England can't waste their new golden midfield generation

Jude Bellingham stands out as a standout talent in England's midfield golden era, and it's crucial for Gareth Southgate not to squander this opportunity as has been the case in the past.

While much attention has been given to the attacking prowess of the Three Lions, there is significant potential for the midfield to succeed where previous generations have fallen short.

Following the departure of legendary midfielders such as Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Paul Scholes, England couldn't have anticipated being blessed with such a rich midfield talent pool again so soon. However, with the challenging times of the early to mid-2010s now behind them, the Three Lions find themselves with a new crop of players capable of something extraordinary.

At the forefront are Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, regarded as generational talents who have excelled in their roles in the midfield, carrying significant expectations. But alongside them, other players have also emerged to share the load.

The task of striking the right balance in midfield clearly weighs heavily on head coach Gareth Southgate. When asked about the most challenging area to manage on the pitch, he recently acknowledged midfield, stating: "It’s always a puzzle to find the right balance, especially as it varies depending on the opponent. However, it's also a challenge because we lack a traditional midfield orchestrator like Jorginho, Busquets, Kroos, or Modric in England.

Throughout my lifetime, we've seldom produced that type of player, so we have various profiles for the defensive midfielder role. Hence, the dilemma lies in whether to opt for a single defensive midfielder with two central midfielders or a double pivot with an attacking midfielder."

Two of the best in the business

Southgate's remarks about the absence of a "midfield organizer" might undermine Rice, who serves as the team's anchor. While he may not be renowned for dictating the pace of play and distributing passes, Rice has rapidly risen to become arguably the finest defensive midfielder globally, starting from his time at West Ham and continuing at Arsenal.

His evolution is evident; at Arsenal, he has enhanced his goal-scoring and creative abilities, even taking on set-piece responsibilities, while excelling in advancing play through incisive passes and dynamic runs. It wouldn't be surprising to witness him develop the leadership qualities and resistance to pressing needed to become that midfield conductor in the near future, given his continuous growth at the elite level.

In front of Rice, Bellingham is poised to lead England's midfield for the next decade at least. It's no coincidence that Carlo Ancelotti, with his astute judgment, has identified the 20-year-old's optimal position at Real Madrid, deploying him as a No.10 despite his previous deeper role at Borussia Dortmund.

Ancelotti's decision has paid off handsomely, with Bellingham evolving into a dynamic midfield force, excelling in scoring goals and creating opportunities. He's been arguably the standout player globally in the 2023-24 season, let alone in his position. With the balance and sheer quality provided by Rice and Bellingham, the future of England's midfield appears promisingly secure.

Questions to answer

The key question for Southgate and England fans currently revolves around who will join Bellingham and Rice in the anticipated midfield trio, both in Euro 2024 and beyond. Recent comments from Southgate suggest that Phil Foden is unlikely to be part of this midfield combination, despite his potential to be a key figure in this golden generation, as he has mainly been utilized as a winger at Manchester City.

Southgate emphasized the importance of deploying players in positions where they excel, mirroring their roles at their respective clubs to maximize their chances of success. This stance would also imply that Bellingham may not be moved into a deeper midfield role as a No. 8, if this is significantly different from his successful position at Real Madrid.

Cole Palmer, who has primarily played on the right wing for Chelsea, might also find himself on the wing, potentially leaving him out of the starting lineup, especially with Foden and Bukayo Saka likely to occupy those wide areas at Euro 2024.

Despite being a favorite of Southgate, Jordan Henderson, who will be 34 years old at the start of the tournament and has seen no change in his situation despite moving from Saudi Arabia to Ajax, should not be considered for the starting lineup.

Perfect solution?

Southgate must be extremely pleased with the sudden emergence of a potential solution to his midfield conundrum. Eighteen-year-old Kobbie Mainoo has emerged as the latest addition to England's promising midfield generation, showing promise to partner Rice and Bellingham both in the upcoming Euro 2024 and beyond, especially under Southgate's management.

Mainoo's performances this season have defied his young age, showcasing his dominance in matches against top teams like Everton and Liverpool while anchoring the midfield for Manchester United. With his adept ball-winning skills and technical ability to advance play through dribbling and precise passing, he presents a compelling option.

Given his naturally defensive mindset, Mainoo is likely to catch Southgate's eye. He could serve as an ideal complement to both Rice and Bellingham, whether as a double pivot alongside Rice or as a No.8 contributing at both ends of the pitch.

Although Southgate has previously shown pragmatism, as evidenced by Bellingham's delayed ascent to a key role despite displaying potential earlier, a major tournament might be the perfect opportunity to take a bold approach and explore new solutions to England's midfield setup.

Supporting cast

Rice, Bellingham, and Mainoo represent just a fraction of the depth and youthfulness present in this generation, enhancing England's prospects for success.

In a more attacking formation, Southgate has the option to deploy Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been successfully reinvented as a central midfielder at Liverpool and has featured in that role in recent international matches. Conor Gallagher from Chelsea and Mason Mount, provided he regains form and fitness at Manchester United, offer further alternatives to Mainoo. Henderson, as previously mentioned, remains a consideration for the manager.
England boasts numerous options for the No.10 position as well, with James Maddison, Palmer, and Eberechi Eze all capable of filling Bellingham's shoes, though it's a challenging task.

While there are fewer alternatives to Rice as the defensive anchor, Mainoo could potentially assume this role, while Kalvin Phillips, despite his current struggles, remains one of Southgate's trusted players if he can rediscover his form and earn his place back in the squad.

Lessons from the past

As Southgate is keenly aware, achieving the right balance in midfield could be the decisive factor between success and failure in Germany and beyond. Previous England managers like Sven-Goran Eriksson, Fabio Capello, and Roy Hodgson faced criticism for their inability to optimize a midfield containing world-class players such as Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, and Steven Gerrard.

Fortunately for Southgate, the roles of his star players are clear-cut, with Rice serving as the defensive anchor and Bellingham as the creative force. However, selecting the third midfielder correctly will be pivotal to the team's style of play, as Southgate emphasizes that tactics vary depending on the opponent.

It's possible that we may see rotation between defensively-minded Mainoo and attack-minded Alexander-Arnold to adapt to different opponents. However, managing egos and ensuring squad harmony, as highlighted by the recent Ben White controversy, poses another challenge.

Recognizing that he has the necessary tools to harness the potential of this special generation is crucial, with Henderson deemed surplus to requirements. Previous coaches have been criticized for retaining fading stars like Wayne Rooney and David Beckham in the squad for too long, hindering the progression of younger players and raising questions about meritocracy within the team.

Incredible potential

Those who believed England's hopes of major success had faded after the disappointments of 2018 and 2021 may need to reconsider, as the Three Lions find themselves on the brink of a new golden era.

Looking ahead, there's ample talent waiting in the wings; Liverpool's Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones are yet to receive senior call-ups, while Archie Gray of Leeds United is showcasing immense potential in the Championship. Additionally, versatile youngster Rico Lewis from Manchester City has already been involved in the senior setup at just 19 years old.
Whether everything aligns in time for Euro 2024 remains uncertain, but Southgate holds the responsibility of harnessing this talent and assembling a team that could dominate for years to come, regardless of his managerial status.

Tournaments serve as platforms for heroes to emerge, and this summer offers Southgate the opportunity to depart from his pragmatic approach and ignite what could be a remarkable period for England. The nation cannot afford to squander another opportunity with this promising generation.