I don't disagree. I'd be tempted to play Rice holding, with Bellingham as an 8 and Foden as a 10. Problem is, there are limitations on the left with no Rashford (rightly) and no Grealish. Eze could start there and I'd be happy with that, with Kane and Saka. Realistically I think it will be a front 3 of Foden, Kane and Saka. Bellingham at 10 and a question mark over who will partner Rice. Awesome attacking options in this squad. Obviously it's the defence that is the concern.
Think he’ll start Mainoo with Rice rather than play Bellingham further back. I’d go with your team. The left-back spot is going to be a problem. I find it mad he’s not taken Mitchell.
Yeah, I'd have taken another left footer for definite. I'd have taken Branthwaite ahead of bloody Dunk! Haven't seen enough of Mitchell to form an opinion. Mainoo wouldn't be the end of the world and having Bellingham as far forward as possible could make all the difference. I suppose Palmer could figure somewhere, but he always seems to play on the right and he won't start ahead of Saka.
What I will say is, if our front 4 ends up being Bellingham, Foden, Kane and Saka, I don't think many people would be able to criticise Southgate for his selections. Walker, Stones, Gueue(?) and Trippier doesn't sound too shabby to start with imo.
I'd like to see Eze playing as a 10 because I think he's at his best there. I'd have Rice, the 6, and Bellingham, the 8, as the 2 in midfield. Foden left of Eze and Saka right, Kane the front man. But obviously there are lots of good attacking options and a strong bench of attack minded players, but not confident in the defensive capability.
Some blue and white tinted glasses perhaps. I love Eze more than a grown adult should love a footballer, but it would be criminal not to start Foden or Bellingham there. We really are spoilt for choice in the 10 role.
Of course I'm wearing blue and white hooped contact lenses, but I wrote what I'd Like to see. But I do expect England will have their usual problems with key players drained after long seasons in England, Foden may well be one of them and Bellingham may well be knackered too, don't think he's been in top form of late. Eze missed parts of the season injured which may leave him in better shape for these finals, and he has been in good form recently.
Good point about our long season. Foden looked miles off it last night, even miscontrolling the ball at times. I now think Eze should start on the left. For me, Gordon failed his audition by having no final ball. Southgate may play Foden out there which would possibly allow him more space to play. This is my team to start, without Shaw till he's able: Pickford Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier Rice, Mainoo Saka, Bellingham, Eze Kane. Plenty of options on the bench for players to come on and make an impact. We need to let the handbrake off and let whoever the front four are do their thing.
Finally it starts to tonight and Im really looking forward to it. We have some great attacking options but it's our defence that worries me. Southgate just needs to let this team off the leash and go for it, rather than the usual, reserved approach to games.
I think Eze will be used as an impact sub around the hour mark, if he can make a difference it will do his starting chances a favour...
Dinner with the missus at her mate’s tonight. The husband is Irish but into football. Two other blokes coming aren’t football fans as far as I know but nice guys. None of the women could care less about England let alone Scotland. I’d say it’s looking bleak.
