THE Gerrard-Lampard debate now seems to be a thing of the past.
Fabio Capello has succeeded where previous England managers have failed by getting the best out of the two midfielders, not to mention Wayne Rooney, who has scored nine goals in eight qualifying matches.
I was one of Steven Gerrard’s critics when he was so inspirational for Liverpool yet distinctly average for England but Capello seems to have found a role for him where he has flourished. The left of midfield might not be Gerrard’s preferred position but with a license to roam inside, he’s flourished and his link-up play with Rooney and the fluidity with which they often change positions has been a particularly pleasing feature of the ‘new England’.
Lampard’s international career also seems to be resurrected under Capello. He seemed to be in decline after the 2006 World Cup but ever since the 4-1 victory in Croatia last year he’s back to his best and was as good as anyone on the pitch in the 5-1 victory over Croatia at Wembley that sealed England’s spot at the World Cup. Two goals apiece and stand-out performances from Gerrard and Lampard was the confirmation, if it was needed, that both can play a big role in the same England team.
The transformation under Capello is nothing short of incredible. From the team that looked hopeless less than two years ago in the 3-2 defeat against Croatia that ended our Euro 2008 hopes, England now go to the World Cup with possibly the best chance of winning it since 1966.
Of course, we shouldn’t get too carried away. Without expecting England to win it, I think we will be competitive and once you get past the group stages, it’s a knockout competition where anything can happen. Spain and Brazil are the favourites and look like the two sides to beat and the perfectionist Capello knows there is still work to do. Doubts still remain over the goalkeeper position, the defence has looked shaky at times and our fortunes at major tournaments are unlikely to change until we master how to score from the penalty spot.
Monday, 14 September 2009
Disjointed batting line-up for England's one-day zeroes
FROM Ashes heroes to one-day zeroes. England have been brought down to earth in the current series against Australia.
While the Test side seems to be heading in the right direction, the one-day side is another kettle of fish altogether and look a long way off being able to compete with the best in the world.
The bowling unit looks decent but the batting line-up looks like it’s been chucked together without any real thought. Once you get past captain Andrew Strauss at the top of the innings, the rest of the order is questionable, bordering on the bizarre. Joe Denly partnered him and made 11 on Saturday, and although he needs to be given time, I’m not sure he’s the right man for the job.
Then you come to the shambolic middle order. Ravi Bopara struggled as an opener in the first three games and doesn’t look particularly comfortable at three either. Number three is a key role and currently a problem position for England in both one-day and Test cricket. Somehow we managed to win the Ashes series with Bopara batting there in four out of the five Tests, while Ian Bell has also always looked better down the order.
For me, Kevin Pietersen has to take on the role in all forms when he gets back to full fitness. He might have had doubts about playing there in the past, but the extra responsibility might be exactly what he needs to get the best out of himself and achieve his ambition of becoming the best batsman in the world – something he is far from being at the moment.
Matt Prior started his ODI career as an opening batsman and obviously the England selectors didn’t think it worked so moved him all the way down to number three and now four. If not considered good enough to open, surely Prior would be better off down the order at six or seven?
England have also severely under-estimated the role of the finisher in the one-day side. The great Australian sides over the past 10 or 15 years have had Michael Bevan and more recently Michael Hussey. Owais Shah seemed to be flourishing when he took on that role for England so what happened? He was promoted up the order where he has made little impact ever since.
Luke Wright has only showed occasional glimpses to justify comparisons to Andrew Flintoff as an all-rounder and overall England seem have too many bits and pieces players.
There is also the strange omissions of Jonathan Trott, a player in fine form after scoring a century in his first Test to help bring back the little urn, and Dimitri Mascarenhas, an effective bowler and destructive lower order batsman who strikes the ball as powerfully as anyone in the world.
While the Test side seems to be heading in the right direction, the one-day side is another kettle of fish altogether and look a long way off being able to compete with the best in the world.
The bowling unit looks decent but the batting line-up looks like it’s been chucked together without any real thought. Once you get past captain Andrew Strauss at the top of the innings, the rest of the order is questionable, bordering on the bizarre. Joe Denly partnered him and made 11 on Saturday, and although he needs to be given time, I’m not sure he’s the right man for the job.
Then you come to the shambolic middle order. Ravi Bopara struggled as an opener in the first three games and doesn’t look particularly comfortable at three either. Number three is a key role and currently a problem position for England in both one-day and Test cricket. Somehow we managed to win the Ashes series with Bopara batting there in four out of the five Tests, while Ian Bell has also always looked better down the order.
For me, Kevin Pietersen has to take on the role in all forms when he gets back to full fitness. He might have had doubts about playing there in the past, but the extra responsibility might be exactly what he needs to get the best out of himself and achieve his ambition of becoming the best batsman in the world – something he is far from being at the moment.
Matt Prior started his ODI career as an opening batsman and obviously the England selectors didn’t think it worked so moved him all the way down to number three and now four. If not considered good enough to open, surely Prior would be better off down the order at six or seven?
England have also severely under-estimated the role of the finisher in the one-day side. The great Australian sides over the past 10 or 15 years have had Michael Bevan and more recently Michael Hussey. Owais Shah seemed to be flourishing when he took on that role for England so what happened? He was promoted up the order where he has made little impact ever since.
Luke Wright has only showed occasional glimpses to justify comparisons to Andrew Flintoff as an all-rounder and overall England seem have too many bits and pieces players.
There is also the strange omissions of Jonathan Trott, a player in fine form after scoring a century in his first Test to help bring back the little urn, and Dimitri Mascarenhas, an effective bowler and destructive lower order batsman who strikes the ball as powerfully as anyone in the world.
Murray must overcome problem at Grand Slams
SO ANOTHER Grand Slam has passed Andy Murray by.
There is no doubt about the Scot’s supreme talent, he is still young and has plenty of time to win a Grand Slam so perhaps a panic is unwarranted. However, it is slightly concerning that Murray, now ranked number two in the world, has failed to live up to expectations in any of the majors this year. On his favourite hard court surface he has been knocked out in the last 16 at the Australian and now US Open. Going out at the quarter-finals on the clay at the French – his worst surface - was respectable and that was quickly followed by his semi-final defeat at Wimbledon - his best Grand Slam performance of the year, but one where he was hotly tipped to meet Roger Federer in the final.
Somehow, I feared for Murray at the US Open as soon as he put in such an impressive display against Taylor Dent before his defeat to Marin Cilic. It was similar at Wimbledon. After he destroyed Juan Carlos Ferrero in the quarter-finals, expectation rose so high it was almost considered a formality for him to beat Andy Roddick and reach the final. At the moment Murray is unable to string the wins together needed to win a Slam and often a very good performance is followed by an average one.
It may be a psychological problem, or as John McEnroe has suggested, it could be physical as a result of overtraining between games. Either way, it is a problem that Murray will have to overcome if he wants to go on and win his first Grand Slam next year.
There is no doubt about the Scot’s supreme talent, he is still young and has plenty of time to win a Grand Slam so perhaps a panic is unwarranted. However, it is slightly concerning that Murray, now ranked number two in the world, has failed to live up to expectations in any of the majors this year. On his favourite hard court surface he has been knocked out in the last 16 at the Australian and now US Open. Going out at the quarter-finals on the clay at the French – his worst surface - was respectable and that was quickly followed by his semi-final defeat at Wimbledon - his best Grand Slam performance of the year, but one where he was hotly tipped to meet Roger Federer in the final.
Somehow, I feared for Murray at the US Open as soon as he put in such an impressive display against Taylor Dent before his defeat to Marin Cilic. It was similar at Wimbledon. After he destroyed Juan Carlos Ferrero in the quarter-finals, expectation rose so high it was almost considered a formality for him to beat Andy Roddick and reach the final. At the moment Murray is unable to string the wins together needed to win a Slam and often a very good performance is followed by an average one.
It may be a psychological problem, or as John McEnroe has suggested, it could be physical as a result of overtraining between games. Either way, it is a problem that Murray will have to overcome if he wants to go on and win his first Grand Slam next year.
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