Tuesday 31 May 2016

Hodgson's regulars must lighten the load for rookies

So England head to France with a couple of injury worries. Yet Roy Hodgson's biggest question is not who's fit - but who's fit for purpose?

We do at least have an exciting core of precocious rookies - Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Marcus Rashford and Jamie Vardy.

But the inability of the more established players to take the reins and shoulder some responsibility is already piling far too much pressure on the new boys.

The wins over Turkey and Australia may only have been warm-ups but most were closer to securing a taxi home than a seat on the plane.

Sideways passing, misplaced through balls, wayward shooting and a lack of ideas defined both games as once again the same old faces failed to turn up against two poor opponents.

Danny Drinkwater and Andros Townsend can count themselves desperately unlucky to be heading home while the rest prepare for tomorrow's final warm-up against Portugal at Wembley.

Adam Lallana, Jordan Henderson and Chris Smalling all have 20+ caps apiece but are not blossoming into the reliable performers you need at international level.

Then there's Raheem Sterling (21), John Stones (22) and Ross Barkley (22). They are still young but have been on the scene since the last World Cup and we are still yet to see them steal any limelight. 

The Everton duo are probably the biggest disappointments because they came with the biggest billing. 

Barkley was dubbed the new Gazza. His surging runs through midfield the season before last looked the hallmark of a direct player who could terrify defences for years to come. 

Stones has drawn comparisons with Rio Ferdinand for the composure with which he can bring the ball out of defence. 

But, under the loose technical marshalling of former Toffees boss Roberto Martinez, both now seem to be drifting aimlessly towards mediocrity. 

Maybe they started to believe their own hype - even Hodgson has seen fit to haul them both over the coals in front of the press for making too many mistakes. 

The lack of defensive options meant Stones’ Euro 2016 place was always assured but Barkley must now be breathing a huge sigh of relief.

He played just 27 minutes across the two warm-ups but you could be forgiven for not realising he had played at all.

Sterling may have had his season wrecked by injury but the £50million Manchester City winger still struggles with his final ball and has lost the confidence to beat his man – possibly weighed down by that massive price tag.

Liverpool's Lallana was meant to be the new brand of attacking midfielder: sleek, agile and able to play anywhere behind a main striker. 

He might be able to play anywhere. But can he do anything? He has no pace, no strength, never tests the keeper and rarely plays a killer ball. 

Jordan Henderson has transformed himself from a lightweight Sunderland winger into a real workhorse midfielder at Liverpool. 

Good in possession, with terrific positioning going forward but many fans feel like he is still playing at half his potential. 

He routinely snatches at gilt-edged opportunities and, with the national side desperate for direction in the centre of the park, Henderson needs to be more assertive. 

The same goes for Smalling and vice-skipper Gary Cahill, who are yet to show the required authority centre-back and fans fear that our first real defensive test will prove to be the end of our Euro campaign.

One weapon England do have this summer that has been lacking in the past is team spirit. 

If there are enough new faces to break down the cliques that have for so long strangled the national team then maybe they can start to express themselves.

If the Spurs contingent’s infectious togetherness can spread through the group then confidence could start to breed at just the right time.

And if Leicester’s shock title win can nurture the feeling that anything is possible, then that belief might just take England a long way in the tournament.

It needs to, because ability alone is not going to cut it this time.

Please follow on Twitter @Taxi_For_Maicon

No comments:

Post a Comment