Or Daveedes ?? [ Spurcat will be back after he has recovered from swooning over Vertonghens' "national service" haircut. ]
I would love a manager who starts his season with the squad in the barbers with the "number one" clip. Then lets their hair grow longer in the season depending on overall performance.
"Well, I could play a brilliant CB pair who play together at one club, which would mean I'd have to play a young LB who will provide plenty of width. But he's so young, and I'm not sure I trust him defensively. So instead I'll gut the heart of my defense by pairing one of my CBs with someone who is both not very good and has no experience playing with him, so that I can deprive my team of width and reduce them to trying speculative long shots. And as for Dembele, who needs the best box to box midfielder in Europe when I've got Fellaini? Who could possibly blame me when we go behind due to a long pass that takes advantage of poor communication between my CBs, and look inept with the ball due to an inability to keep possession and an attack that's far too narrow?
Even a blind man can see Lukaku needs subbing off. He's in the pocket of the Italian defenders. Bring on Batshuayi and Dembele.
Italy are nearly always impressive. I like how they have a very set way of playing that unsettles teams (3 at the back, not many used to playing against that but the Italian CBs know it inside out) and are completely unashamed to play to the strengths of their players. They're also much better technically than a lot like to give them credit for. By contrast the Belgians seem to suffer from a bit of 'England syndrome' - plenty of very individually talented players but seem to try and shoehorn lots in perhaps at the detriment of the team. Italy have a lot of players who we would consider ordinary - perhaps unfairly - but the last few years have forged them into an impressive team nonetheless. Belgium quite the opposite in my opinion. Makes for an interesting match-up. I know who I'd rather play as on FIFA but I also know which team I'd rather manage in real life.
