We saw the best and worst of Matinez and Belgium today. Horrible starting formation with Witsel holding and De Bruyne deep. Then the changes, Fellaini and Chadli were effective and shock De Bruyne looked a different player once further up the pitch. Credit to Japan though.
That was an illustration as to why every two years I advocate a place on the plane for Carroll. No-one ever uses all 20 outfield players, so there's always space to take along a plan B (in this case, it would be in place of Welbeck, or maybe Delph). I don't give a monkies that he's a million miles away from world class, and spends most of his life injured. It's only four weeks, every other year, that we would need to get him out there. Belgium had some of the greatest attacking talent in the world on their pitch, and yet were saved by a lump coming off their bench. When Spain needed to score against Russia, all they basically need was to freshen up plan A. Well if plan A isn't working, freshening it up isn't likely to change much. In fact, if anything, it'll probably put you in you a worse position - because 9 times out of 10, you'll be freshening up plan A with weaker players (otherwise why weren't they already starting?). Belgium went out-and-out plan B.
I agree to, its a very logically suggestion. But maybe GS's thinking is with Kane (6.2") along with the inventive use of CB's at set plays we've seen already, the squad perhaps can forgo the awkward panic inducing target man, hence the more versatile Welbeck. But I can certainly see the merit of bringing on Carol/Crouch against a lot these sides, if we were in the position the Belgians were in.
