Shearergol Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 8 minutes ago, Cronky said: This England team is looking disturbingly like the previous 'golden generation'. A recurring problem is that the players who look technically good enough seem to lack pace. As a result, we're unable to press or hit teams on the break. Our attacks seem very one-paced. Contrast that with Spain, all of whose players seem to be very nimble whilst also possessing the skill to work the ball in tight spaces under pressure. The two apparently undroppable players who define the structure of the team - Rice and Kane - are holding the team back. I'd put in Mainoo and Watkins in their places. Mainoo's already in the team, so who else are you playing alongside him? I think he's great when playing against teams like Slovakia but a decent side will play straight through him (that's where you need a Rice in there). Just play Anthony Gordon instead of Foden. We'd see a huge difference then. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronky Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 19 minutes ago, Shearergol said: Mainoo's already in the team, so who else are you playing alongside him? I think he's great when playing against teams like Slovakia but a decent side will play straight through him (that's where you need a Rice in there). Just play Anthony Gordon instead of Foden. We'd see a huge difference then. I'd put Mainoo in Rice's place, which I know is a risk. In time I think he'll play that anchor role very well, and perhaps he's not ready. But I just can't see any alternative that will improve things. I've not seen enough of Wharton. Rice and Bellingham are both best suited to be box-to-box, and only one should play, as would be the usual practice. That's Bellingham. Foden, Saka and Eze, with Watkins up front. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lush Vlad Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 (edited) I still can't quite get my head around how bad we were/are. We peaked after half an hour or so against Serbia in the first game. I said after that game that the concern was that we won't build on that and grow as the tournament goes on and that we will stay the same. But we've somehow managed to get worse with every game How he persists with the same 'tactics' with the only change seemingly the one centre mid spot next to Rice, is baffling. Every fan, pundit, coach, pro, animal, vegetable and mineral can see it isn't working. The possession is so slow, ponderous and meaningless. Rice and Bellingham want too many touches. We play it safe all the while, scattered in with Pickford booming it long. Players in the front 4 and the midfielders pushing on all get in each others way. We have elite level players looking like League One standard on a regular basis. There is one constant here. They can't all be having bad patches of form at the same time. It's too coincidental. The lack of ideas when we went a goal down was really bad and all. Shunning the hard pass to try and get through the lines, not looking for the early or long shot until really late on with Rice. Then suddenly going from our possession based approach, to panicking and chucking in aimless cross after aimless cross in every minute or two. I'm hoping with Trippier possibly missing out through injury and with Guehi suspended. That we might go to 3 at the back. I'm not a huge fan of it. But it feels like the only way we will make any meaningful changes to the team. Just to get some width and a naturally left footed player at LB/LWB would massively help for a start. Our attacking outlet from full back has been woeful all tournament. Trippier won't go down the line and teams know that. Walker has been playing like he's pissed and has never been great on the ball or in the attacking third, anyway. Saka at LWB and Trent RWB is what I'd go with. Not massively thought about it and I'm trying to second guess Southgate here. But something like the below is what I think we might go with and wouldn't be that upset with. Although I think we could look to play Watkins or Toney up top if we did go 3/5 at the back: Pickford Walker Konsa Stones TAA Rice Mainoo Bellingham/Foden Saka Foden/Bellingham Kane Edited July 1 by Lush Vlad Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leffe186 Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 Christ lads, how are we still saying “can’t see any alternative that will improve things” or 3-5-2? Just put Gordon on the left and Saka/Palmer on the right - we’ve seen it work before the competition start and we’ve seen it work during the competition (for at least a minute, maybe two). Let‘s try it, eh? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TenkoDaLuz Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 (edited) So today is my time to suffer with more 90mins of CR39 shitshow heh lads? Edited July 1 by TenkoDaLuz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaKa Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 Finally Openda starts! May make this game interesting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peppe Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 Thuram sure loves a dive Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toon25 Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 France about as threatening as England. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toon25 Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 Just now, Peppe said: Thuram sure loves a dive Don't know what he's done to warrant a start. Been dreadful this tournament. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaKa Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 Belgium are still pants so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 The clearest corner ever not given Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Zaius Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 Is Rabiot actually any good? Every time I see him play he's either anonymous or borderline shite Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeyt Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 This ref is dreadful Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LionOfGosforth Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 Absolute trash refereeing here, fussy as fuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Prontonise Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 This ref is awful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 How on earth did he get booked for that? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbandit Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 What is he doing? Does he have eyes? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 Misses the next match for winning a clean tackle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontownman Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 Why doesn't he catch that lol Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 And you were complaining at your ref yesterday. This one is infinitely worse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazza ladra Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 Ref has money on Belgium. (or he's just shit) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 You’d have expected this nutcase to give that as a pen even if it was nowhere near his hand Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaKa Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 Carrasco is so frustrating man. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 The game's being played at a good tempo, just not much quality when it gets to the final third. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LionOfGosforth Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 What a ball in that was Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts