Gerrard and Owen liberated by McClaren's water-carriers

Hooray for Michael Owen. He’s back and firing on all cylinders. And Steven Gerrard, now that he hasn’t got that dead weight of Frank Lampard to carry, has shown what he can do. The galactico theory does work, it’s just finding the right superstars. Who needs Rooney and Lampard?

Well, not quite. What the events of the past week have proven is exactly the opposite. The goals and the glamour can go to the galacticos but it is the water-carriers who deserve the glory.

You remember the water-carriers? Eric Cantona used the phrase to describe Didier Deschamps. It was, of course, an insult. Cantona, a man whose medal haul never quite lived up to his bloated opinion of himself, then had to stand by and watch as Deschamps traded in the water for a World Cup in 1998 and a European Championship trophy two years later.

For once, though, Cantona was right. Deschamps went to the top of the game fetching and carrying for Zinedine Zidane and allowed the genius at the heart of the France midfield to play without worrying about defensive duties or tracking back.

So it was on Wednesday night when two of England’s biggest stars - and most selfish players - were given a partner who let them play their game without the onerous weight of responsibility. Gareth Barry let Gerrard roam and the player who drives Rafael Benitez to distraction with his lack of positional discipline ruled the midfield.

Owen could not play with the likes of Robbie Fowler and Milan Baros at Liverpool. He failed to gel with a range of players that went from Alan Shearer to Alan Smith for England. And when he has been forced to play with a fellow striker who has the temerity to want to operate in the same region of the pitch or even - gasp - score goals himself, Owen’s shoulders slump and his body language turns sulky.

Owen does not play for the team in a traditional sense. A side needs to be built around his strengths to allow him to flourish. Yet if that happens, he can be an enormous boon to any side. He will score goals, as he has shown this week. Owen needs a partner who subverts his game for the greater good - little Michael’s scoring record. Heskey fulfils that role. That the big man becomes a striker that doesn’t score is just an unfortunate side-effect.

But it worked - at least this week - so Steve McClaren should ride the system while it is paying dividends. At the same time, Rooney and Lampard will be gnashing their teeth and wondering exactly how good they would look with their own personal manservant to help and provide for 90 minutes.
The point, though, is not to illustrate that England’s stars are dilettantes who need ideal circumstances to perform to their highest standards. It is that McClaren, by default and through injuries, has found a balance for the side - an elusive mix that turns 11 individuals into a team.

For the first time since taking over from Sven-Goran Eriksson more than a year ago, McClaren’s team looked like a coherent unit. Retaining that blend is the next task he faces as the run in to Euro 2008 qualifying looms. It doesn’t mean he should ignore his injured superstars on the back of two good results, just that he should not overlook the importance of the lesser lights in the squad in deciding his most effective XI.

Because if England’s challenge for a place in Switzerland and Austria is really going to hold water, the team will have to be more than a collection of talented individuals.