So, with a day to go before the Semi against the Clogs I thought I would pass some time with my player ratings so far.
Pickford - He really has not had that much to do, but when called upon has done OK. He needs to stop hoofing the ball downfield to Kane though. Good penalty save against the Swiss.
Walker - Good defensively, no attacking threat whatsoever.
Stones - Not really been under any pressure but is not as assertive as he is with City.
Guéhi - Has done a pretty decent job despite his lack of experience.
Trippier - A waste of time on the left. He is to Left Backs what Antony is to Right Forwards. He has offered nothing at all.
TAA - It is not his fault that he is not a midfielder. He shouldn't be played there. A superb penalty against the Swiss though. Credit where it is due there.
Rice - Nowhere near his Arsenal form but much better against the Swiss.
Mainoo - The same as he is for United. Shows bits and pieces of what he can do but is missing for large parts of the game.
Bellingham - Nowhere near his club form and looks a bit leggy as if he is carrying a knock. But he does have those moments.
Foden - Utter kak. A bit due to Southgate playing him out of his club position but that cannot excuse his lack of influence in any of the games so far.
Saka - Has shown bits and pieces of his club form which is testament to the lad considering he has had no help from Walker.
Kane - Utter kak. Not helped by England not putting the ball in the box. And when they have done he isn't there. He also looks like he is carrying a knock.
Konsa - Did OK in his start against the Swiss.
Palmer - He needs to be on the pitch more. He looks like he wants to make something happen on the pitch more than any other player.
Toney - Another who needs more minutes on the pitch.
England
posted on 9/7/24
Southgate - Dull football, playing players out of position, not changing players to suit the flow of the game, safe, risk-free approach to winning matches. Getting by on luck. 2/10
Pickford - Hasn't been called on too much. Saved a pen and has been pretty solid overall. The kicking long I'm not entirely sure is down to him or the manager. 6.5/10
Walker - Not been anywhere near as good as he should be on both sides of the pitch. 5/10
Guehi - Has looked our best defender, though not especially tested. 7.5/10
Stones - Not as good as we know he can be. 6/10
Trippier - Southgate's godson and therefore gets to play wherever possible even when not in his best position. Need better on the left. 5/10
Mainoo - Been a bright spark at times. Have to take into context the fact he's still a teenager while being our best performing midfielder. 7/10
Rice - Like Stones he's not showing the form we expect. Kind of mixed bag. 6/10
Foden - After all the hype going into the tournament he hasn't delivered. Some of it through no fault of his own though but this is a guy who regularly doesn't turn up for England. 5/10
Bellingham - Not as good as we know he can be but at least he's scored a couple of important goals. 6/10
Saka - Has been the best of our attacking players. MOTM performance last game. 7/10
Kane - Scored a couple of goals but generally hasn't turned up elsewhere. Absent from the box when balls are put it. 5.5/10
Trent - Wasn't good in midfield. Should have come on at times when we relying on set pieces and doing nothing with them. Nice pen. 5.5
Konsa - Looked solid enough. 6.5/10
Palmer - Done quite well when coming on. The confidence to take the first pen was admirable. 6.5/10
Toney - Not enough time on the pitch but made contributions with an assist and pen. 6.5/10
posted on 9/7/24
comment by Taki Minamino (U20650)
posted 48 minutes ago
In defence of Mainoo, if wharton and him swapped teams wharton would be starting, better suited player next to rice
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What difference would swapping teams make?
posted on 9/7/24
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 3 hours, 2 minutes ago
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 3 minutes ago
Disagree with Walker being good defensively. He has been all over the place imo.
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Fair.
I cannot even come up with anyone to call England's best player of the tournament so far. Bellingham probably because of that goal.
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This may help you choose:
Kobbie Mainoo's 96% pass accuracy is the best of any midfielder at a European Championship that Opta has on record since 1980 😤
The Manchester United star has completed 133 of his 138 passes at Euro 2024 💫
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That’s not actually a good thing if you dive into it a bit.
posted on 9/7/24
England are playing in a very Utd way it seems - no distinct style of play, not exactly creating much but producing moments of magic.
They do seem very together under Southgate, and the criticism of him seems to be galvanising the team, which is obviously a positive if not intended effect.
No one player has particularly stood out - Pickford not made any mistakes, Guehi the best of the defence. Saka had a good last game but fairly average otherwise. Kane and Bell' with vital goals but not great overall performances. Rice fairly decent. Mainoo, considering his age and just coming into the team has shown up well, some glimpses of decent play and certainly deserves his place in the team. Like many, not sure why Palmer isn't starting.
I have been more disappointed with Walker than Trippier - Trippier has a decent excuse being stuck at LB, would Walker be any better if you stuck him there? Foden hasn't been great, but once again, being played in the wrong position most of the time doesn't help.
It seems a case of waiting for a good performance and it may just be around the corner, but with 2 matches left, it may not matter.
I have a feeling that we may end up with Fra v Eng final. Spa may have looked the most attractive, but 2 of the worse looking teams will make the final, and ultimately that is what counts.
Regardless of what happens, you do feel that England can be so much better. They may well be in the future if they can get the weight of not having won in so long off their back
posted on 9/7/24
I don't think Kane has reached the lofty heights of kak yet.
posted on 9/7/24
Should have took Lingard at least he celebrates goals with a funny hand sign held up to the face representing the letter ‘L ‘and the letter ‘J’ depending on which way you are facing, such a fun player
posted on 10/7/24
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 18 hours, 42 minutes ago
Disagree with Walker being good defensively. He has been all over the place imo.
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was what I wanted to say. been very poor defensively.
posted on 10/7/24
Yes I think walker has had a poor tournament.
A lot has been made of Cody Gakpo as he's joint top scorer and koeman seems to be getting the best out of him, but as long as Walker is on his game you'd think Walker should be able to shut him out as its not that difficult to predict what Gakpo will do. We'll see though.
posted on 10/7/24
Beyond Southgate’s general tactical approach, the most painful part of watching England throughout the tournament for me has been Kane’s movement, which has been absolutely diabolical.
How much of that is on Southgate/the England coaches and how much is on Kane I have no idea, but it has been eye-gougingly difficult to watch. I don’t remember seeing him make a near post run once in five games, which is absolutely inexcusable given the number of times Saka has hit the byline.
posted on 10/7/24
comment by rosso says the time has come to unlock the unlimited Pote-ntial of the Fernçalvenoo triumvirate (U17054)
posted 4 hours, 5 minutes ago
Beyond Southgate’s general tactical approach, the most painful part of watching England throughout the tournament for me has been Kane’s movement, which has been absolutely diabolical.
How much of that is on Southgate/the England coaches and how much is on Kane I have no idea, but it has been eye-gougingly difficult to watch. I don’t remember seeing him make a near post run once in five games, which is absolutely inexcusable given the number of times Saka has hit the byline.
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Yeh Toney is unlucky not to be starting by now. Southgate is too much of a coward/too loyal to drop him and certain players. A flaw that will likely cost Southgate his chance at immortality.