If they are swapped Rice would consistently lose the ball in tight spaces. They are where they are because Kobbie is able to receive the ball in tight spaces and do something with it, exactly as he did leading up to the penalty.
37
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 26
- Goals
- 3
- Assists
- 1
- Yellow cards
- 3
Excellent performance. Looking like a seasoned player out there.
Unbelievable how good he is.
Unbelievable how good he is.
Same on the other side with Chilwell although not as pronounced, Chilwell can progress the ball, but then inevitably loses it so they are still reluctant to go that way. Put Walker and Shaw in the full back positions and we look miles stronger.
United fans to Southgate if he tries to piss about with Mainoos progress
But they still aren't giving him the ball enough. Happens at United sometimes too.
My business partner hasn't been watching football for a few months but is watching the game, he thinks the young black midfielder is effing amazing. Anybody who watches him can see his quality.
It is also in part an issue with fitness, he doesn't quite have the stamina yet to constantly make the little darts to get the ball.
He's actually ridiculous
Tonight another England superstar has arrived.
Hope the English press let him be though.
Hope the English press let him be though.
He's sensational, running the show out there.
He just keeps rising up to the challenge. So impressive.
Obviously for us he is very good but feck me he looks absolutely unbelievable when he is in a a near perfect midfield trio.
Lots of players would look a level below next to Bellingham but Mainoo fits right in beside him.
Lots of players would look a level below next to Bellingham but Mainoo fits right in beside him.
Starting to flag a bit now, too.
Needs to come off, hes knackered
Its a sexy midfield....
It is why I think he could take serious strides going into next season. Dealt with injuries at the start of this, doesn't quite have the base fitness yet to be a 90 min player at full intensity yet, but he will give you moments of delicious quality. Get him super fit and his potential is wild.
Much as I'd love him to get a goal or assist, I'd also like him to have some energy at the weekend.
Sub in the next 5 mins please.
Sub in the next 5 mins please.
MOTM so far according to Google ratings. 70 mins in.
woohoo. he's off!
Not sure if it's just me but feels like Bellinghams been hesitant to pass to him on a few occasions
Agree.
Done really well. I think Rob Green wants his autograph
Did fantastic. Really chuffed for him.
He’ll be on the plane after his cameo against Brazil and the performance tonight.
Fantastic performance honestly. Looked like he'd been playing for England for years. We just need two more like him in our midfield and we are set for the next 15 years.
Yeah, I noticed that as well, especially that bit just before Mainoo went off.
Brilliant today. Always looks forward and his passing between the lines is snappy, accurate and incisive. He also always looks calm and keeps the ball so well.
There's a problem with both managers in that you can see they want him in the #8, and for good reason, but his tank can't do a full game at adult intensity yet - a few of those box-to-box runs and he's gasping for air whilst visibly slowing at least until he gets a full breather.
Still feel that for now you want him deeper with his foot on the ball making the ball do more work than he does, but I guess another way of looking at it for now is trying to get the game done and dusted inside his timeframe before subbing him out around 65-70 for someone else to see out the game.
Definitely a gear or two to go just by him being adult fit instead of the current kid fit that he is.
Hope he didn't pick up a knock from that shit Doku tackle.
Yeah I think the fitness issue is a function of what his coaches are asking him to do. If he sat at the base of midfield he could last 90 mins easy. But i'm happy he's having this experience playing as an 8 because it shows him the fitness levels he needs to get to to play full 90s at high intensity.
He doesn't want Mainoo to outshine him
Bellinghams biggest flaw is he knows how good he is and overdoes things because of it.
Surely Mainoo starts for England now? Even Southgate can't be that dim?
Pass to him or not, it's still only a matter of time.He doesn't want Mainoo to outshine him
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
Our midfield is a bit of a shit show so it was good to see him in a better one, very encouraging performance. In a way I was hoping he wouldn’t go to the Euros but he will be in the equation now after that showing.
Southgate will revert to type and start Henderson-Rice at the Euros
La Carrington 
True that!
He really is unreal. Nothing seems to faze him.