Links between the England game this week and my FA Coaching course

It was interesting to see the England setup from start to finish this week. There was a lot of comment relating to the sections that Sam Allardyce made in both his squad and his team. There were a lot of familiar faces in both and he came in for some criticism for not changing a lot, mainly because-

• It was a team with 8 of the players that played in the last Euro match - a defeat against Iceland
• It was a squad with only one uncapped player - Michail Antonio
• It was a very similar formation to the one Roy Hodgson had used
• Big Sam gave players like Joe Hart and Raheem Sterling a chance when they were awful in the Summer

It was the most difficult match of the campaign on paper - away to a dangerous opponent that had completely stifled us in June. But we came through with three points due to reckless tackling from Martin Skrtel and poor goalkeeping at the end. So on the face of things there was much criticism before and a small celebration after.

But I ask what possibly could have changed?

I was on an FA Level 1 Coaching course the week before and there was a lot of talk about the England DNA. The game in this country is now geared to play a certain way. It would be difficult, if not impossible, for Allardyce to anything different. Where are the future England players that are playing regularly for their club sides?

The formation suits the way we want to play football. It is something that many of the players are familiar with from their clubs. It really is almost a part of the DNA of the game in this country.

The players that form the squad will form the basis of the squad all the way to the next World Cup and beyond. WE need evolution, not revolution. If the academy system is producing players like John Stones then we have to put some faith in it to produce more.

After the emotion, the England v France game has a meaning

After the terrorist atrocities in Paris last week, they said that the match and the result didn't matter. But for England it had to matter. The lesson in possession football and taking your chances that Spain handed out last week showed that England have a lot of work to do before the Euros next year.

With only four friendly dates available between now and the start of the championships every minute counts, let alone every game. Roy Hodgson has work to do,

He needs to decide on formation, first choice players, the makeup of the squad and which utility players to take 

I'd say that he has probably totally settled on only Joe Hart, Gary Cahill, Raheem Sterling, Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane as absolute nailed-on starters. Which leaves 6 first-choice places up for grabs. Let's have a look at them-

Right back

Nathaniel Clyne has pole position for right back at the moment but hasn't really done enough to totally claim his place yet. Clyne played against France but Kyle Walker started against Spain and has played a number of England games for Roy Hosgson.

Centre back

The second centre back with Cahill is really up for grabs. Johns Stones, Phil Jagielka, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have all staked mild claims to the place but none have made an overwhelming case. I like Stones but it's a case of watch this space.

Left back

Like centre back, there's a few choices here. Leighton Baines and Luke Shaw both having long-term injuries has opened the door. Keiran Gibbs and Ryan Bertrand are in the current squad.

Midfield

Ross Barkley is starting to establish himself as someone that Hodgson trusts but it still not a banker for a starting place. Add to this Dier, Shelvey, Alli, Delphi, Mason, Lallana, Lingard, Henderson, Wilshere, Carrick, Milner, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain and you can see why the positions haven't been settled. Lots of potential but not enough real top quality.

The result of the game against France may be irrelevant in the context of what happened in Paris but for England the performance of individual players will have a massive impact on what they are doing next Summer.

Liverpool's transfer dealings indicate Sterling is on his way

Sunderland have made their first signing of the pre-season with the turning of Sebastian Coates loan into a permanent transfer. It's a good signing based in his form towards the end of the season. The next step is to add some more quality to the squad with the acquisition of a right back, another centre back, a central midfielder and a left-sided attacking midfielder or winger.

But it's the transfer dealings of Liverpool that interest me the most this Summer as they have already added six players and look determined to add Christian Benteke as well. They spent heavily with the windfall from the Luis Suarez sale last Summer and they must now have a huge squad with some pretty mediocre players taking up precious pounds on the wage bill. The next task will be to move on 8 to 12 of their under-achievers to balance the books and the squad. The likes of Fabio Borini, Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert haven't cut the mustard and there will probably be takers for them given their past records at other clubs.

But all this activity leads me to the conclusion that the biggest English deal of the transfer window has already been lined up. It's the outgoing transfer of Raheem Sterling - probably to Manchester City. City are looking to spend again and reinvest in their homegrown quotas for European competition. Having lost James Milner and Micah Richards and their academy not bringing through talent quickly enough, this is where they will have to spend big.

The days of a club selling a player and then looking for replacements with the money changed when Daniel Levy spent the Gareth Bale cash before the Bale deal was finalised and Liverpool have repeated the trick this Summer with Sterling. But Liverpool don't seem to have solved the problem that the Suarez departure left them with. A season without Suarez and Sturridge has shown the difference that goals make to a team, so a fit and firing Christian Benteke looks like their most important signing of the transfer window.

Elsewhere there hasn't been a flurry of activity with the odd signing here and there but there will be plenty of transfers to come with most bus expected to sign at least four or five players.

There's much more to come!