Tbh I’m less bothered about Carsley using Bellingham as a false 9 than I am about him putting 4 winger/10 types into the same team. That’s a deserved end I think. So messy. Why drop Gomes after he made such an impression lst time out?
The issue is he's been poor overall for England the last few games he's played (pretty much since the 1st game of the euros). He has moments of magic for sure but need more than that imo Yes he's scored tonight but he's been shocking in n out of possession (especially out of possession)
Really liked what I seen in the last international break but this has been terrible. Too much shoehorning.
Didn't look like there was a plan in or out of possession Out of possession that's as bad as I've seen England for a long time
I’d put a lot of that down to a horrendous team shape and general confusion. He’s one that you willingly carry if he’s out of form, for moments like that. Plus you’ll always get energy from him as a minimum. I think he’s just a player who you always find a way to accommodate, even if you don’t necessarily build a team round him. Just shove him in whichever position we’re not covered for in any given match. Also he was probably the least worst of our attacking players overall.
Yep. I understand wanting fluidity in your teams but surely there has to be some sort of structure. We had 3 10s on the pitch all occupying the same space.
That's what happened in the Euros tho, pushed out to LM as he was poor through yhe middle I totally get what you are saying but fir far too long England have just tried to fit players in rather than picking the tactics n system that they feel is the best - then pit the players that suit that system in rather than going on names
Think Bellingham is a bit of a special case though. He’s probably not an absolute standout in any one competency. He’s not always the easiest on the eye. But he’s solid in so many positions, really well-rounded skill-wise and so reliable for a big moment that you have to start him somewhere. It’s the thing that Southgate got so right in his time. Tournament football is often a stalemate that is decided by moments. Bellingham is the most reliable player England has for those moments. In all seriousness, I think LW is probably where he’s best accommodated for England right now. Allows us to have a functional midfield pair plus an actual striker while also leaving a natural spot for someone like Foden. It does need us to have left footed balance at left back though. Dennis, your time is now!
"Sing, Goddess, of Achilles' rage, black and murderous, that cost the Greeks immeasurable pain and pitched countless souls of heroes into Hades' dark and left their bodies to rot as feasts for dogs and birds, as Zeus' will was done." ****ing love the Greeks, me. I have absolutely no qualms about losing to a nation that had had not one but two world leading civilisation before the Romans came and told us what toilets and roads were.
Didn't realise that many Sunderland fans had gone to the game! Don't remember seeing the cameras focus on supporters leaving or hearing any of the commentators mention it.
I honestly get that but he was poor in the Euros so potentially playing players in their natural position would have been better No doubt the lad is a talent but he isnt undropable imo, England need to get away from just trying to fit players into a side and they need to find a side that can compliment each other Spain are a great example of that in the Euros, they played players in their natural positions and they all compliment the style of the play the manager was looking to do both in n out of possession The longer England try to shoehorn players into a team the longer the wait for their next major trophy will go Well done Greece tho, got their game plan spot on - attacked with so much pace n still got numbers forward, almost the perfect away performance
