Yes I thought exactly the same thing when I heard experiment! This is the competition itself for God's sake.
More or less this. Then there’s a number of like for likes we could turn to if players are poor - Mainoo for Rice, Palmer for Foden, Watkins for Kane, Wharton for Bellingham, Eze for Gordon, or even shift to 442.
Quality of players is fine, just the tactics are ******ed. Ie Foden got Premier league player of the year playing in the middle, so let's chuck him out on the wing where he's useless.
Probably Sir Alf RIP. With Southgatethough any success feels more like despite him rather than because of him. It should also be remembered that qualifying for, and getting out of the groups at, both the World Cup and Euro’s has been made easier since the expansion of both.
We didn't beat what was in front of us though, that's the problem. And the problem ain't with the team, cos it's the best team we've had in bloody years.
Dire, dire performance. So poor from start to finish. Not sure how Southgate seems to be missing a trick here. Trent AA is not a CM, Foden isn't a winger. Drop Trent - Bellingham and Rice CM's, Foden CAM and then Palmer LW - I mean the fact Palmer hasn't had a minute yet and Bowen and Eze are getting run outs ahead of him tells you just about everything you need to know. We have one of the most exciting attacking line ups at the tournament yet we seems to be intent on playing sideway and backwards which is ridiculous. Get the ball forwards, take some risks, get the ball in the box ("put it in the mixer") and you never know something may break for you - but it sure as hell isn't going to happen playing backwards to the CB's and GK constantly.
Everyone is screaming this at Southgate, but he sticks with his own ridiculous formation, so don't expect it to change.
Until this, or any, manager actually picks a TEAM rather than a collection of individuals we will fail. Ayoze Perez was on the pitch doing things for Spain last night, ffs. Is he the best or second best left winger in Spain?! Doubt it, but he fits a system. We have no shape. Southgate has no idea how to play an effecive double pivot, nor a transitional 433 so we do neither well. Foden, Kane, Bellingham just occupy the same space. If Kane can’t hold a line and play target man, he needs dropping. I look at us needing to play like Newcastle during the 4th placed finish, because we did that with limited players. We aren’t City or Arsenal, we don’t have the class of Odegaard, De Bruyne, etc. So Newcastles rapid press should be the way to go, with one playmaker in the 6 (I’d go Mainoo) and two proactive CMs either side (Bellingham and Foden). Drop Rice he’s been crap. Then you need Gordon, Kane and Saka. One of the full backs should be able to shuffle into a back three so I’d probably go with Konsa at LB for now alongside Guehi, Stones and Walker. Then it’s about quick transitions in a higher press. Too many of our players want to drift centrally, Palmer, Eze, Foden, Bowen. The problem we have is that the manager should create an identity and pick the right players in it, with some like for likes and some alternative options. Additionally the manager we have is soft as clart, he’s not telling Kane to stay long, stretch the game. And if he’s isolated get in the ears of the wingers, switch to 2 up top, etc. Why are we always lumbered with such terrible managers.
I keep hearing that AG10 is impressing in training, making waves, looking good, pushing for a place etc. but then he and Palmer - who without bias I think is the better player - can't get in to the squad even as a sub ahead of Bowen and Eze? It doesn't make sense!
I said exactly this to my mate. What is he talking about KP for!? It just shows me that he's short of ideas and can't adapt.
It's mental how good we would be with Palmer or Gordon on the wing, Foden in CAM, and Bellingham dropping back....although another factor is that we'd need to actively press, not just stand around like a bunch of lobotomised stoners. Palmer and Gordon offer different things tbf, Palmer is a more consistent goal scorer, but Gordon is perfect for opening defenses, getting teams on the back foot etc. Starting Palmer then subbing him for Gordon is the way imo...but this point is moot tbh as neither of them get on the ****ing pitch.
T I seem to remember earlier in this thread saying experiment as much as you like outside any Tournament but you play your best side during any Tournament.
Nah Palmer has never played LW and Saka isn’t the problem. I’d give Palmer and Gordon the nod for Slovenia, mind. If Kane can’t stay long hook him at half time. I’d drop Rice and Trippier.
It's all arguments and permutations, but it comes back to the same thing - Southgate is playing the guy who was the best player in the Premier league this year, ie Foden, in a position he's no good at. Southgate seems to want to slavishly build the team around Bellingham in CAM, and everyone else just has to fit around that. With Foden, it's like Southgate's got a Ferrari, but insists on taking the wheels off before driving it.
Bellingham is good enough and has the engine to play alongside Rice though and then get forwards and get into the box from CM so it shouldn't be an issue to drop TAA for a more forwards thinking option further forward on the LW allowing Foden in the CAM role. Anyone noticed Bellingham seems to be slightly reticent to pass to Foden? Might just be me but they don't look like they are clicking as a pair.
no but I did notice that Rice didn't want to pass to Trippier on many occasions when it was the easier or best option
