Your Verdict: England's left
England have struggled to find a world class left winger since the days of John Barnes and in Saturday's Euro 2004 qualifier against Liechtenstein it looks like Newcastle's Kieron Dyer will be asked to occupy the graveyard of England hopefuls.
Dyer, who plays in central midfield for his club, has already failed to impress on the left flank against Paraguay and Australia under manager Sven-Goran Eriksson but the 22-year-old is determined to make it work this time. 'I honestly think that the manager believes I can do a good job, and I believe that I can too,' Dyer said. 'It's just that I have to play more games there and get more knowledge of the position. I can get that by starting against Liechtenstein and Turkey.' Other candidates for the left flank - from Sven's current squad of 25 - are Liverpool's Danny Murphy and Dyer's Newcastle teammate Jermaine Jenas - after an impressive debut against Australia in February. But the problem with both these potential replacements is that neither of them regularly play on the left for their clubs. The problem England face is that they have a wealth of central midfield talent and persist in playing whoever can't grab a starting place ahead of stars such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes on the left, rather than persist with a left footed winger who desires to claim the problem position for himself. However, it's Dyer's turn to stake his claim this time around. But is he the answer to England's left sided problems? Who could do a better job?
Your Verdict:
Can anyone explain to me why Sven simply dropped Trevor Sinclair from consideration there after he made the position his own during the World Cup?
Anyone who watched would have seen that England only began to look like a unit when Sinclair replaced Owen Hargreaves during the Argentina game, and stopped looking like one the moment that Dyer came on for Sinclair in the Brazil game and proceeded to do his headless chicken impression which has marked most of his appearances there.
When Eriksson came in, much was made of his intention of playing players in the same positions as they turn out for their clubs - he was right which is why if we really want to solve the problem we should look at Gareth Barry.
Jonathan Morris
Is it not obvious that the player who could solve the problem for England in that position is Graeme Le Saux. He has played rather consistently for Chelsea this season, and, more likely than not, has put all his troubles behind him. He is an experienced player that England can rely on.
Chris SohI have always wondered why England find it so hard to find a suitable player to cover the left side of midfield. I think the reason is that English players are hampered by the persistent desire to get behind defenders and make crosses.
And that obviously does not work with a right footed player. If you look at a player like Robert Pires, a great player for sure, but a right footed player playing on the left. How often do you see Pires beat the fullback and swing in a left footed cross? Rarely. And playing on the left works alright for him does it not? The skeptics would say that Kieron Dyer or any other potential candidate is not Robert Pires. Sure. But that is not reason for Englands problem. The problem is that the current England side (still) have not found a playing style that they comfortable with. The result? Every player goes back to basics e.g. in the case of the player in left midfield trying to go past defenders and making crosses. John
I would like to suggest that we need to play some one who is left footed. Pires is ambidextrous and an exceptional footballer. Gareth Barry, Graham Le Saux, Alan Thompson from Celtic and both of our two left backs would perform in that position better than Dyer.
He is a talented footballer who can only play right wing or centre midfield, not left midfield. Two years of trying to play people out of position has not worked. This is a failing of Sven not of English football. Alasdair McGregor, Newcastle Supporter
Danny Murphy definitely. He has been such a consistent player for Liverpool and although he is not a fantastic player, his work rate is excellent and should be able to give something special to England with his tenacity.
Lim Chin Sing
I think Gareth Barry should be given a chance. I have seen him play for Villa a couple of times and he is in a different class. The fact that he is left footed, and left midfield is his natural position is bonuses too.
It's no good just keeping on slotting in guys who don't play there. They just can't adjust at that level. Kevin Graves
