The Euro 2024 Thread

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Sometimes England managers just lose the plot. He’s gone against a lot of the good work he’d done in the 5/6 years leading up to this. A shame.

I think you're generally right. But the final conclusion can only really be given once we see how far we get.

 

[YoungWolf]

I think you're generally right. But the final conclusion can only really be given once we see how far we get.

I suppose! I’ll be stunned if we win it though with the performances so far! In fact, I’ll be impressed if we even pull ourselves together properly this Saturday!

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Alternatively we "just" have to beat Switzerland and one of Holland and Turkey and we're in another final....

 

[YoungWolf]

Alternatively we "just" have to beat Switzerland and one of Holland and Turkey and we're in another final....

I know, it’s crazy. But also, that’s how dreadful we’ve been that I don’t think we will be.

Hopefully this week has given him the time to rethink how he’s approaching this

 

[Tony Towner]

We have the better players, Switzerland are the better team. We'd need to seriously improve our performance or rely on a lot of luck to win. Goldbridge says we are playing a back 3, but he often makes shit up for clicks

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I'd have Rodriguez (past his best but a left footed LB/LWB...imagine), Xhaka and Akanji in our XI.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

We have the better players, Switzerland are the better team. We'd need to seriously improve our performance or rely on a lot of luck to win. Goldbridge says we are playing a back 3, but he often makes shit up for clicks

If you watch that link I posted yesterday, we clearly effectively played 3 atb for most of the Slovakia game, so I wouldn't be surprised.

However it'd be quite a change for Southgate to make such a significant change to start.

 

[YoungWolf]

I’d go with a back three with Trent and Saka at wing back, and two defensive midfielders. Give us better balance than we’ve had all tournament without leaving ourselves over exposed with Southgate would worry about.

That said if we did go back 3 i would still worry he’d play konsa wing back or something silly

 

[The Bear]

He basically took Gordon instead of Grealish and hasn’t used him anyway so it’s a moot point really, he wouldn’t have got on the pitch

Different players though. He's more likely to bring Grealish on for Foden as they are similar style players for that role.

 

[Carrotdude]

Potentially yeah but he also was pretty sparing with how he used him in previous tournaments when he was playing much better and there was a big clamour for him to be starting games.

 

[jd1981]

It’s not a nice feeling sat knowing it’s probably going to be all over Saturday but the hope is a killer.
If this was a PL game it would be like Palace playing Chelsea one has better players the other is far better coached.
Just don’t see how we can resolve this in 6 days.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

 

[Wolftone]

View attachment 10901

Interesting that.
A leader to organise/orchestrate things behind Foden, Bellingham, Mainoo, Saka etc. Don't think we have one.
Kane is of no benefit as an onfield captain, playing in his position.
Rice or Stones maybe? Not sure either of them is captain material either.
Too late now anyway.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Three at the back is all the talk. If nothing else it matches us up directly against the Swiss.

Pickford

Walker
Stones
Konsa

TAA
Rice
Mainoo
Saka

Bellingham

Kane
Toney

Would be my choice if we go that way. Playing both Bellingham and Foden isn't working whatever we do, they keep occupying the same space.

 

[White Wolf]

That's the team I would go with as well. As bad as he was against Slovakia, having Walker in at the RCB covering means we can play Alexander-Arnold in the right position. Foden has been really disappointing, drop him and it might give Bellingham more space. Toney gives us something extra in the box and should similarly mean they can't keep two men solely on Kane.

 

[Carrotdude]

Think Watkins would be better than Toney if playing with Kane personally, he’ll make runs beyond a bit better for when Harry drops deep

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

It's tough on Palmer because he's done well off the bench but I don't know how you get him into this shape without causing the same attacking issues we've had all tournament. You can't put him at RWB.

 

[Carrotdude]

Just for you @Deutsch Wolf

https://twitter.com/x/status/1808826759204295044

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Oh for God's sake

How can you not see that's a problem. You've tried it and it doesn't work, they get in each other's way.

Would have been like Bobby Robson picking both John Barnes and Chris Waddle and playing them both on the left wing at the same time.

 

[Carrotdude]

Maybe they’ll get a bit more out of each others way in this formation? My worry is Kane will want to drop in there as well so who’s running beyond? Will be the same issue we’ve had all tournament