EURO 2024

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I think we have a bit of an under estimated problem in central midfield. Arteta doesn't play Rice as the deepest midfielder, he'd prefer Partey or Jorginho but we will definitely start Rice the deepest, but then who do you play alongside or ahead of him? I keep seeing generated lineups with Jude as a 2 with Rice and I wonder if them people have watched any football this season. I would not be surprised to see a Rice/Gallagher/Jude midfield 3. If Phillips was anywhere near his best he'd be starting.

Adam Wharton is playing himself into the squad at the minute and then there's Mainoo but I don't see either starting.
 
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TopCat_ said:
2002-2006
Neville, Terry, Ferdinand, Campbell, Cole, Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes, Rooney, Owen
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It wasnt possible to play a starting 11 with so many players playing the same position. Scholes started LW which was criminal , 3 world class players all played the same position so they were just thrown into a midfield 4
 
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Teessidemackem said:
It wasnt possible to play a starting 11 with so many players playing the same position. Scholes started LW which was criminal , 3 world class players all played the same position so they were just thrown into a midfield 4
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We also had nowhere near the depth this current squad does
 
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TopCat_ said:
I don't get the Southgate haters. England have had world class players and world class managers but always fallen short. England have been to 2 major finals and 4 semi finals in 100 years of international football Southgate has delivered 2 of those 6.
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I think it's just part of the human condition to forget the bad times. People talk about the great squad we have now, but it wouldn't be where it is without Southgate in my opinion.

If you listen to The Overlap, you'll hear Neville, Carra and a load of other guests like Rio etc. talk about their international experience and it wasn't positive. It was a dressing room full of cliques and players who didn't play for each other. Then you had the press going for their big gotcha moment too.

Southgate has changed the whole mindset behind England for the better. What he's done will help this country way beyond his time as manager but it's completely unappreciated.
 
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TopCat_ said:
I don't get the Southgate haters. England have had world class players and world class managers but always fallen short. England have been to 2 major finals and 4 semi finals in 100 years of international football Southgate has delivered 2 of those 6.
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I don’t hate the bloke just find the style of football he plays boring, it’s been effective there’s no denying that but it doesn’t suit the world class attacking players we have. Just look at Foden as an example, he needs to be allowed to play with much more freedom.

It’s the same reason a few Man U fans I know hate the idea of him becoming their manager.
 
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Teessidemackem said:
It wasnt possible to play a starting 11 with so many players playing the same position. Scholes started LW which was criminal , 3 world class players all played the same position so they were just thrown into a midfield 4
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Eriksson, McClaren and Capello should have been brave enough to drop one of Lampard or Gerrard, play Scholes in his favoured position and utilise players like Carrick or Hargreaves.
The strength in depth England had in 2002, 2004 & 2006 tournaments was ridiculous and I'd say that squad is superior to the current squad.
 
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TopCat_ said:
Eriksson, McClaren and Capello should have been brave enough to drop one of Lampard or Gerrard, play Scholes in his favoured position and utilise players like Carrick or Hargreaves.
The strength in depth England had in 2002, 2004 & 2006 tournaments was ridiculous and I'd say that squad is superior to the current squad.
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Yeah i agree they should have done. Hargreaves was a brilliant player, but also very injury prone. Ledley King also played the holding midfield role brilliantly aswell, but he was also very injury prone.
Our CB options in that era were definitely superior to now. I dont think we were stronger anywhere else though in my opinion. We used to struggle for Left footed players which is why we had to make do with Nicky Barmby and Trevor Sinclair playing Left wing.
 
TopCat_ said:
Eriksson, McClaren and Capello should have been brave enough to drop one of Lampard or Gerrard, play Scholes in his favoured position and utilise players like Carrick or Hargreaves.
The strength in depth England had in 2002, 2004 & 2006 tournaments was ridiculous and I'd say that squad is superior to the current squad.
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This was some team aswell.
 
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FellTop said:
To distract me from the head coach wait, I have been looking at the upcoming tournament. I still love international football and it remains the elite level to me.

Very much second rate compared to the world cup, but we have the main protagonists involved. France are real heavyweights, but can England take them on now? Spain I can watch all day, but will they have the goals? Italy are a strong looking side, Belgium may flatter to deceive again? Then the hosts? What will they bring, the Dutch as well? Will there be a shock team to go far? Maybe Scotland?

For me I think the big two are France and England. They look the strongest all over the park. France and Mbappe will be a tough act to stop, but perhaps in Walker we have the one player who could do it.

I am going all in on England. I think we are going in with such a talented and balanced squad. I dont buy the negativity about Southgate either, I trust him with these players. In Kane we have a brilliant striker. In Foden we probably have a player who could be player of the tournament, he is unbelievable right now. Then we have Saka who I think is a brilliant player, Grealish who brings something very different. Is Bellingham the best player in the world right now? Rice has raised his level again this year. Gallacher at Chelsea is becoming an elite talent. The question is at the back. Do we have enough at centre back?

I am going for an England Spain final, having seen France off in an epic semi. England to be too strong in the final 3rd for Spain.

Scotland to have a good tournament as well. Another excellent coaching doing a tremendous job.

After that is over we can appoint our new manager <laugh><laugh>
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I've only seen your OP on this thread and no one else's. But you said that the Euros are 2nd rate compared to the world cup.
Imo the Euros are possibly harder. Too many countries make the numbers up in the WC
 
Mackem-Tiz said:
I've only seen your OP on this thread and no one else's. But you said that the Euros are 2nd rate compared to the world cup.
Imo the Euros are possibly harder. Too many countries make the numbers up in the WC
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I mean we miss the teama like Brazil and Argentina. South American football, and latterly African football brings a completely different dimension to a tournament. I prefer the world cup because of the glamour, drama and beauty of the game.
 
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Blond Bombshell said:
Gerrin, looking forward to it, beers in the sun. Our first game is 8pm k.o. on the Sunday, could get messy in the Grange after it's just been done out <cheers>
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Some cracking games on that opening weekend

Friday 14th
Germany v Scotland 8pm

Saturday 15th
Hungary v Switzerland 2pm
Spain v Croatia 5pm
Italy v Albania 8pm

Sunday 16th
Poland v Netherlands 2pm
Slovenia v Denmark 5pm
Serbia v England 8pm
 
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