After a goalless draw with Montenegro at Wembley this evening England’s lack of firepower was horribly exposed. With Darren Bent’s withdrawal on Monday meant Fabio Capello had just three fit strikers to choose from: the struggling Wayne Rooney, nothing changed on that front this evening; the more or less absent Peter Crouch, tonight being one of his worst performances wearing the Three Lions and debutant Kevin Davies who came off the bench for twenty minutes. The latter, in characteristic fashion, put himself about enough to earn a booking. We all know there are injuries to Zamora, Defoe and now Bent but all other options had not been explored by the Italian coach. In the absence of so many why not hand Michael Owen an opportunity to come back into the fold, even if it was only for one match? Better still the in-form Andy Carroll should have been given the chance to start his international career against a side he would be tailor made to compete against.
Tactically, the cutting inside of wingers Adam Johnson and Ashley Young, later replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips, who Capello sees something in that I always seem to miss, was working but the end product was hardly ever there. Of the three the former provided the best service, but Steven Gerrard made the most incisive contributions to a drab display, playing sublime long-range passes and through balls that the faltering forwards could not dispatch. Those will try to defend tonight’s performance will point to the blatant handball of Milan Jovanovic (no not the Liverpool player) that the referee and his assistants missed three-quarters of the way through the second half, but it should not have to come to relying on such incidents to get England out of a tight spot.
I don’t often pay much attention to FIFA’s rankings and although Montenegro have been climbing them, helped by five clean sheets and three 1-0 wins out of four plus tonight’s draw in international matches this season so far, the Three Lions remain more than thirty places above them. Zlatko Krancjar’s side ground out this stalemate without two influential forward players in national captain Mirko Vucinic and Stevan Jovetic, both injured. The other big name in their lineup who did feature, Sporting Lisbon’s Simon Vukcevic did not have an effective game from the right wing by any means. He has performed a great deal better through the middle, often in support of Vucinic, in the past. The goalkeeper Mladen Bozovic, who plays for Hungarian club Videoton (no, that’s not a misprint) has been outstanding in recent matches. Both he and the centre halves deserve credit for the mean defence they have established.
With such limited options and stuttering in front of goal England did not anywhere near enough to stretch Montenegro tonight. It could have been worse if Jovanovic’s thunderbolt had not come back off the crossbar with Joe Hart well beaten. Glen Johnson barely put a foot right tonight and for me the reason why his performances have gotten this way is because he has no competition. Someone needs to step up and push him and maybe then we will see better displays, but Capello cannot drop if there isn’t a suitable replacement and if no other right back makes the squad. Ashley Cole’s crossing was abysmally bad tonight. It’s all well and good being such a gallivanting wingback but you have to do something with the ball in final third or it’s a simple waste of energy. Lescott and Ferdinand were as rarely threatened at the back as Montenegro were by Rooney and Crouch/Davies.
In the upcoming friendly against France England fans should be desperate to see Capello try something new in terms of personnel. While Rooney continues to moodily go in search of the ball inside his own half, play with zero discipline with regards to his positioning and not offset this by improving his goalscoring form then he doesn’t deserve to start. Provided they are still playing well I would like to see Carroll get at least a half to stake his claim, Tom Huddlestone to start in place of Gareth Barry, Marc Albrighton to earn his first senior call-up and another natural right back be called into the squad to combat the complacencies of Glen Johnson.
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Friday, 8 October 2010
Scotland the Brave but no Reward for Defensive Endeavour
Cezh Republic 1 Scotland 0
Despite an excellent first half defensive display, Craig Levein’s side were sunk by a Roman Hubnik header with three quarters of the match played in Prague this evening. The Hertha Berlin centre half directed Roman Bednar’s flick on from Czech captain Tomas Rosicky’s corner past Allan McGregor to rescue their qualification campaign having lost to Lithuania in the last competitive international. Apart from the poor marking during this decisive set piece the Scottish back line defended like tigers, the often error-prone Gary Caldwell put in some fantastic tackles and Rangers captain David Weir, who at forty years of age I was certain would be a liability, gave a position master class against a striker half his age in Tomas Necid.
There is a fine line between being a tactical genius and getting that aspect of the game wrong. Whilst they kept the Czechs at bay, frustrating the home side by restricting the likes of Rosicky, Necid, Jan Polak and Jaroslav Plasil to long range efforts which did not threaten McGregor’s goal, Levein’s plan was the former. A goal down with seventy minutes on the clock and all of a sudden Scotland were playing too defensively. You can’t help but wonder if an instant reaction by bringing on substitutes would’ve been better, as it was the manager waited a good five minutes before calling the in-form Kenny Miller and Burnley frontman Chris Iwelumo off the bench.
This was by no means a great Czech side that the Tartan Army travelled to watch tonight. Gone are the greats Poborsky, Nedved, Koller and Galasek. Tomas Ufjalusi and Marek Jankulovski are in self-imposed retirement from international football, Zdenek Grygera was not selected and Milan Baros is injured. Scotland may have been guilty of giving Michal Bilek’s side too much respect. Marek Suchy looked particularly shaky in the heart of defence, but Petr Cech didn’t really have a save to make. Young Necid continues to show promise and justify his tag as one of Europe’s hottest prospects, but the Czechs could do with finding a partner to play up front with him consistently.
Were Scotland too defensive tonight? Debutant Jamie Mackie’s insatiable work rate was impressive and although everyone likes to see a forward helping out his defenders nobody was left up the field and so the Czechs were often under no pressure from clearances and were regularly first to the second ball. The prerogative of playing players in their natural position comes to the fore. Why should Mackie play on the wing when he tops the Championship’s scoring charts? Miller, who stands head and shoulder above any other finding the net in the SPL was no doubt disappointed not to start the match. Looking at the uncertainty in the Czech back-four might Iwelumo’s physical presence unsettled them? Many of these questions will sadly be irrelevant come the next game. Despite the fact that Scotland have risen to the occasion before against giants of international football it is very difficult to see them taking anything out Tuesday’s qualifier with reigning European and World Champions Spain.
Despite an excellent first half defensive display, Craig Levein’s side were sunk by a Roman Hubnik header with three quarters of the match played in Prague this evening. The Hertha Berlin centre half directed Roman Bednar’s flick on from Czech captain Tomas Rosicky’s corner past Allan McGregor to rescue their qualification campaign having lost to Lithuania in the last competitive international. Apart from the poor marking during this decisive set piece the Scottish back line defended like tigers, the often error-prone Gary Caldwell put in some fantastic tackles and Rangers captain David Weir, who at forty years of age I was certain would be a liability, gave a position master class against a striker half his age in Tomas Necid.
There is a fine line between being a tactical genius and getting that aspect of the game wrong. Whilst they kept the Czechs at bay, frustrating the home side by restricting the likes of Rosicky, Necid, Jan Polak and Jaroslav Plasil to long range efforts which did not threaten McGregor’s goal, Levein’s plan was the former. A goal down with seventy minutes on the clock and all of a sudden Scotland were playing too defensively. You can’t help but wonder if an instant reaction by bringing on substitutes would’ve been better, as it was the manager waited a good five minutes before calling the in-form Kenny Miller and Burnley frontman Chris Iwelumo off the bench.
This was by no means a great Czech side that the Tartan Army travelled to watch tonight. Gone are the greats Poborsky, Nedved, Koller and Galasek. Tomas Ufjalusi and Marek Jankulovski are in self-imposed retirement from international football, Zdenek Grygera was not selected and Milan Baros is injured. Scotland may have been guilty of giving Michal Bilek’s side too much respect. Marek Suchy looked particularly shaky in the heart of defence, but Petr Cech didn’t really have a save to make. Young Necid continues to show promise and justify his tag as one of Europe’s hottest prospects, but the Czechs could do with finding a partner to play up front with him consistently.
Were Scotland too defensive tonight? Debutant Jamie Mackie’s insatiable work rate was impressive and although everyone likes to see a forward helping out his defenders nobody was left up the field and so the Czechs were often under no pressure from clearances and were regularly first to the second ball. The prerogative of playing players in their natural position comes to the fore. Why should Mackie play on the wing when he tops the Championship’s scoring charts? Miller, who stands head and shoulder above any other finding the net in the SPL was no doubt disappointed not to start the match. Looking at the uncertainty in the Czech back-four might Iwelumo’s physical presence unsettled them? Many of these questions will sadly be irrelevant come the next game. Despite the fact that Scotland have risen to the occasion before against giants of international football it is very difficult to see them taking anything out Tuesday’s qualifier with reigning European and World Champions Spain.
Monday, 4 October 2010
Three Lions Turn to Davies Over Newcastle's Number Nine
Congratulations go out to Kevin Davies on his England call-up. After more than a decade since receiving three Under-21 caps, the Bolton Wanderers captain was named in a full national squad for the first time in his career today, joining the struggling Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch and the in-form Darren Bent as Fabio Capello’s striking options. Davies has committed more fouls than any other footballer in Premier League history (and conversely is also one of the highest sufferers of them). We should not belittle him by talking in terms of the physical forward being a last resort, Emile Heskey reportedly declining the England manager’s offer to temporarily come out of international retirement he announced after the World Cup. There are injuries within the national strike force which rule out Bobby Zamora and the pace-gifted pair of Jermain Defoe and Gabriel Agbonlahor, but despite this Davies’s inclusion is still something of a surprise. Newcastle’s Andy Carroll was not named in Stuart Pearce’s Under-21 squad to face Romania and we all assumed that after impressive early season form he would get the call, a cause that despite his off-the-field antics I have championed. Alas, he did not start the Magpies match with Manchester City on Sunday and this may have ultimately counted against the 21-year old.
Both men comfortably play the target man role and have done so successfully. The question is should Capello have gone for experience over youth, particularly in light of his pledge to drive England forward by looking to the future? Kevin Davies has twelve years on Carroll and has netted 120 career goals, half of which have come in a Bolton shirt. Of this total, 74 have been scored in the Premier League, with an average of nine goals in all competitions over the last seven seasons. Considering Wanderers have often punched above their weight, particularly during the Sam Allardyce era, this isn’t too bad. A striker, however, is judged on his goals and a goal every five matches is not really anywhere near an international standard. Andy Carroll on the other hand still has his entire career in front of him and I am sure if he continues to play well there will be other chances for him to wear the Three Lions and in this, his first season properly part of Newcastle’s plans, he has netted at a rate of better than one in two.
Darren Bent’s good form probably reduces the necessity in Capello’s eyes for both to join up with the squad, but I believe just being in the setup might have been beneficial to Carroll. What Kevin Davies’s selection shows is that there are still rewards in football for hard-working players who play to what strengths they have despite being labelled one-dimensional in the process. It is a culmination of a career’s worth of effort, because the stats, a goal every four matches this season so far, do not make much of a case by themselves. In many ways Davies could be useful against the tough and tall Montenegrin defenders. The best of luck to him and how could anybody begrudge Bolton’s talisman a fairytale moment at Wembley next Tuesday!
Both men comfortably play the target man role and have done so successfully. The question is should Capello have gone for experience over youth, particularly in light of his pledge to drive England forward by looking to the future? Kevin Davies has twelve years on Carroll and has netted 120 career goals, half of which have come in a Bolton shirt. Of this total, 74 have been scored in the Premier League, with an average of nine goals in all competitions over the last seven seasons. Considering Wanderers have often punched above their weight, particularly during the Sam Allardyce era, this isn’t too bad. A striker, however, is judged on his goals and a goal every five matches is not really anywhere near an international standard. Andy Carroll on the other hand still has his entire career in front of him and I am sure if he continues to play well there will be other chances for him to wear the Three Lions and in this, his first season properly part of Newcastle’s plans, he has netted at a rate of better than one in two.
Darren Bent’s good form probably reduces the necessity in Capello’s eyes for both to join up with the squad, but I believe just being in the setup might have been beneficial to Carroll. What Kevin Davies’s selection shows is that there are still rewards in football for hard-working players who play to what strengths they have despite being labelled one-dimensional in the process. It is a culmination of a career’s worth of effort, because the stats, a goal every four matches this season so far, do not make much of a case by themselves. In many ways Davies could be useful against the tough and tall Montenegrin defenders. The best of luck to him and how could anybody begrudge Bolton’s talisman a fairytale moment at Wembley next Tuesday!
Sunday, 3 October 2010
End Product Please, Arsene!
Chelsea’s strong record against London rivals Arsenal continued this afternoon with a 2-0 home win at Stamford Bridge. Carlo Ancelotti’s men took the lead five minutes before the interval after the tenacity of Ramires fed Ashley Cole with an incisive pass who cross for Didier Drogba to net his thirteenth goal in thirteen matches against the Gunners with an improvised finish, beating Lukasz Fabianski at hit near post. Despite incessant Arsenal pressure the three points were wrapped up by Brazilian centre half Alex who blasted in an eighty-fifth minute free kick from twenty-five yards after Nicolas Anelka had been fouled by Laurent Koscielny.
Arsene Wenger’s side today proved once again that whilst their majestic approach play is pleasing on the eye it counts for nothing if the ball does not end up in the back of the opponent’s net. Don’t get me wrong, I am always going to advocate playing the beautiful game the right way but in the big matches trying to walk the ball in simply hasn’t worked for them. There is a subtle difference between sticking to a philosophy and being too obstinate to adapt a pragmatic approach. You play the team that is put in front of you and respond to the tactics they employ. Today, Essien, Mikel and Ramires provided a very solid wall in front of the back four which Arsenal could not break down. In spite of this Marouane Chamakh did very well in the air without actually testing Petr Cech and he has given them a different dimension, but the Gunners are still not mixing it up enough for me. What every fan from North London is screaming out for is end product after five seasons without a trophy.
Young players cannot live on potential alone forever and sadly the cutting edge was largely missing today. Arshavin drew one splendid save from Cech but nothing will be added to the Emirates’ cabinet if the players cannot finish their attractive build-up. Matters are not helped by the fact that Arsenal continue to be dogged by injuries but for all the complaining Wenger has done his side would still benefit from toughening up. If you look at the Gunners’ squad there is only really Alex Song and Abou Diaby who will put their foot in and the latter’s fitness has often been questionable. The defence itself for me lacks some meanness as well. Koscielny’s foul on Anelka which led to Cheslea’s second goal smacked of tiredness. Admittedly Arsenal are not going to have their hands full with the likes of Drogba every week but again if you want to win titles and cups it is big matches where the back four have to stand up and be counted.
The performances of the other so-called ‘Big Four’ will be put under the microscope this weekend. Manchester United, especially in the first half, away at Sunderland yesterday were way below their usual standard and the Black Cats deserved to win the game. Here I would question Sir Alex’s decision to start the in-form Dimitar Berbatov from the bench. As for Liverpool, no excuse will suffice for a home defeat to Blackpool. We are talking about some of the same players who won the Champions League back in 2005 losing to a squad of players inferior on paper at least to that of Burnley, who similarly won a famous victory over United at Turf Moor last season. Full credit should go Ian Holloway’s side for this giant scalp, but there is no positive to take for Roy Hodgson. Board room antics and Fernando Torres limping off after ten minutes are immaterial. Each of the Reds XI is probably worth at least five times more than any of their Tangerines counterparts, or so their agents will tell you. The team spirit in the Anfield dressing room is starting to come into question and to be frank after a result like this they deserve to be in the bottom three.
Arsene Wenger’s side today proved once again that whilst their majestic approach play is pleasing on the eye it counts for nothing if the ball does not end up in the back of the opponent’s net. Don’t get me wrong, I am always going to advocate playing the beautiful game the right way but in the big matches trying to walk the ball in simply hasn’t worked for them. There is a subtle difference between sticking to a philosophy and being too obstinate to adapt a pragmatic approach. You play the team that is put in front of you and respond to the tactics they employ. Today, Essien, Mikel and Ramires provided a very solid wall in front of the back four which Arsenal could not break down. In spite of this Marouane Chamakh did very well in the air without actually testing Petr Cech and he has given them a different dimension, but the Gunners are still not mixing it up enough for me. What every fan from North London is screaming out for is end product after five seasons without a trophy.
Young players cannot live on potential alone forever and sadly the cutting edge was largely missing today. Arshavin drew one splendid save from Cech but nothing will be added to the Emirates’ cabinet if the players cannot finish their attractive build-up. Matters are not helped by the fact that Arsenal continue to be dogged by injuries but for all the complaining Wenger has done his side would still benefit from toughening up. If you look at the Gunners’ squad there is only really Alex Song and Abou Diaby who will put their foot in and the latter’s fitness has often been questionable. The defence itself for me lacks some meanness as well. Koscielny’s foul on Anelka which led to Cheslea’s second goal smacked of tiredness. Admittedly Arsenal are not going to have their hands full with the likes of Drogba every week but again if you want to win titles and cups it is big matches where the back four have to stand up and be counted.
The performances of the other so-called ‘Big Four’ will be put under the microscope this weekend. Manchester United, especially in the first half, away at Sunderland yesterday were way below their usual standard and the Black Cats deserved to win the game. Here I would question Sir Alex’s decision to start the in-form Dimitar Berbatov from the bench. As for Liverpool, no excuse will suffice for a home defeat to Blackpool. We are talking about some of the same players who won the Champions League back in 2005 losing to a squad of players inferior on paper at least to that of Burnley, who similarly won a famous victory over United at Turf Moor last season. Full credit should go Ian Holloway’s side for this giant scalp, but there is no positive to take for Roy Hodgson. Board room antics and Fernando Torres limping off after ten minutes are immaterial. Each of the Reds XI is probably worth at least five times more than any of their Tangerines counterparts, or so their agents will tell you. The team spirit in the Anfield dressing room is starting to come into question and to be frank after a result like this they deserve to be in the bottom three.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Lacklustre Liverpool Could Learn from Chance Creating City
Roy Hodgson and Roberto Mancini continue to experience different fortunes, the former’s Liverpool labouring to a disappointing but nonetheless important goalless draw in Utrecht, whilst the latter’s Manchester City were equal to the stern test given them by Italian giants Juventus in the Europa League this evening. Eastlands witnessed for me a thoroughly absorbing game, certainly in comparison with the Reds’ match in Holland. The empty seats in Manchester however will not have escaped anyone’s notice and on a night like this the fact it wasn’t a sell out is somewhat surprising. City had everything Liverpool was lacking, creativity, guile and played attractive football. Something they did have in common was a lack of width. Adam Johnson naturally provided Roberto Mancini’s side with some, but this was as part of a free role. Liverpool put out a makeshift side with Martin Kelly occupying the wrong full-back birth, covering for the injured Fabio Aurelio and Paul Konchesky. Joe Cole cut inside from left often as has been his wont for many years, leaving Glen Johnson as the only player willing to get chalk on his boots.
This lack of width really worries me as does the continuing pattern of club captain Steven Gerrard being absent resulting in average or poor performances. There will come a time when he is too old to put on that red shirt and what will the Merseyside outfit do then? Over-reliance on Fernando Torres is also proving to be taking his toll. He still looks like he needs a rest to me and I am starting to wonder if constantly playing football, aside from being in a state where he has been physically unable to do so, is going to shorten the Spanish striker’s career. That said were it not for a smart save from Utrecht keeper Michel Vorm we may be talking about Liverpool scraping a 1-0 away victory. The Dutch international impressed on the European stage, thwarting Torres brilliantly at the near post in the second half, though I doubt Netherlands number one Maarten Stekelenberg has anything to worry about. One player we were all watching closely was Holland’s top domestic goalscorer Ricky van Wolfswinkel. The twenty-one year old striker was largely absent in the first half but after the break there were flashes of his talent, though he somewhat fluffed his lines with a good headed chance going begging because he wasn’t perhaps brave enough aerially.
A trio of Juventus players sparkled tonight. New hero Milos Krasic, fresh off his hat-trick against Cagliari at the weekend, showed a willingness to run at the Man City defence. The Serbian winger is a player I have been excited about for some time with genuine blistering pace, it’s just a shame he feels the need to go down so easily. The Turin outfit’s talisman and leader Alessandro del Piero will be thirty-six before 2010 is out but he continues to pose a threat, especially from dead balls. With the possible exception of Paolo Maldini Juventus’s number seven in my view is the best Italian player of my lifetime and on another day his free kick which hit the bar late on would’ve come down behind the goal line rather than just in front of it. Well done to the extra assistants for the call. Vincenzo Iaquinta must also get a mention as his deflected long range shot earned Luigi del Neri’s side a point at Eastlands. The one thing about the former Udinese frontman I never can quite understand is his willingness to run into the channels and go to the wing drifting inside. This is not a criticism of his work ethic, but at six foot three and built the way he is we all know that he could do an equally good, if not better job as a target man. His abysmal, Emile Heskey-esque international record is compelling evidence of this.
The gulf in creativity between Man City and Liverpool tonight was enormous. Joe Cole tried to provide that spark, but forcing the issue does not always work. Yaya Toure impressed with his assist coupled with Adam Johnson’s perfectly timed run in behind which saw Mancini’s men equalise inside the last ten minutes of the first half. The former Middlesbrough winger’s scoring of important goals continues; something that the watching Fabio Capello should be taking note of. In truth it is highly probable that both Johnsons who played in the Europa league tonight will be on that England teamsheet come Montenegro’s visit to Wembley on October 12th, injuries permitting of course.
This lack of width really worries me as does the continuing pattern of club captain Steven Gerrard being absent resulting in average or poor performances. There will come a time when he is too old to put on that red shirt and what will the Merseyside outfit do then? Over-reliance on Fernando Torres is also proving to be taking his toll. He still looks like he needs a rest to me and I am starting to wonder if constantly playing football, aside from being in a state where he has been physically unable to do so, is going to shorten the Spanish striker’s career. That said were it not for a smart save from Utrecht keeper Michel Vorm we may be talking about Liverpool scraping a 1-0 away victory. The Dutch international impressed on the European stage, thwarting Torres brilliantly at the near post in the second half, though I doubt Netherlands number one Maarten Stekelenberg has anything to worry about. One player we were all watching closely was Holland’s top domestic goalscorer Ricky van Wolfswinkel. The twenty-one year old striker was largely absent in the first half but after the break there were flashes of his talent, though he somewhat fluffed his lines with a good headed chance going begging because he wasn’t perhaps brave enough aerially.
A trio of Juventus players sparkled tonight. New hero Milos Krasic, fresh off his hat-trick against Cagliari at the weekend, showed a willingness to run at the Man City defence. The Serbian winger is a player I have been excited about for some time with genuine blistering pace, it’s just a shame he feels the need to go down so easily. The Turin outfit’s talisman and leader Alessandro del Piero will be thirty-six before 2010 is out but he continues to pose a threat, especially from dead balls. With the possible exception of Paolo Maldini Juventus’s number seven in my view is the best Italian player of my lifetime and on another day his free kick which hit the bar late on would’ve come down behind the goal line rather than just in front of it. Well done to the extra assistants for the call. Vincenzo Iaquinta must also get a mention as his deflected long range shot earned Luigi del Neri’s side a point at Eastlands. The one thing about the former Udinese frontman I never can quite understand is his willingness to run into the channels and go to the wing drifting inside. This is not a criticism of his work ethic, but at six foot three and built the way he is we all know that he could do an equally good, if not better job as a target man. His abysmal, Emile Heskey-esque international record is compelling evidence of this.
The gulf in creativity between Man City and Liverpool tonight was enormous. Joe Cole tried to provide that spark, but forcing the issue does not always work. Yaya Toure impressed with his assist coupled with Adam Johnson’s perfectly timed run in behind which saw Mancini’s men equalise inside the last ten minutes of the first half. The former Middlesbrough winger’s scoring of important goals continues; something that the watching Fabio Capello should be taking note of. In truth it is highly probable that both Johnsons who played in the Europa league tonight will be on that England teamsheet come Montenegro’s visit to Wembley on October 12th, injuries permitting of course.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)