Capello should stick with Plan A against USA, even if Gareth Barry is unavailable. Michael Carrick can support Frank Lampard in central-midfield with Steven Gerrard retaining his position at left-midfield. Against Mexico, Carrick and James Milner failed to strike up a convincing partnership – but the team as a whole was overrun in the first-half. It was also a raw pairing, as Milner had never played in central-midfield for England before. With Lampard as partner, Carrick should be more assured.
If Capello does not have sufficient confidence in Carrick, then Gerrard may start in the middle next to Lampard. It shouldn’t really be a mystery why this feverishly scrutinised combination has never flourished. Central-midfield can be configured in many ways, but fielding two attacking midfielders in a 4-4-2 doesn’t seem to be one of them! Despite this, the England national team persisted for several years with the deployment of two attack-minded central-midfielders, neither of which seemed to have been allocated clear defensive responsibilities. In the absence of Owen Hargreaves and Barry, and with Tom Huddlestone and Carrick failing to convince completely, Capello could be forced to reinvent a Gerrard/Lampard central combination.
I refuse to countenance that Lampard and Gerrard’s inclusion in central-midfield would be a reversion to the Eriksson 4-1-3-2, with two players oscillating uneasily between defensive and attacking duties! Capello’s 4-4-2 is closer to a 4-2-3-1, as the two central midfielders (usually Barry and Lampard) tend to sit quite deep. With a secure midfield a key element of Capello’s plans thus far, it is unlikely he will eschew security by replacing Barry with an attack-oriented player. If it is decided that Gerrard offers greater presence than Carrick in midfield, then he could be played next to Lampard with both having the core brief to shield the back four. Joe Cole is the ideal replacement for Gerrard for the inside-left role, if the latter does move centrally. However, it would be preferable to use Carrick next to Lampard, as the Gerrard/Lampard axis would provide the team with insufficient defensive ballast.
The US tend to play a 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 formation and might not give England the run around like continental or South American sides, which tend to deploy heavily resourced midfields. The US will still be stern opponents and with players such as Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley in their line-up, it is crucial to retain a defensively focused partner for Lampard. The US might be best served by 4-4-1-1 with Donovan located centrally to take advantage of England’s diluted central-midfield. However, Ricardo Clark and Bradley should hopefully be occupied by Gerrard and Rooney, whilst Carrick (and Lampard) can marshall Donovan if he lines up behind Altidore. (Dempsey could also take up this support striker slot.) With control over central areas attained, England’s wide players can press on down the flanks.
For reasons discussed elsewhere on WCC, Wayne Rooney should be provided with a strike-partner rather than spearheading the attack as a lone forward. Aaron Lennon should be first choice for right-midfield, but Milner, Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips are handy alternatives. I’ve opted for Ledley King as Rio Ferdinand’s replacement at centre-back. Even with his dodgy knee, King should still be able to play the first and third group matches, the quarter-final and the final!
Carrick should have just about enough in his locker to deal with England’s group opponents. I do worry about his credentials as the tournament progresses. Retaining possession is vital in midfield and Carrick appears to have regressed to schoolboy football in that department.