Yes, another England blog, but here's a question for you. What is the one parallel between England's great performance last night, and the last great England performance, seven years ago? On both occassions we performed very well and won comfortably, and on both occasions, one man was leading the line for England.
No, it wasn't Michael Owen, he's been dropped, remember? And it wasnt the boy wonder himself, Wayne Rooney. Nor was it Steven Gerrard, he's injured.
Step forward Emile Heskey. A man critisized by many - unfairly in my view. But the facts are clear. When Heskey plays, and England use him correctly, England play well.
No really, it's true.
Of course, Theo Walcott will earn the plaudits, and rightly so.
But is it any coincedence that Rooney and Lampard had their best games in England shirt for ages? Heskey's workrate and unselfishness was a huge factor in this, creating space for the pair to run into and cause damage. And that's exactly what they did.
And look how well Michael Owen plays with Heskey. Owen worked with Heskey better than any other strike partner - for club and country, past and present. He brings the best out of people, making others around him look better.
Ok, so 5 goals in 45 international appearances hardly strikes fear into opposition defenders. But he is a handful. He'll win free-kicks. He'll hold the ball up, like he did for England's third goal last night.
Of course, there are other alternatives. Dean Ashton for one, who has all of these attributes but has that goalscoring touch, as well. And what about Peter Crouch? Forgotten by many, but Crouch would offer a more intelligent option to the role, with his great touch and intelligent link-up play.
One thing is for sure, a target man is a must if England are to prosper. The likes of Jermain Defoe and Wayne Rooney are wasted as lone-strikers, they need someone to do the 'dirty work' for them. Heskey is that man.
He may look useless and awkward at times, and among England's so called 'golden generation', he may look out of place. But Heskey's role cannot be underestimated any longer.
3 comments:
heskey was great and why do we always have to fall back on him!!!!
we always need the old guard, Beckham, Heskey, and probably the Neville brothers will get a cameo soon. Capello meant to be moving us forward but all I see at the moment is the 'Sven' framework for Engalnd if he stayed on.
eh? there's no harm in going for some experienced heads mixed in with youth. I agree we should look at alternatives, for the friendly games we should look at the likes of Ashton or Crouch, otherwise whats the point in them?
Beckham's time has pretty much come and gone in my view. With Walcott and SWP playing regulary, it's a case of services no longer required for Beckham.
The Neviller is a different case entirely. A criminally underrated player, who could force his way back in if he gets fit and starts playing well.
agree about beckham, altho im a big fan of his and would keep him.
heskey for me is not a step back, ive allways said him, rooney and owen upfront is a good strike force...we played it a few time a few years ago n goals galore.
id happyily include phil neville but gary is now a has been because of his injury....plus we have 2 good young rioght backs in brown and johnson, even though brown is a centre half
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