PAUL Genius Jude’s ready to step in and become Bell of the ball
OUR TOP COLUMNIST SHOOTS FROM THE LIP AND SELFISH HENDO SHOULD MAKE WAY
JORDAN HENDERSON was selfish leading up to the Euros and has slipped behind Jude Bellingham in the England pecking order.
Henderson was wrong to nick a penalty off Dominic Calvert-lewin in the Romania game and made it worse with his interview afterwards.
He said he wasn’t bothered it was saved. Well, if you’re not bothered when you miss, don’t take it!
It was like he wanted to send a message out saying, ‘I’m the senior player here!’
But when you’ve played that many games for England, you should be thinking of others and putting the team first.
We might need Calvert-lewin at the Euros. God forbid, but if Harry Kane gets injured, the Everton striker might be starting.
So we’re better off with Calvert-lewin taking that penalty, scoring, and building up his confidence going into the tournament.
Henderson should be thinking of the team, not putting himself first. That was selfish. One hundred per cent.
I understand why Gareth Southgate has picked Henderson. His fitness is in doubt but he’s an experienced player who has won big trophies.
He’s a talker and we don’t have many of those. You need those types when you’re on the ropes in a game to calm you down.
I can see this team conceding and then trying too hard to chase a game and letting in another one very quickly. So his leadership could be important. But he wasn’t showing good leadership with that penalty.
I think he’s behind Bellingham now. Sooner or later this kid will play in the tournament – and he will be a star. I think he’s outstanding. And against the best teams in the tournament we’re going to need more insurance in front of our defence.
Bellingham, 17, gives you that. He has more energy than Henderson. More in his legs.
And he’s so composed and confident you’d think he’d played 500 games already.
I’ve never seen anything like it in a kid of his age. I’m a massive fan of his. I’m so impressed.
Against the best teams in the finals we won’t get away with playing Declan Rice and Mason Mount in midfield. Or Rice and Henderson.
We’ll get overrun.
But stick Bellingham in there and he solves that problem. He’s a real all-rounder, and he’s ready. He’s proved that in the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund.
The England team that starts this tournament won’t be the one that ends it.
Someone on the fringes at the start will end up being a hero.
It could be him. He is going to get a chance, even if he doesn’t start against Croatia.
And I think he will take it. I would have no problem starting him against Croatia at all.
It’s so important to get off to a good start. Win your opening game and you’re in the next round in my opinion.
But we should absolutely be worried about Croatia. They are a good team with movement, pace and guile.
They have experienced players. They will keep the ball and make us run. England’s players should be prepared to run themselves into the ground here.