It is quite alarming that the Gerrard/Lampard central-midfield debate has been fully reignited in 2010. There shouldn’t really be any mystery as to why they don’t function as a centrally-located pairing in a 4-4-2. Under this arrangement it’s usually necessary for one player to take up holding duties (so that the formation is more acutely configured as 4-1-3-2.) Neither Lampard nor Gerrard are natural defensive midfielders, and when they did feature together in the centre for England, a clear demarcation of duties was seldom apparent. The impact of both players was accordingly diminished as they struggled to navigate the ambiguity of a midfield lacking sufficient scaffolding. Neither could play their natural attacking game free from excessive defensive concerns, and it seems the principal focus was upon the ongoing negotiation of their respective duties. But even when a defensive midfielder was placed behind Lampard and Gerrard in a 4-5-1 formation (for example at World Cup 2006) they still failed to perform to the expected standard.
The performances of Lampard and Gerrrard have improved markedly within the clearer parameters of action prescribed by Fabio Capello. Lampard has been taking up a more reserved role in central-midfield next to Gareth Barry, whilst Gerrard has been playing on the left but with the freedom to move infield to influence play. Lampard performed with pragmatic assurance over the qualifiers, whilst a more defined niche appeared to unlock some of Gerrard’s attacking brio. However, with Barry now absent for the start of the tournament, familiar questions on the compatibility of England’s most highly regarded midfielders are being raised again.
Before World Cup 2006, Sven Goran Eriksson did search for a holding midfielder, experimenting at different times with Ledley King, Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves and Jamie Carragher. However, the favoured central-midfield pairing was Gerrard/Lampard and they started the tournament alongside one another in Germany. Eriksson was apparently in thrall to the star system and this invariably meant a central quartet of Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney and Owen. It was only the injury to Michael Owen which led Eriksson to opt for a five-man midfield with a designated holding player in place.
Whereas Eriksson couldn’t see beyond his most celebrated players, the Gerrard/Lampard debate has only been revisited under Capello due to a dearth of suitable central-midfield alternatives. Capello appears to be a more team-oriented coach than Eriksson and usually fields two secure central-midfielders, and also a target man such as Emile Heskey to support Wayne Rooney. But for the US fixture Capello is without Barry, the favoured partner for Frank Lampard in central-midfield. Hargreaves is also unavailable and would have featured in Capello’s squad (and possibly first XI) if fit. Tom Huddlestone and Scott Parker weren’t deemed of sufficient calibre to make the squad, whilst Carrick is a good deep-lying ball-player, but may lack the gravitas to be the principal defensive midfielder. Moving Gerrard back into central-midfield next to Lampard may therefore be Capello’s only option.
With a secure central-midfield, and Rooney filling the gap between midfield and attack, 4-2-3-1 is more implicit within Capello’s 4-4-2 than 4-1-3-2. Therefore, deploying Gerrard in central-midfield should hopefully not reintroduce the stilted uncertainty that was apparent at Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006. Both midfielders should be briefed by Capello to take up fairly deep roles, with Gerrard (like Barry) requested to remain slightly deeper than his partner. Whilst Capello should have both Gerrard and Lampard sufficiently drilled to fit in with this model of play, the absence of a player such as Barry is likely to dilute the solidity of the side. If Gerrard and Lampard fulfil their roles well, then there’s a chance that Capello will persist with this combination. But USA will be looking to exploit any space which is offered by a central-midfield comprising two players who are most at home attacking the opposition’s 18-yard box!