Why Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard could play for Chelsea, but not for England

“If Steven [Gerrard] had come to Chelsea you can bet José Mourinho would have got us working,” Frank Lampard said on Tuesday in a welcome contribution to the ongoing debate over his partnership with the Liverpool captain that, on this occasion, rather missed the point. Mourinho would undoubtedly have got the two most talented English midfield players of their generation operating together effectively, but not necessarily because he is a better coach than Fabio Capello, or even Steve McClaren. The Chelsea manager simply had better players.

For all the 65 goals Lampard scored in just over three years working with Mourinho his midfield was underpinned by Claude Makelele, an unselfish footsoldier who made life miserable for the opposition to enable those in front of him to play. Makelele’s tenacious tackling, precise passing and, above all, unrivalled positional sense created the platform from which Lampard could wreak havoc, whether it be in partnership with Tiago, Michael Essien or Michael Ballack. With Makelele bolting the back door Gerrard could easily have been integrated into a three-man midfield, but it is inconceivable that such a defensively-orientated coach as Mourinho would have played the two Englishmen together as a central pairing as Capello is considering doing against Kazakhstan on Saturday.

If not quite in the Makelele class, Capello does have several individuals capable of anchoring the midfield to give Lampard and Gerrard greater attacking licence, whether it be Gareth Barry or Owen Hargreaves, though he lacks the other crucial player that made such a 4-3-3 system work at Chelsea. The real missing link lies up front, as were Capello to use Lampard and Gerrard in a three-man midfield it would leave England woefully short of pace and width, the qualities that delivered last month’s rousing win over Croatia.

If only Capello possessed a striker of Didier Drogba’s dynanism, work-rate and – most crucially – goal-threat then his selection would be relatively straightforward, as a front three complemented by Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott would strike fear into any team, particularly with Gerrard and Lampard in support, protected by Barry. The Italian is likely to experiment with a similar system in training this week with Emile Heskey leading the line, though there are major doubts as to whether he has the mobility to operate on his own and on the previous occasions when it has been tried he has ended up looking horribly isolated.

Capello has spelled out his intention to look at every permutation before coming up with his preferred starting XI, though when it comes to accommodating Gerrard and Lampard whilst retaining the right attacking balance the only obvious solution is to take the field with 12 players. Not even the Machiavellian Mourinho would have tried to get away with that.

Who is better: Gerrard or Lampard? Vote now

xxx

Cesc Fabregas’s observations that Arsenal must win trophies to prevent him considering a dream move to Barcelona sound ominously familiar, as Thierry Henry made similar threats for several years before ending up there, but his former team-mate’s experience at the Nou Camp should also serve as a warning to the Spanish midfield player. Henry is one of a number of star players whose reputations have dipped after leaving Arsenal, with Emmanuel Petit, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires failing to recapture the form they showed in north London. Even Ashley Cole, who is closer to Fabregas’s age than those more experienced players, suffered a two-year dip before showing signs of returning to his best this season. Arsene Wenger made many of these young men into the players they became, and history shows Fabregas that the Arsenal manager’s guiding hand should not be thrown away lightly.

xxx

As he faces up to having to sell players in the January transfer window even a man of such a naturally sunny disposition as Gianfranco Zola is unlikely to be looking on the bright side, but every cloud has a silver lining. With over 300,000 British savers waiting to get their money back from Landsbanki, the Icelandic bank of which West Ham United chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson is a major shareholder, it looks as if Kevin McCabe, the Sheffield United chairman, may have to join the back of the queue.

Comments

[Robert Thomas, Dublin]

As criminal as this may sound, Barcelona do not actually need Fabregas at the moment; the reason being that Xavi is in the form of his life.
The spurious debate during Euro 2008 as to which of the two was better, eventually proved to be tosh when both started together, with Xavi playing deeper and Cesc as the No.10 behind Torres. Xavi was schooled in the Guardiola mould to be the No. 4, or deep-lying playmaker (not a destructive anchorman as is Makelele or Mascherano), whereas Fabregas has played most of his career so far as more of a box-to-box playmaker (No.8, in Spanish terminology). However in the 2003-04 season and recently under Guardiola, Xavi has been given this role,,, now you see him playing like Deco, popping up all over the pitch to receive the ball and often sneaking into the box. Given that he is still only 28, and that Cesc is only 21, there's little point in replacing him now. However, even Spanish friends of mine reckon that Fabregas will eventually become even better than Xavi once he reaches his prime.

[ben]

I guess most people would be in agreement that Steve Gerrard is possibly one of the most influential players in our domestic league, week in week out for Liverpool. But having watched the game earlier, i don't like to knock him, but he looks like he really doesnt have the same passion which underlies his game when he pulls on the white jersey. Added to that, he spends most of the game milling around the centre circle. When Joe Cole is fit, i honestly can't see a place for him in the England team.

[Rob Williams]

Not really a fair comment regarding Pires. He got a serious injury early on in his Villareal career, but has looked fantastic since returning. He may now be slower than erosion, but he has more ability than the current Arsenal incumbent Nasri.

[peter koeb]

I think you forgot to mention Marc Overmars as another of those ex-Arsenal men who flopped after quitting North London. His decline was spectacular, to say the least.

[Ian Humphries]

Im a massive Gerrard fan but on this occasion and for the foreseeable future he would find himself out on the left. This way both he and lampard can play in the same team, plus i think there's many positives from playing him there. He wouldnt play with his heels on the touchline of course, let him run wild poping up everywhere, also with him cutting inside we could also see a back to his best Ashley Cole(is there a better left back in Europe??) bombing forward into the space left by Gerrard, unlike when Downing plays who clogs up the left side preventing Ashley Cole pushing on.

[Harry Boulton]

Gerrards rather childish outburst about not playing in his favourite position was disappointing and underlines the fairly selfish nature of the man. A massively talented player he may be, arguably our most talented, but spitting your dummy out because the manager does not use you where you want to play is immature. Gerrard is not disciplined enough to play central midfield. He knows it and, deep down if they ever chose to truly think about it, so do his supporters. He goes all over the place, where ever he wants, and never holds the shape of the side. Lampard, as reviled as he is at times, is a much more tactically astute player. It's going to take a special manager, and midfielder, to get the best out of both of them.

[Peter]

Stopped reading when you referred to Makalele's 'precise passing'. Despite his many qualities his passing was appalling - unless it was 5 yards backwards or 3 yards sideways!

[Mark]

I do not think that Fabregas would degress in the same manner as Viera or Petit if he where to join Barcelona. He is at a far better stage of his career for a start, i.e having not yet reached his peak as opposed to having moved into decline like the previously mentioned 2 players. Also he is Spanish, knows the club (therefore would not struggle to settle in) and also his natural playing style would fit in perfectly with Barcelona's short passing football. Personally I think it would be a very beneficial move for him.

[Davie P]

There are plenty of examples of national sides who very well with players who wouldn't even get into a premier league team. Compare Jan Koller to Heskey. Defoe or Ashley Young would have walked into most of the teams at Euro2008. It's just about sacrificing and playing as a team. Like Barry has to sit back not rush upfield to join in with attacks like he often does. And Gerrard should stop complaining about not being in his fave position