The Euro 2024 Thread

[Stan Hullis]

Joe Gomez is about the next best option.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Is there not a single other player in the England squad that can play left back ( in the absence of Shaw ) , other than Trippier ?

Not that I'd do it, but Saka has played there.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

You could try Trent there, I suppose. Completely the wrong side for him though

With Shaw clearly broken, the failure to take an extra left back looks fucking negligent.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Putting TAA there would just give us the same problem we have with Trippier, but without the defensive qualities.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

With Shaw clearly broken, the failure to take an extra left back looks fucking negligent.

Who is the next best available LB though? Chilwell? He's looked dreadful for a long while.

 

[jd1981]

Peter Schmeical spoke some crap yesterday saying he’d hate to play for England because everyone demands they win something. No we don’t we just want to see the players replicating their club form to some degree which could take us close isn’t a lot to ask.
Plus pressure is kind of an occupational hazard as a top sportsperson. Talking of pressure he played at Man Utd which is about as high pressure as you can get.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Who is the next best available LB though? Chilwell? He's looked dreadful for a long while.

You know - that is a bloody good question. I'm really struggling to think of English left backs

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Tyrick Mitchell - ludicrous he wasn't in the 26.

Maybe, but I don't think you suggested he should be until today.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I definitely heard the name bandied about - whether it was Nando or not I'm sorry I haven't a clue*

*ace programme

 

[Wolftone]

Whilst I think left back is a problem I don't think it's the main problem but as Southgate is playing a back four Dan Burn (someone had to say it) might have been the 'best' option.
Could have gone with a five - but too late now and used Doughty, would also have meant rejigging a lot of other positions and leaving out some of his 'star' men.
That to me is the main problem, Southgate is trying to fit too many 'stars' into his preferred formation rather than putting square pegs in square holes where players are comfortable.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Five at the back means leaving out at least one of the big stars, probably two.

Leaving a left back at home and it goes tits up and you get shit. Leave Foden or Bellingham at home and it goes tits up and its career terminal

 

[jd1981]

The biggest problem is the lack of control in midfield. I’d start with Wharton alongside Rice play either Foden or Bellingham central and try Gordon on the left.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

SOUTHGATE'S STRUGGLE

It's like déjà vu all over again...

oscillatingwildly.substack.com

 

[Wolftone]

C

Five at the back means leaving out at least one of the big stars, probably two.

Leaving a left back at home and it goes tits up and you get shit. Leave Foden or Bellingham at home and it goes tits up and its career terminal

Correct.
Bit like the Gerrard/Lampard days.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

The biggest problem is the lack of control in midfield. I’d start with Wharton alongside Rice play either Foden or Bellingham central and try Gordon on the left.

That's where I am at too

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Mitchell for Bowen, looks like sense to me. Can't upset West Ham though. They won the World Cup or something

 

[Wolftone]

Five at the back means leaving out at least one of the big stars, probably two.

Leaving a left back at home and it goes tits up and you get shit. Leave Foden or Bellingham at home and it goes tits up and its career terminal

Wouldn't have left Foden or Bellingham at home, but neither of them 'walk in to the team' either, particularly when they are not playing well. In each others way a lot of the time yesterday.
Gordon would have hugged the touchline and given us more width and Bellingham more space.
He needs to either play Bellingham or Foden centrally and drop the other one for Gordon.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Or play 4-1-4-1 and play both and Gordon. Depends on Rice having rather large cojones in defensive mid but I would love to see it

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

View attachment 10747

Fair play

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Or play 4-1-4-1 and play both and Gordon. Depends on Rice having rather large cojones in defensive mid but I would love to see it

I don't think it's the formation or the players (other than TAA), it's the mentality and the attitude.

We need to be more aggressive when we haven't got the ball and more positive with our running/movement when we have.