Team Focus: Time for England to Stop Idealising in Central Midfield

What England lacked at the World Cup was a proper holding midfielder. You can talk about the failings of individual players and you can talk about the systemic failings of the English game over 50 years – and both are contributory factors – but fundamentally the lack of a ball-winner alongside or instead of one of Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson led to defensive laxity that meant England lost games against Italy and Uruguay despite having had more possession and more chances in both games.

It’s hard to be certain of the exact reasons Roy Hodgson went in with the team he did, but two interrelated theories present themselves. In a friendly against Denmark in March, he did use three central midfielders, Jack Wilshere joining Gerrard and Henderson. That meant Daniel Sturridge through the middle, with Wayne Rooney in a narrow role to his left and Raheem Sterling wide on the right. England were solid but scratchy and won 1-0.

In hindsight, it might have been better to have stuck with that system and hoped practice brought fluidity. As it was, the injury to Wilshere caused a rethink, while Rooney made clear he preferred playing through the middle. So Hodgson switched to 4-2-3-1 – and then ended up playing Rooney on the left anyway against Italy, although he was back to the centre for the Uruguay game.

This seemed part of the classic England failing; a perceived need for the national team to play attacking football. And that, of course, is one of the issues that plagues English football. Fans seem quite happy with the notion that club sides should use functional players because football includes dirty jobs, but at a national level a lot of people seem to come over all Florentino Perez and start demanding that the stars are picked.

It was that mentality that led to Fabio Capello being criticised in his second-last game in charge when he masterminded a 1-0 win over the world and European champions Spain by using Phil Jones in midfield. And it’s that mentality that costs England again and again.

Is the base of players Hodgson is choosing from weaker than the squad of a decade ago? Almost certainly yes. Weaker than Spain and Germany? Clearly. Weaker than Uruguay and Costa Rica? No. But England habitually insist on playing to some absurd ideal rather than picking a side to win games. Galacticisme doesn’t work when you’re Real Madrid and can buy pretty much whoever you want, and it certainly doesn’t work when the options are as limited as England’s.

So, were Hodgson to pick a holding midfielder not because he can pass the ball 50 yards, not because he is a star, not because he plays for a glamorous club, but because he wins the ball back and distributes it simply and efficiently, who should he choose?

The top 10 English central midfielders (to make at least 20 appearances) in terms of tackles per game last season were: Steve Sidwell (3.2), Fabian Delph (2.9), Steven Gerrard (2.9), Scott Parker (2.9), Mark Noble (2.9), Garreth Barry (2.7), Lee Cattermole (2.6), Tom Huddlestone (2.6), Jordan Henderson (2.4), Jack Cork (2.3).

The top 10 in terms of interceptions, perhaps a better gauge of the positional awareness England have lacked, were: Michael Carrick (2.8), Bradley Johnson (2.3), Steve Sidwell (2.1), Leon Britton (2.0), Tom Huddlestone (2.0), Mark Noble (1.8), Scott Parker (1.8), Fabian Delph (1.7), Lee Cattermole (1.7), Gareth Barry (1.6).

And the top 10 in terms of pass accuracy were: Leon Britton (90.3%), Tom Cleverley (89.6%), Jack Colback (89.4%), Michael Carrick (88.6%), Leon Osman (87.5%), James Ward-Prowse (87.3%), Jordan Henderson (87.1%), Gareth Barry (86.7%), Jack Wilshere (86.1%), Scott Parker (86.1%).

That raises a number of questions. Firstly, how on earth did Fulham go down with two such fine ball-winners as Sidwell and Parker in midfield? (Presumably failings elsewhere meant there were just a lot more balls to win). Secondly, was Gareth Barry discarded too soon by England. And thirdly, given his ball-winning, why is Lee Cattermole never even considered for England?

But the stats also perhaps show why Fabian Delph and Jack Colback have been selected, as a ball-winner and ball-retainer respectively. You just hope Hodgson has the courage to use them in a way that will win games, rather than seeking always to accommodate the glitzier players.

Who do you think deserves to be given a chance in the England midfield? Let us know in the comments below