Too many playmakers?

Midfield/Attack 2006

In 2006, as the last World Cup in Germany approached, the favoured England team incorporated a midfield of Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and David Beckham, with Wayne Rooney supporting Michael Owen in attack. Injuries meant that this exact line-up was only seen together very briefly in Germany, but it does indicate some of the problems inherent to England’s approach at this time.

England’s midfield comprised four players who all favoured a similar role. Arguably all of them would have liked an advanced central role behind the centre-forward(s). On the left, right-footed Cole would often drift in from the touchline, whilst on the other flank, Beckham would try to get involved in central areas to impose himself on the game. In central midfield, it was well documented that Lampard and Gerrard favoured similar attacking roles: neither player was ascribed clear defensive duties and a flexible give-and-take procedure for attack and defence was negotiated between them. Meanwhile Rooney, the actual number 10, would drop deep in search of the ball so that he could link midfield and attack. The clear problem was that five players were all gravitating towards the same area and craved similar responsibilities. There should have been a clearer division of labour to ensure that the team was balanced.

Midfield/Attack 2010

Fabio Capello has addressed this situation in preparation for World Cup 2010. Whilst some of the personnel are the same, he has shaped the team structure so that it is not compromised by player predilections. Frank Lampard is still situated in central midfield but usually takes up a more constrained role than he previously undertook for England, and still undertakes for club side Chelsea. He is paired with Gareth Barry who also performs a reasonably conservative central midfield role. Neither Barry nor Lampard are holding players in the style of Hamann or Makalele, but it seems clear that solid central midfield foundations are central to the Capello approach. Gerrard is now positioned on the left and, like Cole, has license to drift infield. Capello has actively embraced this ploy, as Rooney often pulls out to the left to compensate for Gerrard’s infield forays.

As an additional measure to prevent the structure from collapsing into congestion, Capello favours a quick, touchline-hugging right-sided midfielder such as Theo Walcott or Aaron Lennon. With a winger on the right, and Barry and Lampard retaining defensive focus, this prevents the area behind the forward from becoming clogged-up with a slew of aspiring playmakers. Rooney can therefore slot into this area, with support from Gerrard – and occasionally Lampard or Barry. This situation is favourable in comparison with the set-up from four years ago, when five players aspired to an advanced central position. However, without a supportive team structure it becomes difficult to realise these aspirations: despite England comprising a team of attack-minded midfielders they were unable to support the forward line with much success at the last World Cup. Let’s hope that the infrastructure Capello has imposed can facilitate a greater number of meaningful attacking manoeuvres at the forthcoming tournament in South Africa.