If Chelsea’s Frank Lampard continues to play at the top level and learn from Ryan Giggs adaptation at Manchester United, he may have plenty to offer at international level, writes Khiam Barry.
One of Euro 2012’s best players was Pirlo, showing that his age, 33, does not mean you can’t play at the highest level.
Ryan Giggs, recently announced as Team GB’s captain for football at the Olympics is still going strong in his late thirties. A once feared left winger, he gradually moved into the centre of midfield as he lost his pace, still proving to be an important player for Manchester United in the autumn of his career.
Paul Scholes is another example of someone who had to adapt as he reaches the latter end of his career, showing that as a player hits his mid thirties, his career need not come to an end just yet.
Teddy Sheringham, again, showed at United that age need not spell the end of a players career at the highest level. Although, Teddy Sheringham had never had the blistering pace many players do, but he had the intelligence to influence matches and adapt his own game.
So, what might have been for Beckham had he been used in the centre of midfield for England? He could have been England’s Pirlo.
With his passing and long ball ability still as sharp as ever, he could still have been an important player for England for a few more years before injury, and then Fabio Capello closed the door on his international career.
Beckham was used in the so called ‘quarterback’ role a few times for England. That ‘quarterback’ role suggested a limited long ball game, but would have been and probably still is adept at keeping the ball and being able to pass the ball short in tight spaces. In the NFL the quarterback attempts far more short receptions than touchdown passes to gain yardage.
The reference to ‘adapting’ in football, with players having to adapt or change as they get older and adopt a new position suggests the need for fluidity and the ability to be prepared to change.
This challenges the English mentality of a rigid formation which if tried to be tinkered with during a game seems to confuse the players and create problems. In England, we have become accustomed to having a 4-4-2 system, with two strikers, and then two banks of four, whereas Spain had five in midfield and in the Euro’s didn’t play a recognised striker.
What they did have was Cesc Fabregas given the freedom to do what he liked up front and that he did to great effect.
I heard one of the ‘pundits’ during coverage of the Euro’s that the way a team plays is reflective of their culture, so Spain are more relaxed and England are really rigid and conservative in the way they play. This is something that England need to change.
They need to become confortable in the way they play, and with the likes of Tom Cleverley and hopefully a recovered and injury free Jack Wilshere back in the team, England will have players who are comfortable on the ball.
However, England also need to make sure that they do not cast into the shadows senior players too soon. Whilst I understand the need to bring through and develop younger players, this needs to be done gradually alongside experienced players.
Frank Lampard, at 33, is a player that comes to mind, for more than a decade arguably one of the best players in the Premier League, an attacking midfielder with a phenomenal goal scoring record.
He may not be able to ‘bomb forward’ from central midfield as often as he likes, nevertheless, his vision for a pass, ability to keep the ball in tight situations and positional sense is as strong as ever.
England need to utilise these attributes, as Chelsea will continue to do, as once he retires, those attributes are gone from a team forever. He could have an important part in helping the team qualify for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.
The likes of Joe Cole and David Bentley are two creative players who have been involved with England who have been hampered by such a rigid system.
If they have the freedom to express themselves in such a way as Spain let Fabregas play they could have caused opposition teams all sorts of problems, much like Wayne Rooney has been doing in a free role at Manchester United for a number of years, unfortunately not so much for England recently.
image: © Paolo Camera
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