10 random observations from England vs. Mexico

Why, was that the Football League Show's very own Mark 'Clem' Clemmit in goal for Mexico?

1. Well, who’s all set for what will surely be another brilliantly presented and exceptionally covered high class sporting event courtesy of the always consistent (consistently bad that is) ITV Sport? Yeah that should dampen your World Cup excitement. Once again on Monday night, we were treated to some wonderful work on behalf of commentator Peter Drury.

It was not enough that he celebrated Peter Crouch’s ‘offside-handball-tap in from a cm out’ with the rather peculiar shout of “summer football!” but more the somewhat baffling moment just before halftime when Mexico had the temerity to score. Drury seemed to be of the opinion that the goal had been prevented by Leighton Baines on the line (despite Robert Green holding it approximately 17 miles away from there towards the back of the goal) and was seemingly incredulous when the decision was given against England. “Why, he’s allowed it?!” a clearly dumbstruck Drury was heard to splutter to which the response from several million watching at home/in the stadium/in outer space was surely; “because it was in you cretin!”

Who’s hoping for the long awaited return of a sweaty Andy Townsend’s tactics truck from an undisclosed location in Rustenburg this summer...?

2. So England won, but weren’t very good. The more things change etc. Obviously it was just a friendly, and let’s not get too carried away (in either regard) but once again, England’s chronic inability to hold onto the ball, work their opponents with clever movement or pass a ball more than 2 yards without giving it away was painful. Mexico didn’t have any sort of gaol threat, but if we come up against someone who does in a couple of week’s time, and we play like that...well, I’m not trying to be defeatist here, but I’m not optimistic.

3. After the first Champions League game between Arsenal and Barcelona I wrote the following; ‘Theo Walcott has to go to the World Cup... Regardless of whether you feel that he has the footballing brain and technique to take his career to the very top level is open to debate but the fact remains that when you have that raw, unbridled, devastating pace you will always be able to have a positive, game-changing impact.’

On Monday he produced the classic Walcott performance – full of promise, attacking verve but ultimately let down by his inability to get his head up and play the final ball. Yet his pace and directness scares defenders witless, his mere prescience upsetting and uncomfortable for the fullback. The one time he puts it all together he can be devastating. My point still stands, Theo Walcott has to go to the World Cup.

4. However Michael Carrick does not. Coming of an abysmal season where he has contributed next to nothing, Carrick on Monday night was...abysmal and contributed next to nothing. That is unless you want a midfield player who doesn’t tackle, doesn’t score, and doesn’t press the ball. He’s meant to be able to pass, but against Mexico he was giving the ball away quicker than a Stoke team on crack. He brings nothing to the table and was completely bypassed by the Mexican midfield. There is no way that he deserves a place on the final plane.

5. Talking of central midfielders, it seems that the game on Monday opened up a well worn, and ‘much loved’ debate over Steven Gerrard, and him playing in the middle for England. In the first half on the left he wasn’t very good and the game bypassed him by. In the second, in the middle he was much better and got involved. So, should he play in the middle? In a 2 he can’t play with Lampard (scientific fact) as you can’t (seemingly) have them both going forward without cover. Before anyone starts, after the respective seasons they’ve just had, dropping Lampard is not an option. Sorry. He might function well just off Rooney, but Capello likes Heskey to play with Rooney – so what to do?

Well, to pass the back, there’s a very highly qualified guy paid £6 million a year to make that call, so I’ll leave that to him. Obviously we need to find a role for Gerrard, he’s a top notch player, and, it must be said, we did well in the qualifiers with him on the left. A one game blip? Maybe, but some more food for thought for Mr. Capello.

6. Mexico were quite tidy weren’t they? Moved the ball well and, passed it nicely and at several points cut England apart. Sadly for them they have no goal scorer. I’ve been told for years by Arsenal supporting friends that Carlos Vela is just waiting to explode, but his tame finishing last night (although his first chance was a superb save from Rob Green) was a continuation of what he’s shown so far at the Emirates – plenty of promise but with no end product. As I say though, Mexico impressed me – get out the cliché tag of ‘dark horses’ then? Maybe not, as they lack a top quality front man and definitely not if they defend set pieces like that.

7. Was it only me disappointed we didn’t get to see more of Adam Johnson against Mexico? I like him a lot, and really wanted to see him given a full chance to show what he’s got. He’s tricky and an old fashioned winger who can conjure something out of nothing. What’s more, he looks pretty comfortable on either flank and offers a real ‘x-factor’ and genuine excitement. The argument that counts against him is that he doesn’t have much experience at this level. So wouldn’t it have been nice to see him get more than seven minutes or so?

8. One man whose reputation was done no harm on Monday was Robert Green. As has been discussed many times over the last 12 months, the England No. 1 shirt is still wide open but Green now seems to be the man in poll position. He’s had a poor season, but Capello seems to trust him, picking him in the vast majority of his games in charge. He performed very well against Mexico, but the rather harsh truth remains, I’m not sure I’d trust him in a big World Cup match. Then again, he’s a pretty decent penalty saver which always comes in handy.

9. Are we guilty of reading too much into a friendly on the eve of the World Cup? Given all I’ve written above, we probably are. Then again, international friendly games, like it or not, can help set the tone, boosting or deflating national optimism going into a big tournament. A thought at this time then for our friends from Portugal. A very flattering and undeserved 3-1 win over Mexico is one thing, drawing 0-0 against the mighty Cape Verde Islands, well that’s another. At least Monday’s result didn’t completely kill off the nation’s excitement before the World Cup’s even started – that’s a positive isn’t it?

10. Was it only me thinking that was the Football League Show’s very own Mark ‘Clem’ Clemmit in nets for the Mexicans on Monday??? What are you doing at Wembley you glory hunter?! Get back to Macclesfield/Crewe – real football!