4 Things Hodgson Should Try Out With England Against Australia

Cramming in three international friendlies just a couple of weeks away from a major international tournament just doesn’t seem sensible.

If Roy Hodgson doesn’t know what his line-up is or what tactics he’s going to play then you’d have to ask what has the former Liverpool manager been doing since the Brazilian debacle in 2014?

But what’s done is done, and England are facing Australia before playing Portugal and then heading to France. Seeing as these games are happening, the Three Lions gaffer may as well try and see if he can stumble across something positive.

Kane and Vardy as a pair

49 Premier League goals between them, and yet it sounds like Roy Hodgson is going to opt for Vardy as an impact sub?.

Why would you not want to see if the Premier League’s top two scorers could play together? Combine Vardy’s tenacity and pace with Kane’s clinical nature and impressive movement in a good old-fashioned 4-4-2.

Rooney and Dier at CDM

Rooney is almost certainly going to this tournament as a midfielder, however, it appears that he’ll be played in the No.10 role which should be occupied by Dele Alli.

The captain needs to play, though, but you also need to play to Rooney’s changing strengths. Therefore, playing Rooney right at the base of the midfield, a position that will allow him time on the ball, could result in scenes like this…

Five at the back

Defensively, England are, at best, average. And there’s a lot to be said for ‘safety in numbers’, so why not trial Smalling, Stones and Cahill together, with Rose and Clyne either side as wing-backs rather than full-backs?

Sure, they’ve all got their flaws but combining all their strengths together, you’re probably able to put together a half-decent defensive line.

Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney up top


Not playing Jamie Vardy or Harry Kane would be a hugely controversial move from Hodgson. However, there’s a lot to be said for playing club team-mates together, especially when Rooney and Rashford would compliment each other so well; a perfect blend of experience and quality with youthful exuberance and speed.

 

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