England produced another lacklustre and underwhelming display against Norway on Wednesday, in front of the smallest Wembley Stadium crowd for an England game since 1998. But within these performances, is it the case that the players are under performing, or is it more that they are replicating their level, but just on the international scene the opposition is stronger? We sought to examine the reason behind these performances, by examining England players in their first few games of the season, compared to their international colleagues for other countries.
Let’s start in goal, with Joe Hart, who after all gained a clean sheet, albeit against a less than dangerous Norway attack. The Man City stopper ranks amongst the top ‘keepers this term in the Premier League, in fifth position, with Swansea’s Lukasz Fabianski surprisingly topping the list, followed by Brad Guzan and Hugo Lloris.
At right-back Jon Stones got the call up having impressed with Everton last season, but his fantasy football rating from his first outings is very poor, at -5, although he only made one appearance for his club side. Club colleague Leighton Baines meanwhile stands at -30, thanks in no small part to the 6-3 thrashing Chelsea gave them. Phil Jagielka, who didn’t start for England, is on -35, and needless to say the defence does not compare well to other international defenders.
Phil Jones has 25 points from his appearances in a troubled Man Utd side, something that is commendable, but places him as the 35th best performing defender in the Premier League, while Gary Cahill is on 20 points, in 57th in the table of Premier League defenders. The defence therefore, we can tell immediately, doesn’t pull up any trees at international level, so far this season anyway.
Into midfield Liverpool duo Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling have had rave reviews – Sterling in fact has picked up 55 points, making him the second best performing midfielder in the league, while Henderson is not far behind in 21st. Nathan Dyer tops the charts, while Nacer Chadli and Morgan Schneiderlin also appear in the top five.
Elsewhere in midfield, Jack Wilshere has struggled for form in the recent past, and the attention is on him to improve if he is to keep his place in the Gunners side. And in fact from 2 starts, Wilshere is on -5 points, needless to say, one of the worst performers in the league. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has also not impressed, scoring 0 points. These two Arsenal influences potentially giving an indication as to the reason behind the struggles creating chances.
Up front Daniel Sturridge is getting used to life without Suarez, and has scored 20 points, making him around the 12th top striker in the league, with Diego Costa topping the charts, and a surprise inclusion for Steven Naismith too. Wayne Rooney has the same score, despite being part of a toothless United attack this term.
Potentially these ratings tell us that England are lacking quality players – the defence is relatively weak, the midfield a mixed bunch, and up front, adequate but not top level. The strikers represent the team as a whole, on 20 points. Being 12th best in the league means there are plenty better, and if England are to win against top teams, quite simply they will need the quality of player to improve.
