I'll keep it short and sweet but i'll follow it up with some analysis following the game and before the equally crucial match against Poland.
It's likely that Roy will play 4-3-3 again tonight and if he's consistent with recent matches, he'll pick Wilshere-Lampard-Gerrard as his midfield axis
I've got real issues with that trio for a number of reasons.
Firstly, it's the arrogance. Not one of the three is suited to playing the anchor role with any nous or conviction and without somebody to sit and protect the back four, you do fear that we're open on the counter. It's a struggle to name an elite team in Europe (domestically or on the international stage) who doesn't play with a holding midfielder and yet Roy feels that we don't need one. I just can't buy the argument that we don't need somebody to play that role at home against Montenegro. It's disrespectful to solid opposition and it stinks of the exact type of arrogance which has plagued our national side for decades.
Secondly, it's the balance, or rather I should say lack of balance. Roy is selecting three guys who love time on the ball (they often dictate play when playing at club level) so the manager is essentially asking each of them to reduce the amount of possession and touches that they're all used to by a third. Who of the three would you mark out as the player who monopolises possession for England? Could you confidently answer? I can't and it often appears as if there is a battle between the three of them to get on the ball and stamp their authority on the way in which we're trying to play.
Finally, they just won't go beyond the ball. We're picking three midfielders who aren't exactly renowned for their movement off the ball and it's strangling our options when we're in possession. Lampard used to be excellent at breaking late into the opposition's penalty area but he's not got the same legs as he once had and he's more suited to taking up a deep lying role. And what's more, you can copy and paste that statement for Gerrard, leaving Jack who isn't a natural goal-scorer and is also much more comfortable with the ball than without it.
Whilst Roy continues to select them on the basis of them being the three best midfielders in the country, England won't have a chance of moving forward as a national side. They might well be the best of the current midfield crop but they're all of a similar type and picked together they make up an inefficient and lacklustre midfield without any zip, panache or flair.
Now let's hope they go out tonight, make me look like a prize fool and put on a show.
