Southgate approach in need of a reset

Czech Republic 2 v England 1

It is approaching eighteen months since England lost to Croatia in the Semi Final of the World Cup. Of that performance I wrote “When finally we were faced with a team of superior technique we looked ragged. For long periods during the second half and in the second period of extra time we were unable to retain the ball resorting to the default English tactic of hoofing it hopefully up the pitch. No amount of team spirit will overcome technical deficiency”. Despite that I praised Southgate for his quiet cerebral approach and his decision to stick with youth at the expense of the failed prima donnas. His side had also shown a level of resilience previously lacking and I felt there was much to build on.

During the ensuing twelve months, as England outplayed Spain and Croatia, to reach the semi final of the European Nations League all appeared to be going to plan. Consistency in both selection and tactics together with giving youth its head was bearing fruit until an equally youthful Dutch side was put in front of them. Granted Southgate’s side for that game was weakened by the absence of players who were involved in the Liverpool v Tottenham Champions League final. But the groundhog day manner of England’s performance, in which giving the ball away too easily returned to haunt them, contributed to the 3-1 defeat. All of a sudden the optimism of the previous eighteen months had been punctured.

Four months on from that rather salutary defeat and England’s performance last night in the European Championship Qualifier against the Czech Republic was once again hampered by an inability to retain the ball. But then should we expect any more when you put Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice at the fulcrum of your midfield. Southgate’s decision to pick these two bore all the hallmarks of conservative England management through the ages where preventing a defeat trumps winning the game. Furthermore the Stones / Maguire defensive partnership, which had performed so well during the World Cup, is now seemingly history. Yet it is questionable whether its replacement is any better.

In all these areas Southgate’s thinking has become muddled. On the one hand he argues that ball retention must be our priority only to contradict that by picking midfield journeymen. Gone too was his favoured three at the back and in its place we have seen a veritable smorgasbord of line ups, last night’s 4,2,1,3, being the latest model off the production line.

It would appear to me that Southgate has lost sight of what he is trying to achieve and as a consequence England’s development has stalled. Only by playing a settled side - with an emphasis on youth - married to a settled method of play will they develop into a decent international side. But until the England manager returns to the principals that served him so well when he first started out, then that hope remains a distant one.

©Mark Brennand