Croatia v England 3/10/26 Nations League
Comments
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As he slowed up in his chase for the ball I thought the same, but looking again, knowing he wasn't going to get there, I wondered if he deliberately hung back thinking he would have a better chance of a tap in if the ball came off the keeper/defender? If he was too close he would be relying on the ball coming straight out to where he found himself, by hanging back he might have had an extra half a second to adjust?MuttleyCAFC said:I think England should start thinking of Rice as a central defender who can step into the midfield. Guehi's passing stats are not terrible, although they are usually simple ones, and he is rigid and ponderous in his movement and that doesn't suit England playing in this new way IMO. Which centre back has a better engine than Rice? One thing noticeable with the England midfield was how good it was with little or no space. Rice in midfield does not thrive under those conditions. From the centre half slot he can read the game and step forward into space as it appears adding another midfielder and a very good one at that. I can only see gains defensively swapping Guehi with Rice.
Morgan Rogers has showed he is a good sub and can add to the team. I think Rashford in this style is a better bet than Eze. He annoyed me with the own goal. The Czech player kicked in his own net because he assumed Eze was with him but he was yards away. That was fortunate and not good enough. He has a part to play in the squad but shouldn't be starting against stronger nations.
Trent only strengthens the side IMO. If we are going to be a front foot side we should accept we are not the strongest defence but we will attack which will be our most effective form of defence. I think with Anderson you can have Scott, Kelly or even Palmer who should not be written off by Tuchel. Especially if he regains his form. Palmer can also be good cover for Bellingham.
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The point with rice, is that everyone has been moaning for years we dont have any fluid connection to the attack. Like charlton really. Playing anderson with someone who can turn defence into attack worked in these matches.
so either rice or anderson. Goes back to the lampard gerrard issue which someone has mentioned. And i fi were to pick, right now it would be anderson which means rice on the bench or centre half. If hes on the bench, trent can take the set pieces. 😉If he is centre half, which he can and has played, then we are even more dynamic potentially.2 -
I don't think the system is that different for the midfield tbh. I certainly think rice is capable of playing one of the CM roles.MuttleyCAFC said:
Do you think Rice suits the new system or doesn't that matter?cantersaddick said:
I agree. I think people are getting ahead of themselves. Rice was probably our best player outside of Kane and Bellingham at the world Cup. He's top class and has a lot of experience for his age. One of the struggles at the world Cup was managing his minutes in the absence of a decent replacement. Now we look to have a few young alternatives in that role coming through which is amazing it means we have the option to pick on form, or fitness or even rotate where needed. Competition for places is great. But right now when fit Rice is still first choiceChizz said:Not sure I agree with the idea of shoving the best midfielder in the best team in the country into a centre back or right back position. He's either the best holding midfielder in the country, in which case he plays in that position; or he's not, in which case he doesn't play. I would go with the first option.2 -
I think it is a lot different. Rice needs more time and space in the middle IMO. In the new system it is rushed high intensity, high energy stuff. As a right sided centre back, Rice will have lots of time and space to build the play and can join the midfield creating an extra body.cantersaddick said:
I don't think the system is that different for the midfield tbh. I certainly think rice is capable of playing one of the CM roles.MuttleyCAFC said:
Do you think Rice suits the new system or doesn't that matter?cantersaddick said:
I agree. I think people are getting ahead of themselves. Rice was probably our best player outside of Kane and Bellingham at the world Cup. He's top class and has a lot of experience for his age. One of the struggles at the world Cup was managing his minutes in the absence of a decent replacement. Now we look to have a few young alternatives in that role coming through which is amazing it means we have the option to pick on form, or fitness or even rotate where needed. Competition for places is great. But right now when fit Rice is still first choiceChizz said:Not sure I agree with the idea of shoving the best midfielder in the best team in the country into a centre back or right back position. He's either the best holding midfielder in the country, in which case he plays in that position; or he's not, in which case he doesn't play. I would go with the first option.0 -
What the international window has showed, is that we don't need to overplay Rice like we probably did at the World Cup. I can't see us playing Spain or France without him, but for most other games we have other options.3
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I feel you’re giving him a bit too much credit there. I felt like he just thought he’d lost the race and gave up. The situation was a classic own goal opportunity, but usually you need to put the defender under a lot of pressure to make him rush/panic into a hasty attempt at a clearance. Eze was lucky not only that Coufal had a brain fart, but also that Kane’s excellent ball in was a nightmare for the defender.Algarveaddick said:
As he slowed up in his chase for the ball I thought the same, but looking again, knowing he wasn't going to get there, I wondered if he deliberately hung back thinking he would have a better chance of a tap in if the ball came off the keeper/defender? If he was too close he would be relying on the ball coming straight out to where he found himself, by hanging back he might have had an extra half a second to adjust?MuttleyCAFC said:I think England should start thinking of Rice as a central defender who can step into the midfield. Guehi's passing stats are not terrible, although they are usually simple ones, and he is rigid and ponderous in his movement and that doesn't suit England playing in this new way IMO. Which centre back has a better engine than Rice? One thing noticeable with the England midfield was how good it was with little or no space. Rice in midfield does not thrive under those conditions. From the centre half slot he can read the game and step forward into space as it appears adding another midfielder and a very good one at that. I can only see gains defensively swapping Guehi with Rice.
Morgan Rogers has showed he is a good sub and can add to the team. I think Rashford in this style is a better bet than Eze. He annoyed me with the own goal. The Czech player kicked in his own net because he assumed Eze was with him but he was yards away. That was fortunate and not good enough. He has a part to play in the squad but shouldn't be starting against stronger nations.
Trent only strengthens the side IMO. If we are going to be a front foot side we should accept we are not the strongest defence but we will attack which will be our most effective form of defence. I think with Anderson you can have Scott, Kelly or even Palmer who should not be written off by Tuchel. Especially if he regains his form. Palmer can also be good cover for Bellingham.
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