything to go by, England fans should expect the safety first approach, and who can blame the new manager such is the results-driven nature of football today? However, if in future he can look past the ‘English grit’ so often heralded by the press, he might find he is pleasantly surprised. And additionally, England fans may look forward to going to Wembley again.
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