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GREALISH or Maddison. Maddison or Foden. Foden or Grealish.
Gareth Southgate has the proverbial ‘headache’ when it comes to selecting his most gifted creative players among a profusion of seductive options.

Glenn Hoddle believes England are spoilt for choice in No10 role, with Phil Foden one optionCredit: AFP – Getty

Former Three Lions boss Hoddle also tipped Gareth Southgate to pick Jack Grealish over James MaddisonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

So, there is no one better to help sort out the dilemma than one of this country’s greatest ever No 10s, Glenn Hoddle, especially as it will be Grealish v Maddison when Aston Villa take on Leicester on Sunday.
Hoddle has no doubt that Jack Grealish and James Maddison can be accommodated in the same side, much depending on the two possible ‘shapes’ Southgate goes for, but the big issue is whether Phil Foden can be omitted.
And given his current electric form in terms of assists and goals he would be first choice according to Hoddle.
That leaves whether it is Grealish or Maddison who would play with Foden for England, as they go head-to-head at Villa Park a clash Southgate will be watching with great interest.

Hoddle would have won double his 57 England caps, if, back in his day England managers had wanted or relied on the No 10.
The former England manager says: “There is a huge difference to when I played in England, when everybody played the same, always 4-4-2, so there was no need for a No10. Most teams played the ball in the air, went direct, route one, and with so many long balls the No 10, that a No 10 wasn’t really something teams needed to acquire in English football.
“Of course abroad the No 10 was THE player in every team, you’d go to France, Italy and Spain and the No10s were coming out of your ears, but here we were so far behind in our coaching techniques, the way we were teaching children through the academies.

It wasn’t that long ago we had a similar debate whether Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard could play together in the same team.
Glenn Hoddle

“In my last season in England we fell upon a system, when David Pleat was manager at Spurs, where I did play as a No 10, and Clive Allen was up front on his own, and in that season Clive scored 49 goals.

“Then I went to France, and straight away they said I was their No 10 at Monaco under Arsene Wenger, that they considered the No10 the most important player in any team, the most vital position of any position on the pitch, they wanted their No10 to be a creative and a goalscoring player, and it was just amazing to see it coming from England.
“Now it’s totally reversed. From the emphasis on the long ball in the 70s and 80s our game is no longer about the long ball, instead it’s all about playing out from the back, on beautiful precision pitches, with rules changes, and that brings us to the current day with so many creative No10s that that the England manager is spoilt for choice, and that’s a wonderful place to be, because you have to be flexible because of injuries or loss of form, and Gareth now has so many options.
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“Looking at the game where Grealish and Maddison will be up against each other this weekend, it is inevitable that there will be comparisons inevitable that the question will be asked whether they can play together.
“It wasn’t that long ago we had a similar debate whether Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard could play together in the same team.
“Now that our systems are more flexible, of course, Maddison and Grealish can play in the same team, however, with Phil Foden likely to be in the mix, the most likely scenario is that it will be Foden and probably Grealish whom Gareth would go for, but again much depends on which shape the England manager opts for.
“Clearly we are now blessed with an abundance of skilful No10s and of course he cannot play them all, but which ever combination he goes for, and Mason Mount would also come under consideration, then there is the prospect of a very exciting team, and a very exciting future with such an abundance of talent.”

Hoddle claimed that Leicester star Maddison can play in the same team as GrealishCredit: Getty – Contributor

While Hoddle might favour Grealish over Maddison for now, that might not always be the case, and his solution for Grealish maintaining his current prominence might well be a big money move, probably to a club like Manchester United.
Hoddle argues: “Grealish is not playing Champions League football, and is unlikely for the time being to do so while staying with Villa.
“The Champions League is no doubt in my mind an important stepping stone between the Premier League and international football.”
–          Every Sunday evening hear all the latest views from Glenn in his weekly football ‘Hoddcast.’ Available on all leading podcast platforms or directly via https://bit.ly/Hoddcast

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MANCHESTER UNITED will ditch Dean Henderson OR David De Gea when the season finishes — to end their keeper capers.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has decided to halt the scrap for the jersey between the pair and one will leave Old Trafford in the summer, either on loan or in a permanent transfer.

Dean Henderson is set to battle David De Gea for the No1 role at Manchester United – with one of them to be SOLD this summerCredit: The Mega Agency

United are already looking for a top-class cover keeper who would be happy playing a handful of games a season.
It has become an issue behind the scenes, despite the public ‘line’ that Solskjaer is happy with the competition.
The likely scenario is England hopeful Henderson moving out in the summer if he does not like being No 2 to De Gea.
Henderson, 23, has been recalled from loans at Sheffield United to get a crack at becoming first choice at Manchester United — his ultimate dream.

But after a meeting with the manager, Henderson was told only one of the pair would be at the club next season.
Henderson knows his England place is at risk as a reserve and is desperate to play at this time in his career.
However, it may yet be that Spaniard De Gea, 30, goes after his recent horror show against Everton.
Solskjaer has favoured De Gea this term and was happy to stand by him. But that was among his worst displays and left a question mark on his future.

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The indecision will have to end for football reasons, although there is also a financial element because United are paying fortunes for both keepers AND Sergio Romero, who is still with them on a chunky wage.
De Gea has just over two years left on his deal and is one of their highest-paid players on £19.5million a year.
Henderson just signed a deal until 2025, with a year’s option, that took him into the £6m-a-year category.
United will make the decision this summer, so BOTH De Gea and Henderson are now playing for their futures.

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DAVID MOYES won’t win the title with West Ham — but when it comes to the signing of the season he’s in a league of his own.
Actually, he’d have a decent shout of making it a clean sweep with numbers two and three as well, because Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal have both been sensational.

Craig Dawson has made his mark at West Ham this season and is easily one of the signings of the seasonCredit: AFP and Licensors

Tomas Soucek tallies 11 goals since joining the Hammers – and has been another inspired bit of businessCredit: EPA

But in my opinion, not even those two — outstanding as they have been — can top the impact Craig Dawson has already had in his short time with the club.
Not bad for a bloke who couldn’t even get a game in the Championship before West Ham came in for him in October.
Well, he may have not got further than the bench at Watford — apart from losing a League Cup game at Newport — but he’s one of the first names Moyesie puts on his teamsheet now.
To be honest, there were probably three centre-backs ahead of him when they signed him.

And I know a lot of people were thinking, ‘What’s he doing with signing a bloke who can’t get a game?’.
But I speak to West Ham fans a lot — and they’re not doubting him any more. They’re amazed at how amazing he has been.
Whoever came up with the idea — and I assume it’s David — played a blinder, and Dawson will be one of the main men they’re relying on against Tottenham on Sunday as well.
He’ll never get the same headlines as some of this season’s signings. I mean the likes of Timo Werner, Edinson Cavani, Thiago, James Rodriguez or even Ruben Dias.

But none of them — not even Dias, who’s been brilliant for Manchester City — have been so vital to their team.
In 11 games since Dawson made his debut, West Ham have only conceded eight goals. And at the other end he’s scored three of his own.
In fact he’s their biggest danger at set-pieces and wins everything in the air in his own box. He’s what I’d call a proper lad, a great competitor, just a top centre-back.
As a manager, you always have those players you know you can rely on.
The ones who always give everything and will score an eight out of ten every week.
They’re never the headline act but they are absolute gold dust — and I had a few of them in my time.
At Bournemouth I signed a bloke called John Williams from Port Vale and he won us promotion.
Iain Dowie got some real stick off the fans in three years with me at West Ham, but I knew what he’d give me every week.

I can see exactly why Moyesie loves Dawson so much, because he’s showed such great character to come in and prove people wrong.

Harry Redknapp writes on the top transfer business West Ham have pulled offCredit: Louis Wood – The Sun
He was great in the dressing room and a real character.
At Portsmouth I had plenty of them, but Linvoy Primus, Arjan de Zeeuw and Dejan Stefanovic stood out.
At Tottenham I knew that when Ledley King was fit we had a great chance of winning, but he suffered with injuries.
Two more who really stood out for me were Scotty Parker and Wilson Palacios — and that’s including the likes of Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart too.
None of those mentioned are flash, they’re hardly ever in the spotlight, but every one of them is priceless.
I can see exactly why Moyesie loves Dawson so much, because he’s showed such great character to come in and prove people wrong. Like the manager has, in many ways, too.
He has brought some top players into that squad. Not many people have kept Jack Grealish as quiet as Coufal did when West Ham won at Aston Villa.
Soucek is a real threat arriving in the box, Jesse Lingard’s been on fire since he arrived and Declan Rice has been superb again.
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Who’d have thought that after 24 games they’d be level with Chelsea, outside the Champions League places only on goal difference and won more games than Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal?
I think the top four is asking a bit much, but if Hammers finish sixth it would still be amazing — there’s no reason at all why they shouldn’t get a European place.
Look at the squad Moyesie’s got compared to Jose Mourinho — who has 22 internationals at Spurs — and it shows what a job he’s done.
I’ve got a lot of time for him and it’s good to see a Brit doing so well.
It proves we can do the job just as well as the foreign managers given the opportunity.
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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LES FERDINAND believes football is now going through the motions when it comes to players take the knee.
QPR’s director of football reckons the game is paying “lip service” to the issue of racist abuse, which continues to blight it.

Les Ferdinand believes the message behind taking the knee has been ‘lost’Credit: Rex Features

Derby striker Colin Kazim-Richards is one of the players who feel a different approach is needed to tackle racismCredit: Rex Features

Ferdinand’s views were echoed by Ivan Toney yesterday, the Brentford striker claiming players are being “used as puppets” so people at the top of the sport can do nothing on the matter.
Ferdinand’s QPR players were the first team this season to opt against taking the knee ahead of a Championship clash at Coventry in September.
The former England striker, one of football’s most respected figures, said at the time his club did not carry out the gesture in support of Black Lives Matter because the “message had been lost”.
Five months on, there are still torrents of racist hatred being directed at stars on social media.

Ferdinand, 54, told SunSport: “When people take the knee, they feel like they are giving us an opportunity to make a gesture.
“Yes it is a powerful gesture, but now look at everybody who is  taking the knee and the way they are taking it.
“They’re doing it just for the sake of doing it. There is no change. We need action.
“In 1995 Eric Cantona went into the stands and kicked somebody. That was 20 odd years ago! But were are STILL talking about the same problem today.

Brentford frontman Ivan Toney has also insisted not enough is being doneCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“Do people want to eradicate it or do they just want to pay lip service? Because that’s what it seems to me, lip service.”
Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha said on Thursday that he would no longer take the knee because he found it “demeaning”, adding: “I’m not here to tick boxes.”
And QPR’s West London rivals Brentford announced last Saturday that their players would no longer be taking the knee too.
Bees ace Toney, the Championship’s 24-goal top scorer, said  yesterday: “We have had a long  discussion and everyone agrees that  nothing has changed.
“We are kind of being used as puppets, in my eyes — take the knee and the people at the top can rest for a while, which is pretty silly and pointless. Nothing is changing.”
Premier League chiefs have assembled a taskforce to catch online abusers after Arsenal duo Eddie Nketiah and Willian became the latest players to fall victim to   racists on social media.
Ferdinand added: “If you want to eradicate racism on social media, you can. You just have to come up with harsh penalties and whatever the harsh penalty is, go with it.

I feel like the punishment has to be harder… We are actually looking through our mentions for racist abuse. That should never be the case.
Ivan Toney

“Years ago, when they fought England hooligans in Europe, they banned English clubs in Europe for five years.
“It wasn’t all the supporters that were causing problems but all the supporters had to suffer because of a few minorities’ actions.
“It stopped the problem. You have to be harsh with the penalty to solve a problem and unfortunately what it shows me is that the authorities  are not really bothered about solving the problem.”
Toney, 24, was subjected to online abuse last month and reported it to police.
He said: “There was an incident recently, I put it out there. I  don’t really think it’s going to go any further.
“They might get a slap on the wrist but, come next week, they can just do it again.
“So I feel like the punishment has to be harder.

⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
“We are actually looking through our mentions for racist abuse. That should never be the case.
“People might say you’re rubbish but colour shouldn’t come into  the situation.
“The way things are going at the moment, I think instead of taking the knee they will probably think of something else to do and just cover it all up for another year  or so.”

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