England skipper is searching for right blend

Nov 19 2010 The Journal

RIO Ferdinand has warned England need to find the right balance of youth and experience if they are to be a future force in world football.

Ferdinand was impressed with the contribution of newcomers Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson plus full debutant Kieran Gibbs during the friendly international with France at Wembley.

But the England skipper, while admitting that Carroll caught the eye up front, stresses that young talent alone will not bring Fabio Capello’s side success.

The Manchester United defender said: “Everyone is saying we need some young players in there. we need to revamp the whole squad.

“If you want to get results, you’ve got to blend the two.

“You are not going to do it with a revamp of all young players. That’s never been done and doesn’t happen.

“You’ve got to blood it the right way and it is down to the manager to get the right balance.

“We’ve had some big players who had to drop out of this match.”

Ferdinand felt the performance of the new trio was the only encouraging factor England could take out of the game with France.

He said: “The only positive you can get out of that was Kieran Gibbs’ performance, Andy Carroll, with what service he got, he did well, and Jordan Henderson wasn’t fazed on his debut.

“We didn’t really play well. That is the most disappointing thing.We got three young lads who came into the side with no caps between them and we haven’t really put in a performance. I just think as a team we didn’t perform well. You have to understand France as a team have played together a fair bit and were more experienced than the team we had.

“It is not an excuse. It is an assessment of the game really. We didn’t get going until the last 15-20 minutes where that youth and exuberance came in. That’s the one positive you can take out of it.”

Ferdinand was particularly impressed with Newcastle striker Carroll despite his lack of decent service for much of the 90 minutes. He said: “Carroll didn’t look fazed and I didn’t expect him to be either. He seems like he can take things in his stride and the other two (Henderson and Gibbs) did as well. I am sure he has got a good future ahead of him.

“The most disappointing thing is that from all areas of the pitch we didn’t get the ball into him with as much quality as we would have liked.”

Ferdinand also understands the frustration of the England fans who booed the team off the pitch at half-time and full-time.

He said: “The crowd are disappointed and they want us to play well and they are frustrated just like us.

“If we don’t play well, there is a frustration. We want to do well and please everybody and it didn’t happen.

“In fairness, I think the crowd did encourage the younger players.

“They encouraged them individually. When Andy Carroll came off, you heard them give him a good reception but as a team we take it on the chin.”

Meanwhile, Jay Bothroyd declared Didier Drogba would inspire him to become more than a one-cap wonder following his England debut against France. Cardiff striker Bothroyd came off the bench for the final 17 minutes of the defeat at Wembley to make his senior international bow at the age of 28.

Time and his status as an npower Championship player would appear to be against Bothroyd forging a long international career, while the expected return of several of England’s key forwards from injury will also count against him.

But the former Arsenal trainee, who was shipped out of Highbury after throwing his shirt at the bench upon being substituted in the 2000 Premier League Youth Cup final, said: “I wasted a lot of time when I was younger so I don’t feel a day older than 22.

“There are many players over 30 who still play for England, still play in the Premier League.

“Look at Drogba, for example: 32 years old and he doesn’t play like it.

“It’s the way you take care of your body. You have to be professional now.”

Indeed, Bothroyd believes the cap could be the first of many, adding: “You want to play at the highest level possible in your career; you want to achieve things. The highest level is international football.”

Bothroyd has already made history after becoming the first Cardiff player to represent England.

“My goal at the beginning of the season was to get promotion,” he said.

“This has all come very thick and fast and it’s almost surreal.

“I’m happy that I’m in the history books. Obviously, it’s back to Championship now, this weekend.

“That’s what I’m concentrating on and hopefully I can get invited back in the future.

“This is what friendlies are for. You work at things, you learn things and you move on to the next game.”