Part 4 - Special Feature: Who can replace Gareth Barry in England’s central midfield?
James Milner is another candidate to take over at Gareth Barry’s place in the English team’s starting lineup after the defensive midfielder’s woeful performances in the FIFA 2010 World Cup and the European Championship’s qualification
campaign. Before the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Milner was perhaps England’s best midfielder. Even above the likes of Gerrard and Lampard, his work rate and enthusiasm had made him a favorite in Capello’s books. The Italian manager had announced months before the
tournament in South Africa that Milner was England’s most improved player over the 2008-2009 season and that his inclusion in England’s 23 man squad for the World Cup in South Africa was quite possible.
Milner did travel to South Africa with the English national team but failed to impress on the big stage, yes admittedly he was the hero for England in their match against Slovakia where, it was the winger’s cross that found the
foot of Jermain Defoe. But other than that, he seldomly did anything of use. Against Germany, he was practically absent, against U.S.A in the first game of the tournament, he had to be substituted after just 28 minutes of the match due to a yellow card he
had received early on in the match as a result of his tackle on Carlos Bocanegra. All in all it was a very forgettable World Cup for James.
In the summer, Milner made his move from Villa to City where he has not seen regular football. However, if Capello does opt for Milner in a midfield role, we all know that the ex-Real Madrid manager can expect a 100 percent effort
from the Manchester City midfielder. English fans are well aware of the fact that Milner is capable of matching the energy and drive of Steven Gerrard in the midfield area, he also has good ball retention skills and is a sound tackler as well. He is a workaholic
to boot and thus he should be one of the prime runners in the race to replace Barry.
But there are certain issues with Milner as well. When England played most of their group stage matches in the World Cup, Capello was aware that Barry was not a hundred percent due to an injury he had sustained while on duty with
his club side, Manchester City. Back then with Milner in the squad, Fabio had the option to replace the ex-Aston Villa player with James but that didn’t happen. His lack of trust in the energetic Milner might be justified as the ex-Newcastle man was in a low
run of form back then but now, things have changed, since his move to Manchester City, James has been turned back into a wide player.
His actual strength lies in area’s out wide where he can utilize his superb ability to cross the ball and torment opponents. Milner is England’s best bet on the wing. Another man whose name is reappearing for the withdrawn midfield
role is none other than Frank Lampard, clearly a talented footballer; Lampard has been one of the best English midfielder’s over the past decade or so. His real position is actually as an offensive midfielder but England have never used him over there. Nonetheless,
Lampard has been deployed as a defensive low lying play-maker for his national side and in all honesty that has not wielded any spectacular results.
Not only that, England need to get out of the Gerrard-Lampard obsession, both the players are now heading for the twilight of their career, the best option for England will be to locate a defensive midfielder in his mid-twenties
and now shy to put a tackle or two in while using his head to create space and time for his team mates.
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