Martin Samuel replies: who would you pick up front for England?

This week, Martin Samuel asked for your thoughts on England's attacking options. His biggest concern was the lack of a truly world-class striker to call upon in the mould of Fernando Torres. He responds to readers' suggestions.

England lacks true wide players but has a plethora of fantastic midfielders. I would field a wingless 4-2-3-1 of David James; Micah Richards, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ashley Cole; Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick; Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole; Wayne Rooney. - Andrew.

MS: Apart from including Gareth Barry as one of the two guarders, I wouldn’t disagree with that. 

Michael Owen has a good record at international level but at the major championships he has not really delivered. At the 2006 World Cup he was not fit, at the 2004 European Championships he scored once, twice at the World Cup in 2002 and none at all at Euro 2000. He doesn't play off the shoulder of the last defender anymore and was used to a lot deeper by Newcastle United last season. Wayne Rooney is the only world class English striker. Rob Hillery.

MS: A tad harsh on Owen here, I think, Rob. You have missed out the 1998 World Cup when his equaliser against Romania should have changed the game, and he scored a goal of breathtaking quality against Argentina. He did score at Euro 2000, in an important match with Romania, but was consistently taken off by Kevin Keegan, much to his frustration, and of his two goals in 2002, one was against Brazil. At the 2004 European Championships, Owen’s primary job was to stretch the play to allow space in which Rooney could operate and he did that selflessly, before scoring an important goal against Portugal. I admit, his injuries cast doubts over his long-term future as an international, but England have not looked the same without him, and that says a lot. 

I don't think Gabriel Agbonlahor has done his claims any harm after his display for Aston Villa on Sunday. He has pace that would scare any defence and the rawness of a forward who is hungry to make an impact. I think a partnership of Rooney and Agbonlahor would win games. David Roberts.

MS: Talking to Fabio Capello early during his time in England, Agbonlahor was penciled in to be England’s striker against France in March, by which time he was not even selected for the squad. Capello did not use him in the Spring games, either, and now he is back with the under-21 team, so one can only presume that the coach has seen elements of his game that need improvement. 

I’d pick Ashley Young, Peter Crouch and Agbonlahor in a 4-3-3 with Barry, Hargreaves and Gerrard in midfield. Rooney needs to find some lasting form and I would ditch Owen and Emile Heskey altogether. Jermain Defoe has never looked capable at international level and it is up to Dean Ashton to prove his fitness. DeeP.

MS: Who scores the goals in that lot? You’ve dropped Frank Lampard, Rooney, Owen and Joe Cole and picked two out of three defensive midfield players. Crouch has always looked most potent for England getting on the end of David Beckham’s crosses. Oh, sorry, Beckham is dropped, too.

Since England seem to have loads of central midfield players and no established wingers, why not play a wingless 4-3-1-2? Rooney can play behind Owen, while Ashley Cole and Micah Richards provide attacking width. David Mok.

MS: Even better than that, have a look at how Luis Felipe Scolari had Chelsea lining up on day one. He played four at the back, with Mikel stepping in to make a third centre-half when Jose Bosingwa and Ashley Cole bombed forward. Nicolas Anelka upfront and a high midfield four. The key for England would be finding a player to operate in the Mikel role (basically, the one Gilberto Silva played for Brazil in 2002). If he could stay fit, it would suit Ledley King, or even Rio Ferdinand. But that would require an England player to step out of his comfort zone. Best forget it, then.

Same old faces, expect the same old results. Time to bring the young kids onto the world stage and see what they can do. Bryan.

Play with our future talents: Agbonlahor and Leroy Lita. Mike, London.

MS: Ah, the argument of the terminally out of ideas: throw some kids in. As every manager picks the best players available, if the kids were better than what we have, they would be playing. And Mike: Leroy Lita? Are you sure?

England need a striker like a mix of Didier Drogba, Owen and Dimitar Berbatov. Martin.

MS: Lovely. Are you offering to make one?

Dearth of English goalkeepers? Heard of Robert Green? I suppose not, he doesn't play for the Big Four. Keeflewis

Keeflewis, are you serious? Green not picked because he plays outside the top four? Right, so perhaps you can tell me where Scott Carson, Paul Robinson, David James and Joe Hart are plying their trade? Green had his chance to impress on the international stage: he's just not that good. Tom.

MS: The funny thing, is Tom, I do think he is good, but I also know what has happened on the few times he has been called up when, by all accounts, he has not looked good under pressure. As for the assertion by Keeflewis that I would not have heard of Green because he plays for West Ham United, not one of the big four, tell him someone, please.

Comments

[chris francis]

4-2-3-1 seems to me the formation that does a few things: retains width in the team without allowing you to get over-run in midfield; vaguely suits the personnel available for the england team; and doesn't ask the for the most post tactically inept / naive England players to change too much from what they're used to

Carrick is a very under-rated player. he lacks athleticism and authority, but he can pass it accurately of either foot, short or long, and his interceptions are getting better and better. he's suited to the international game.

i'd play

James (with Foster / Hart hopefully coming through by the start of next season for the WC)

Richards Ferdinand Terry Cole

Hargreaves Carrick

Gerrard Rooney Young

Walcott

bench: Cole, Sears, Barry, Agbonlahor, Brown

Owen is still a talent but he is bad juju. like Raul. same sort of ageing dictator feel about him. and look what Spain managed without Raul. Sears is a wild card but i like the look of him and someone who isn't paralysed by anxiety / stultified by his own hype would be good. if Rooney doesn't perform soon then bench him too. the formation asks a lot of Walcott but he's the best option to play up front. what he lacks in strength he makes up for in pace and guile. 33 year old italian centre backs won't like the look of him and Rooney around the 80th minute mark

[Matt]

James
Richards - Terry - Ferdinand - A.Cole
Bentley - Gerrard - Barry - J.Cole
Owen - Rooney

So, we have a decent keeper (though the sooner Hart gets ready for this level the better), a settled defence who don't concede many, a balanced midfield which will hopefully have creativity, width and pace, and upfront we have one creative player and one proven goalscorer.

So out with Brown (improved no end for Man Utd, but has looked consistently poor for England), Lampard (plays too deep, not as useful as Gerrard in this team) and Beckham (slow, hangs back, no position discipline).

I wish, but unfortunately I doubt it will happen.

[Lou]

What do people have against Wesley Brown? He may not offer the most going forwards, but he's a much better defender than Richards, AND against the Chec's Wes was the best England player on the pitch.

James/Foster

Brown Rio Terry Cole

Carrick

Hargreaves Gerrard

Bentley Cole

Rooney

Bench: James/Foster, Woodgate/King, Barry, Downing/Aston, Owen, Wright Phillips, Jenas

Or for a 4-4-2 drop Carrick and play Aston or Owen up front.

[Kan]

First principal do not play players at international level in positions they do not play in at club level. Ie do not have M Richards as right back. Second play a formation that suits our resources - we have good midfielders and poor wingers.

I would play

4 3 3

A Cole / R Ferdinand J Woodgate / Wes Brown

Hargreaves Carrick Barry

J Cole / Gerrard / Agbonlahor

The key is the midfielders if they play short simple passes no hollywood balls. Invention from J Cole and pace from Agbonlahor and shooting from Gerrard.

[Laura z]

What has Rooney done since Euro 2004?Not much. Injuries, or not Owen has been England's most consistent goalscorer. His goals against Russia and Israel proved that, given good service he will score. Rooney has not shown his Manchester United form for his country.

[Keith]

The main criticism of many England managers has been playing the "best" 11 players rather than the 11 who are "best" in their position. ALso focus on your best backbone, and there does not seem much debate on who that might be. On the Owen debate I can remember Hoddle saying Owen was not a natural goal scorer - then he brought him on against Romania. He scored within 15 mins and hit the post. I have been to every world cup since then and there is only one player in an England shirt who gets fans off their seats believeing he is going to score - and that is Owen. There is also a significant difference between scoring in the premier league and in an international. Yes he gets injured and yes he may not score every game, but in a big game he is the only England player with any pedigree at all. He also has a telepathic understanding with the best midfielder England has. To not play him when he is fit is plain daft.

[Daniel Gibbons]

I think you are all missing the main point. We do have the wide players to hurt international defences. Lets give England a new and dynamic look that harnesses the brilliance of Premiership fast-break-attack.

Play Hart in goal, Richards right back, Ferdinand & Terry centre and Ashley Cole left back.

Bentley wide right, Hargreaves sweeping the midfield with Gerrard just in front and one of the most consistent and influencial wingers in the Premier league Ashley Young on the left.

Leaving Rooney roaming behind Darren Bent.

With dynamic subs of Agbonlahor, Walcott and Lennon to really turn up the pressure on the oppositions defence.

[Peter]

If you picked the england team on the grounds of performance. Every match there would be different set of 9 or 10 players. The marks for the debacle against the Czech were pitiful. So why are only Rooney, or Lampard or Beckhem being dropped ?
There is a malise that affects the multi-millionaires when they pull on the three lions, that does not seem to affect our Olympians does it. 3 Weeks intensive psychological training - Ï can be good when I play for my country" should be enough. I would drop them all. But then I am sure so would Fabio if he thought there were some other viable alternatives. Lets face it - we are just not very good at producing quality international players. Which when you consider the pool of players available is a lot poor. And they sacked Barwick - well its a start.

You British people are blind and not smart. You have overated players and continue to use them every match. Why go for Owen and has been overated players when you have talented young strikers like Walcott and Agbanlohour. Put Walcott and Rooney up fron and I guarantee you they will score 2-3 goals every match. Walcott can assist and score. Look how Walcott feeds Adebayour at Arsenal. Just give this lad a chance, and he will not dissapoint you. It's tiem for change.

[kafka]

" I admit, his (Owen) injuries cast doubts over his long-term future as an international, but England have not looked the same without him, and that says a lot. "
The long term has arrived a long time ago!

[Louis]

Lampard needs dropping. There's no questioning it. He'd make a decent addition to a championship squad incase Gerrard got injured, otherwise, he's absolutely useless.

Not entirely convinced Agbonlahor would make a great England striker at this moment in time, I think he probably does need a little more time in the U21's, but then with Rooney being consistantly rubbish for country I don't see why not. Crouch isn't going to do us any favours - to be totally fair to him, the man moves, shoots and passes like Bambi would, he just happens to have a big head to swing at things.

Young needs putting on the left, Hargreaves or Barry in front of the back 4, Gerrard in the middle, Richards with the usual suspects in defence, and for the rest of the team, I'm stumped. Who do we have that can be bothered to play for us?

I'm being highly cynical, but how can I be anything else? Our national side is full of premier league stars, house-hold names and some of the most marketable men in the world, yet they're all indifferent donkeys at international level.

[Andre]

Its simple stop playing the players that do not deserve to be in the squad. A simple 4-4-2 James

Richards Terry Ferdinand Cole

Bentley Gerrard Barry J.Cole

Rooney Agbonlahor

Its all so simple but before too many players played because of their club and not merit!!

[Doug Bates]

We need pace and the ability to hold or carry the ball up front, width in the midfield and a good attacking midfielder who is anchored behind so the defence aren't too exposed. The team should be picked on current form, if there are 2 good players fighting for the same role (Lampard, Gerrard) one should play, the other benched to make him hungry. You can alter the defensive midfielder depending on whether a draw will do or be more attacking in must win games. Strikers must be in form and scoring for their current team, not selected on past performances or future potential (sorry Wazza, no goals, no place!). People should play where they are best/happiest.

Defence: Richards, Ferdinand, Terry, A.Cole
Defensive Midfield: Hargreaves/Barry
Midfield: Young, Gerrard, Bentley
Forwards: Cole, Agbonlahor

Bench - Lampard, Rooney, Beckham, Carrick, Lescott, Defoe.

Simple. Easy. Effective.

[Jack]

I think Rooney would make an ideal right-back.

[Richard]

I don't think any of our strikers can play international football, with the possible exception of Crouch. What have Rooney, Owen, etc, really done over the last 3 years. So we just have to go with that 1 loan striker and hope we can grind out qualification- how depressing is that!!!!

[Alex]

Attacking 4-3-3

Defence: Richards, Ferdinand, Terry, A.Cole

Defensive midfield: Hargreaves

Central midfield: Gerrard, Barry

Forwards: J. Cole, Rooney, Young

The players selected ahead of the defence are all intelligent and adaptable. e.g. Hargreaves has played at right back for Bayern Munich and on the right wing for United, Barry started as a left back etc. Thus they should have decent tactical awareness and they can all tackle, pass and mark.

The forwards are similar, all capable of playing across the front line, all with fair pace, all creative, with a good touch and can score. Interchange of positions possible if given time to develop an understanding. Ashley Young adds superb set piece delivery for Terry, Ferdinand and Richards to head.

My point is England should give up looking for the supposed silver bullet that is an out and out striker and start selecting a team of players who can work well together. Lampard is great at what he does for his club, but thats all he does and I feel he lacks the versatility to adapt to play for England. Likewise for Beckham, Defoe, Crouch and many other members of the current England squad.

Given time this line up will create chances and with chances its only a matter of time before this team scores.

[Derek]

Similar to the first suggestion left by Andrew, I would only use a lone striker. However, my formation is a tad different from Andrew's. I would play a 4-1-2-2-1:

Defense: Richards - Ferdinand - Terry - A.Cole

Defensive Midfield: Carrick

Left Wing: Joe Cole or Ashley Young

Right Wing: Hargraves (I put him here because he has shown last year during the Champions League that he can play on the right side very well)

2 Attacking Midfields: Lampard and Gerrard

Striker: Rooney.

[Dave]

Capello needs to try some of the younger guys against Andorra. They're hardly a threat and for some time now England have looked jaded or just plain uninterested in playing for their country. Capello's just MacLaren without the brolly and the Dutch accent.

[Rob]

I keep hearing, and again here, that Michael Owen can't score goals in the big tournament games. A tad unfair, indeed, but it also misses one rather crucial point:

England's next game is not a World Cup semi final against Brazil.

It's a qualifier against Andorra.

[Henry Monono]

England has a dream team with the likes of Rio, Gerald,Terry, Joe Cole,Beckam, etc The only problem is that you have a love affair with Rooney . Gabby Agbonlahor would bring you glory if you empower him and build up his confidence. His pace and hunger is massive. The Olympics have proven that the blacks are built for speed and power which is what you miss in Gabby. Think Drogba, Adebayor, Eto. Ronaldo, Pele,Henry.Remember how France won the world cup?

[Jimmy]

Rooney, Agbonlahor and Walcott with Lampard as playmaker was something I read a while ago, and it makes sense! Even if the three strikers are not scoring profusely, their speed and movement will unsettle defences and leave space for Frank.

[Matt]

We don't have a Torres-like striker of international class. All English strikers who have any pace or poaching ability either get hamstring injuries which steal half a yard of pace from them or they get converted into "more complete forwards" by their club managers! I think though the bigger problem is delivery into the front men. I like the idea of 4-1-3-2 with Richards and Cole getting as high up the pitch as possible -they aren't the best full-backs but they are brilliant wing backs. Beckham could still play on the right if Richards is bombing past him, without that, he is too deep. Ashton warrants more of a chance and looks excellent when playing wth Bellamy at West Ham so perhaps he could work with Owen. Crouch and Defoe might start to work well if they build a good partnership at club level. maybe with Rooney behind them. As for Abonglahor, definately one for the future but perhaps not quite there yet.