Full marks to Steve McClanger - he's not afraid of reversing a decision is he? First Becks, now Campbell and James - the future may not be safe in McClanger's hands but there's no need to set up an England Vets Team - they're all in the full squad anyway!
It's amazing isn't it, how quickly the "Golden Generation" has fizzled into the Old Mother Hubbard Generation - the cupboard's suddenly bare! Is there really such a dearth of talent coming through? Perhaps if Defoe signed for a club prepared to pick him? Perhaps if Johnson was given 2 or 3 games in a row? Perhaps if Ashton was fit? Remember, these guys are the reserves, in Rooney we have the most exciting talent England has possessed since Gazza.
Look at the World Cup Squad of 1990 which reached the semifinal. Take out Gazza (for Rooney) and Lineker (for Owen) and would it have been that special? Look who England had in reserve for the first choice strikers - only Steve Bull who wasn't even a top flight striker! Barnes and Platt were listed as forwards but neither were out and out strikers. Lampard, Gerrard, Lennon and Wright-Phillips would all count as strikers on that basis.
Who would you rather have, Crouch or Bull? Defoe or Bull? Ashton or Bull? Bent or Bull? Johnson or Bull? The truth is, it is not a dearth of strikers that is the problem, it is the absence of a Waddle and a Gascoigne, truly creative midfielders with the ability to both run and pass their way through defences. We need Cole back, and not on the left but in central midfield. We need to move away from 4-4-2, the system does not suit the personnel, and move to 4-1-2-1-2 with Cole in the hole, Hargreaves as the anchor and Rooney and Ashton up front. For the two in midfield, I'd go wih Gerrard and Beckham. The interchange potential could be enormous and with Ashton and Rooney both feeding runners from midfield, we could look for goals from Gerrard, Beckham and Cole, in addition to the two strikers. And if Rooney is out? I'd go for Owen and drop Ashton deeper.
Will McClanger try it? Doubtful. He's experimented once and ended up in tears. But then, this man is at least willing to reverse a decision!
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