Just because I don't follow football match (apart from the lads) I didn't realise Paulinha and Vitinho were Portuguese. They look solid.
So we still have an out of sorts RB playing LB that has to cut back onto his right foot, nobody down the right who can play a ball in the box as Walker either always cuts back or blasts a hopeless ball in without any control. His cross during the week needed two deflections to find a free Kane. A centre mid who's playing in a struggling Championship side 6 months ago, hardly any Premiership experience nevermind international experience. Drop Saka? He's only of 2 or 3 who've actually done something in the two games. I'd rather see Jude pushed back alongside Rice and Foden with a free role ahead. Saka has played LB and LWB in the past, and Bellingham has played further back for Dortmund and England.
I'd be tempted to put Saka at left back or left wing back just for some balance. We have loads of wingers/wide players. No issue in resting Kane for Watkins either.
Southgate ain't going to drop Kane unless he feels he needs a rest. We spoke about the following in a 343. It's fluid with the option making it a 532/433 or 451. Pickford Walker Stone Guéhi Trent Rice Bellingham Saka Foden Gordon Kane Either way Gareth has screwed himself in taking Eze, Wharton, Mainoo, Bowen, Watkins and Toney with next to no International experience along with NO fit left back. Chilwell should be there purely on the fact he's probably the best fit LB we have.
Only because of wing backs I'd play Palmer instead of Gordon. Forgot we played this formation at Euro 2020 (2021)
Martinez has Portugal way more organised and up for it than Southgate has after 8 years in charge of us.
More balanced with some desire to do well for their country. I always feel the Dutch and Belgium players are arrogant to the point they over do themselves. Edit: similar to the England players and fans.
You can come up with all sorts of justifications and arguments but the fact remains - no team in the world plays with that many attacking players.
Hardly any teams in history have lopsided team as per yours and Southgates yet here we are. Portugal have a fairly attacking side with probably a weaker two compared to a middle two of Rice and Bellingham.
It’s all part of the lazy anti-Southgate narrative - “oh look at this mega attacking team we could play. I bet boring old Gareth won’t play that team. Why doesn’t he play Saka at left back because that would definitely work?” it’s mega easy to criticise when you know that your own flawed tactics will never be tested
Disgraceful that four people can enter the field of play and totally disrupt the football ... ... Foden, Kane, Saka and Trippier ffs
Rio has been calling for Saka to be tried at LB. Not my fault his poor decision have left his squad and tactics lopsided. He'd been in charge for nearly 9 years and he still talking about improvement.
Looking like some changes in the England side for the 3rd game. Gallagher in CM likely, no Trent. Gordon down the left for more width. More crosses into box needed.
Just not a fan of two right footers on the left. Maybe switch Saka to the LW and Gordon down the RW. Easy to switch over to freshen things up. It was one of our downfalls under TM, MB and MD when they persisted with inverted wingers.
