Chelsea could provide England with World Cup inspiration
Prior to England’s friendly against Brazil on Saturday I have been thinking about one possible tactical option available to Fabio Capello as he plans England’s World Cup strategy.
There is no doubt that Capello has done a great job of taking an underachieving group of players and turning them into an effective team. Capello’s England play with a coherence and collectively seldom seen from recent England teams.
Similarly Chelsea’s start to the season has been impressive; they have qualified for the second round of the Champion’s League and top the Premiership by five points. Their manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has not spent big in the transfer market, instead he has moulded his best players into an effective, attacking formation.
The Chelsea squad has no natural, top quality wingers but an abundance of fine central midfielders, additionally they also have two, energetic attack minded fullbacks who can provide an option on the flanks and therefore allow Ancelotti to play his best central midfielders in a diamond formation without forfeiting width in attack.
Like Chelsea, England’s wide options are limited and we often see Steven Gerrard on the left wing and out of position. If England are to win the World Cup they will need to find room for Gerrard in the centre where he can influence a match. A Chelsea inspired midfield diamond may achieve this.
Chelsea’s English quartet of John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and the returning Joe Cole will all make it into Capello’s first XI if fit and England’s defence is looking settled and strong (if Rio Ferdinand can find some form and fitness). Ashley Cole, Terry and Ferdinand will be joined by the attack minded Glen Johnson who has started the season impressively. Cole and Johnson can often be found tearing forward for club and country and Capello should continue to encourage this.
Lampard and Gareth Barry are likely to make up England’s’ central midfield with Lampard looking to make late runs into the box and Barry giving England balance and stability. If fit, Owen Hargreaves is England’s best defensive midfielder and very similar to Chelsea’s Essien in his energy, strength, competitiveness and tackling.
Joe Cole is a natural fit for England and Chelsea at the tip of the diamond, his quick feet, strength and most importantly imagination mean he has the ability to terrorise both club and international defences. Cole, who played at the tip of the diamond whilst developing in the West Ham junior teams is adept at finding space and never more dangerous than with his back to goal when a quick flick, or turn can give him the chance to run at centre halves.
Attacking fullbacks and a midfield diamond of Hargreaves, Barry, Lampard and Joe Cole will allow England’s most natural match winners, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney, to play as a partnership in attack.
Gerrard has developed over the last few years into a second striker, playing behind a main striker and with the freedom to roam Gerrard thrives on the opportunity to get on the ball and influence games in the final third. Occupying a similar role to Nicolas Anelka’s second striker role at Chelsea, Gerrard will win matches for England as he does for Liverpool.
Whilst Gerrard isn’t a natural predator like Anelka he has an excellent goal scoring record at club level, a proven ability to make a difference in international matches and the intelligence to get into goal scoring positions both in and outside the penalty area.
This leaves Rooney as the focal point of the attack. Rooney has developed into one of the world’s most complete attacking talents and his strength, power, pace, control and work rate means he can play in any forward position.
However he is best down the middle and with the creativity of Lampard, Joe Cole and Gerrard supplying him, combined with his recent maturity in front of goal will mean that England’s best player will be at the centre of attacks and on the end of a number of chances.
Capeelo has produced diciplined teams throughout his managerial career but to take England from nearly men to glory boys he must get the most out of his best players. A Chelsea inspired midfield diamond may provide the platform for World Cup glory in 2010.
Topics: Chelsea, England, English Premier League, World Cup
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Good article.
Might work.
November 12th, 2009 @ 20:38Nice article, definitely agree with you that a core attack of Lampard, Cole, and Gerrard would provide Rooney with an abundance of opportunities infront of goal. Look forward to the next one!
November 12th, 2009 @ 22:45It never ceases to amaze me that someone sat at home watching matches on the telly feels he can actually set out a better side than a man that has basically won everything there is to win in club football.
November 13th, 2009 @ 08:44hey common sense doesn’t require bags of experience
managing a team isn’t the same as brain surgery or rocket science
=/
November 13th, 2009 @ 10:56i doubt the red half of manchester is even FROM manchester…
Sorry to burst your bubble, I know how much fun it must be sitting around dreaming up formations and lineups that in an ideal world would be perfect.
Chelseas Diamond formation has its flaws, as Utd proved at Stamford Bridge, the threat from Utds wingers meant chelseas fullbacks were never able to get forward as much as they would have liked. Fletcher and co played pretty well and as a result chelsea were unable to dominate the midfield as they had done in previous games.
I am admittedly not from the city itself but Greater Manchester is still Manchester.
November 13th, 2009 @ 17:38Red half of Manchester, if you read the article closely the writer is providing an alternative suggestion to the England lineup. No where does he state that this proposed formation is better than the current tactics. Perhaps before you comment, it would be best to properly read the article? yes?
November 13th, 2009 @ 18:47Great article!
Red half of manchester – stop moaning! waaaaa waaaaa! chill your beans.
I think i’ve proved my point.
November 13th, 2009 @ 18:54Point noted and next time I’ll read the article more thoroughly.
November 13th, 2009 @ 19:06Interesting suggestion and worth considering, especially as none of the wingers are dominating.
Man Utd are an interesting study in this at the moment. They are far better with Carrick, Fletcher, Anderson and either Giggs (who no longer plays wide) or Valencia, than with 2 wingers who can not always be relied upon.
It’s all about winning the midfeild battle for me.
November 14th, 2009 @ 03:01