Waddle dismisses England trio; suggests three more

Chris Waddle has bemoaned the lack of ‘game-changers’ in the England set-up, dismissing a trio of attacking midfielders including Dele Alli.

The former England winger claims that Premier League clubs are not producing potential game-changers because they are being coached to play in a system rather than as individuals.

‘You need players who can make a difference by themselves – a maverick, if you like. They might have defensive faults and they might take risks which people don’t like, but I just think these off-the-cuff players are what we need,” Waddle told the BBC.

‘People say Raheem Sterling is a number 10, traditionally the gifted creative player’s role – but I don’t think he is.

‘He scored 22 goals last season, but – no disrespect – I would’ve scored 22 goals in that Manchester City team. Sterling is a wide player who will upset full-backs and chip in, but he is not a natural goalscorer and he is not a game-changer.

‘Dele Alli plays behind Harry Kane at Tottenham. He has good movement off the ball and a decent technique, and maybe that is the way forward, but I wouldn’t say he is a game-changer.

‘Is Jesse Lingard? I wouldn’t say so.’

Waddle has his own ideas about possible options, suggesting: ‘Leicester’s new signing James Maddison looked good at Manchester United in the Foxes’ first game and then scored the week after.

‘He looks like he has an edge and a swagger about him. I don’t think he is worried about making mistakes and I’m disappointed he is not in the squad for these games against Spain and Switzerland.

‘Nathan Redmond at Southampton can take people on and Bournemouth’s Junior Stanislas could play international football. He could play in that midfield three because he can create, shoot, dribble and pass.’

 

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