McClaren defends Johnson decision
Winging it - McClaren says Johnson can adapt
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Friday, 17, Nov 2006 11:17
Steve McClaren has defended his decision to use Andrew Johnson out wide in Wednesday night's friendly with Holland.
The England boss played a 4-3-3 formation in the Amsterdam Arena, with Johnson and Chelsea's Joe Cole playing either side of Wayne Rooney.
Johnson has been in excellent form playing as an orthodox centre-forward for Everton and many have criticised McClaren for playing him out of position.
But the former Middlesbrough manager said the 25-year-old's pace made him a threat down the wing as will as through the middle.
"He is not just a stereotypical play-it-down-the-middle man," McClaren said. "He can adapt and play on either side."
Johnson got the nod on Wednesday after Aaron Lennon pulled out with a knee injury and worked hard before being replaced on 70 minutes by Shaun Wright-Phillips.
While the change of formation and the return of Joe Cole helped deliver a more encouraging performance, McClaren is still some way from silencing his critics.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph today, former England coach Graham Taylor said the Holland game left a number of questions unanswered.
"Did we play this way just to match up against the Dutch team?" Taylor asked. "Or did we play this way because McClaren sees it as a real alternative to an English 4-4-2 system, which over the years has only rarely produced the flair and flexibility to match the top international teams?"
England's next match is a friendly against Spain in February. If the formation stays, McClaren will hope Lennon can shake off his injury niggles and finally make his first full international start.