Stoke City, left-back lesson and the change Gareth Southgate must make for England vs Slovakia
Stoke City legend Mike Pejic is encouraged by Steven Schumacher’s latest transfer business and picks his England side to win Euro 2024
As one left-back to another, welcome to Stoke City and good luck to our new signing Eric Bocat. I’m excited to watch what he will bring to Steven Schumacher’s squad and how he takes to the Championship. But first and foremost I’m glad that, with Bocat and Enda Stevens, we’ve got two natural left-sided players competing for that spot on the left of defence.
No matter what system you have in mind or whether it’s possession or counter-attacking football, you need that balance. Everyone is looking at this England team at the Euros and wondering why we couldn’t find someone fit who is comfortable with their left foot to take that role? Why are we playing a right-footed left-back?
You have to be able to stretch teams and being able to open up your body on that side means you can play passes quicker, you can play down the line and play through the channels rather than continually going backwards or sideways. I can’t believe some of the stuff I’ve been seeing over the last couple of weeks at this tournament.
