Okay appreciate the response as it’s you. But let’s strip this down!
The whole original point was about Rice and McTominay. My point being how can anyone with common sense assume McTominay could do what Rice does for West Ham if he had the same platform when Rice (coming through as a natural CB) would never be compensated to do a ‘team job’ at CB to players the level of Armstrong and McGuinn.
A ludicrous assumption to make. If Rice were playing for Scotland right now he'd also be playing at center half. Because he'd be by far their best center half. A department where they have nothing. As opposed to their midfield which is competent with the likes of McGimn and Armstrong playing there instead a player at his or Mctominay's level. Just like Scotland isn't going to sit a Tierney on the bench when he can operate at center half, were there is no one at his level there, and they also have a Robertson at left back. Just like a Kimmich finds himself at right back for Germany.
You have this crazy idea the team would rather use a player in his most natural role at the expense of their overall strength. i.e
A Scotland playing Rice in midfield
at the expense of having a stronger defence. Just because he is best in center midfield.
At this rate you'd probably have a fit to learn at the peak of his powers as a Balon Dor winner center forward. A certain George Weah was operating at center midfield for Liberia. For the exact same reasons.
Ramos for years operated at Rb for Spain whilst being an elite CB at club level. That was the case with Thuram for France back in the day. He was considered the best center half in the serie A yet for Les Blues he was at right back with Blanc and Desailly as center halves instead.
You can say what you like with your best advantage of the team stuff but your best players play in their suited positions as it benefits the team overall.
Only in Utopia. Not the real world.
The reason McTominay plays CB is because he’s not good enough to do a Declan Rice job for Scotland which means he’s worth not moving. Tierney plays LCB because he’s too good to drop whilst not being better than Robertson to take his place. It makes sense.
Double standards at work.
Tierney and McTominay play out of position for the exact same reason. Both are 2 good to drop. Whilst their natural positions have players who can do the job as good as they can. Yet their unnatural positions have no one in their league. Even out of position.
No one is trying to tell me McTominay plays CB because Armstrong is really good and they need both in the team. It’s just not true.
We don't have to try. It's fact. If Scotland followed your logic and benched Armstrong for McTominay. Resulting in a weaker center defence, but a stronger midfield they wouldn't have even made it to the Euros for the first time in ages.
Maybe just maybe coaches prefer balance in a side, just like Mctominay doing a job.