All The Right Moves In All The Right Places As Stevie G Rules

MENTION of the debate
surrounding Steven Gerrard and
Frank Lampard provokes a roll
of the eyes from both players
and every England manager
who has been faced with it.
Fabio Capello thought he had
found the answer during the
World Cup qualifying campaign.
The first two European
Championship qualifiers may
have healed some of the wounds
of South Africa, but they have
highlighted that the dilemma still
has not gone away.

Lampard’s groin injury made the
decision for Capello ahead of the
Bulgaria match and last night’s
trip to Switzerland. But the Italian
will have a big call to make when
Montenegro visit Wembley in
October, even if James Milner’s
suspension offers another
potential way out.
Gerrard moved from the left into
his favoured central midfield
position and England’s back-to-
back performances suggested
the whole could be greater than
the sum of its parts.
Switzerland’s St Jakob-Park has
not always been a happy hunting
ground for Gerrard – he was
hauled off at half-time in
Liverpool’s 2002 Champions
League clash against FC Basle
with his side 3-0 down.
Last night’s return banished that
particular ghost for Gerrard and
provided Capello with further
proof that a balanced midfield is
a more effective midfield. The fit
isn’t quite right with Lampard
and Gerrard both in. It has to
come down to one or the other.
Wayne Rooney’s contribution
must also be taken into careful
consideration when deciding
how the midfield should line-up.
During the World Cup, he often
looked isolated as the out-and-
out striker. But played further
back against Bulgaria and
Switzerland, just in front of
Gerrard and Gareth Barry,
Rooney has once again had
licence to roam as Gerrard
manages to curb some of his
attacking instincts to give others
the chance to break forward.
SEARCH FOOTBALL for:
Rooney arrived late to score his
goal – just like Gerrard does for
Liverpool. But it was Gerrard’s
discipline and pass that set up
Adam Johnson to net England’s
second that caught the eye last
night.
Milner is far more of a natural
left-winger than Gerrard but a
booking against Switzerland
means he will miss the
Montenegro clash.
However, while trying to improve
his English, Capello may want to
seek out an old phrase – if it ain’t
broke, don’t fix it. In football
terms – keep Gerrard in the
middle.