England Senior Team General Discussion Thread

Oh dear, I really want to believe that he's just saying that to the press and this will be never spoken again......but there's just too many inklings from the press every international break of Southgate wanting to try 3 at the back again for it to not be true.

Particularly concerned at the idea that we got control of the game in the second half....there was 15 minutes after Mount came on when were OK although to call it anymore than that would be extremely generous, but then Denmark largely had the better of the next 15 minutes and had the best chance of the game - at least till Kane was gifted that last minute chance.

 

Maddison only has one cap. Winks has 6. Let's not pretend Southgate actually uses these players.
Southgate has his favourites. It seems to be the same problem that all England managers have that they won't discard their favourites even when they are not needed. Southgate chose not to pick a single left footer to plays as full-back. If he was willing to go back to a 30 year old Walker, why not pick 31 year old Bertrand?

 

I'm afraid this is the answer.

 

To be fair, Winks would have far more caps but the guy drops out of almost every squad. Not that I particularly think he's much of an answer - maybe someone to bring on if your winning and merely want to try and hold on to the ball but I think he's generally pretty limited. Certainly almost zero creativity which isn't great considering he needs a defensive midfielder next to him.

 

That explains why he’s picking Dier and Rice ... I’m sure he’ll bring back flamin Barkley at the earliest opportunity

 

Winks has played very well for England. Makes things tick and not afraid to play forward under pressure. We don’t have a better alternative than him in deep CM

 

Here's the problem with every player you mentioned in midfield except Henderson arguably.

Who's good in the midfield who's very dynamic going forward and has a great eye for a pass.

All the midfielders being mentioned are small, physically small and fairly slow, struggle to cover ground and as a result we can't string attacks together.

 

Tbh, Barkley has played well under Southgate

 

Henderson has never performed for England. I’d play him bc of his physicality but let’s not pretend he brings much on the ball for England

 

That literally applies to every single player since 1966.

We can't replicate club form very well at all.

 

More or less. Wilshere performed before his injury nightmare, and even after, Scholes did alright, Joe Cole, Heargraves, the defenders overall. There’s a problem in central midfield mainly, the all action style does not suit international football

 

Factors: silly time to have these games. A fully functioning kane would have had 2 goals tonight but for his lack of match fitness. No crowds which has a huge effect on players. One eye on the new season. 10 players missing. Southgate's poor tactical brain. We have the players no doubt but if we had someone like pep we would do alot better

 

Had very few touches in 10mn but Grealish’s class is so obvious. He brings something completely different. Would be a bit criminal not to use him. It’s not like we have De Bruyne Hazard and Modric to compete with him

 

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Gareth has no excuses not to play him again.

 

To be fair it was more like 17 centrebacks playing as holding midfielders.

 

How would pocetinho do with the England job

 

England second team

Henderson awb stones tomori saka. Foden cheek ali odoi abraham maddison. That shows the strength in depth we have. Its not the quality of players its the coach

 

Humour me here, I keep hearing that Grealish doesn’t fit into England’s system (not on this forum to be fair.) Imagine we’d started Grealish > Rice and asked him to play centrally but 20 yards further forward than where Rice was playing.

What exactly would have been wrong with that? I don’t get how two holding midfielders fits into our system but a holding midfielder and a No. 8 doesn’t. Am I missing something?

 

Ask Gareth. I'm pretty sure that grealish has worked his way into southgate's plans now

 

Yep Winks has been brilliant for England, shame about his injuries. But I think Philips is a great alternative as the sole dm picking the ball up of the defence like he does for Leeds, it was hard for him in that formation especially having to play alongside Rice. He still managed a couple of really nice passes.

 

I thought Philips did alright too, pretty good composure.

 

There's a cultural problem within the English game that goes beyond Southgate. The mentality that anyone technical and mobile has to be forced further up the pitch means we can barely produce CMs, like alone DMs. I'm starting to think the best hope we have is someone going abroad and being developed there.