The Decad

The Pythagoreans believed that the decad (number 10) represented the totality of forces which comprise the universe, as it is the sum of 1, 2, 3 and 4. Wayne Rooney is England’s no. 10 and their most important player. When Rooney plays as support striker, the formation is usually closer to 4-4-1-1 than a standard 4-4-2 with Emile Heskey taking the lone forward role and no. 9 jersey. When Rooney has been absent, Capello tends to field¬†two centre-forwards together under a 4-4-2. If Rooney is unavailable for any fixtures in South Africa, what are Fabio Capello’s options?

If Capello wishes to keep to 4-4-1-1 and needs another trequartista as a direct replacement for Rooney, then Joe Cole could be selected. He is one of England’s most skilful players and has plenty of facets to his game. Cole has performed predominantly on the left for England, but has played behind the forwards for his club side Chelsea. This central position is slightly different to the no. 10 role for England, as he plays at the tip of a midfield diamond behind two centre-forwards. Cole doesn’t have an abundance of experience playing as a support striker with one forward, and I’m not convinced he could impose himself as much as Rooney over 90 minutes. He’s also yet to return to his best after returning from injury.

On overall club form, Steven Gerrard would surely be first choice to compensate for a Rooney absence, and he is rangier and more imposing than Cole. Gerrard’s favoured position for Liverpool is as an advanced midfielder behind Fernando Torres. This is therefore similar to the role Rooney performs for England. Gerrard took up an advanced central position in the second-half of the away qualifier against Belarus: this change helped to turn the game in England’s favour. However, Gerrard has never really flourished in a central role at international level and often appears burdened by pressure. A more constrained role on the left-side of midfield has improved his performances under Capello.

If Capello decides that there is no straight replacement for Rooney, then the no. 10 role would take a different cast, switching to a more orthodox centre-forward who would line up next to the no. 9.

Jermain Defoe should be first choice for this role. He has been on good form for club and country: his five goals for Tottenham in a Premier League fixture against Wigan last autumn exemplify his potential value to the side. The question is who would partner Defoe if a standard 4-4-2 is deployed? Heskey has been first-choice forward for England when they play 4-4-1-1¬†and his power and work-rate have provided a key buttress to the team structure. Whilst Heskey is famously goal-shy, his inclusion in the team helped England (and Rooney in particular) to score freely over the qualifiers for South Africa. Under 4-4-2, Heskey’s presence remains highly valuable: England looked at their best in the qualifiers for Euro 2008 when he partnered Michael Owen up front.

However, Peter Crouch perhaps provides a better option to support Defoe if England opt for two centre forwards. Crouch would assist a predatory striker effectively, but he is also a prolific goal scorer in his own right. His record for England is excellent with an approximate average of a goal every two games – and he also partners Defoe at club side Tottenham. Crouch has the height and ability to lead the attack on his own, but Heskey is perhaps preferred for this lone role. But if the switch to 4-4-2 is made, then it may help to include two strikers in the side who are capable of scoring!