Tony Cascarino has claimed that there was ‘no relationship’ and ‘no cohesion’ between Arsenal and Manchester United duo, Bukayo Saka and Harry Maguire, during England’s defeat to Italy in the UEFA Nations League, as he told talkSPORT.
Despite all the noise, Manchester United’s out-of-form captain started in a back three, with Arsenal’s right-sided winger playing as a left-sided wing-back.
Despite other form players being available, such as Tottenham’s Ryan Sessegnon or Arsenal’s Ben White, those who were selected to start are either out-of-form, not playing at club level or playing out of position.
And now, in a few hours time, Gareth Southgate, who is coming under serious fire for the team’s performances and his selections, has to do it all again, this time in a dead-rubber game against Germany.
On paper, it’s a dead-rubber, but given that this is against Germany and it’s the final game before the 2022 World Cup, then there is serious pressure and a lot of eyes on this match.
Either way, former Republic of Ireland international Cascarino isn’t liking what he is seeing from England, as he pointed towards some of their issues.
“I am looking at the left side of the three and I am thinking there is Harry Magure, then Saka, who’s not a naturally left-sided player, he plays for Arsenal on the right,” said Cascarino. “But that never got going between Maguire and Saka.
“And Saka looked like he was in no man’s land for a lot of the game – there was no relationship between Harry Maguire and Saka. They have never really interchanged passes. There was no cohesion between the two of them.”
SOUTHGATE SETTING UP MAGUIRE TO BE BOOED
Despite Maguire’s lack of minutes and form, there are suggestions that he will start at the back alongside Manchester City’s John Stones against Germany on Monday night, as reported by Sky Sports.
That probably points towards a back four, which means Saka possibly reverting back to his natural position out on the right, that’s if he starts because he deserves to.
But with Southgate sticking with Maguire, then it only sets up the player to get booed by the England fans at Wembley, which happened previously.
Whether it’s right or wrong, this probably isn’t going to be a pleasant evening of football for Maguire.
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