There's a glaring omission from Japan's squad... please log in to view this image Then again, his penalty taking needs a lot of work
While I enjoy running down England and have made any number of derisive remarks about Southgate, I repent of them for the moment. I'll give Southgate a 6/10 rating and predict England will get knocked out in the quarterfinals. What Southgate got right: 1. Understanding the best thing he could do was make England Tottenham lite. 2. Understanding, I think, that they have one first class midfielder, Dele, and they will go as far as Dele can carry them. 3. Understanding his second best midfielder is Kane. 4. Having a plan and sticking to it. 6. Bringing a psychologist along. What Southgate screwed up: 1. The whole backline + DM, which is too clever by half. Make Walker or Trippier the RB, maybe even play Trippier against weaker teams and Walker against stronger ones, but don't shoehorn them both into the backline. Dier is a good DM, but only when he can shift back and forth from DM to CM as appropriate. SImilarly, pick the two least bad CBs, and hope for the best. Just make sure neither one of them is named Stones. 2. He wants to be the popular girl by keeping most of his players in suspense as to whether they'll start or play. It seems to me he ought to have decided on his first team months ago and given them plenty of time to get used to each other. Tbf, lots of managers seem to do this, so maybe it's not as crazy as I think it is. 3. Bringing a psychologist along. Anyone who sees a psychologist ought to have his head examined.
He seems to be quite flexible in his thinking, but still seems to be determined to play a couple of players regardless of how they perform. I believe that Stones and Sterling will continue to be played regardless of how well they perform at the WC - because they continue to be picked despite performances so far! But a main reason why England are not "Tottenham lite" is that while they have the option (unlike many other teams) to play a midfielder who can drop back into a centre back "3", they go instead for a centre back who "is good on the ball" (and always good for a mistake) instead. In other words this obsession with playing 3 defenders, one of which is Stones, is stopping Dier playing because I'm sure Henderson will get the nod instead. Surely the Dier dropping back option is more flexible, and better against Tunisia and Panama?
For the group stages, you assume that Tunisia and Panama may go for "smash and grab" via busparquet. Which means you must pick a starting XI that can overwhelm them and get 2/3 goals up by HT. Belgium vs England IMHO will be like a top 4 PL side vs a top 10 PL side. As that is the last game in the group, Southgate has the certainty of knowing what kind of performance will be required in that game.
Stones is inexplicable. While I would play Lingard and Rashford on the grounds that they are teammates, I don't feel strongly about not playing Sterling. He does get into great positions and will frighten defenders, unless they've ever watched him try to finish. My theory is that it's all been a big act to lull opponents into a false sense of security; he'll unveil Mueller-like finishing qualities when defenders stop worrying about him entirely. Surely he couldn't have been trying to put the ball in the net lately. As to Henderson vs. Dier: if Southgate plays Henderson instead of Dier, my prediction is rescinded, Southgate gets a 2, and England will crash out in the first round. I keep trying to work out how Henderson could be so awful every time I watch him. I see him play, I start talking about how bad he is, and then he makes my cruel gibes look like flattery.
Japan beat Paraguay 4-2 in a warm up game. Santander scored an own goal - which, as a customer, does not surprise me at all.
The new Real Madrid manager is getting in some practice for his new job.......he's just been sacked from his old one. Real Madrid.......what a bunch of ****ers. "Pochettino To Be New Spain Manager" headlines in 5....4.....3....2.....
Get Benitez in for the tournament like Scotland did with Ferguson when Jock Stein died. Guardiola is an avowed Catalan separatist so managing Spain would be seen as hypocritical.
The words to describe the Spanish FA should involve the following - pram dummy & toys and throwing. That will inspire the players !
Spain sack their manager for making himself a lame duck before the world cup. The FA made their own manager a lame duck before the world cup. Remind me again who's won things lately.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/...9,31,4,9,6,13,17,25,21,28,9,17,13,21,17,21,17 Got to say that's a very well designed game.
