Lee Hendrie has suggested that he is ‘not always a fan’ of playing Leeds and West Ham duo, Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice, as the two holding midfielders for England, as he told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (04/09/21 at 2:15 pm).
The former midfielder mentioned Jude Bellingham and seemingly suggested that he is more attack-minded than Leeds United’s single defensive pivot because he can ‘just do it on his own’.
Regardless of the opposition, both Rice and Phillips started every game for their country at Euro 2020 this summer.
Despite some questioning what they will produce, they were just some of the stars of the show, as the Three Lions reached the final and the duo enhanced their reputations.
This is what Hendrie had to say about Phillips, Bellingham and Rice, and their midfield roles for England.
On Rice and Phillips breaking up play which led to England’s first two goals v Hungary: “Exactly, how important they were,” said Hendrie. “But I am not always a fan of having the two holding midfielders.
“But they were so instrumental in the way they set up, especially in the second half because it did give license to the likes of Grealish and Sterling. We saw Kane, he could have easily had four goals himself and Rice getting on the scoresheet.
“We have seen Phillips likes to go and join in, at times. But I think Bellingham will go and do that just on his own, won’t he? He’s got the energy.
“I am not saying Phillips hasn’t got that. But we have seen Phillips being that defensive pivot at times with Rice, whereas Bellingham will certainly go in and join. Not forgetting that when he was at Birmingham, he was playing in a more attacking role.”
The key thing with Bellingham is that the £25 million Dortmund star (Sky Sports) has years, years and years ahead of him.
Jordan Henderson is seemingly next in England’s midfield pecking order, so Bellingham might just have to wait a while.
But with Gareth Southgate’s side due to play Andorra in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday afternoon, it perhaps is better to use players like Bellingham because he would be more box-to-box.
Whilst Phillips showcases his tough tackling out on the pitch, it needs to be remembered that he started his career hoping to be that goalscoring midfielder, only for Marcelo Bielsa to tweak his game.
And what a tactical change it was from the Leeds boss because it has helped transform his game.
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