Spurs And England: It's Time For Carrick 3-5-2

[Electric ~soul~]

The problems are the same and so is the solution.

 

Spurs’ midfield conundrum is preventing them from scoring goals and England too have problems defining their central midfield roles.

 

It seems the roles within some 4-4-2 waters have become muddied in recent times.

 

With both Spurs and England, there is both confusion in central areas and a lack of width.

 

At White Hart Lane, Carrick and Davids seem to be battling over the same ground. Neither seems to know whether to go forward or stay back. At times, as a result neither do either.

 

If Jol made the change to a 3-5-2 system, Carrick would be clearly defined as the holding man, with another partnering Davids, going forward in the centre of midfield.

 

Of course, playing the hard working Davids in a slightly more advanced role than Carrick comes with the added bonus that the Dutchman would break up a lot of opposition play before it even reached the Englishman.

 

The North Londoners have midfield options aplenty, but limited options at full back.

 

The distinctly ordinary Edman and the scary Atouba might have both now moved on, but both Pamarot and Stalteri do little to inspire, particularly going forward, while the early signs are that Korean international Young-Pyo Lee prefers going forward to back.

 

Conversely, while Jol might be short of quality defensive options on the left and right, he has an abundance of central options in Dawson, King, Naybet, Gardner, Huddlestone and Davenport.

 

A back three with Carrick holding, and a central partnership of Davids with one of Jenas, Davis, Mendes, Tainio or Brown committed to going forward, and the mid-section of the Spurs side would suddenly carry a great deal more offensive weight.

 

Add to that Lennon and Lee exposing the wide areas, and the goals would surely come, while retaining the solidity at the back.

 

Of course, Spurs also have Andy Reid on the left and Routledge still to return on the right, with Stephen Kelly also a right side option, as a full back who likes to get forward.

 

For England, the Lampard / Gerrard partnership is clearly not a match made in heaven; not in a 4-4-2 at least.

 

With the addition of Carrick to the England XI, and the ejection of David Beckham, Eriksson could also play a 3-5-2.

 

Full back positions too are a problem area for Eriksson, particularly with Gary Neville injured. The right back position has been exposed, with no-one of any great quality to step in.

 

Shaun Wright-Phillips stepping into a right wing-back role, with his pace and phenomenal work rate would be a fabulous addition to this flailing England side.

 

Of course the aging Beckham could also play here, but as a wing back he would be required to journey the length of the pitch throughout the game and so perhaps the current captain is the wrong side of thirty to fulfil this role.

 

On the left, Sven could of course stick with the very attack minded Ashley Cole, and by playing a central three, the Swede would be able to disappoint one less of Terry, Ferdinand, Campbell, Carragher and King when picking his eleven.

 

Let’s face it, Sven would be spoilt for choice picking a very tasty back three.

 

With Carrick sitting in front of the back three, Gerrard and Lampard could get on with what they do best – terrorising opposition defences, creating and arriving in the box to capitalise on the team’s new found width.

 

Again, as with Davids at club level, Carrick himself would be protected a great deal by the hardly work-shy central pairing.

 

With Rooney and Owen up front and both Lampard and Gerrard committed to going forward, goals would come thick and fast.

 

However, it is highly unlikely that this England manager would change his system going into a major tournament – how many would?

 

But the system he currently employs does not work well (being kind) with the personnel he has in it. It lacks both width and defensive full back options, and in the one area he has an abundance he is forced to choose two from five top quality options.

 

This writer tires of saying it, but no manager should attempt build a team or formation around one player. For Sven to field an XI that first and foremost accommodates David Beckham is insane. If he does not fit, drop him.

 

He may be the captain, but there are several candidates for that role.

 

Beckham’s strength was always the width he offered and frankly, Wright-Phillips can take that mantle.

 

England can win the World Cup next year – but not with this eleven and not employing 4-4-2 – and so probably won't.

 

 

www.squarefootball.net

[EFC_Callum]

Agreed!

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Robinson

 

Terry, Cambell, King

 

Wright-Phillips, Carrick, Gerrard, Lampard, Cole (A)

 

Owen, Rooney

 

In that formation!

[CANV EFM]

much as i would love to see beckham dropped there is about 700 millions quids worth of world cup sponsers money that wont let it happen

[Electric ~soul~]

Saturday was apparently the first time in 15 years that England started without a single Man Utd player.

 

Presumably the last time before that was the World Cup Semi-Final? I can't think that any United players started that, as Parker would still have been at QPR at the time.

[city skins efm]

spurs r [****!!****] y waste ya time