On paper the team wasn't that bad, although I seem to remember Emile Heskey being on the pitch, but we played ****e in all the group games and got massacred by Germany after the disallowed goal that probably was responsible for the introduction of goal line technology. Was actually at the game against the States - was one of the most depressing I have ever watched.
After 30 mins yesterday I thought we were looking really really good, the following 60 mins was a shower of ****e though. Fair play to Serbia, they got the press going and really unsettled the England lads. Just need to find that level from the first 30 for 90 mins and we'll be fine. Sub's were a bit of a shocker from Southgate having played o poorly we didn't try to get back into the game once we lost control. Though Trent for Gallagher was a bit negative although in fairness he put himself about and helped see the game out. Saka faded but I'd have gone with Palmer or Gordon over Bowen. Foden and Kane should have come off as well - neither were effective, especially second half, again Palmer or Gordon could have come on the left and Watkins for Kane would have made sense. Looked like a one man team at times with Bellingham the only real positive although clean sheet isn't to be sniffed at. I honestly think Serbia are the next best team in the group (I know Denmark are ranked above them but can't see it personally) so to get past them I'd hope we should qualify on Thursday for the knockouts and then rest/rotate players for the R16 the following Tuesday. Need to rest Bellingham where we can to make sure he's fit for the latter stages as he is the vital clog in that team. Hopefully Southgate see's the issues and gives others a chance for those who aren't performing.
I think people need to realise that the more fans seek changes from Southgate the less they'll get. It's a personal crusade for him.
I don't think we looked good at any point ... good at passing around doing very little and managed a fluked cross and a header. Serbia were the better team imo in terms of playing football and were unlucky to lose... draw would've been about right maybe.
The team had Green, Glen Johnson, Lennon, Wright-Phillips, Milner, Upson, Heskey and Crouch in it. They weren't a good team, they were one of the worst in recent memory.
I said yesterday that I’d have taken foden off for Gordon before taking TAA off. I’m not 100% sure on the TAA hate but hey I’m prob slightly biased. Think problem is TAA main strength is getting the ball out and picking passes, stretching play wide or over the top. Problem we had yesterday was Kane couldn’t run behind as has no pace, foden was anywhere but left wing so had no ball there and the 1 time TAA managed to play ball and stretch play it went to trippier who has to control it and go backwards. If Gordon had been on I think that ball over the top / out wide would have been on far more often and we could have actually stretched their defence and got at them a bit more.
Can’t remember the exact game or players - think it was Lukaku or maybe Jackson in a chelsea game last year or year before maybe - where had like 2 touches in half and was being absolutely slaughtered. But because it’s Kane he’s doing a job for the team….
I'm not arsed about any of it, no love for the national side, if it isnt in a newcastle top i struggle to watch it. That being said, i do love the tabloids trying to whip the nation into a frenzy after england beat some god awful team 1-nil, in a **** match. Then when they inevitably get beat i get to see loads of, mostly southerners crying into their cheap european lager.
Gareth has to be more open to changing things up. TAA with Gordon out wide would potentially be a really good option as those switches of play that TAA is so good at would be really handy with Gordon who will stay wide and has the pace to get behind his man.
Foden is clearly a 10, he drifts too much to be played out of position on the flank. Personally I'd want to play Foden in 10 and Bellingham as an 8. Both of them and Rice have the ability to ping the ball out to either wing for Gordon or Saka etc
I thought we looked good and exciting early on - bit slow and patient in the build up but I liked the rotation of the 3 behind the striker with Foden, Saka and Bellingham popping up all over the shop. Once we scored we went really rigid and sat back, was a strange performance in that we looked completely in control until we took the lead and then decided to shut up shop after 30 mins!?
