I have been advocating for years that England should go with one sitting player in midfield and let the creative players do their thing.
Those creative players failed to create against Greece on Thursday night – and worse, they failed to press the ball as a unit. It was a night to forget as Jude Bellingham was asked to act as a striker – completely out of position and something he would not have enjoyed – who seemed to dominate the rest of the midfield. Very rarely in the 90 minutes did they operate as a unit when not in possession.
The first half saw Bellingham isolated several times as he tried to close down the Greek goalkeeper, with no one joining him in the press. When you apply pressure as a collective, it’s like having a rope tied around your waist. When one goes, he pulls you after them.
There is a response from those on either side of you. But as Bellingham went to close, the keeper was able to pass the ball around him because no one else in an England jersey was participating. The absence of anyone following him told me England didn’t know what they were doing.
As a midfielder you are by definition in the middle of the field, so you have to be a bit of everything: a creator and a defender. But England showed zero creativity and were too easy to play against when out of possession. They seemed so confused about who should be where – with no understanding of each other’s roles – that Greece played through them.
England tried out a new system against Greece at Wembley on Thursday, but the risk paid off
It was a night to forget as Jude Bellingham (right) was asked to act as striker
Greece scored a memorable injury-time winner to cause a major stir at Wembley
I note that Lee Carsley said in a post-match interview that they spent 20 minutes working on the system. That clearly wasn’t enough. I think the system threw them away.
In saying all this we must recognize that Greece played without any fear and showed no inferiority complex, unlike many teams that went to Wembley.
Part of that motivation was clearly derived from the death of player George Baldock, a young man who clearly held immense affection. They were fantastic, bold, tried to make a name for themselves and were extremely positive. They weren’t just trying to take things. So very, very impressive play from them.
But with all due respect to Greece, their record shows that they are an average team at international level. As always in football it’s a question of ‘were they that good?’ or ‘was England that bad?’ I would suggest the latter.
I have to say I felt sorry for Bellingham. The central, striking role he played is clearly not his position. He scores the vast majority of his goals late in and around the penalty area.
You only have to watch his goals for Real Madrid and England last season – and his goal on Thursday night – to know that. Ollie Watkins took on that role after an hour, although the system was so clearly broken that I think changes should have been made sooner.
If Harry Kane isn’t available, like he wasn’t last night, you start with a different type of striker. In this case Watkins, who should have scored with his second touch after arriving on the hour mark, when Cole Palmer played him in. Asking a talented midfielder to play as a striker made no sense. England should start with Watkins up front against Finland on Sunday because Kane is not fit.
In fairness, Lee Carsley has shown the ambition that Gareth Southgate lacked as England manager. I hope he stays brave and plays against that crowd of midfielders again on Sunday. They owe him a performance against Finland
England showed zero attacking creativity and were too easy for Greece to play against
Lee Carsley (left) decided to make changes to his England team against Greece as Bellingham struggled in his false nine role
I’d like to see a midfield that, with Bukayo Saka out, should include Declan Rice, with Bellingham and Phil Foden either side of him, and the wide areas occupied by Jack Grealish and Cole Palmer. All, except Rice, have a license to make mischief.
What they need to do is work on collective pressure when they don’t have the ball. Thursday night was a setback, but we know these guys are much better than that.
The Liverpool trio’s contract dilemma
One of the most fascinating football prospects ahead is the challenging fixtures facing my old club Liverpool. Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton, Aston Villa and Manchester City in six weeks.
In Arne Slot they have a manager who has been a 10 out of 10 for me, in the way he builds relationships with the players and deals with the press.
The concern for Liverpool fans is that three players who have really proven themselves over time – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk – are out of contract this summer. It’s barely two months until Christmas and in January they can talk to other clubs.
I can assure you that Liverpool have spoken to their representatives and now know what those boys will do in the future. I imagine all three of them have made up their minds about what their plans are after this season.
Trent appears to be in a relationship with Bellingham at Real Madrid. Would I be surprised if he goes there? No.
Would I be surprised if Virgil stayed? No. He is one of the three who I think is most likely to stay, because where is he going to go at this point to get more money and a bigger football club? He’s an absolute Rolls Royce that looks like he’s playing without even getting into fourth gear.
Would I be surprised if Salah stayed? Slightly. Because I think it would be extremely attractive for him, as an Egyptian and a Muslim, to make astronomical money over the next three or four years in Saudi Arabia, the cradle of Islam and a country that has a maritime border with his own.
The team will now be tested mentally and physically. So let’s see how they handle it. Let’s see how Arne handles a few losses and how his behavior will change – because I guarantee it will change. That’s all in front of them. Yes. What a prospect.
Liverpool are concerned because the contracts of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah expire at the end of the season
Reds captain Virgil van Dijk (photo) is also in the final year of his contract at Anfield
In Arne Slot (middle), Liverpool has a manager who for me has received a ten out of ten, in the way he builds relationships with the players
Arne Postecoglou is now no longer sure about a number of his Spurs players after a scorching defeat against Brighton
Tottenham still have some thinking to do
When you’re 2-0 up at half-time, like Tottenham were at Brighton last weekend, the only conversation in the dressing room is: ‘More of the same. Imagine it’s 0-0. We cannot allow them to score the first goal. We undermined that by scoring again.’ That’s standard coach/manager language.
But the players went out looking like a different team. It’s worrying because Arne Postecoglou is now unsure about some of those players. How those he thought had something about them could go out and throw away a 2-0 lead.
I would suggest that even the very best football teams have to adjust the game plan if it isn’t working. You have to be able to change the way you play. To think that you can play better football and beat everyone if you don’t have the best players, which Tottenham don’t have, is a bit naive of them.
I don’t blame the manager’s actions at the door whatsoever. The defeat was entirely down to the boys on the field. But Spurs still have some thinking to do.