England team to face Switzerland

comment by Posh Mufc Great Hafi Not Arrogant Just Better (U6578)
posted 4 minutes ago
Players like Grealish, Maddison and Rashford could have gone instead imo. Same for Shaw, why take him if he is injured?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I really don't get why he didn't take Mitchell, I assume he's not injured. Shaw is good, but not a superstar either. You take a risk on maybe a complete world-beater, usually in a forward position, not on a LB and then have poor / no cover for him...............

Leave Shaw at home and could have left one of Eze, Bowen, Wharton, Watkins or Toney to take 2 LBs. Is Colwill injured? Colwill / Mitchell surely good enough to be in that role

Reckon you just suck up your pride and go full Stoke 2012. That's what got you the win last night. Long throw, knock it on, goal. Same for the winning goal. Head tennis in the box, goal. Stop trying to appease internet footballing connoisseurs and just get back to proper English football.

comment by Alan Gilzean (U1734)
posted 10 minutes ago
Reckon you just suck up your pride and go full Stoke 2012. That's what got you the win last night. Long throw, knock it on, goal. Same for the winning goal. Head tennis in the box, goal. Stop trying to appease internet footballing connoisseurs and just get back to proper English football.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

We just need to follow Scotlands game plan against the Swiss - they were the width of a post away from beating them.

I'm starting to think Southgate is just blessed with the luck of the Irish or the luck of the devil and his way however frustrating and ugly for us to watch is getting the job done and I've now changed my mind thinking we'd get knocked out in the quarters and have a strong feeling after the incredible last gasp get out of jail goal by Bellingham that we're going to get to to the final

You'd think or hope Southgate will finally listen to the outcry and stop playing Foden wide left and start Gordon there but I've a feeling if he does drop Foden he will play Eze on the left and I'm wondering because Gordon strayed from the party line of defending the teams negative approach against Slovenia and said what most fans felt Southgate punished him by shamefully not using Gordon's talents yesterday.

Also Southgate I think will have to justify taking an
injured player and so will finally play Shaw at LB for an
hour at least. We'll probably play with a lot more fluidity with just these slight tweaks and although still not maximising the array of talent Southgate has it will be enough to nick it against the Swiss and then same again in the semi but in the final if it is Spain surely, surely Southgate's luck will run out???

Pickford
Walker Stones CB
Trent Rice Mainoo Shaw
Bellingham
Kane Toney

Or

Pickford
Walker Stones CB
Trent Rice Mainoo Shaw
Palmer Bellingham
Kane

Might be worth trying out the future

Southgate seems to stagger his way through matches. But you really must question his ability as a coach and tactically.

For a start, taking just one left back, who was injured and hasn't played for 5 months. WTF??? Mitchell or Chilwell had to go, just to give balance and width and players who run beyond and not have to turn in and slow play down always. With our defensive frailties, even Colwill would have been a better option, he's left footed and although doesn't excel at wing back, would do a hell of a lot more than our other options. He also covers central defence.

Then, the midfield conundrum. He waits until the Euros before he tries to find a partner for Rice. Mainoo did okay last night, at least he was positive in looking to go forward always. But this should have been sorted months back.

Not taking Grealish. He's not one of my favourite players but we are always being told abouot players who offer something different. Well, when we're 1-0 up or 0-1 down, Grealish can actually dribble the ball, change the pace of the game and most importantly draw free kicks.

His reluctance to drop Saka for Palmer. Palmer is a more positive player who wants to get involved in the game, If we are dominating and attacking well, Saka is a danger, but we look better when Palmer comes on because he finds positions to pick up the ball and his intention is always forward. We lack players who want to grab the initiative and Palmer is one.

Bringing Eze on in front of Gordon, who will stay wide and actually run at the full back. It makes no sense. Continuing with Foden and Bellingham taking space away from each other.

In short, balance won´t come just from changing Rice's midfield partner. Mistakes were made even before we got the the Euros in terms of personnel and bigger errors are being commited with team selections during the competition.

The only way Southgate will change is if it's forced on him, either with suspensions, injuries or going a goal down (even then he is very reluctant!).

If we stumble our way to a final, it will be because of external factors as much as good management.

I thought, with Foden off to see his baby, Gater would at least use the opportunity to drop him without any backlash, but no... On he goes. (I like Foden btw, but him and Bellers together just don't work).

comment by Posh Mufc Great Hafi Not Arrogant Just Better (U6578)
posted 6 hours ago
I am amazed the backlash Southgate is getting for Wharton not playing. Wharton has 16 PL appearances all this year, players like Carrick who were winning PL’s playing nearly every game for years at Man Utd got 0 minutes for England after he joined Man Utd.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I actually have ABSOLUTELY no idea who Wharton is

comment by Butcher of Bilbo (U5125)
posted 9 hours, 27 minutes ago
id go with this starting 11
____________Pickford______________
TAA____Walker____Stones____Shaw(if fit)
____Mainoo__Rice__Bellingham
____Palmer__Kane__Gordon
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Id go with that but toney or watkins for kane but fully expect it to be the sane lineup from safegate except dunk for guehi or sumin. And we will get spanked out with ease by the swiss.

Eze on the left, Palmer on the right, Toney up top.