Kane, foden & Bellingham all want to come inside and fill the 10 space. Then you have trippier coming inside too also filling the centre. Put Shaw in and gordon/palmer on the wing and tell the wingers to stretch the pitch and we would instantly look better. All our players are filling the centre and it’s a tactical cluster ****
If Shaw was fit he'd be playing. Which is why it was a ludicrous decision not to take another natural LB to Germany.
Who are English left backs? Chilwell and Mitchell is all I can think of. Chilwell is injured as well isn’t he?
Mitchell not being in that squad is shocking. Every other country would have called up their next best left back, instead we just pick a right back who is on the decline anyway.
Does Crystal Palace having all the talented English young players suggest the Premier League is getting more balanced or that the top teams are not that interested in English talent?
Missed the game last night to see the Foo Fighters in London and from every reaction I’ve seen today it sounds like I made the right choice. By the way the fact TAA is **** in midfield basically means he is guaranteed to start every game until we get knocked out. Southgate today bemoaning the lack of Phillips, could at very least play a central midfielder in central midfield, much beyond his tactical capability to make a choice like that though. First thing I want to see from the next England manager is picking the correct players for the correct positions.
There are big pros and big cons to Southgate, but historically the only ‘top’ side we have beaten in a major competition during his tenure is Germany in Euro 2020. Every other time we have lost to the first ‘top’ side we have faced. Although we win the group the R16 and QF could be very favourable, I don’t see us getting past the semis for toffee.
If we play like we did against Denmark we probably won't win the group. Although I do expect us to improve, partly because Southgate will definitely make changes but also because it can't get much worse!
That was my mischievous subtext! For all our hopes for this team, there are some really poor areas in it. England should have at least 5 left backs you can call up!
Southgate has got Jack Stephens syndrome. There are players he believes are too good to miss out, so rather than bench them as there are players as good already playing, he shoehorns them into an unnatural position. Play the best players in their best role. If we happen to have the best right back already there in right back, then drop the other player. So simple. Remember Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence. Both outstanding keepers and they kept getting rotated until we stuck with Shilton.
There probably are, it's just England's selection criteria only stretches as far as certain clubs and leagues. If they were looking to bring about a balanced team rather than bringing together the most talented they can find, then their focus should be a bit wider. For instance, Leif Davis (Ipswich's LB) has had a stellar season in the Championship.
Watching Netherlands v France is almost like watching an entirely different sport from Denmark v England.
The longest VAR decision of the entire tournament, conducted by English officials, and they get it wrong. Sigh.
