In the life of an England manager there is never a problem that does not need solving, and so is the case for Gareth Southgate even though he ends a year, in which they started playing at home with no supporters in the stands and lost a European Championship final at Wembley, playing in front of a sell-out crowd on the verge of World Cup qualification.
Four points from Friday’s game against Albania and the trip to San Marino on Monday will do it, and such is the excitement around the England team that they have managed the rare feat of drawing 90,000 spectators to a game against the 75th-ranked nation in the world.
“For us to finish [the year] with a full house shows the progress the team have made, the connection back with the fans and the fact life is returning to normal as well,” Southgate said. “We want to put on a performance that sends people home happy.”
All sounds well, yet still Southgate is faced with the emerging problem that his two star performers and most reliable goal-scorers are not having the best of times at their clubs.
Captain Harry Kane has appeared jaded after being involved in the transfer saga of the summer — publicly declaring his intention to leave Tottenham Hotspur before his chairman Daniel Levy shutdown any hope of a £100m-plus move to Manchester City. Kane has not scored in five matches and his 10 goals this season against weaker opponents flatter his total.
“It is the first time I have gone more than three games in the Premier League without scoring for a long, long time,” Kane said. “The consistency has always been there so times like this for me are just about staying focused.”
The 28-year-old defended himself resolutely on Friday, insisting that some of what had been written about him in the summer was not true while still declining the opportunity to set the record straight. “It was my first summer of transfer speculation and having to deal with those situations, so of course it takes a toll mentally on yourself,” he said.
“But I’ve always had good friends and good family around me. Being able to talk to them in those situations. Being able to talk to people you trust. When things are difficult, it’s important that you do talk about it and not just hide it in and suck it up.”
Family was part of the problem — Kane’s brother, Charlie, took over as his agent and became a target on social media and from critics who considered him out of his depth trying to mastermind a world-record transfer.
“There was a lot of stuff about my brother being my agent,” Kane said. “That’s where we stick together. I know what he does for me as an agent, I know what he does for me as a brother and that’s all that matters. The rest of it is just noise.”
But at least Kane is playing for Spurs. Raheem Sterling has started only three times in the Premier League this season and has had to make do with the odd minutes off the bench for Manchester City or playing in the Champions League and EFL Cup.
“I know he enjoys his football with us,” Southgate said. “We’ve benefited massively from all of his attacking play, but of course his goals especially. I’ve not sensed a player that is low or unenergised. I’ve seen absolutely the opposite.”
With a World Cup in Qatar only a year away and more high-quality players than he has ever known banging on his door, Southgate — who made his name choosing in-form players over reputations — has to get the balance right between sticking with his stars and giving others a chance.
“There is a preference for us that players are playing regularly because they’re match-sharp, they’re ready,” Southgate explained. “Then, also, we’ve got to look at who we feel our best players are, that doesn’t mean they’re undroppable, and I think any player in the squad has been in or out at some time, Raheem included.
“Raheem has proved time and time again with us how important he’s been, and that his level is really high. And he’s at a club with an incredible roster of players that it’s complicated at times to get games, but he’ll work his way into the team, I’m sure.”
Indeed, Kane understands no player is safe. “My attitude has always been as a player to always fear for my place, whether it be for club or country. The way you train and the way you prepare, you should always feel there is somebody trying to take your spot.”
A game against Albania would normally be one to give overburdened key players a rest — but there’s an argument that Kane and Sterling could do with the opportunity to sign off England’s year at Wembley in style.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3F5BEwI
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