Really like the England lineup again. Gomes will sit and dictate which will allow Rice to get into attacking areas which suits him much better. Lewis has played left back for City and I think he's going to be a top player but it's still a problem position.
He’s been great hasn’t he? It’s all about putting proper footballers in there at international level imo. He’s strolled through against well-organised but low talent opposition. I’d bet he’d be as calm in possession and sure of touch when we scale up the talent too. This is why Gordon underwhelms me so much at top level - and once again tonight. He’s a great athlete but a deeply mid technician. The Swedish league right back basically had the measure of him after 15 mins and his production other than a couple of early crosses was lacking. Dead easy to deal with a player who basically refuses to vary things by going outside, and other than balls over the top he lacks the top end ability to beat a man with skill rather than just pushing it past. Up the quality of opposition and he’d barely get a sniff. There’s no world where Gordon should play out wide over a footballer like Grealish imo. On the subject of quality footballers, TAA has been incredibly good.
I think the quality of opposition we’ve faced this week tempers the positivity that comes with two wins in the carsley era. Both are low/mid champ teams at best if we’re honest. I’d probably back Sunderland to beat both.
Shame. Think he's the right choice personally. Bringing someone in from the outside, especially a coach who is more used to club management, will just lead to a period of transition. Whereas Carsley knows the players and knows the young players ready to break through. Plus I like his football. It worked for Spain, it can work for us.
To be super clear that was just my reaction to his interview on ITV. He started off really tentative and a bit awkward. For good or ill the England manager needs to be a good external communicator. Then at the end of the interview he said the stuff about comfort zone and it became obvious why he was tentative. I'd bet he's a very good coach and if the job was just about football he'd probably do it happily. All the scrutiny that goes with it (the nonsense about the anthem for one) seems to have put him right off.
