McCormick

Mount’s great, but I don’t see him being much use on the counter attack (if our tactic is to sit back and break).

Apparently going for a back 5, with Trippier coming back in, with Mount and Sterling behind Kane. Think that’s a bit too negative personally, but can’t argue with wanting to keep it tight early on.

The good thing about the 2/3 behind Kane is that all our options there are insanely talented so it’s fine.

I like Saka but he isn’t at the level of Sancho, Foden or Grealish yet IMO…

Really think playing a back 4 and with Saka in for Sancho is a bad move but I’ve looked pretty silly for doubting Southgate’s selections thus far. Honestly believe the same team vs Germany but with Grealish in from the start (over Saka) gives us the best balance of defensive solidity and threat going forward, but we’ll see. Pretty worried tbh!

I think Foden, Grealish, Saka, Sancho and Mount are as talented (and some arguably more so) than Sterling tbh. Correct re: Kane, though I do think with the attacking talent around him, DCL could definitely be a threat.

Think he just reached his athletic peak early and had to adapt his game as he got older. Can’t imagine he would have become the great player he was if it weren’t for Sir Alex IMO.

Wonder if Gareth will go 5 at the back for the next game. Tbf, I’ve been way too harsh on him throughout this tournament; his selections, in hindsight seem to have been spot on. I will say though that the quality of this squad has helped massively. Hard to go wrong when you have to choose 3 from Grealish, Sterling, Mount, Foden, Saka and Sancho tbh. Might sound cocky but I think a 2nd choice England team could feasibly pose a threat to any team left in the tournament.

Italy have benefited from having probably the best manager in the competition (you could also argue for Enrique tbf). What top level football competitions and leagues have shown us recently, is that well-drilled high-pressing teams with coaches that have defined footballing philosophies will usually do very well.

Fair enough, Gareth.

He’s so wet, it’s unreal. Bet money he used to call his bullies at grammar school ‘ big meanies’. Imagine how limp his pre-match rallying call would be.

No faith in Southgate for this, only seen interviews from him talking about how great Germany are. No mention of our own strengths and taking the game to them. Might sound harsh, but he comes across as such a loser.

He’s twice the player Sterling is, and I rate Sterling. Just seems so strange that one of the best players in the world has been given only 10 minutes in this competition. Madness by Southgate, it really is.

Sancho would start for any other team in the competition besides France. So annoying that’s he’s had zero minutes thus far…

Eh? I mean we probably won’t because It’s England/ Southgate picking the wrong teams and tactics. But England have one of the top 3 or 4 squads in the competition on paper.

@et tu bruteThere are already sports direct stores in KSA, although I believe the one in Jeddah has closed down. It’s reasonably easy to set up a sports shop here, getting the backing of the government seems a bit overkill

Despite being so accustomed to it for the last 2 years, Southgate’s playing down our expectations and talking up other teams is absolutely infuriating.

Rashford is awful down the middle.

Ugh. Southgate is joke.

Sancho, Reece-James and Grealish in the first 11 and this is an easy game IMO.

Just realized Sancho isn’t even the bench. Madness… Reece James (who, IMO is one of the best right-backs in the world) not starting was a massive mistake.

Not a great team selection there by Southgate tbh, but 5 subs means we can hoy on the right players at some point, so no biggie.

@DokkoAbsolutely right, the planning in KSA is absolutely woeful and it would be terrible for the PL brand to accept their offer. Also the fact that PIF still owes billions to European construction consortiums would make it a pretty risky proposition; nothing to do with backhanders (imo) in this particular instance.

Can see someone taking Lejeune for 4m and Muto for about 3. Maybe 5-8 for Gayle? But yeah, not much.

Gayle, Lejeune (unfortunately) and Muto will go for max 15 mil l guess. Wouldn’t be surprised if we accept a 12 mil plus add-ons/ sell-on percentage for Woodman too... yay.