OK this is the England team I'd pick if everyone was fit I know Arnold can't defend but I don't think James is great defending either and Arnold is just better at delivering crosses and set pieces. I'd stick with Pickford as he's in form and always ups his game for England. Pickford Arnold Trippier Stones White Rice Bellingham Gealish Saka Foden Kane. I'd definitely be having Madison in the squad to operate in a number 10 role which I'd have Foden playing to start with. I'd want him on the ball as much as possible. I'd be playing Saka in his proper position and along with Grealish be telling them to take on their players as often as possible. I'd have given White the opportunity at centre back ages ago as he's as reliable as any of the others and has age on his side. Stones would go in alongside him as much more preferable to me than Dier or Maguire.
Presumably that's a 4-2-3-1 if Foden is at 10? I don't mind that. I'd prefer 4-3-3: Pickford Arnold Stones Maguire Shaw Mount Rice Bellingham Saka Kane Foden I agree that it's all about getting the best out of our attacking players and also giving service to Kane, who is a goal scorer. At least there's zero expectations now.
The end of an era... Roger Federer: 20-time Grand Slam champion retires after Laver Cup loss https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/63014093 What a career! Totally dedicated sportsman
What I find so annoying is how the best crop of young talent this country has ever had looks like being squandered by a manager who who doesn't have the tactical nous to get the best out of them. Surely if we fail to reach at least the latter stages of the tournament he has to go but we'll probably get all the excuses such as players are tired, the heat etc. He really seems to be a busted flush...
From someone on the outside looking in, this is my take on it. England currently have a extremely talented team worthy of many things. How far they advance in the World Cup depends only on the manager. For me, a great team will be only as good as the manager whose real job is to man manage each player. He can bring out their talent or hold it back. A great manager will advance an otherwise ordinary team. If England have a problem, it won't be the players. Just my two bobs worth.
It shouldn't be forgotten the absolute shambles that Southgate inherited, with Kane taking corners ffs. He did a fantastic job in getting the public to fall in love with their team again, whilst steering us to a WC semi-final and Euros final. I agree that these were opportunities to win a tournament missed, but he still deserves immense credit imo. This stuff about him inheriting the best group of players isn't necessarily true imo. The Beckham generation was the best imo, with the WC 1990 side not far behind. This generation has yet to fulfil its potential imo. I agree that we probably need a different coach, with fresh ideas to help them achieve their potential. We definitely haven't seen the best of the likes of Foden, Saka, Bellingham, Sancho, Mount and Grealish at international level imo. Others like Maddison could figure too. Southgate will need to go after the WC.
I think we miss natural leaders on the pitch. All those players you listed are very good but none of them are real leaders, kids with real potential. Kane is the nearest we have to it I suppose but you need some bigger characters in other positions. Maguire was one but he has so many issues now. Henderson surely had his day at international level. Mind you even when we had leaders all over the place - Gerrard, Ferdinand, Terry, Lampard, Rooney - we were ****. Southgate was great when the expectations were zero and we played with freedom, but all the old crippling anxieties are back now, with a high chance of ruining some of these players at international level at least. Time for a change but I have no idea who would replace him, at least in terms of English managers. Italy have collapsed since the Euros, going very much in the same direction as England, except their players aren’t as good. Mancini had them playing good football briefly, but they have reverted to the old ways. Arrigo Sacchi, who just about invented the high press, said that Mark Hughes (of all people) once told him that if the pitch was 2km long, the Italians would play in the first 20 metres. Sacchi agreed, he reckons no matter how much you try and do something different like he did with the great Milan side, they have this mindset in their DNA. He also reckons that there is little managerial talent in Italy at the moment.
I don't know who could replace Southgate either. The past England players you mention have admitted that club rivalry had prevented them from fulfilling their potential for their country. Something I can neither understand nor forgive. Southgate, to his credit, oversaw a change in that way of thinking. I also agree about a lack of leaders. Saka and Foden look like boys against men at times for England. Rice and Kane are probably the only ones unless Maguire can regain his self belief. He actually played well last night.
Mondays match will be interesting. My concern is Southgate is too defensive minded, that said, it’s worrying Dier is back in the setup.
It’s scandalous that Timori can’t get a game while plodders like Maguire and Dier get in. With the players we have it’s crying out for 4-3-3 rather than having to play a 3 at the back to protect those plodders.
Any goalkeeper, probably Ramsdale but Pickford is inevitable. James-Tomori-Stones-Chilwell Ward-Prowse - Rice - Bellingham Foden - Kane - Grealish I’d have had Phillips in there but he’s not playing. Henderson looks shot. He’ll 100% pick Sterling and shoehorn him in somewhere but I think that team gives us the best balance, might actually score a goal and guarantees good set pieces.
Yep, I could live with that team. Lacks pace though, which could be introduced from the bench. Pickford is 100% the No1 when you consider he's so much better with his feet. I'd forgotten Ward-Prowse and he would give us excellent set piece delivery as you say. I always had Sterling in, but he looks past his best now, as does Henderson. Shame Phillips has had such injury problems and now needs an operation.
