SteveTreacle
Vital 1st Team Regular
I have to agree on the Rice/Phillips conundrum. I was against playing two defensive midfielders against Croatia, but against their pedestrian midfield it worked as Phillips was able to get forward, but against Scotland’s high tempo it meant they were just sitting there and we lacked creativity. Problem is that Southgate is pig-headed and negative and tends to stick to his guns. For me, I want to see Henderson and Bellingham get some minutes against the Czechs. Both are defensively sound but can offer more going forward than Rice and Phillips. Ideally for the last 16, we’ll play Rice sitting and someone who’s better going forward than Phillips. The Kane issue is a problem. I’d he plays like he does in the last two games, he needs to be dropped, but not for Rashford who can’t play that role. Sterling was poor last night after a good game on Sunday and surely we must be looking at Rashford to start on Tuesday? I definitely think we need to get minutes under the belts of Grealish and Sancho, even if they are going to feature on the bench. Defensively we’re sound, but Maguire is our best CB and dangerous from corners so needs to get minutes v the Czechs with a view to starting in the last 16.