And now for the English

Just the other week the Sidler returned from a long hiatus in the world of football blogging. Oh, you hadn’t noticed I’d gone, well okay- trust me I hadn’t written for a while and I felt down right rotten about it, clearly my public were demanding a return.

After months out you’d assume that I would come back with a new blog post to do with something I knew loads about in a screaming, all passionate, all brilliant piece of writing that brought the readers back. As they read on with excitement, coming away with a sense of something learnt, and thinking “yeah, this guy knows his stuff”. As you know though I don’t do things in an ordinary fashion, I wrote about Scottish football. Roughly 20 minutes after announcing my return my opinions had been blown out of the water.

So, with all that in mind, it’s time to return to everyone (well my) favourite subject, ENGLAND!! *groans from everyone else*

Robben caused England problems all night

There’s been so much for discussion from an England point of view recently that it’s so hard to know where to start from. We could dissect the end of John Terry as captain, the end of Capello’s reign, Harry’s credentials and potential new job, Stuart Pearce’s performance as manager for the one game or even his choice of Scott Parker as captain.

Well I think that’s those topics discussed and by that I mean they’ve been discussed to death already why do I need to bother. Okay, so you want my opinions? Quickly then; the F.A were right to get rid of Terry as captain and to take the decision away from Fabio, the Italian felt he needed to go and so went- good on him, no tears from me but actually I didn’t totally dislike him and might have been interesting to see if he’d learnt any lessons from 2010 in 2012, I’m not Harry’s biggest fan and wouldn’t pick him personally but there isn’t loads of options out there and he’d bring with him public and probably player support, Pearce is potentially a future England manager but not right now, didn’t do badly with what he had against Holland, not a massive fan of Parker as captain but nor I am a massive fan of making such a big deal of the captaincy and he is Mr. Dependable if nothing else.

Quick enough? Well it’s a good job speed impresses you.

Of all the what if moment’s I always wonder how the game would have panned out if Lampard’s free kick had gone over the bar, goal kick and probably no counter attack goal but that’s by the by.

Compare the Germany game to last night’s versus Holland and one thing is remarkable- only 2 players who started that summer’s evening in 2010 did so last night. One was the seemingly irreplaceable Steven Gerrard- passionate, driving force, constant vice-captain fantastic, Stevie G! Last night Gerrard was obviously still feeling the effects of Sunday’s epic league cup final between his Liverpool and Cardiff City which went all the way to penalties and was replaced after an abject half an hour, sighting a tight hamstring for the reason of his removal.

England's game against Germany was hardly Barry's shining moment

The only other player to start both matches was Gerrard’s central midfield partner on both occasions, Gareth Barry. In 2010 Barry had returned from injury mid-competition and arguably should not have been taken to the tournament at all but was fortunate enough to be one of Capello’s favourites. Ironically Barry went to the 2010 World Cup when Scott Parker could have gone instead. Against Germany Barry’s lack of fitness and pace were clear to see, especially as he struggled to get back into position during the blissful counter attack move that was the German’s third goal.

Fast forward to 2012 and England no longer play 4-4-2, they have advanced to a 4-3-2-1, Scott Parker has finally been given the long run in central midfield that he has deserved, there is no longer a question of forcing Lampard and Gerrard into a team together and with a third central midfielder there is now more chance of playing a patient, position keeping game that is required at international level in this day and age and yet Barry remains at the core of England’s side, despite his obvious failings. I can hear the Manchester City fans championing Barry’s cause and shouting about how great he’s been this season but hold on! Think about the month of January, as City started falter slightly, and the loss of Yaya Toure. , did Barry look so brilliant in this period? No? I thought not. Now obviously the loss of a World class player like Toure would affect most, especially with no replacement anywhere near as good but this also is a worry as it suggests Barry struggles to perform without a world class player by his side. Now look at the England central midfield and, although the player’s to choose from are talented, there is a seriously lack of World class. With all players fit and firing Barry is surely not good enough to start in this central midfield with Parker and Gerrard likely to be joined by Jack Wilshere. So does Gareth then make the bench? Well in my eyes there are at least 3 players who should be on the plane in front of him, all being well, in the shape of Tom Cleverly, Lampard and the forgotten man of English football Michael Carrick whose performances for Manchester United this season have been brilliant without any world class players alongside him and his ability to move the ball at pace is exactly the type of penetration the England side were missing on Wednesday.

Whilst there is no doubt during this massive changing of the guard England have done so much right, and there is still obviously a long way to go- there is a new manager to find, a choice over a permanent captain, there is still a long way to go with there hardest, and most important decision to come- finding the right time to get rid of those who remain from 2010, Gerrard should for the Euro’s, Barry must not.