leffe186

Not sure what that means tbh. It includes Stellini and Mason FFS.

Rogers on the left? I’d hope for Gordon - Bellingham - Saka. You can bring Rashford on to run at them late and hopefully Bellingham works hard to dovetail with Kane. I think Saka and Gordon’s positional discipline, speed and drive is the perfect complement to Kane. Also happy to have Bowen, Rogers, Rashford and Solanke as the second wave.

I don’t think we’re that bad. Liked Livramento at that corner - nudging the other guy away from Dan Burn.

Harry Maguire again belting a simple pass just off the target.

Rogers middle and Bowen wide is so much better.

Solanke is a genuinely clever player. Bowen too.

Rashford is constantly giving the ball up where he shouldn’t.

Won’t lie, they should be scoring these.

Palmer has not done himself many favours tonight. Feel a bit sorry for him as he’d be better behind a proper CF.

Our set pieces have been terrible

When that ball went forward to Foden Rogers was in an absolutely horrible position on the right.

I think it will be Solanke.

Yeah, Rogers has been completely uninvolved. I think some of that and the amount of ball Anderson is getting is because of Japan’s positioning. Need to use the wide backs better which has started to happen. We’re very much seeing a A/B team playing an A team.

If I’m going to Milner it, I think it’s fair to say it’s another completely different team playing together. Part of the reason Japan look so good as a team is that this is, AFAIK, their team. I don’t think it’s a surprise that Palmer and Mainoo are looking a bit off it as they and Foden are probably the least familiar with things. In contrast, Gordon is playing his usual role and looks comfortable.

Like Garner? I dunno. I think there are a lot of players who are much of a muchness. Loftus-Cheek got a chance a few matches ago, was shite and we haven’t seen him again. I think Tuchel’s just looking at a lot of players.

I presume they stopped the clock for the drinks break. Wasn’t paying attention. It’s still really glaring when you see how much time is added on in internationals compared to the Premier League.

Funnily enough I think it’s been the other way round today. I feel like the key difference between Mainoo and, say, Anderson is discipline with ball retention.

Also when they’re harrying like this, Palmer’s one-footedness becomes an issue.

Yet more niggly fouls. In theory having Gordon, Foden, Palmer and Rogers upfront should mean more clever interchanges rather than long balls. Japan’s defensive structure kinda negates that, which I think is the problem right now. What you have to do is use the wings and wing-backs which we are starting to do.

While we’re on the subject of CM, I know Garner has been getting loads of plaudits for the last game. I wasn’t watching especially closely but he really didn’t seem all that to me. Did I miss stuff? Anderson seems much better to me.

Good goal. Typical Palmer, Ben White miles out of position, Mainoo has looked a bit out of his depth in general. Good test, like I say.

See Japan have adopted the now-ubiquitous “kick everyone every time but keep it niggly so they never book you” tactic.

Often a summer tournament to prepare for too.

They look lively, this should be a good test.

And we can’t have that, can we?