Our Ideal Teams for 2014- The 1000th Post on England WCB

July 23rd, 2010 | by: Ethan Dean-Richards | View Comments

We reached 1000! No, there will be no party. Although there should be.

South Africa 2010 is barely finished, but already English football has shifted its focus onto the sequel: the World Cup in Brazil four years from now. Whilst we hope the FA and Fabio Capello are plotting entirely sincerely, we here at the England Blog are going to indulge in some fantasising over the exact shape the squad will take in 2014. Here’s what we hope will happen*:

Me (Ethan)

The average age of the squad I’ve proposed for 2014 is less than 25 and, although it’s important not to be overly reactionary after defeat, the fact that the oldest squad to make the semi-finals this time was the Netherlands’ with a mean age of 27.7 tells me that tomorrow’s World Cup football will require players capable of covering the entire pitch for the entire game. All of the players I’ve suggested will be young enough still to be capable of that. Some older players could, obviously, be incorporated alongside the likes of Wilshere, but creating the lineup I have was pretty fun.

Many of those players also carry an impressive turn of pace (once more aided by their lack of years) - a quality which has proved invaluable to Germany’s recent successes. Fundamental footballing truth remains: pace is and always will be difficult to defend against.

Another factor consistently ignored by English football, yet consistently triumphant at World Cups – Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, all key exponents of it in South Africa - is extreme technical proficiency. The likes of Rodwell and Gibbs combine physical prowess with an excellent first touch and passing accuracy – that combination, crucially, is no longer an advantage, rather, a necessity.

As an added yet important bonus, my lineup incorporates three left footed players (Gibbs, Delph and Wilshere); a key component in acquiring balance. I have never been entirely convinced that ‘balance’, a mythical concept paraded by all commenters on English football, is a signpost to success – look at Spain with Iniesta on the ‘wing’ – but certainly a mixture of right-footed and left-footed players adds variety to a team’s play.

The switch to 4-2-3-1 (five in midfield) is explained here

Matilda

The important thing that we must take away from this World Cup is that the “chuck stars into a formation” tactic doesn’t work. If you have a team in a stable system that all of the players know, star power isn’t that important. While it certainly helps, we can’t all have the goldmine of players that Spain has (I’m pretty sure it’s something in the water), and a great team can be built from good players. Hopefully Capello has realised all of this, and as everyone has been crying out for, starts fresh with the youth.

Hart is the obvious option in goal. At the young age of 23, he’s already lighting up the club stage, with inexperience being his main detractor. As a country we do tend to forget to give our goalkeepers experience and then wonder why they’re mediocre when they come of age, so we need to get Hart in as soon as possible to avoid that particular pitfall.

Our starting back four will all be too old come 2014, with the exception of Glen Johnson. Until a better alternative to Johnson comes up, he should stay in the side. Gary Cahill and Michael Dawson could prove to be an excellent pairing in the center, they’ve both been shining for their clubs but relatively unrecognized by Capello. Kieran Gibbs of Arsenal is a mere 20, with 4 years he could really grow into himself.

The midfield is tricky. Capello stubbornly stuck to the 4-4-2, with the big man-little man striking pairing. However I think, like my wonderful cobloggers, that a five man midfield will be key. Creativity can come from the wings, Adam Johnson and Aaron Lennon being my picks. We all oohed and ahhed over Johnson’s performance for City last season, with some development, he could be brilliant. Aaron Lennon put out a pathetic showing this World Cup, but I’ve seen him play for Tottenham and maintain that the boy can be brilliant (cue whinging Gooners). I have faith that he can get past that performance and begin showing up for England.

As for the center you would have one more defensive minded player, tenacious who could win balls and then send them forward, I’m seeing Jack Rodwell in this role. The creative play maker (or to be cliche the Beckhamsian role) would fall to Jack Wilshere. He currently favours the wing, but I think with a little more experience he could go to the center and really play excellent balls through. The final midfielder would be someone who tended to press up the field, similar to the way Gerrard did at Liverpool this past season, but I do reckon Gerrard will be rather too old come 2014. It is difficult to think of someone else to fill that role at the moment, though I’m sure a new face will emerge in the next four years. I would for now put Milner in as i think he, like Jack Wilshere, will mature into a more central role.

The obvious choice of striker is Wayne Rooney. Say what you like about his performance this June, his temper, or his looks, he’s an amazingly talented footballer. This formation would allow him to stick way in the front, where he excelled for Manchester United this past season, instead of him dropping back to look for balls.

Four years seems like an impossibly long time from now, and the names that are on our lips today will have certainly changed by then. But, like everyone and their dog’s been saying, Capello has to come up with a viable system, complete with actual tactics and roles, and develop it. England has plenty of talent, the issue is that they don’t know how to play with each other, if we could get that sorted out and nailed down, we could be world beaters.

Rob

If we don’t learn a thing or two from the mistakes of this entire generation, there is something seriously wrong. Most importantly, we have to work out a system that suits the best players we have, and if the players don’t fit into that system, then its time to drop them.

I also agree with Ethan, that its time to start with youth. From now. If we can get a young group of players playing together, and enthusiastic about their country from a young age – before loyalty for their high playing clubs takes over entirely – then the future can be very bright indeed.

In goal – We have a great stopper in Joe Hart, and I think we should be starting the qualifiers with him, and establishing him as the Number One we’ve been missing since David Seaman’s ponytail went off into the sunset. Lets keep him between the sticks no matter what happens.

The Backline was a chaotic mess during the World Cup. Terry’s not quick enough anymore, Carragher’s gone, Upson’s not quite good enough. Rio Ferdinand was of course missing with injury, but the bigger question mark is his form and fitness in general, he spent alot of last season injured and out of form at Man United.

We do have one bright light however – Ashley Cole. He might hate us, and we might all think he’s not exactly the greatest guy in the world, but he’s a classy left back, and our best performer at the World Cup. I’d actually like to see him move abroad, I think that could only help the side.

Elsewhere, its probably time for a fresh start. In terms of the qualifiers for Polkraine, Rio is still a possibility, but he has to prove his fitness and form. I think Phil Jagielka (who also spent most of last season injured, but recovered well by the end of the season) is the ideal replacement, and would match him with Michael Dawson at centre half.

At right back, well Glen Johnson is great going forward, but he’s still suspect at defending. We don’t have a great many other options though. So he stays until Kyle Naughton starts playing regular club football in the top league.

Midfield is the tricky one, and the one that could make or break the side. Already we have alot of talent, but are too tempted to just cram the four best players into midfield. Tactics often win football matches, and we need to be more disciplined. If they don’t fit the system, show them the door.

We do have alot of talent coming through as well. Jack Rodwell at Everton seemed to start life as a defensive midfielder, but has been enjoying a more attacking role toward the end of last season, Adam Johnson has been making waves for a while now as a winger.

And it depends which formation we’re going for. If we assume Capello takes a route similar to the trendy 4-5-1, then he needs to stick Rodwell in to defensive midfield work – we don’t have a donkey work player, and if can do that job, he’s in.

We then need a creative midfielder, a playmaker. Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are great goalscorers, but they are not playmakers in the way that, say Xavi is. I say we stick Joe Cole in there, with Jack Wilshere on standby.

Left wing, Stick Johnson out there, and right wing, still Walcott or Lennon out there. You’ve also got Ashley Young and Gabby Agbonlahor as able back ups. Lets say goodbye to SWP please.

Then I’d stick either Gerrard or Lampard up front, behind Rooney, the role Gerrard plays for Liverpool, and bench the other one. Then Rooney up front as the frontman. Start with this team now, and then in four years time, you got a pretty good line up with plenty of experience.

*Why not add your own below? Go on, you know you want to.