I saw a small sentence today

If this is the case Belgium will be dropping De Bruyne. No point have that threat when he can play a worse player who prefers not to take any risks and pass it a couple of yards sideways.

They used to use this crucial of Gerrard when playing for England. Well yes, he will lose the ball more than others as he is taking risks but that's the gamble you take. There are others there not taking risks passing it sideways until it gets to the player capable of having better percentages in terms of risk to gain. This has always been the case and nothing new.

Criticism*

I saw a small sentence today, oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grade

comment by Jalisco Red (U4195)
posted 2 hours, 18 minutes ago
I saw a small sentence today, oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grade
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Great song from a great band at their peak

United fans bitter that Mainoo is benched in favour of a right back.

comment by The greatest thing that ever happened to humankind (U1282)
posted 3 minutes ago
United fans bitter that Mainoo is benched in favour of a right back.
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Bitter ? Idiot

The best creative midfield players should be able to do both.

Accurate long and short passing.

Like Scholes.

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 16 hours, 34 minutes ago
That's a bit of a sweeping statement, 52. The qualities you need in a midfielder depend on your game plan, the other players in the team, etc. I'd like to see Southgate put more pace in the front line if we're going to rely on TAA's long passing though.
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Exactly this. TAA need a front line that will be making runs, looking to expose space behind and get in the channels.

Foden comes deep and inside. Saka stays very wide and is capable of the sort of movement and runs that TAA could exploit, but he looks more often to play or be played in by short passes, little triangles on the edge of the box.

Kanes movement is almost non existent now. I thought watching him for Bayern, who play a fairly slow and patient style, that hes become very attuned to this style and his movement has suffered. His age contributes but I felt that vs Slovenia when he was disciplined in not dropping too deep, he actually contributed nothing.

It is hard to see what Southgates plan is. How are we trying to create chances for Kane. The 2 clear chances were from byeline crosses, which is almost unfashionable these days with inverted wingers coming inside and full backs rarely overlapping.

Doesn't help that Trips is wrong footed and Walker is now not known for his attacking play and crossing.

The other thing with TAA in CM is that he is generally on the right side. One of his strengths is the long diagonals to players in space on teh opposite wing. IN our case, Foden is inside and Trips left footed.

Finding Saka in space from a switch requires someone on teh left side with that ability.

Its notable that we were very one sided, much better going down the left than right and so we favoured that side It made it easier to mark Saka, who did OK, but was rarely found in space he could run at defenders with. Often he faced 2 or 3 players after patient build up by England allowed the opposition to park the bus.

Gordon on the opposite wing would have been a route to take with TAA in CM, at least giving him an outlet/switch option.

sorry, meant better going down our right than left.