DEFENCE OPEN TO CRITICISM...
Lazy, disconnected and passing back: the things that Southgate must fix
At ONE end of the pitch, England are breaking goalscoring records that have stood for decades.
At the other end, questions are being asked after Kosovo, a nation ranked 120th in the world, put three goals past them on tuesday.
Gareth Southgate has not named the same back line in successive games since the 2018 World Cup. He has big decisions to make before Euro 2020 and the clock is ticking.
I rewatched the 5-3 win yesterday, just as Southgate and his analysts will have done. For England to be successful, they have to pay attention to even the most minute defensive detail. Here’s what I noticed, and what I think needs to happen.
KOSOVO’S FIRST GOAL
MICHAEl KEANE got the blame because it was his sloppy pass which gave Kosovo the lead. But I want to discuss the pass from Ross Barkley before that. When Barkley got the ball, he had time to turn and look forwards. there was no need to go backwards. None.
Maybe I was spoiled when I played for Arsenal, because Patrick Vieira never gave me the ball back. England’s midfielders have to adopt the same mindset. Against Kosovo, Declan Rice & Co looked sideways or back, and that is lazy. the two England players on the pitch who made the most forward passes? Harry Maguire with 34, Keane with 29. that’s not right.
I’d want to see a midfielder’s name at the top of that list. Had Barkley not gone backwards, had he let the ball roll across his body and got his head up, Keane would not have panicked and given away possession.
KOSOVO’S SECOND GOAL
A KEy component of Southgate’s set-up is to have his full backs push forward, like liverpool and Manchester City. that runs the risk of leaving England exposed whenever they lose possession.
In the 49th minute, Rice gave the ball away in midfield. At that moment, trent Alexander-Arnold was 15 yards inside the opposition half. Jordan Henderson ran to cover, and Alexander-Arnold slowed down into a jog. Wrong move.
Henderson did a poor job of filling in for the full back. the ball floated over his head and Kosovo scored. As a defender, you cannot rely on a midfielder to do your job for you. you have to run back as quickly as you ran forward.
KOSOVO’S THIRD GOAL
A lONG BAll into the midfield was won by Kosovo rather than England — something which became a theme of the evening. From that, Valon Berisha picked up possession and had space to run at England’s back line — another theme. Kosovo got into those pockets too much.
England left big gaps between the lines. this was especially true when Raheem Sterling would break forward. those behind seemed to have a tendency to stand and stare, rather than move up in tow. that will worry Southgate. His side have to work as a unit, move together, press together.
In this instance, after Kosovo won the ball, they used the space available to them and Maguire ended up giving away a cheap penalty after a careless challenge.
MY FINAL SAY
ENGlAND are on the right track. the way Southgate has his side play is so pleasing to watch. It’s brought back the armchair fan who may have lost interest. there are so many positives, but a balance has to be struck.
At times against Kosovo, England had seven players committing to an attack, full backs included. the three left to do the defensive work — often Maguire, Keane and Rice — would then be too deep. Positioning is so important. Henderson and Barkley get forward but they have to be able to get back, too. When Kosovo got into that space behind England’s midfield, Rice had to try to stem those leaks by himself.
England have to stay compact and connected, otherwise better teams will exploit them.