Netherlands v England - Wed 10th July, 20:00 | Euro 2024 Semi-Final

[Crooked_rain]

That’s exactly what I’ve criticised hm for. Mainoo plus Rice to do Rodris job.

And still not as good

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

I criticise Mainoo because he had a leg up by virtue of just being a utd player. Fast tracked into the squad whilst there were other better players, at the same age, just that they dont get the spotlight that comes with utd.

He's turned out alright though tbf. Still got a leg up though.

 

[cheekybids]

I criticise Mainoo because he had a leg up by virtue of just being a utd player. Fast tracked into the squad whilst there were other better players, at the same age, just that they dont get the spotlight that comes with utd.

He's turned out alright though tbf. Still got a leg up though.

The things he’s done well is what Rico has demonstrated for 2 seasons.

 

[Crooked_rain]

The things he’s done well is what Rico has demonstrated for 2 seasons.

Rico can do that job for sure but it's hard to see him breaking into the England squad again unless he starts getting more game time at City. Let's see what the new season brings.

I don't think Rico really kicked on last season from the season before

 

[SebastianBlue]

I thought exactly the same & have been critical of Mainoo. I think he’s played really well & connected with Foden.

I think our own Rico is under-estimated when you see how £105m Rice can’t take the ball off the defence on the half turn.

And Rice is shite scared of making a forward pass.

That was the most frustrating thing for me. Time and time again he would receive the ball with no pressure, turn to look down field, see at least one (if not more) channels to pass the ball through to a waiting forward player in a decent position, but instead choose to play the ball sideways or backward.

Only when the wingbacks or the forward players dropped deep did they regularly get the ball off Rice; Mainoo (and at times Foden) had to do all of the progressive passing, which he thankfully did very well.

I understand that Rice isn’t meant to play the Rodri role in the England side, nor is he meant to be the deep-lying playmaker, but he can at least pass the ball forward once or twice a match, surely!

 

[cheekybids]

And Rice is shite scared of making a forward pass.

That was the most frustrating thing for me. Time and time again he would receive the ball with no pressure, turn to look down field, see at least one (if not more) channels to pass the ball through to a waiting forward player in a decent position, but instead choose to play the ball sideways or backward.

Only when the wingbacks or the forward players dropped deep did they regularly get the ball off him, Mainoo (and at time Foden) had to do all of the progressive passing, which he thankfully did very well.

I understand that Rice isn’t meant to play the Rodri role in the England side, nor is he meant to be the deep-lying playmaker, but he can at least pass the ball forward once or twice a match, surely!

The Dutch adjustment was to leave him on the ball.

 

[paulchapo]

And Rice is shite scared of making a forward pass.

That was the most frustrating thing for me. Time and time again he would receive the ball with no pressure, turn to look down field, see at least one (if not more) channels to pass the ball through to a waiting forward player in a decent position, but instead choose to play the ball sideways or backward.

Only when the wingbacks or the forward players dropped deep did they regularly get the ball off Rice; Mainoo (and at times Foden) had to do all of the progressive passing, which he thankfully did very well.

I understand that Rice isn’t meant to play the Rodri role in the England side, nor is he meant to be the deep-lying playmaker, but he can at least pass the ball forward once or twice a match, surely!

That was the most frustrating thing, though to be fair Kane wasn't making any runs in behind. As soon as Watkins came on he made the run, Palmer saw it, gave him the pass and the rest is history. Kane has to be dropped for the final as we'll be on the backfoot for most of the game and we need players able to stretch them on the break.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

And Rice is shite scared of making a forward pass.

That was the most frustrating thing for me. Time and time again he would receive the ball with no pressure, turn to look down field, see at least one (if not more) channels to pass the ball through to a waiting forward player in a decent position, but instead choose to play the ball sideways or backward.

Only when the wingbacks or the forward players dropped deep did they regularly get the ball off Rice; Mainoo (and at times Foden) had to do all of the progressive passing, which he thankfully did very well.

I understand that Rice isn’t meant to play the Rodri role in the England side, nor is he meant to be the deep-lying playmaker, but he can at least pass the ball forward once or twice a match, surely!

Rice was actually third in the Premier League for passes into the final third last season, but the gulf between him (240) and Rodri in first (378) is fucking ridiculous

Rice was only just above Dias and Akanji, in fact

 

[SebastianBlue]

Rice was actually third in the Premier League for passes into the final third last season, but the gulf between him (240) and Rodri in first (378) is fucking ridiculous

Rice was only just above Dias and Akanji, in fact

Which indicates either Rice is scared of making a mistake passing forward in the England team or Southgate has instructed him to seldom do it.

Either way, there is a problem.

I also wonder about the average pass distance for those passes in to the final third—my gut would have Rodri’s average much higher than Rice based on his role and how we play versus Rice’s role and how Arsenal plays. That is, Rice made far more 15 yard forward passes from just inside the middle third of the pitch than Rodri did.

 

[5 Hit Gibbon]

Rice was actually third in the Premier League for passes into the final third last season.

The bit your didn't mention, was it was the other team's final third!