Pickford Walker stones guihe shaw Wharton Rice Saka Jude Palmer Kane This would be my team (if shaw is fit)
Out of position? Serbia made it very difficult for our attacking players today by beating them up as well
City play a formation where either Grealish or Doku play wide left and stay wide at all times. This forces the full back wider to mark them / close them down so as not to cross for Haaland. This in turn leaves a little more space for Foden who is positioned inside from the Winger, with freedom to roam. For England he IS the winger, and whilst Trippuer is LB he’s the main/only source of width so has to stay wider. The general hope is when Shaw comes back he provides an overlap letting Foden come further inside . It’s why some people like the idea of Bellingham deeper (instead of TAA), Foden cebtral , then e.g Palmer/Gordon/Eze LW
Unfortunately that felt like much of what we have seen before under Southgate. Unconvincing against not great opposition. The pattern repeats.
It was very difficult for our attackers yesterday tbf as the Serbs just beat them up every time the ball came near them. So it was actually a pretty good result all things considered. It’s just so frustrating to watch these players played out of position etc.
I think people are underestimating how much the team is impacted by having Trippier at LB. He doesn't exactly bomb forward in his natural position of RB so on his weaker foot he offers nothing. It baffles me Southgate chose Trippier over Mitchell at Palace. He has had a good season and is actually a left back!! Fingers crossed Shaw is back soon.
Genuinely would rather have taken KWP than trippier as LB. Don’t get what trippier offers on the left at all
Just watched the BBC interview after the match with Jude Bellingham. How is he only 20 years old? Maturity, confidence but with humility. Incredible person. It's coming home.
He's got potential to be one of the best we've ever had - he certainly seems to be being nurtured in the right way, given, as you say, his attitude and maturity. Just hope the media lay off him.
We kept saying that as we were watching Loved the way he conducted himself on the pitch, not rattled by anything The way he walked through the Serb who was trying to face him up like he wasn’t there was excellent 20!?!?
I couldn’t believe he stayed on, but the pundits all seem to think we need to find a way to play to his strengths, but but you can’t adapt to every players strengths Maybe we need to play someone who fits better like Eze and play Foden again when Shaw is back EDIT: Or Cole Palmer
I can’t find stats for number of fouls It felt like anytime we tried to move thru midfield they fouled us Has anyone seen these?
Yeah it's why the squad selection was frustrating to me. Until a player has proven they can play at this level, don't consider them first-teamers. It's annoying that Foden is given such preferential treatment when he has largely been crap for England. We have a bunch of players who have proven to be excellent at international level, in the LW position, and yet, because they've had an iffy few months with their club teams, get overlooked. Rashford and Sterling I would much prefer to see ahead of Foden at the moment. And Grealish for me is the obvious sub to replace him. I can't get too excited about the likes of Eze, Gordon and Palmer, because they simply haven't played at this level. I'd probably still start Foden against Denmark. There is slightly less pressure in that game, and if ever Foden does start replicating his City form for England, then I think our front four will be too much for anyone. He's a gamble we have to keep taking basically.
I think you are right. Yes, he hasn't been great for England, but he is also our best player imo (him Kane & Bellingham all class but this season Foden has been the best for sure). I'd try Bellingham beside Rice and Foden ahead of them for Denmark. Bellingham is able to impact the game from almost anywhere so its worth trying if it means you get the best out of Foden. If that doesn't work then its time to drop Foden for Gordon or Eze.
I disagree that Foden is our best player. Going on England form - not domestic form - then Bellingham, Kane and Saka are all world-class. Foden isn't even close (yet). We are blessed to have Bellingham. He's a generational talent. We should be very thankful to Ancelotti for playing him as a 10; teaching Southgate how to best use him. We shouldn't be moving our best player back to DM in order to fit in a player who has never proven himself to be international quality. We should build the team around Jude at number 10. Simple as that. As far as in-game management goes, I think the whole Jude-next-to-Rice thing is definitely a good option, say for when we need to protect a lead or when the opposition are putting more attacking subs on. But not from kick-off.
I said based on this season, not how they have performed for England (I fully admit Foden has been average at best for England). But if you look purely at ability and this season, then I wouldn't even have it that close, Foden has clearly been our best player. Jude had a brilliant start to his time at Madrid but was pretty average (by elite standards) towards the end of the season. I'm not advocating for him to be a DM, more box to box and let Rice (would be tempted to try Wharton out after the Euros) sit back and protect the back 4. For me, dropping Bellingham a little deeper is worth it if you get the Man City Foden. If we had those 2 at the peak of their powers then I don't think any defence can withstand it.
