Yeah we took our foot off the gas very quickly. Unfortunately we realised quickly they had nothing and we were happy to chill and not work too hard but manage the game. nothing to read into. Just average but job done. 6pts from these games is perfect. No point looking too further than that. Introduce the newbies against North Macedonia and Malta.
Scotland put 3 past them. I love maddison but he's playing it safe. He's done nothing to suggest he should start over Grealish
I don't think you can really fairly compare NL games as not all teams take them seriously. Ukraine beat them comfortably when it mattered.
"James Maddison has created five chances today, the most by a player in his first England start since Theo Walcott v Andorra in September 2008."
why because he was playing exactly how he did for Leicester when he was part of the front 3, he's not a winger, I told you pre match he won't provide width. He did what he does, drift into space to receive the ball and look to create, he was solid but unspectacular, just like the entire team. He also didn't have a Barnes or Vardy/Daka to slip through balls too as that isn't Kane's game and was rarely in a position to play them too as the pass went elsewhere. He's wated this long to get a game he's not got to play all reckless and give Southgate an excuse to never play him again is he?
He had some nice touches and a few swivels but maybe Southgate should try him in the middle next time
Maybe I've been too harsh. I'd just like these players to express themselves a bit more. We can rip teams apart when we are on our game
Composed display and we didn’t concede a chance of any note. Think our CM’s were happy to settle in that second half. Understandable considering the work load, injury issues and match schedule to come.
We probably will from now on .. We always qualify fairly easily.. it’s the important knock out games we always come unstuck … it’s all about levels and the top teams have top managers . Southgate was handed this job in strange circumstances .. he did nothing at all to justify getting the role He’s just a nice guy who won’t ruffle any feathers ..
We played well, Ukraine always used to give us very good games pre-Southgate, to dismantle them so comfortably is a job well done. Gives us breathing space to experiment for a few games now, though I don't think we even need to do that massively. There's basically 2 starting eleven issues we need to sort by the Euro's unless there's injuries - who's playing centre back with Stones, who's playing central midfield with Bellingham and Rice. Get that right and it will elevate the team. The rest is all basically fine.
Oh were we expected to lose to Ukraine? Jk jk I think from now on we should experiment and groom irregularly starting players since its supposedly an easy road from now on
I’d have to really think about that .. I wouldn’t be opposed to Julian Nagelsmann who’s currently available for starters
Quite interesting that we have two qualifying games in June but Italy don’t play again until September because of the Nations League finals. Our qualifying schedule is more relaxed in workload by September because we will only have four qualifiers to play by then (one in September, one in October and two in November). Getting these two games out of the way early has become a big positive.
My team for next year provided every one is fit would be Pickford walker stones colwill Shaw. Rice Bellingham maddison rashford kane saka. Bench. ramsdale James Chilwell Henderson foden Grealish toney maguire Mount ghuei pope trent
He didn't really play on the wing, he had the defensive responsibilities of a wide player but mostly played inside. You could see why he doesn't get many games, when things are tight he's a bit lightweight. He did look much better when it opened up though.