Don't do yourself down mate. The fact that Col pontificates as he does doesn't mean that he knows more than you do.
I don't think Col was pontificating mate. He was just stating that we all see the game differently. I'm not doing myself down, but I do hold my hands up to some having a better insight into the game than I do. Like even you for instance
A few years ago, I went to Wembley Stadium for an audience with Gareth Southgate. It was a bit of a Q&A with him and about the direction he wanted to take the team in. This was before the last World Cup. The lasting memory of that evening for me was how much he kept banging on about Eric Dier, how cultured he was, a leader, and how he learnt his trade as a youngster in Portugal. I don't think ( despite the evidence ) that he will give up on his fixation with him.
Pontificate: Verb, Express one's opinions in a pompous and dogmatic way. As my much missed friend Paul O'Neill would say, 'I know nothing, but I'll tell you this'. Col's opinions are every bit as valid as yours or mine of course, but no more than that.
Cheers mate. I am fascinated by tactics and formations, even more so now that the lad has done a degree in this stuff. I realise that I go on about line ups etc, but that doesn't make me right. It's all opinions.. (Although I was right about the line up still being 3-4-3 last night - sorry Strolls) Interesting what you say about Southgate discussing Dier. Jose also rates him very highly and he's had a good season so far playing centre back at Spurs. I don't think he's good enough for England's starting 11, but then I don't think Rice is either. Opinions.
Our youngsters have one the world cup at two different age groups and we have a lot of very talented youngsters to pick from imo. The biggest problem we have, imo, is that we don't have a world class goal keeper or any world class defenders. Even our full backs are great going forward, but not so good defensively. That's why I believe Southgate needs to be more adventurous in his selections.
I don't know why you bother watching them mate. England have been superb so far against a very limited, but stubborn Iceland, with some of those very talented youngsters on show that you insist we don't have.
Scotland 1-0 down. They need to win, as much as anyone needs to win in this ballache of a glorified friendly competition.
You got Maguire playing as another midfielder come attacker half the time, that shows how bad Iceland are if he can play in that position, nothing to play for so why try a different keeper?
Lovely finish from Foden, after great approach work by Saka and Sancho. Foden has been excellent. Another great young player.
Oh fantastic goal by Foden. Two for him now and no more than he deserves. Man of the match display from him. The future is bright with so many very good young players.