Awful to watch. We have so much talent in the squad that gets left out for his favourites. Couldn’t believe he started Mount in the World Cup then switched to Henderson. Grealish couldn’t even get a sniff.
Aye Jude goes to Madrid and even the Madrid players talking ‘wow’ in the press about them. Then Southgate plays a completely unbalanced midfield, and you have Jude and Madison who have both been sensational season today having to do double the graft just to try and get in game.
I wouldn't go as far as hoping they turn us over myself but they are flying at the moment and their place will be rocking. It wouldn't surprise me if they did beat us though, we will need to be bang at it.
He has to drop that deep because there’s no creativity in the midfield. He was coming into his own half constantly against France which is a massive issue within itself when you break and your no.9 is 30 yards behind your wingers.
I’ll argue til I’m blue in the face that a front 3 of Kane, Grealish and Saka with Rice, Bellingham and Foden behind them is as good as you’ll get in world football.
As has been said, don’t need a second DM with Rice. Rice hold, Madison 10 and Jude up and down. The players are there. The manager doesn’t have a clue how to maximise them. This is genuinely a brilliant batch of players we have that are going to waste if we don’t win a trophy.
Cant help feeling Henderson is being shoehorned in as a result of Saudi pressure/money. For him to be in the squad, i dont agree with, but im not suprised. Starting? Well, hes the Saudi poster boy now isnt he?
No argument here, although I’d likely take on of Grealish or Foden out for balance: The fact neither is on the park says it all about Southgate.
It’s not just the fact he’s not good enough anymore, he just doesn’t work with Rice and Bellingham. Bellingham is one of the best b2b mids in the world, you don’t need another b2b in the form of a 33 year old who’s past his best alongside him. Henderson has never been technically brilliant he was always the engine of liverpools team but do you need when you have Rice? You need a creator in there, a KDB type who sees passes that other players won’t and I think that’s Foden.
Even if Grealish sat out you have Rashford on the left. We haven’t even mentioned Eze either. The options we have are embarrassing and we continue to play the same players who’ve won nothing.
Never saw that at the time - Rice bollocking Henderson about where he was on the pitch for the Ukraine goal
That’s Rice strength, he absolutely knows his role, and he reads the game so well he knows when to leave his role and support getting forward. He simply doesn’t need his hand held from a past it player essentially playing semi-pro
The only thing that I'm questioning with what you have said is about Jude. I would have agreed before this season, but he's been a revelation for Real Madrid as a 10. If that's his best position, then the question is if he should be nailed and we build the team around him. What we could do though (which not many teams can) is emulate the Man City formation. Stones stepping into midfield would allow Bellingham to play "The Gundogan" role which I guess is the box to box that you've suggested but with that bit more attacking freedom.
For all he’s started the season more or less as a 10, I wouldn’t say that’s maximising Jude. He can do all of the roles to a degree in the centre there but getting box to box is absolutely where he has most influence for me. Might change if Madrid mould him to be an eternal 10 but I don’t think they will over time. The lad is just outrageously good, even before we consider how young and how much improving he has in him still.
Defo, he’s not a 10 like. Looks quality as a b2b/Mezzala type. Madrid are just playing a weird midfield at the minute because they don’t really have a striker so it’s a midfield 4 then Rodrygo and Vini wide making almost a midfield 6 which allows Jude and Valverde to play really advanced.
I agree, he's already one of the best in the world. With the talent we have, we absolutely should be winning things. Southgate won't get off the idea that he needs someone more defensive alongside Rice though. I didn't have a problem with that when Henderson was still in his prime and some of our players were younger, but we have to trust the maturity of Rice, Foden, Bellingham and Saka now.
Couldn’t agree more mate. Annoys me a bit that Foden is at City because if he was anywhere else he’d be playing week in week out and show everyone how much quality he really has but on the other hand he’s learning off some of the best in the game whilst he’s there.
