D efenders’ new style here to stay
WATCHING England play out of defence at times on Friday was enough to raise the heart levels of most supporters.
They were just about able to get away with it against Scotland but a better team will capitalise when they needlessly play themselves into trouble.
However, centre half Gary Cahill has admitted that England are not going to shy away from this new style.
It may go against the traditional approach English defenders are supposed to take but Gareth Southgate is determined to implement it.
“When the time is right to play out from the back, we will play out from the back,” insists Cahill, who scored the third and final goal at Wembley.
“It’s something we can maybe look at. You don’t have to be fixated with one style or another.
“We have the players to play out from the back and that is the way the manager wants us to go, and we are trying to adopt that.
“Scotland had the game plan to press us and made it difficult but half of it was our own mistakes.
“The first half was a little sloppy. They had a game plan as they knew we wanted to play out from the back and they pressed very high and aggressively.
“But it’s difficult to keep that up for 90 minutes.
“We know we made a couple of bad decisions at times but it was positive to see us keep our composure and we were persistent and it worked in the end.
“The main thing when a team is
Gareth Southgate insists England play out from the back.
pressing like that is to realise the time to play and the time not to play.”
The embodiment of this new style is John Stones.
Some people love the way he wants to play football at every opportunity. Others hate it.
It earned him a big money move in the summer to Manchester City, where he’s seen as a key figure under Pep Guardiola.
But it has been mixed reviews so far. There have been some excellent performances ... and a few glaring errors.
However, his central defensive partner for England has no doubts that the
City player will come through these early wobbles.
“The potential is there for John to do whatever he wants to do,” states Cahill. “Plus he’s a great lad off the pitch.
“Is he a boy who is going to take on advice from people and soak that up? He certainly is. There’s no reason he can’t go on and have the career he wants to have.
“He is a different type of player but everyone is aware of his ability.
“Along with that is the attitude to listen and take on board things from people who have done more than you.
“That’s how I progressed and I’m sure he will be the same.
“It’s normal that John will take some stick.
“That is the sort of step he has taken to play for a massive club.
“I’m sure he was aware the spotlight is going to be on you, for good and bad. “He is a guy who can deal with that. “He’ll learn from the mistakes and the things he is doing very well, which is more than the mistakes.
“When your manager and your team-mates believe in you, you take the criticism on the chin and keep going. He’ll be fine.”
Interim manager Gareth Southgate was a recent predecessor of Cahill’s at the heart of the Three Lions defence, retiring with 57 caps in 2004, and the Chelsea man thinks that offers a big advantage.
“The positive thing I see is that he’s been there, he’s been an England player and been to major tournaments,” he said.
“He has that experience and he knows how it is, he knows the pressure you’re under when you go and play in an England shirt so he can relate very closely.
“We’ve enjoyed this week. Last time we were thrown together in difficult circumstances but this time he’s started to get his points across in training and it’s important we buy in and keep going.
“Gareth’s come in and done what’s expected of him. It’s out of our control but we’ll keep giving everything we can for him.”