The problem they have is they don't have a fully fit number 9. Embolo is good but he's come into the tournament off the back of a lost season due to a bad knee injury. He's made a good impact off the bench but they'll need more than that from him if they're to progress further.
So, how do we feel tonight's game will go? Last night, Lineker said today is a "free hit" and a chance to be more aggressive, and the other pundits basically laughed. Do we think Southgate is incapable of utilising an attacking squad in a coherent manner? In which case, why did he bring one? Interested in people's opinions!
Some stats: There were three English players in the list of 10 hardest working players this season. Rice, Gallagher and JWP. Obviously we didn't bring JWP. Should we be using Gallagher? Saka, Foden and Cole Palmer were in the top ten for chance creation and most shots. Anthony Gordon is the only English player in the top ten fastest for the season. Lots of calls for him to play left.
What are the combos for 1st, second and third for our next game? Reason I ask is that I am about to raise a change request at work for a few hours starting at 10pm and need to make sure it doesn't conflict. I was thinking Monday may be a good day?
For tonight’s game I really want to see Wharton. Peronally I’d play: same defence (as Southgate brought no alternatives) Wharton rice Saka Jude Palmer (Gordon off the bench) Kane I really think Wharton can be the missing link between defence and attack for us. Palmer on the left is an absolute no brainer for me as well, the kid is absolutely amazing. Good chance to see what Gordon can do as well.
I'd hold off on raising change requests until, Ooh, let's see - about Monday 15th July. If you're being pressed to to the work sooner, form a Focus Group to discuss the pros and cons of the change - invite as many people as possible, and canvass each person for their views. Then re-write the standards policy, and the financial justification - all you need to do is to change the date and the author on these documents, as no-one ever reads them. If all else fails, point out that there's an election going on in Britain, there will soon be one in the US, so any change will have to take both of these things into account, and the company will ultimately save money by only needing to do one change, rather than making a change, then having to make further amendments to comply with governmental statutes. I've been doing this for years, until I retired, and people wondered what my job actually consisted of.
July 1st at 10pm. It is a 30 min change, but kept the window open from 10pm to 6am next day, incase we finish 3rd and play at 8pm and go to extra time and pens
England v Netherlands can be very lightly penciled in as a L16 tie (paired with the Switzerland v Italy L16 tie). Far from confirmed yet though.
