He’s flying at Spurs… but what does he have to achieve from now to May to get into the England starting team? Does he have any chance at all?
Maddison is probably in a best 11 of Premier League players so far this season.
But Southgate tends to play a double divot in big games. Kane and Saka are impossible to drop. Bellingham now picks himself automatically.
That leaves Foden, Rashford, Grealish, Henderson and you could argue TAA too - and then also of course Maddison - all fighting for a starting spot.
Is it unrealistic for Maddison to be starting even if he continues his relentless form.
Is he relying on injuries to try and force his way in? Our Southgate to abandon his double pivot principles in what is likely his final tournament?
Thoughts?
Foden, Rashford, Grealish, Henderson and you could argue TAA too - and then also of course Maddison
I think it would be a toss-up between Foden and Maddison for the final spot.
Edit: Considering a back 4 is played, the remaining 6 players are likely to be Rice, Bellingham, Henderson, Foden/Maddison, Saka, Kane.
Should he? Probably. Will he? Ha
Does Rice Bellingham and Maddison work? I don’t think so.
That means for me that Maddison will either have to usurp the left wing position (which I don’t see happening with him not playing there at club) or he gets benched.
Maybe it could work with a formation change?
He’s our second choice number 10, behind Bellingham. Rashford or Grealish on the left, Saka or Foden on the right. The real questions are: who partner’s Rice? Who plays LB? Maguire or Dunk? The rest picks itself really. Anyone dreaming of a more attacking system don’t understand Southgate or international football.
An outside chance but you answered your question in the comments; Bellingham is playing in his favoured position. I suppose there’s a chance of him starting out on the left and he’s in better form than Grealish.
Unless Southgate starts playing a system with 2 half wide AMs, no.
The top teams in the league play a 442/4411 out of possession and a 3223 in possession
I don’t see why Southgate doesn’t play this
Trent RB inverting
Rice playing the role he does for us
Then have Maddison as the further forward midfielder out of possession, Bellingham as the one that plays more of a box to box type role
Saka right wing, then one of Foden/Grealish/Rashford at left wing, whoever’s most in form atm
With southgate he has no chance despite being on fire this season!
Problem is, Maddison’s best position is also what Bellingham’s best position is now. If you want to get the best out of them, you’re going to have to make a sacrifice.
just cos he’s good at 10 doesn’t mean he’s not good in the pivot, id much rather have maddison 10 and bellingham 8 than bellingham 10 and phillips/hendo 8
This is correct. Bringing both in creates an insanely dangerous midfield. Use a system with Madds and Foden as 6/8s and Bellingham as 10 and watch 3 maestros create a symphony
Maddison and Foden as 6’s? That’s just daft.
We do NOT have good enough CB’s playing to play that team. If we had Stones & a second world class CB maybe, but Maguire is favourite at the moment and you have to play to his limitations - of which there are many. A DM (or two) is needed, and why the fuck would you drop Rice for Foden in any case?
Maddison won’t have a chance get ahead of Bellingham and Foden in the England XI. Kalvin Phillips would become AI hologram and still get picked. You’re dealing with a manager who still selects Henderson in 2023. No chance at all
Maybe on the inside left of the front 3?
What I’m more concerned about with England is there’s no one to play the 6 in terms of build up and dictating from deep unless maybe if Phillips can recover some form. Rice has his big qualities but there’s a reason Arteta brought in Jorginho against us, City and Sevilla.
What I’m more concerned about with England is there’s no one to play the 6 in terms of build up and dictating from deep unless maybe if Phillips can recover some form.
Maddison does this for us literally every week since we signed him. He’s often dropping right back to slot in-line with Romero/VdV while Udogie bombs forward through the middle.
Fair enough, do you think he could make literally starting as a 6 his own? Because they’d be a difference between doing it in certain phases of play compared to playing there full time.
If so hopefully Southgate is adventurous enough to try it, although goes without saying I won’t be holding my breath on that one.
Best thing that could happen for England’s chances at the Euros is Phillips moving in Jan to the best Prem team where he starts every week.
No the best thing for England would be for Southgate to stop playing favorites and bed in a new midfielder in place of Phillips, and a new CM in place of Maguire. It’s not like we don’t have the players.
He’s already done everything he can (moved to a team that southgate likes)