England are wasting Steven Gerrard. They are ruining an outstanding talent. I've heard the word 'timid' being whispered as a reason for him not being a contender to take the captain's armband. Timid? You've got to be joking.
Here are some better words for him: Powerful. Explosive. Dynamic. Aggressive. Unique.
He needs to be given the run of midfield, in the centre, in his best position, not sent out to the left - or the right, for that matter.
Can you imagine the Germans sticking Michael Ballack on the left wing?
The shrinking of England's players when they pull on the white shirt is a problem that remains unresolved, and Gerrard is becoming the biggest problem.
Don't just take my word for it. Read what Fernando Torres says about him, or Javier Mascherano. They recognise him as a world-class footballer, so why doesn't this England manager see that?
Gerrard and Frank Lampard are match-winners for their clubs. With England, Gerrard has to play wide and Lampard has to endure 70,000 fans booing him!
What is that about … do these people think he isn't trying?
I say - again, because this is a subject we have visited before -that Gerrard and Lampard can play together in the centre. England can play another more defensive player with the pair, or trust Gerrard to play the disciplined role. It's not as if the midfield is functioning well without them being paired in the centre, is it? Or that there are so many candidates we can afford to look at alternatives for these two outstanding talents with their clubs.
Stevie G can play there, I've played for Liverpool with him alongside me. He first came into the team at right back and twice cleared off his own line on his Merseyside derby debut. He understands the defensive demands, he replaced Paul Ince in the Liverpool team and took on that role. He just needs to be trusted.
Rafa Benitez has played him in so many different areas it seems to have encouraged others to do the same. Stevie is such a willing lad, he will go wherever he is asked to play. I sense he is starting to doubt himself now, wondering if he is the player I think he is. And, when Fabio Capello plays him on the left and then substitutes him, it will not help his confidence.
He has such an engine, an ability to pass the ball, to break behind the strikers, to lurk around the edge of the box and he is also a terrific finisher.
England must get the best out of him. Even though he is close to Jamie Carragher, who retired from international football, there isn't a risk that Stevie will follow. He's not that sort of lad. But he is a better player than we saw on Wednesday night. And so is Lampard.
There was a lack of imagination from England, it was pedestrian through midfield, apart from one 10-minute spell before half-time, and there were too many long balls pumped in from wide to small strikers.
We need to work the ball, shift it around like Chelsea do by playing a similar system. This is the team who can get a result against Croatia (if all are fit), playing a versatile 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation.
James; G Neville, Terry, Ferdinand, A Cole; Barry, Lampard, Gerrard; Rooney, J Cole; Heskey.
Here are some better words for him: Powerful. Explosive. Dynamic. Aggressive. Unique.
He needs to be given the run of midfield, in the centre, in his best position, not sent out to the left - or the right, for that matter.
Can you imagine the Germans sticking Michael Ballack on the left wing?
The shrinking of England's players when they pull on the white shirt is a problem that remains unresolved, and Gerrard is becoming the biggest problem.
Don't just take my word for it. Read what Fernando Torres says about him, or Javier Mascherano. They recognise him as a world-class footballer, so why doesn't this England manager see that?
Gerrard and Frank Lampard are match-winners for their clubs. With England, Gerrard has to play wide and Lampard has to endure 70,000 fans booing him!
What is that about … do these people think he isn't trying?
I say - again, because this is a subject we have visited before -that Gerrard and Lampard can play together in the centre. England can play another more defensive player with the pair, or trust Gerrard to play the disciplined role. It's not as if the midfield is functioning well without them being paired in the centre, is it? Or that there are so many candidates we can afford to look at alternatives for these two outstanding talents with their clubs.
Stevie G can play there, I've played for Liverpool with him alongside me. He first came into the team at right back and twice cleared off his own line on his Merseyside derby debut. He understands the defensive demands, he replaced Paul Ince in the Liverpool team and took on that role. He just needs to be trusted.
Rafa Benitez has played him in so many different areas it seems to have encouraged others to do the same. Stevie is such a willing lad, he will go wherever he is asked to play. I sense he is starting to doubt himself now, wondering if he is the player I think he is. And, when Fabio Capello plays him on the left and then substitutes him, it will not help his confidence.
He has such an engine, an ability to pass the ball, to break behind the strikers, to lurk around the edge of the box and he is also a terrific finisher.
England must get the best out of him. Even though he is close to Jamie Carragher, who retired from international football, there isn't a risk that Stevie will follow. He's not that sort of lad. But he is a better player than we saw on Wednesday night. And so is Lampard.
There was a lack of imagination from England, it was pedestrian through midfield, apart from one 10-minute spell before half-time, and there were too many long balls pumped in from wide to small strikers.
We need to work the ball, shift it around like Chelsea do by playing a similar system. This is the team who can get a result against Croatia (if all are fit), playing a versatile 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation.
James; G Neville, Terry, Ferdinand, A Cole; Barry, Lampard, Gerrard; Rooney, J Cole; Heskey.
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