Ballymena Showgrounds was a modest start to Elliot Anderson’s England career. The setting and the match outcome.
A tepid goalless draw with Northern Ireland was at odds with an air of expectancy as parents of the Under 21s fell out of shared taxis earlier in the evening. The debut for Anderson, who was called up to the England squad by Thomas Tuchel yesterday, felt flat, albeit not something of his own doing.
He was one of very few to come out of the European Championship qualifier with any real credit, trying to move possession quickly and dial up a sluggish tempo, but still appeared glum when in the mouth of the tunnel afterwards.
This was a first outing at any age group for a country who had battled, tussled with Scotland for his allegiance. He’d featured at every level north of the border, even named in the seniors by Steve Clarke before pulling out. The FA must have been nervous about their prospects.
Lee Carsley and technical director John McDermott were eventually at the forefront of tying Anderson down and his displays as they retained the Euros out in Slovakia this summer suggest it was well worth the fight.
The Northern Ireland match was only 12 months ago yet plenty has changed for the Anderson, who at that point was coming to terms with leaving Newcastle United and this week took a call from Tuchel telling him he was in line to make his senior bow during World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia next week. Blossoming from somebody who could challenge for a place at Forest to a fulcrum has seen performances grow in stature and England simply couldn’t wait any longer to include him.
Elliot Anderson made his debut for England Under 21s only last summer in Northern Ireland
Ballymena Showgrounds was a modest start to his England career – the setting and the match outcome
Just a year on and Thomas Tuchel has included him in the England Senior squad
‘Physicality’ was Tuchel’s immediate assessment of what the Wallsend Boys Club alumni offers to a midfield the German wants to re-jig. He and Adam Wharton will link up with the squad at St George’s Park on Tuesday – a day later than normal to accommodate the transfer window – in the absence of a jettisoned Curtis Jones.
Physicality but also versatility, it no secret that Anderson can operate anywhere in midfield. And given Tuchel’s plans for Declan Rice, this feels like one of the more significant decisions of the September squad.
‘The decision in midfield is now to free up also Declan to a more No 8 position,’ Tuchel said. Dropped in, the main thrust of a plan to de-clog the stodge. Tuchel clearly sees the merits of a more progressive Rice having a positive impact on Jude Bellingham, who is still recovering from a shoulder injury in Madrid.
Tuchel discussed how choices he has made this time around are designed to make the competition a little ‘spicier’. He’s cut down on the squad numbers for that reason, saying March and June were used to take a gauge on individuals rather than formulate definite tactical ideas. Competition became the theme of his third squad announcement at the Hilton Hotel next to Wembley yesterday, although he admits that a settled team, or a settled group, is unlikely to materialise before the World Cup. And that he has made his peace with that.
But with the plan to push Rice into that more creative spot, the Rice of Arsenal and the Rice that can boss Champions League nights, should mark the start of Tuchel’s Shift leaving Anderson or Wharton as holding midfield options. Unless he picks Jordan Henderson, in which case the idea of evolution may be a touch premature.
‘It will depend on how Adam and Elliot present themselves,’ Tuchel added. ‘They now have a big chance.
‘They are a bit different players. It depends who we play against. Will the structure be the same against Andorra and in Belgrade? The physicality and the individual quality and the style of the teams we play will be very different – what we face in Belgrade and in Birmingham.
‘Also, we want to see them. We value training very highly so we will take this decision when we come to the match. All four No 6 and No 8 players we chose can play with each other. We also have John Stones who can play for us as a pivotal six because he did it for City. We are open for any mix. I don’t want to give too much away in how this plays out in the different roles, I don’t want to give it away before the matches because it’s pretty much open.
Anderson, who came through the Newcastle United academy, has thrived since his move to Notts Forest
He faces competition from Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton for a place in the England midfield
Anderson’s inclusion could free up Arsenal’s Declan Rice to play in a more advanced position
‘We will see the patterns,’ he said. ‘I’m very sure because it will be [made] very clear. And because we also trust in ourselves. We are self-confident that we can transport this to teams. They will not be too complicated. And they will hopefully not slow us down in what we are doing.’
If England play with Anderson or Wharton as a holding midfielder it will free up Rice to join Bellingham further up the pitch in support of England’s front three.
Tuchel and assistant Anthony Barry have been around the grounds recently, popping their heads in at Manchester City’s recovery session following the opening day win over Wolves. Tuchel spent a lengthy period of time talking to Stones.
The ideas over the next week will be how to break this chronic malaise against inferior opposition – something only Carsley has managed – and focus on building from deep. Only mastering that will enable this England team to properly compete with the very best in the heat of a knockout game in the heat of America.
‘We will work on exactly these patterns that we want to see. We need to identify them as a coaching team, this is our job,’ Tuchel added. ‘We need to make them clear, transport them to the players. And then everyone needs to learn them because we don’t have a lot of time, so they need to be easy, they need to be understandable, they need to be transferable to the pitch.
‘And the players need to drop their club hats, the way they play in their clubs and buy into these ideas and from there we go.’
