SLOVAKIA ENGLAND
Allardyce taking big gamble playing out-of-touch Kane alone up front WRONG TURN ON BARKLEY AGUERO BAN IS EL FOR CITY
But the manager has gone for pragmatism and that gives it a feeling that’s a bit same old, same old.
The big surprise, though, is that Allardyce hasn’t gone for Sturridge.
He loves telling us what a forwardthinking manager he is and the challenge of working the Liverpool forward out psychologically ought to really tickle his fancy. I’ve spent a little bit of time in SAM ALLARDYCE was rightg to dumpp Jack Wilshere but wrong to drop Ross Barkley from his firstirst England squad.
I have been veryy critical of the Everton midfielder in this column in the past,t, saying he hasn’t got a footballing brain, and I copped d a lot of stick from Evertonians for that.
But I actually think the lad (right)ht) has started this seasonn very well – he looks fit,, he looks sharp – and that it was wrong to say at the start of the campaignaign to a guy who had no involvement with England’s debaclee at the Euros that he shoulduld be one of the playerss punished going intoto the World Cup qualifyingying campaign. SERGIO AGUERO’S loss for three games after his elbow on Winston Reid is a massive blow for Manchester City – especially ahead of the Manchester derby next weekend.
Kelechi Iheanacho is a quality player, I like his attitude, he holds the ball up well and he has good trickery.
But Aguero is genuinely world class and, having said City would edge it 2-1, I’m now of the opinion United will.
They are at home and the Argentinian’s ban will be a massive fillip for them – it doesn’t half swing the pendulum the way of United boss Jose Mourinho.