Capello backs Gerrard but doesn’t guarantee him a starting place

The Steven Gerrard debate goes on and on. Will Fabio Capello select him for tonight’s game in Belarus? It certainly looks like he will although there is a strong argument to return to the midfield pairing of Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard that did so well in Croatia.

No guarantees

Capello has given his backing to both Gerrard and Lampard but was non-committal when it came to saying whether either or both were guaranteed a place in his starting line-up. He told Sky Sports,

“Yes, it’s always the same. If I pick Gerrard I will be asked ‘why not Lampard?’ If I pick Lampard I will be asked ‘why not Gerrard?’ I think they can play together. Gerrard has played some games well. It’s easier when you play for your club because you are training every day and you know the players very well. I am always happy with Gerrard and Lampard’s performance. But also the other players, I don’t like to speak about one or two players. I have to decide the first eleven. You will have to wait until after the last training session and then I will decide. I have to decide the position on the pitch of the first eleven, it is not about one player.”

There has always been much talk about the fact that Gerrard has rarely produced the wonderful and inspirational type of performances for England that he so often does for Liverpool. Previous managers have always denied that is the case and Gerrard has never spoken about it either. Now, it seems that the matter is out in the open and is being acknowledged by both the manager and the player. At least those of us that have commented on this before can now rest assured that we are not going mad!

“Don’t drop me”

Gerrard has publicly urged Fabio Capello not to drop him and admits that he needs to be more consistent to keep his place in the England team.

He has now accepted that he has rarely clicked with regular midfield partner Frank Lampard. It is an issue that has baffled everyone before and will continue to baffle everyone. Two great midfield players who just cannot produce the goods when they play together.

Fighting

Many reports have claimed that Gerrard is in serious danger of being dropped for today’s World Cup qualifier in Belarus and he himself has suggested that he is fighting for his place in the side.

“The manager wants me to emulate my form for Liverpool for England and he is prepared to help me. That’s what I want. I don’t want a manager to give up on me for club or country. I want them to keep trying to make me better. I’ll be honest, I haven’t always hit my Liverpool form for England, but it’s not through a lack of trying. I’m desperate to play well for England. I have delivered, but I need to make that more consistent. That’s the next challenge for me, to try to stay in the starting eleven and perform as consistently for England as I do for Liverpool. But I believe we are getting to where we want to be. The manager has shown in the games he has been in charge he’s prepared to make changes. He’s not bothered about big names or big hitters, he’ll pick the team who he thinks will do the job.”

It is clear that Gerrard, an automatic selection for so long, is in real danger of losing his place in the side. This is despite the fact that his club form has been excellent, his team are doing really well and his club manager has recently hailed him as being the best midfield player in the world.

Respected

Since making his England debut back in 2000, Gerrard has represented his country sixty-nine times, scoring thirteen goals. He has played in European Championships and World Cups and is respected the World over. He has been selected in the Uefa team of the year three times and the PFA team of the year a remarkable six times.

Gerrard has been the PFA players player of the year and the fans player of the year and has also been named as Uefa’s club player of the year. There is no doubt that he is one of the World’s top players. Having said that, most of the recognition and all of the honours have come about as a result of his performances in the Premier League and for Liverpool in the Champions League.

Mystery

That fact is now being recognised and the manager and the player are trying to resolve the issue. At twenty-eight years of age Gerrard still has a few years at the top level left in him and if Capello can unravel the mystery of his international form and get him playing like he does for Liverpool, then England could actually become serious contenders for a title.

As an England fan, it would be wonderful if we could see the rampaging and dominant driving force that the Koppites see every other week, wearing the three lions.