Townsend and Baines. Not a HBO Cop Show

Article by @ginolasleftfoot

England’s football hipster arrives fashionably late with swashbuckling sidekick in tow, sporting slick hair and slicker moves.

If Friday night showcased anything, it was that in Leighton Baines and Andros Townsend, England have two players who’s natural desire is to move forward, at pace. The good news is these two can also hold the ball at their feet whilst they are doing it.

It is too early in Townsend’s career to spout rose tinted nonsense about his credentials, but this is a career that has been hard fought for.

It is now common knowledge that he has gone out on loan nine times during his time at Spurs, and though some may look at this record with the same disdain that’s attributed to a heavyweight’s glass jawed knock out tally, one may argue that they acted as waypoints on Townsend’s desire to succeed in the elite echelons of football.

Continuing on the boxing theme, Chris Eubank prided himself on sparring with the most varied of boxers, in gyms globally, constantly learning to adapt to different styles and surroundings. Apply this approach to Townsend’s loan career, and his starting position on Friday’s team sheet is surely confirmation of a player who has learnt (and still learning) his craft away from the bright lights and warm surroundings of the Premier League, and returned stronger.

Kind of like The Highlander theory of acquiring powers but without the decapitating. Or Sean Connery. Or Christopher Lambert.

Baines, unfortunately has come up against Ashley Cole throughout his international career who despite his off field distractions should be considered as England’s’ finest full back. That aside, Baines stamped an enormous Everton embossed flag firmly into the left swathe of Wembley’s turf, with an impressive first half display in which he proved a swift overlapping outlet, combining with Wellbeck and Rooney.

The effectiveness of both players is born from the comfort they show on the ball. A comparison of Theo Walcott to Townsend’s performance on Friday is that the latter could shift the ball under control in the compact environment that Montengro set up. A criticism that has blighted Walcott has been his combination of poor decision-making and technique.

The two aspects are interlinked. A player, who places his foot on the ball, gains the vision to shape his decisions. His technique acts as the foundation to give him the confidence to first place his foot on the ball.

Montengro’s defensive set up surrendered the attacking two thirds of the pitch, with the intent to force England to over commit in numbers and exploit the space behind Gerrard and Lampard. This bore little success, as the addition of Townsend and

Baines’ movement up the left flank gave England a fluid(ish) front five that kept Montengro occupied without ever fully drawing Gerrard or Lampard too far out of position.

The interplay between Sturridge, Rooney, Wellbeck and Townsend showed glimpses of a level of attacking play that previously England have not possessed. The exciting aspect of this attacking quartet is the addition of the full backs who can provide the additional link up play.

Sadly, Both Walker and Poland’s right back Piszczek will be missing from tonight’s starting line ups, and thus deprive their respective teams of the link up play they had developed with Andros Townsend and Jakub Blasczykowski at their club teams.

Dortmund’s winger is a player who will cause Hodgson some concern, as he is a seasoned Champions League and elite league competitor. One can argue that Townsend may lose his position to Milner who would offer a greater level of industry.

If Hodgson does decide on Milner, he stands to miss out on the opportunity to exploit the stand in right back, Wojtkowiak, who’s error against Ukraine proved costly.

Baines found himself pushed high forward on the left side during England’s attacks and proved effective with his interplay with the forward three. This movement became lesser in the second half as it appeared the space between Baines and Wellbeck became stretched and Lampard failed to provide the link up.

One possible option could be to play Townsend on the left of Gerrard and either gamble with Lampard or chose Milner to track Blasczykowski. This would make the right side slightly defensive and result in a more lop sided 4-3-3 with the high point of the midfield three being Townsend.

With Townsend being naturally left footed but being used as an inverted winger by Villas Boas at Tottenham, he has been forced to develop his right foot control. Combining with Baines could allow England to penetrate swiftly down the left side and force Townsend into greater assist based positions.

I personally would love to see Townsend start; I’d leave him where he was. Place Micah Richards in right back position (or Arsenal’s Jenkinson) and tell him to be like Kyle. I’d swap Lampard for Wishere and tell him to work to get Baines in behind the full back.

over and out.

@ginolasleftfoot

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