England Senior Team General Discussion Thread

Qualifying has never been a problem, it's when we get there the problems start.

 

Have to concur with you.. The bench does not offers much.. England will need Grealish and Saka to do well in later stages.

 

If Southgate was fair Grealish would start over Foden.

 

Hopefully come the euros it will be a very strong bench. The likes of grealish saka sancho trent dcl ings

 

Henderson
Trippier konza coady Shaw
Bellingham winks ??
Barnes ings odoi

I know u said non callups

 

Watching the game last night I am still not convinced by Southgate at all. He really needs a good Euros (semis at least) to stay on for the World Cup in 2022 in my view. Poland were missing Lewandowski and clearly played the low block very well, but England just looked so laboured in possession and waiting until 80+ minutes to make a change was baffling. We won but we were very fortunate to do so and it came from a set piece as usual.

Stones as good as he has been this season still has a crazy mistake in him. Shame as I thought he'd got that sh** out of his system these days.

Walker shouldn't be playing RB, Arnold needs to come back into the squad. LB is fine and Pope should remain as no1 GK.

Midfield is the conundrum. I can see what Phillips does but I think Rice is a better player and we only need to play 2 DMs against the truly top teams (and even then there is an argument to just go for it and play one, but I do understand the caution to a degree). Personally I think one DM (Rice), one box to box hardworking midfielder (Mount), and one creative force (Grealish, Foden, Maddison). Foden playing on the right of a front three clearly doesn't work, he should be in the middle of a three man midfield drifting into the 10 position when we have the ball. But for me Grealish is still the best we have for that role and hopefully has a good end to the season as we need him in top form going into the Euros.

The front three is the easiest to select as that's England's strongest area. For me Grealish doesn't play LW for England (even though he does for Villa) because he plays in the middle where he can drift right and left. The two wide men should have pace which is why it's between Sterling, Rashford and Sancho for two spots. I'd probably go Sterling and Sancho with Rashford off the bench with Kane up front. So something like this:

...............................Pope..........................................
Arnold..........Stones........Maguire........Chilwell/Shaw
.................................Rice..........................................
....................Grealish...........Mount............................
Sancho..........................................................Sterling
...................................Kane......................................

That would be the team I'd start for the Euros but we know Southgate won't.

 

I can quote Venables later just to clear that up for you, just need to dig out the book.

 

Still loads of decisions up in the air, given how close we are to decision time.

Don't think we're completely out of the woods with regards to the back 3 yet.

Walker starting as RB in the 2 bigger games out of seemingly nowhere.
Trippier looking quite a way back in the pecking order.
Is there still a chance for a TAA recall if we're playing a back 4? Who knows? Probably unlikely.

Dier, who I'd kind of inked into the 23, looking very much on the outside - but the fact he is in this squad alone probably makes him favourite for inclusion

Surely no need for Coady if we're not playing a 3?

It'd be a big move to drop Phillips from the 23 given he's played the most outfield minutes this week, but I'm still not sure he offers enough

Has he discounted Bellingham based on the last week though?

Is Lingard back in with a chance. If so, a big hitter will be missing out.

On the basis of the last week, you can maybe pencil in:




Pickford Pope Henderson
Walker James
Shaw Chilwell
Stones Maguire (Mings Dier)
Henderson Rice Phillips (JWP)
Sterling Rashford Mount Grealish Foden Sancho
Kane DCL



Maybe still Mings and Dier favourites for the squad places at the back - but with the chance of an outsider like Tomori making a charge if we're playing a 4?

And JWP maybe still fav for the midfield spot

 

By all means, but the match itself is all over YouTube and we simply didn't.

 

Regarding lingard god I hope not

 

Oh dear... think Southgate is a bit smarter than you mate.

 

Last night’s match highlighted the importance of Grealish. When you’re 1-0 up but struggling to keep the ball and look a bit nervous; there’s no one better.

 

Still can't believe they got rid of Clive Tyldesley for sam ratterface. Awful commentator

 

Five subs at the Euros. Thumbs up.

 

Ian Dennis on 5 Live, who seems more plugged in than most, suggested that Sancho may be struggling and Southgate could be tempted to go for "more of a hybrid player" in Lingard!

 

I might be one of the few, but Sancho would be in my starting 11, he's so different to any other player in our squad. I'm hoping he's fit for the Champions League this week, and he can lay these bad opinions to rest.

 

With injuries or form? Because its certainly not form

 

You have to feel for Maddison. 5 years ago he would be a shoe in but hes cone through at the wrong time. I don't think he'll ever have a proper England career

 

Playing two dms with the players we have is not playing to our strengths.

I've reviewed my thoughts and id like to see this

Grealish kane sterling

Foden rice mount

Rice and mount have both really grown in me. Don't want to see Phillips or Henderson in there unless it is as a single dm but rice would be my 1st choice with Henderson 2nd.

If we want to go more defensive then could add a all round midfielder such as a Bellingham or a ward prowse for foden or mount.

If we are to get eliminated id rather see us having a go at teams than just sitting back and going out with a whimper.

 

I can see Saka missing out.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56604416

Maybe room for all of them

 

Interesting that Southgate wasn’t so keen on possibly having larger squads but did welcome the 5 sub rule.

 

It's a shame Henderson didn't get a full game for England. I think these three have confirmed for me (and presumably Southgate) that Pickford should be our starting keeper.

 

I think Sancho will struggle but because of the versatility of Saka rather than Lingard.

It was rather telling last night that he didn't bring Lingard on till after the goal. Obviously viewed as a big step down in quality over the other options.