The FA Commission, Brazil 2014 and the dilemma facing the Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson.

    It looks likely that Frank Lampard and Three Lions captain Steven Gerrard will start together in midfield alongside Jack Wilshere for the third England international qualifier in a row. It is a debate that has raged for over a decade now, whether Lampard and Gerrard can coexist in an England lineup. Roy Hodgson has shown a predilection for the two midfielder veterans’ experience alongside the prodigious, but relatively inexperienced talent Jack Wilshere in recent qualifiers. The decorated pair look certain to be on the plane to Brazil subject to injuries and of course failure to qualify. However the FA’s recent announcement of a commission led by Chairman Greg Dyke, aimed at reigniting England into a competitive force at future tournaments, leads to questions over the 23 man squad Roy Hodgson should take to the World Cup.

Greg Dyke, FA Chairman

    The FA’s new vision draws question marks over the legitimacy of selecting experienced players who are not regular starters for England. By virtue of being Hodgson’s captain, Gerrard is guaranteed a ticket to Brazil, as is another favourite Frank Lampard. However, the more experienced fringe players such as Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry, Scott Parker, Jermain Defoe, Leon Osman, Rickie Lambert, James Milner and Michael Dawson, should potentially be overlooked in the World Cup 2014 squad if England really are building for the future. A long-term strategy would surely vacate their positions to younger talent in preparation for Euro 2016 and the ensuing tournaments. The ‘younger talent’ would be players who have been consistently playing well for their clubs and have shown true Premier League pedigree. An example would be Ross Barkley, whom Roberto Martinez recently compared to German legend Michael Ballack, Andros Townsend of Spurs or recent press sensation Ravel Morrison. 

Ross Barkley's Everton performances have propelled him into the England squad

    Widely respected FA Commission member Glen Hoddle recently spoke of using Brazil to blood youngsters such as Wilshere and Barkley, with a view to making an ‘onslaught’ at Euro 2016. With this in mind, its intriguing to see how things develop should England qualify for the World Cup. Hodgson will certainly keep faith in senior players like Lampard and Gerrard. But it will be interesting to see whether he builds a squad with its depth based on ambitions for Euro 2016, or whether he will keep faith in his tried and tested, rewarding qualification from his players with loyalty. 

The tenacity, energy and lack of inhibitions that most budding youngsters naturally possess could bring enthusiasm and a freshness to the 23 man squad. This is not to say top quality players should be dropped simply for their age - Gerrard and Carrick should currently start for England. The issue is that Gerrard, Carrick and Lampard are all over-30 and cannot start together. It is even highly contentious that any two of these three should make up the midfield trio due to their lack of mobility. It is a travesty that somebody as similar to Paul Scholes (also grossly under-appreciated by past England managers) as Michael Carrick is, at 32, only has 29 caps for England. But with Gerrard a guaranteed starter, along with great hope Wilshere, it is surely between Carrick, Lampard and a prodigy like Barkley for the third midfield spot. With ball retention being so vital at international level, Carrick could dictate play for England, with Lampard being sacrificed. 

Carrick (32), under-valued as an England international

    A leniency toward selecting untried but promising players over experienced but uninspiring squad players at the coming tournament surely must be the FA’s mantra if they truly want progress. This would allow the top class senior players’ experience to filter down to the youngsters, with coach Gary Neville and 100-cap men like Cole, Lampard and Gerrard possessing an incredible amount of wisdom.

The decisive factor could well be Roy Hodgson's job security – if he’s not given assurances that come-what-may in Brazil he’ll be manager in the next tournament, he will in all likelihood go with his trusted senior players, rather than the dual risk of blooding inexperience and facing the sack. If the FA is serious about lowering expectations for the coming international tournaments, stating the specific goal of winning the 2022 winter (?) World Cup in Qatar, the pressure could be off Hodgson. He could pick a more experimental squad, comfortable in the knowledge that he can work in a less pressured environment whilst building for the future. The Premier League is home to a few top quality youngsters breaking through this season, and if the FA are looking at the bigger picture it may be time cut loose those who have failed to truly impress in an England shirt. If these players won’t be in the starting XI in a tournament that England will be at long odds to win, it would be wiser to hand inexperienced players the selection spots.

Thankfully, even the most ardent England fan would be hard-pressed to back England to get to the final stages of the World Cup in Brazil, and therefore it makes a lot of sense to take a squad diluted with youth. The FA Commission's recent plans have actually handed Hodgson an outlet to deflect any future criticism from the public and the press, should things go belly-up in Brazil. Hodgson could take a more speculative squad, and point to Greg Dyke’s long term aspirations if England get knocked out in the early stages, putting it down as a necessary evil. The blow-back from this strategy would be that the press would expect some level of success at the Euros, and if this didn't materialise things would look rather ominous for Hodgson.

The England players will be dreaming of World Cup glory at the Maracana in Brazil

Below is a potential squad that Hodgson could take to Brazil, with a mix of top-class experience and genuine young talent.

Potential England 23 Man Squad for Brazil 2014 (Age as at July 2014):

Goalkeepers: Hart (27), Forster (26), Butland (21)

Defenders: G. Johnson (30), Jones (22), Jagielka (31), Cahill (28), Smalling (24), Cole (33),                                      Baines (29)

Midfielders: Carrick (32), Gerrard (34) Wilshere (22), Barkley (20), Oxlade-Chamberlain (20),                                   Lampard (36)

Wingers: Walcott (25), Townsend (21), Sterling (19), Welbeck (23)

Strikers: Rooney (28), Sturridge (24), Carroll (25)

Potential England XI's in Brazil:

Defensive XI:

                      Hart                     

Jones     Cahill       Jagielka     Cole

      Gerrard ©  Carrick  Wilshere

                   

Sturridge                               Welbeck

                      Rooney

Attacking XI:         

                       Hart                     

Johnson  Cahill       Jagielka     Baines

           Gerrard ©  Wilshere

                   

Walcott          Rooney         Welbeck

                      Sturridge

written by Richard Jaffa