Talvlad
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- South of the river
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England
The Blackburn fans called him the Wilpshire Pirlo. That's pretty spot on for me.
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Wharton Making The Difference
- Topic starter Gribbo
- Start date
Teddy Eagle
Member
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Scotland
Never heard of Wilpshire but it sounds good anyway.
CPFCSaturn
Member
- Country
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England
I know what you mean, but I think Rice is a bit of a square peg in a round hole playing that role at the base of a midfield - I think he's been forced into it somewhat for the national team due to a lack of alternatives.
At Arsenal, in his first year they tried him a lot as the central #6 in their midfield 3 and it didn't quite click. They now tend to use Partey or Jorginho in that role and Rice as the left-sided #8, and he's far more effective at that IMO.
Rice has phenomenal running power and athleticism - I think 'shackling' him in a role which is predominantly about positioning and intelligence is a waste.
Wharton for all his quality, doesn't have that same running power about him, but he is a much better passer and seems to see the game more quickly than Rice.
I think they'd make an excellent partnership.
CPFCSaturn
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England
Pirlo is the Italian Wharton.
Not a great compliment. Pirlo is 45 and retired from the MLS over 7 years ago
100% Rice is an 8. Plays it for Arsenal. Needs to be Wharton, Rice and Bellingham in the middle for England.
Hopefully Tuchel is smart enough to see it and not try and squeeze everyone in without any care for structure
Teddy Eagle
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- Country
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Scotland
Unluckily for him he's got Foden and Cole ahead of him as well as Mainoo, Curtis Jones, Alexander-Arnold and any others who have the Man U/Liverpool preference in their favour.
But thats the issue.
None of them are ahead of him as a DM playmaker. Mainoo is best as an 8 or 10, Curtis Jones is an 8, and TAA is a wingback. Their competition for a starting place are Jude, Rice and Walker respectively.
If Tuchel has any sense, and most previous England managers haven't, he'll pick the best team. Not the best 11 players.
Otherwise he'll fall into the same trap as GS made, and the media will be sat wondering why Bellingham isn't playing as well as he does for Madrid. (Spoiler alert, you are playing him as an 8 and Foden in his space)
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Absolutely this. Look how effective Spain were by playing a defined system and having that system be relatively consistent all the way through the age groups. Nobody would have said Cucurella played especially well last season in the league but he was brilliant for Spain in the Euros because he was the right player for that role. Interestingly Spain also showed you don’t need a big name manager to succeed. Having a coach who had worked with the players through the age groups worked brilliantly. Something for us to learn there as well
silvertop
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- Location
- Portishead
- Country
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England
Regrettably true, and he is better than all those listed.
silvertop
Member
- Location
- Portishead
- Country
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England
Sports sponsorship and the media etc. have picked the 11 for a long time now.
No manager has sought to assert their own control for as long as I recall. They would not get the job if they did. E.g. Rooney would not have got a fraction of the caps he had if an effective manager picked the best 11.
CPFCSaturn
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- Country
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England
We had more players in the Euros squad than either of United or Liverpool.
CPFCSaturn
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England
This is bordering on weird conspiracy stuff!
By what measure did Southgate not have his own control? He made tons of decisions which were derided in the media, so they can't have been that impactful on him.
Which forwards do you feel were excluded at Rooney's expensre during his international career?
CPFCSaturn
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England
As a wider point, I do find this chip-on-shoulder mentality a lot of club fans seem to have when it comes to their players being picked for the national team a bit strange - it's not remotely supported by evidence anymore.
Southgate made loads of high-profile cuts from the squad during his time; Maguire, Sterling, Grealish, Rashford, Henderson are all firmly exiled and the likes of Guehi, Konsa, Bowen, Eze, Gordon, Watkins are all regulars.
There were no Man Utd players in the last England Squad, and one Liverpool player who was Curtis Jones. But there were two Palace players, two Newcastle players, two Villa players...
Southgate made loads of high-profile cuts from the squad during his time; Maguire, Sterling, Grealish, Rashford, Henderson are all firmly exiled and the likes of Guehi, Konsa, Bowen, Eze, Gordon, Watkins are all regulars.
There were no Man Utd players in the last England Squad, and one Liverpool player who was Curtis Jones. But there were two Palace players, two Newcastle players, two Villa players...
Wharton is a joy to watch. He seems to have a 6th sense as to where his team mates are, laying off accurate passes in an instant. My jaw dropped in wonder on a couple of occasions on Tuesday night. He also come across as a modest likeable young man.
dreamwaverider
Member
- Location
- London
- Country
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England
Wharton is one of those sportsmen, like Roger Fedora who sees the game in slow motion. So when it looks like his control and pass are done in a nano second, for him he has plenty of time. I can't see what else he is possessed with to make so many fast accurate perfectly weighted passes.
Against Villa, there was a deep hum of approval from the crowd on a number of occasions for his unreal moves.
Against Villa, there was a deep hum of approval from the crowd on a number of occasions for his unreal moves.
We had more players in the Euros squad than any other club full stop. You can criticise Southgate for being a bit defensive minded but not for having a big club bias.
Palace Old Geezer
Member
- Location
- Midhurst
- Country
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England
There's no doubt the boy has a majestic touch and he has to be one of our best ever acquisitions. All credit to Dougie and co for spotting him and doing the deal.
Willo
Member
- Location
- West Sussex - On the coast
- Country
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England
I concur with these sentiments.
Wharton reads the game well, is a good passer of the ball and looks to play forward.
I know Mark Bright is a great admirer of the player.
Wharton is technically very good and is a vital cog in the midfield 'Engine Room'.
Teddy Eagle
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Scotland