I used to think with this guy i was just looking at him through Leeds tinted goggles and I didn't watch west ham so he must be worth the 80m + they all talk about, he must be the undroppable England player they all say he is.
But after 3 games I honest to god cannot see what he does better than Phillips. Whenever he gets the ball it takes him 5/6 seconds to bumble about with it before he eventually passes it backwards to a centre back or sideways to a full back.
Defensively he never seems to break up play very well, when he does make a tackle it is clumsy and messy.
He has a good attitude, is young and will develop but anyone saying he is better in that role than Phillips is deluded, when Kalvin was there in second half at least he tried to hit long balls to wingers and get us going forward whenever he could.
Am I off on this?
Also- Mason Mount, can someone get him to go hug a COVID positive player again please so we can have someone who actually attacks and runs with the ball forward for rest of tournament. Grealish did more in 10 minutes going forward than Mount has done in 2 games
Think Rice is good and plays really well for West Ham. Also when it was either or with Rice and Phillips think Rice played well in the pre Euros games.
Wonder if it is the instructions they are both being given leading to confusion as KP played loads better when Henderson came on.
Think Rice is great when he is allowed to drive forward with the ball but seen little of that in the Euros.
Also wonder what Samcho has done wrong - he tore up the German league and hasn’t seen a single minute in the Euros.
Apparently Southgate and team believe defensive football is likely to be more successful based on analysis of the last 30 major tournaments - Yeeeee ha way to go
Joel, your eyes don't deceive you. Phillips is better.
Rice could not go at the pace that MB demands. He would fade much faster than Phillips as the game went on at the pace we play.
One of the reasons he played every minute of the tourney.
Think Rice is very talented though. He and Phillips seem to get along too.