Improving and Evolving England Give Roy Hodgson Time to Tinker with His Squad

After the delight of Berlin, the frustration of Wembley Stadium. It’s the nature of international football that far too much is read into far too little, but what England’s games against Germany and the Netherlands demonstrated was that manager Roy Hodgson’s side are capable of rapid-flowing football but defensively suspect. There are still some doubts, but thinking on who makes the squad has crystallised over the past week.

The flaws at the back have been apparent for some time now, but the realisation that this England side can play the sort of rat-a-tat moves that are rare in the international game comes as a major positive.

What’s also clear is that this England is better playing on the counter, using the pace of their forwards: Against Germany, England had 39 per cent possession and carved them open seemingly at will; against the Netherlands, with 66 per cent of the ball, per WhoScored, England struggled to break down dogged opponents.

In theory, that’s good news for the tournament; the better the opponent, the better-suited England’s natural game should be.

"

So we beat world champions on Saturday and lose to team that hasn't even qualified for Euros on Tuesday. That's England. That's friendlies

— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) March 29, 2016"

The goalkeeping position looks relatively straightforward. Joe Hart is the No 1, Fraser Forster a more than able deputy and, with Jack Butland missing out with his broken ankle, it looks like Tom Heaton will go as the third choice.

The friendlies showed England can play in two closely related systems: a 4-3-3 or a 4-3-1-2 (or diamond) with two central forwards and a creator just behind.

Harry Kane, the leading scorer in the Premier League, played well enough in Berlin. His form for club and country, coupled with Jamie Vardy’s two goals, will strengthen calls for the pair to play alongside each other in the 4-3-1-2.

There may also be an argument, however, that Vardy is more effective using his pace from the bench, particularly if England start with a 4-3-3. Either way, there’s no doubt he’s in the squad. 

Wayne Rooney, as the national captain, the all-time leading scorer and England’s top scorer in qualifying has not become a bad player just because others are doing well. While there are legitimate concerns as to whether he will rediscover his form when he returns from injury, he will go to France.

Although, at the moment, it looks as though his most likely position would be behind Vardy and Kane, in the role that Ross Barkley occupies at the moment—whose position in the squad is surely also secure.

If England play 4-3-3, there is need for natural width on at least one flank. That means a place for Raheem Sterling, whose pace on the break could be a key weapon, even if his recent form for Manchester City has been indifferent.

Hodgson likes Danny Welbeck, who has tended to play well at international level, scoring six goals in qualifying before injuries set in. He is also quick and has the advantage of being able to play across the whole of the front line.

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

In midfield, the positions of Eric Dier and Dele Alli are certain after their performances in Berlin. Barkley could play alongside them, as he did against France. But the likelihood is that Hodgson will prefer a shuttler. There are cases to be made for Jordan Henderson, Fabian Delph, James Milner and Mark Noble, but Henderson is the man in possession.

Cover is a little trickier to work out. Barkley can cover Alli as a creator, linking the back and front halves of the team. Milner seems like the preferred back-up to Henderson—and his versatility is useful—while Danny Drinkwater probably played well enough against the Dutch (104 touches with 89.4 per cent pass accuracy) to put paid to any ideas of pressing a half-fit Jack Wilshere into service.

That’s 14 players selected, and this is where the issue of balance becomes tricky. Building a squad isn’t just a matter of selecting two players for each position.

In central defence, it seems fairly clear that Hodgson will be perming two from Chris Smalling, John Stones and Gary Cahill as his first-choice pair. With Phil Jones’ fitness uncertain, Phil Jagielka’s position as back-up looks secure whatever the claims of Ryan Shawcross.

Smalling and Stones could both play at right-back—as could Milner or even Dier–which means there is a temptation to create an extra berth in the squad by taking only one first choice in that position. That would be harsh on either Nathaniel Clyne or Kyle Walker, both of whom have looked promising in the role, but that shouldn’t be a consideration.

What has to be taken into account, though, is that the full-backs are essential for providing attacking width in either system. (Even if Hodgson goes for a single striker, his wide men, like Tottenham’s, are naturally a little tucked in.)

That means they have to be quick and good on the ball—and it also means there are significant physical demands on them; there is a reason that Mauricio Pochettino has rotated at full-back more than in any other position this season. So Walker and Clyne both go.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Danny Rose seems to have emerged as first choice on the left. With Luke Shaw injured and Kieran Gibbs struggling for pitch time, it seems like it's a straight choice between Leighton Baines and Ryan Bertrand as back-up.

England didn't call up Baines for the friendlies against Germany or the Netherlands because Hodgson said he wanted to look at other options, while Bertrand missed the friendlies after picking up a calf injury. Hodgson could gamble and use Clyne as cover on either flank, which would free up one more spot in the squad.  

That leaves either one or two positions to be filled. Adam Lallana started both friendlies, is versatile and in form and has probably done enough to go. But if he does, that means no place for Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Daniel Sturridge.

It’s Sturridge, perhaps, Hodgson will be most reluctant to leave behind. He is quick, he can cover in wide areas and he can conjure goals from nothing. He didn’t play particularly well against Netherlands, and the fragility of his body is a concern, but he is a perfect fit for how this England team seems to want to play.

Weirdly then, unless injuries force the issue, the choice seems to come down to Sturridge or Baines/Bertrand. The great advantage Hodgson has over his predecessors is that, given the absence of established stars in his squad, he can wait a month and make his decision based largely on form.

Goalkeepers	Club
Joe Hart	Manchester City
Fraser Forster	Southampton
Tom Heaton	Burnley
Defenders
Nathaniel Clyne	Liverpool
Danny Rose	Tottenham
Kyle Walker	Tottenham
Leighton Baines	Everton
Chris Smalling	Manchester United
Gary Cahill	Chelsea
John Stones	Everton
Phil Jagielka	Everton
Midfielders
Eric Dier	Tottenham
Danny Drinkwater	Leicester
Jordan Henderson	Liverpool
James Milner	Liverpool
Dele Alli	Tottenham
Ross Barkley	Everton
Adam Lallana	Liverpool
Forwards
Raheem Sterling	Manchester City
Wayne Rooney	Manchester United
Harry Kane	Tottenham
Jamie Vardy	Leicester
Danny Welbeck	Arsenal

Is my squad the right one to take England all the way to Euro 2016 glory? Let me know below.