Sean Dyche tells Thomas Tuchel the bravest team he can pick for England vs Mexico
Sean Dyche was surprised by Djed Spence’s inclusion in the England squad – but it’s a brave thing for him to do now to start him against Mexico.
Thomas Tuchel has a big decision on who to use at right-back when he plays the Three Lions’ Last 16 match at the Azteca Stadium.
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England right-back Reece James started the first two games of the World Cup before suffering a worrying injury.
I Chelsea the captain caught a muscle just in time to play against Ghana again he has missed the last two games.
England were already on the back foot before James’ injury, after Tino Livramento’s haul outside the night before the tournament.
Jarell Quansah, who usually plays in the middle defence, he then gave the nod to the only known and available right-back in the team, Spence, for Panama’s victory but he also faced a fitness problem.
Because of this, Spence was given the opportunity to play this position against DR Congo, but he looked far from certain.
The Tottenham defender took a tumble from Tuchel midway through the game, and was later replaced at right-back by Declan Rice.
However, speaking at the World Cup weekend with Jonny Owen, Dyche said the bravest thing Tuchel could do is keep Spence at right back.
“I said in our first program [that I was] surprised Djed Spence did it, not because he’s not a good player, by the way; I didn’t think he was ready for England in this tournament,” he told talkSPORT.
“But that’s the job of the manager and his staff, and they picked him. Then I told him to play the last game, I believe.
“What’s the point of taking a defender there if you’re not going to play them in their natural environment?
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“Don’t think it went as well as they hoped – not in my opinion, the kind of Tuchel who yelled at him during the game, which suggested he wasn’t doing the job he wanted to do. Lots of talk with Rice coming out of there. [to replace him].
“I mean, the challenge from a manager’s point of view, from talking to the staff about this, you’re going to say, ‘Yeah, can we do that?’
“Yes, we could, but we wouldn’t be weak, but we change the intensity of the field, and the midfielder has been really strong, I think, so far this tournament.
“There are top, top players out there. So it’s like, do you risk changing that variable when that’s going to really matter?
“I’m not saying that defenders are not important. Yes, they are [Ezri] I think he can do the job. He did it sometimes at Villa.
“I don’t think it’s a natural turn, but he can do it. He moves well, you know, so I mean that’s up for debate.”
The hardest thing is to do nothing
As the buzz continues about England’s squad selection, Dyche added: “The hardest thing as a manager, and I say this a lot in the interviews I do, is the hardest thing to do nothing at all.
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“When the noise builds. It’s good to say that Tuchel can go, listen, to Djed Spence, listen, we believe in you, we trust you, we just want you to do this, that and the other, and maybe just hold your position for a long time, or any small subtle nuances, small details, think about it, and they may go again.
“And that’s the bravest thing as a manager, you know, to do nothing.
“When everyone is making a lot of noise about what you should be doing, the most courageous thing is, brave doesn’t mean the right thing, I have to clarify that, but the most courageous thing is to do nothing, and stand by your players and what they represent as individuals and as a team.
“I’m not saying you should do that, but I’m just saying that’s a brave thing to do.
“I don’t think he will do that, but I still give an example that I have done and I went, I am right and I am wrong in the way, with my stick, I argue about who we should play, and I stood strong and went, no, the same team is playing. Even if they have been going, no, we have to change it.
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“And that’s a very difficult thing to do.”
Can’t get in?
Dyche, on the other hand, would have chosen something different if he was in England, where Ezri Konsa will take this position.
“That’s the biggest managerial decision,” said the former Burnley, Everton and Nottingham Forest boss.
“Does he stay true to the player he thought was going to be the player he was when he was there, which is Spence? I just think that’s why he took him. I don’t think it would be right if he didn’t.
“I don’t think he’s going to change it. I think he’s going to change it. He’s probably going to go with Pickford. I think Konsa might go out there. [at right-back].
“He’s done a steady, solid job. Especially when it’s at a high level. Maybe I can look at the team coming out on top, but if they break the machine, then you have to go down.
“You bank again, then make a unit. Then look at the counter there. A defensive unit.
[John] Then came the stones. [Marc] Guehi is playing. [Nico] O’Reilly is kidding. I’ll stick around [Bukayo] Saka.“The reason is I don’t want to take Rice out there. That’s a power three right there.
“[Marcus] Rashford again [Anthony] Gordon is a great host. I can go to either one because I will be looking for a team that will deal with speed.
“I’d probably stick with Rashford to start this one [Jude] Bellingham again [Harry] Kane, who should play, in what is available.
“That’s what I’ll do rather than fire Rice.”
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