Part 2 - EURO 2012 Qualification: Player by player rating for the English squad versus Montenegro
Ashley Cole, the veteran ex-Arsenal left back was deployed by Capello as England’s left wing back; Cole’s game has evolved greatly over the years. When he was at Arsenal, Ashley established himself as an integral part of the side
that went onto win the English Premier League title unbeaten. During that season, he not only impressive in attack but was also magnificent in defence, Cole has seldom been bested by the wingers he plays against and when the Englishman took field against Montenegro,
he didn’t disappoint the Wembley faithful.
England were playing at home and thus Cole bombed forward in attack at every opportunity, his forward runs were helped by the fact that Barry was behind him covering for both of England’s full backs. Not only that, Montenegro
showed so little ambition in possession that Cole had practically nothing do so as far as the defence of the England goal was concerned.
Cole’s combination with Ashley Young down the left hand side of England’s attack was especially troublesome for Montenegro. However, despite the impressive build up play Cole was unable to produce good crosses into the box from
areas out wide near the touch line. This was the Chelsea man’s only frailty on the night where most of his team mates were average or below.
Adam Johnson, who was England’s best player on the night, was used by Capello on the right hand side of England’s four man midfield. This allowed the ex-Middlesbrough man to go down the wing and torment Montenegro’s fullback to
full effect. Johnson was at his best in the first half, he provided England with much needed flair and creativity down the right hand side of attack.
This allowed Glen Johnson to participate in the build-up play as well. Adam Johnson on the other hand, got past his marker with ease on several occasions during the match. He was comfortable with going down the line and whipping
crosses inside the Montenegrin penalty area as well as cutting inside the linking up with Rooney or Crouch. At the 33rd minute mark, Johnson almost broke the deadlock for England but his free kick was just wide of the mark.
It was quite refreshing to see an English man take on defenders and beat them, something that was especially missing from England’s game at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Johnson might be England’s best hope of a flair
player in the coming ten years, for a country which calls itself the home of football, such a shallow rate of production of impressive talents is shameful to say the least.
Johnson was not devoid of his own shortcomings on the night, in the dying minutes of the match when the onus was on England to grab an equalizer, Johnson’s deliver left a lot to be desired.
At the FIFA 2010 World Cup, England’s most disappointingly sluggish, unhurried, unbothered, languid and at times just woeful player was Gareth Barry. It is safe to say that the Manchester City midfielder didn’t fail to live up
to his high standards when England used him in another midfield anchor role.
Barry’s job was to support attack as Montenegro weren’t that quick going forwards but it was either Gareth left his head back home or maybe it was the fact that he was just too tired to play some football on the night.
Either way, Barry’s performance was probably his worst one in an England shirt after that horrible display against Germany at the World Cup in South Africa. It only goes to show the horror show in place in England at the moment,
if the country’s best defensive midfielder is none other than Gareth Barry himself. Losing possession? Check. Not tracking back? Check. Lacking creativity and drive? Check. Lacking sufficient footballing ability to perform at the international level of football?
Double check.
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