Some selections I just don't get. Henderson ( getting past it) and Maguire ( out of form and not playing). Gallagher , yes give him a chance, but didn't take it. ... We also played Tomori and Trent AA out of position. The starting 11 was completely disjointed and it showed
There are some mitigating circumstances Beth. I agree about Henderson. He has been very good for England, but he's now looking past his best and is playing in a sub standard league. I do get the Maguire selection, especially with Stones injured. We really don't have a lot of choice at CB and Maguire, whilst not great, is nowhere near as bad as the keyboard warriors suggest. We are also struggling for left backs, meaning injuries led to a very patched up back four. My biggest concern was the midfield. We didn't play with a holding midfielder, so why not include Ward Prowse and Eze? I think Southgate got caught between giving some players another chance (Trent and especially Gallagher failed those auditions) and winning the game to ensure finishing top. Trent will never play right back for England imo. He wants to play in midfield anyway. Rashford is a real conundrum for me. He has rarely let England down, a bit like Sterling, but he can often look so low in confidence and is a bit of a one trick pony. I actually think that, with players like Palmer coming through and Foden looking better and better, it's the next world cup, with a new coach, where we really could be the real deal. Having said that, our strongest line up would definitely have a good chance in the Euros imo. Something like: Pickford Walker, Stones, ?, Shaw Rice Foden Bellingham Saka, Kane, ?
At this very moment... I think your last? would be Sterling, but whether he can continue his fine run of form...and reproduce it at England level who knows. I am impressed with Guehi..what do you think Col?
Took my two youngest grandsons, 9 & 10 years old, for their first England match at Wembley last night. I thought Malta would be a shooting match with plenty of goals but what an absolute shyte-show we got. We were inches away from conceding in the first minute and Malta showed more threat than us in the first half. A lucky own goal summed us up. Second half saw some improvement but we still made very hard work against opponents who really shouldn't be troubling us as they did. Kane wrapped it up and the best moment of the evening, a cracker from Rice succumbed to the cursed VAR. As others have said, with so much in-form talent to choose from Southgate's selections and set-up is a mystery. Watching from high up the east end with a great view of the pitch our shape let Malta playing compactly snuff out any threat and they were able to get at us quite easily in the 1st half, a better team would surely have punished us. My view of Southgate won't change and it's almost as if he plays his favourites out of stubbornness...
Yes I am too. Him and Stones wouldn't be the end of the world imo. Sterling has rarely let England down, but his form did dip badly. As you say, if he continues his present form I'd be happy for him to start on the left.
Yes, he's certainly sticking too long with one or two, showing a stubbornness that most coaches seem to have. He certainly didn't set up defensively last night, with no holding midfielder starting. It could be argued that is why our midfield looked so vulnerable. It's a shame it was such a lacklustre performance for your grandsons' first game. There have been plenty of goal fests from England recently and it was fair to assume that this would be another, although Malta don't seem to often let in 4 or 5 etc. Southgate will always provide certain limitations but imo he deserves huge credit for how far we've come, especially with the players now actually wanting to play together for England and actually enjoying it. This was shamefully missing from the so called golden generation.
France showing how to put away inferior opposition, 12-0 up after 78 minutes. Alright it's Gibraltar and they're down to 10 men, but still.
Lucky not to give away a penalty. Dion Dublin - 'it was the upper body, so not a penalty'. Huh? Same foul committed by Walker two minutes later given, but outside the area.
Macedonia free kick goes over everyone and out of play Channel four expert Mr Homes “not a bad ball in, possibly just over hit” I like talking to myself
We've played quite well too. Nice and fluid against niggly opposition. The only negative, apart from the ridiculous penalty, is Maguire (and obviously missing Kane). He needs to get injured before the Euros, or else Southgate will obviously continue to pick him. Get Kane on 2nd half.
