Stuart Pearce called for Phil Foden to be taken off just 29 minutes into England's Euro 2024 opener against Serbia.
The former England star felt it wasn't Foden's game and wanted to see him replaced by Eberechi Eze.
England were 1-0 up at the time after Jude Bellingham pounced on Bukayo Saka's cross to head Gareth Southgate's men ahead.
Pearce told talkSPORT: 'I'm going to say and I'm going to make this statement as early as possible.
'We talked about early substitutions leading into the game, I tell you what I'd do, I'd bring Eze on now to attack instead of Foden.
'You ask for my opinion and I'll give you my solution after 29 minutes!'
He added: 'What I'm seeing at the moment is an England team who are attacking solely down the right-hand side.
'There's no attack down the left-hand side whatsoever – Trippier is obviously being a right-footed left-back and isn't offering anything in the advanced areas.
'Foden is cutting in and being like a utility player almost.
'I'd like to see us having a joint attack on either side and the way that Serbia have set up is like they're lying down and saying 'please don't hurt us too much'.
'We've only got Saka who has the ability to go and attack someone as an out-and-out winger – I'd like to see another one on this side.'
There was a time when Pearce was calling the shots from the England dugout - for one game.
Pearce was caretaker manager in 2012 and took charge of a 3-2 defeat by the Netherlands at Wembley.
That day he took off Steven Gerrard for Daniel Sturridge after just 33 minutes - although the Liverpool star was injured.
He was interim boss between Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson.
As a player he amassed 78 England caps, holding down the spot as first-choice left-back and featuring between 1987 and 1999.