Assessing Sarina Wiegman's England options post-Arnold Clark Cup
Every outfield player played their part in England's Arnold Clark Cup success, so who is looking assured of a plane ticket and who will be worried about being left in the departure lounge?
After sticking rigidly to her starting eleven at last summer’s European Championships, Sarina Wiegman said she would use her team’s three Arnold Clark Cup matches to test out the depth within her squad, as well as various combinations of players and some players in multiple positions.
Wiegman stuck to her promises, ensuring every single one of the outfield gained minutes across the wins against Korea Republic, Italy and Belgium, and she will have learned plenty about them in that time, but what can we read into how she used them, where and for how long?
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Goalkeepers
In reality, this was the position with the least complications for Wiegman before the tournament and it remains that way post-tournament.
Mary Earps started two of the matches and while she would have been frustrated to lose a second clean sheet at the death against Belgium, she was relatively untested in either match, but looks very much like maintaining her number one status for sometime yet.
Her closest rival, Ellie Roebuck, started against Italy and was assured playing out, but may be disappointed to have let the equaliser go through her in the second half. She remains a more than capable deputy though, and as suspected beforehand the final spot on the plane looks to be between Sandy MacIver and Emily Ramsey, with neither getting game time, though the latter got injured midway through camp.
Minutes played
Mary Earps - 180
Ellie Roebuck - 90
Sandy MacIver - 0
Emily Ramsey - 0
Defenders
This is where it gets a little bit more intriguing, in one respect at least. In the first and last games, Wiegman went with a back four of Lucy Bronze, Millie Bright, Leah Williamson and Alex Greenwood, three quarters of the defence deployed last summer.
The first three are no surprises, but then it gets interesting. Rachel Daly has so often been Wiegman’s go-to left-back but as we’ll come onto, she didn’t play a single minute in that role during the three games. Greenwood instead stepped up and looked assured, playing more minutes than any other player in a tournament she desperately needed.
She was unlucky to lose her starting spot last summer but Wiegman has given a clear indicator she now sees Greenwood as a starting left-back with Daly needed to provide competition for Alessia Russo after the retirement of Ellen White.
Jess Carter will have been pleased to feature next in the minutes list after losing her spot in the squad, while Niamh Charles and Maya Le Tissier both got a start, but only 36 minutes for Lotte Wubben-Moy.
Minutes played
Alex Greenwood - 219
Lucy Bronze - 180
Millie Bright - 180
Leah Williamson - 180
Jess Carter - 162
Niamh Charles - 116
Maya Le Tissier - 90
Lotte Wubben-Moy - 36
Midfielders
The interest here comes more with who will offer depth behind Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Ella Toone. The former duo have certainly established themselves as key players, while Toone was offered a chance to state her claim for a starting spot with Fran Kirby injured.
Toone had a quiet tournament but showed moments of what she can do, but probably didn’t do enough to absolutely force Kirby out of the team when she returns.
After that, it was actually Laura Coombs - in her first camp for seven years - who featured the most and Wiegman intimated after the Belgium game she had been pleased with her contribution. She’s come from nowhere but given she offers depth in midfield in both defensive and attacking roles, it’s looking even more possible Coombs could be on the plane.
Katie Zelem got two lots of 45 minutes under her belt and helped turn the game against Korea Republic, but had a few too many moments when she was caught on the ball against Italy. Jess Park was neat and tidy in her minutes and Wiegman appears to see her as an attacking midfielder rather than winger, and Jordan Nobbs got 45 minutes, the lowest of any midfielder but perhaps no shock given she was a late call-up.
Minutes played
Ella Toone - 171
Georgia Stanway - 156
Keira Walsh - 126
Laura Coombs - 114
Katie Zelem - 90
Jess Park - 54
Jordan Nobbs - 45
Forwards
The area where England have the most depth, even without Beth Mead. For a nation to be able to lose their top scorer AND top creator from the European Championships and look as dangerous as ever shows just what Wiegman is dealing with when it comes to options.
Out wide is where things kick off with Chloe Kelly, Lauren James, Lauren Hemp and Katie Robinson selected. It’s almost unthinkable Hemp won’t start for England, but it was Golden Boot winner Kelly and Player of the Tournament James who saw the most game time, and their accolades back up their selections.
Hemp would be a hell of an option off the bench though and the reality is any combination of the three will be dangerous for opponents, while Robinson was lively on her start vs Italy.
Up front, Alessia Russo looks the favourite to be the number nine, but Rachel Daly is pushing her hard with two goals in the win against Italy, while Russo found the net once and overall had a quiet tournament. There’s still a feeling Russo is the favourite given her role there at the Euros, but both are in good form for their clubs too and the shootout will continue.
Ebony Salmon only got nine minutes, but given she’s out of season that’s perhaps not a surprise. She offers something very different with her pace and still looks to be a good option for the World Cup squad.
Minutes played
Chloe Kelly - 180
Lauren James - 152
Alessia Russo - 136
Lauren Hemp - 135
Rachel Daly - 125
Katie Robinson - 73
Ebony Salmon - 9
Why is it almost unthinkable that Hemp wouldn't start for England??
She is incredibly fortunate to even be in the squad for this tournament, her form this season at club level has been very poor, 3 goals all season and just 2 assists, that to me isn't someone who should be an automatic selection, that is someone, who shouldn't even be picked to go to the World Cup.
I would love to know, what she would have to do to not be picked........as having a really poor season doesn't seem to be affecting her selection.....
Sadly, it seems some people get by on their names or reputations, whilst others who are actually playing very well (Millie Turner, Gabby George, Beth England and Hannah Blundell for example) miss out completely.
I would love someone to really ask Sarina, or press her about her strategy for her selections, as right now, her selections don't make any sense.
Stanway over Zelem......Bright over Turner, there is just sooo many issues with her squad.....