The post-mortems of England’s World Cup disaster have begun. Typically, the main target so far has been Fabio Capello. There may be something in this - his adherence to 4-4-2 has been baffling - but the greater problem is replacing the ageing squad.
Here’s a possible line-up to start the first game in Brazil in 2014. This is, of course, just wild speculation; a better bet might be to try and predict the English weather in four years time. But sometimes it is fun to wildly speculate.
It must surely be time to entrust Joe Hart with the number 1 shirt. Whilst he is short of experience at top-level club competition, England now need to stop changing goalkeepers so regularly and settle down with a first choice. Hart has displayed all the characteristics required, and deserves his chance.
For the past few years, England have possessed strength in depth at centre back. All currently in their late twenties or early thirties, most of the current crop will not expect to still be playing international football at the next World Cup. That said, one suspects that John Terry will still be in and around the squad in 4 years’ time. I’ve never been a huge fan, but at 33, Terry doesn’t even have pace to lose, and you suspect that his overall positioning will improve with yet more experience.
Michael Dawson will be 27 later this year and is still awaiting his first international cap. If he successfully retains his place in an improving (and Champions League-bound) Tottenham team, I would imagine that over the next few years he will become a first-choice for his country.
The potential problem here is a lack of pace. If his career kickstarts again, presumably with a move away from Manchester City, perhaps Micah Richards could offer a more mobile option.
Both England’s current first-choice full backs should still be around. Ashley Cole will be 33, and will be challenged at club and country by Kieran Gibbs, a very similar type of player. Glen Johnson will be at his peak, and will have hopefully developed his defensive responsibilities.
Both full backs are very attacking, but I would suggest playing a 4-2-3-1 formation, with the deeper midfield duo providing cover should the full backs rampage up the touchlines.
Jack Rodwell should feature as one of these two. He is equally capable of playing central defence or central midfield. England must hope that David Moyes seeks to make the most of all his talents by playing him in his most logical position, rather than forcing him to become a centre back purely on the basis of his physique. A gifted player, he could be both anchorman, breaking up opponents attacks, and deep-lying playmaker. Think Xavi Alonso - including the fierce long-range shooting.
The other space is harder to fill. Perhaps Tom Huddlestone will improve enough, or maybe Scott Parker will step up and make an impact on the England team in what will be the tail-end of his career.
It’s clear that England lack an advanced playmaker, or any sort of creative player that fits between the traditional banks of midfield and attack. This has been a long-standing problem, which I’ve mentioned before: our attacking midfielders in recent years have tended to be energetic and explosive box-to-box midfielders that simply prefer attacking to defending. There’s been no central attacking focus between midfield and attack, no-one to assist with ball retention and building attacks. The current crop will be way past their peak, so step forward Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere. He possesses all the skills required. This is an enormous weight for Wilshere to carry, and I wouldn’t want him to be burdened with the weight of England’s expectations in four years time, when he’ll still be just 22. But of all the options available, Wilshere looks to be the most promising.
On the flanks there are roles for Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson, both overlooked for this tournament’s squad. Both are capable of playing as wingers, wide midfielders and more orthodox attackers, and can interchange freely. Aaron Lennon will provide adequate backup.
I don’t think you can look any further than Wayne Rooney for the lone striking role. He has played this countless times for Manchester United, and if England can resist the temptation to aimlessly lump it forward, his interplay with the other attacking trio could cause teams problems.
Should Wilshere not be ready, or if someone like Connor Wickham progress into an international-class number 9, then Rooney could play the trequartista/number 10 role. It’s another role he knows well, and he’s intelligent enough to play it for England.
To manage this team? For me there’s only one choice: the special one.
Above all, the transition needs to begin soon. Let’s use the forthcoming European Championships to get the basics in place. Abandon the short-termism that has plagued our nation: begin to blood some of the younger players, adopt the new system (there is no aesthetic or pragmatic reason to continue with 4-4-2), and let’s try to do something different. Not for the sake of it, but because otherwise, it’s only going to get worse.
![Century Egg - A Pungent Delicacy | Oddity Central - Collecting Oddities
Century Eggs sound like the most disgusting things ever:
Known also as preserved egg, hundred-year egg, thousand-year egg or thousand-year-old egg, the Century Egg is a Chinese delicacy used in many traditional dishes. Fresh duck, chicken or quail eggs become Century Eggs after weeks, sometimes months of preservation in a mixture of clay, ash, lime, salt and rice. […] After the preservation is complete, the hull mixture and egg shell are removed to reveal the now dark-brown egg-white and a dark-green, creamy and pungent yolk. It’s the alkaline that raises the pH of the egg from 9 to 12 or more and gives it a strong smell of ammonia and sulfur.
(And I sort of want to try one.)](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l5wlgn9H9M1qa328oo1_500.jpg)
