The Euro 2024 Thread

[Del Woppio]

They're a tough side and we've done well to get through. There's still more to come from the boys and we'll keep working hard

 

[Tony Towner]

It's only the bloated nature of the format that has Slovakia in the knockout stages. They'll play with a low block and 10 men behind the ball. We aren't entitled to beat them, we have to prove it, but it'd be gross mismanagement for us to not win.

 

[Sniffer]

For those who like insurance policies, Slovakia are 5.7 to qualify/reach the quarter finals on betfair.

 

[Kenny]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1806981716591972555

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Why wouldn't you pick Gomez there who's at least played a bunch of games in that position this season? Don't think I've ever seen Konsa at left back.

Just punt Saka back there so you can play Palmer without having to worry about dropping one of the first choice.

 

[jd1981]

It's only the bloated nature of the format that has Slovakia in the knockout stages. They'll play with a low block and 10 men behind the ball. We aren't entitled to beat them, we have to prove it, but it'd be gross mismanagement for us to not win.

I think Gaz is fully capable of gross mismanagement

 

[Tony Towner]

For this I'd go 3 at the back
Pickford
Walker Stones Guehi
TAA Rice Bellingham Saka
Palmer Kane Gordon

Wouldn't work against a better side, but against a team that's likely to just put men behind the ball I'd look to maximise the width

 

[Johnny75]

For this I'd go 3 at the back
Pickford
Walker Stones Guehi
TAA Rice Bellingham Saka
Palmer Kane Gordon

Wouldn't work against a better side, but against a team that's likely to just put men behind the ball I'd look to maximise the width

If Southgate went with that it would be 5 at the back such is his conservatism.

If we do go with Konsa or Gomez we have to have Gordon giving width on the left or we will be far too narrow

 

[Carrotdude]

Southgate doesn’t see it though, either that or he’s too scared to drop one of the ‘stars’ to make the team have more balance. I genuinely think he’s happy with how we’ve played, all he’s after is basically playing for 0-0 and assuming at some point some of our talented players will do a goal

 

[Dire Wolf]

I think Southgate definitely believes that a pragmatic, conservative approach can be successful in winning tournaments, and in that I think there is some truth. However, the problem with that is the talent in the England team doesn't really dovetail with that kind of football. The players we have need to be more positive and on the front foot.

 

[nimrod]

I think Southgate definitely believes that a pragmatic, conservative approach can be successful in winning tournaments, and in that I think there is some truth. However, the problem with that is the talent in the England team doesn't really dovetail with that kind of football. The players we have need to be more positive and on the front foot.

i guess it's fair to say if you've built your team around kalvin phillips and he's not available, well what are you supposed to do!

 

[Wolftone]

For this I'd go 3 at the back
Pickford
Walker Stones Guehi
TAA Rice Bellingham Saka
Palmer Kane Gordon

Wouldn't work against a better side, but against a team that's likely to just put men behind the ball I'd look to maximise the width

Definitely a good option but cant see Southgate doing it.

 

[sycophantia]

Why wouldn't you pick Gomez there who's at least played a bunch of games in that position this season? Don't think I've ever seen Konsa at left back.

Just punt Saka back there so you can play Palmer without having to worry about dropping one of the first choice.

Think he played Konsa at LB in at least one of the pre tournament friendlies, did ok as far as I remember.
Whether Konsa or Gomez, they won't be any worse than Trippier.

 

[Sniffer]

Think he played Konsa at LB in at least one of the pre tournament friendlies, did ok as far as I remember.
Whether Konsa or Gomez, they won't be any worse than Trippier.

The problem with your quite correct assumption is that the left hand side hasn’t worked yet. Not being worse isn’t going to be better unless Gordon is ahead of him. If Shaw is fit for 45 minutes he should play. You wouldn’t want to bring him on in case he breaks down.

 

[sycophantia]

The problem with your quite correct assumption is that the left hand side hasn’t worked yet. Not being worse isn’t going to be better unless Gordon is ahead of him. If Shaw is fit for 45 minutes he should play. You wouldn’t want to bring him on in case he breaks down.

Oh absolutely, I'd have had Gordon in right from the start with having to use a RB at LB. Wouldn't have cured all the issues but surely got to be better having a career left sided player, gotvto be better balanced, especially as he's been very good this season.
Think it's a huge risk playing Shaw even if he's fit which I doubt.

 

[White Wolf]

In individual quality Slovakia aren't that good but they are quite capable of being well organised. In the Belgium game they scored early on and then defended well. They were vulnerable at the back to an intense press but Belgium didn't do much of it - not sure it is something we are capable of either with Kane is it? Similar to the Belgians with Lukaku.

I'm not confident that we can break them down. I wouldn't say they are any worse than Slovenia. If Slovakia score then I would be seriously worried about our ability to score more than once, and then you're looking at penalties at best.

 

[Sniffer]

You could press them if Gordon/Foden/Saka play as Kane could just drop a little when it’s on. Not sure if Palmer can or Bellingham if Southgate insists on having him as a 10.

 

[jd1981]

What I’ve seen of Mainoo I think he can be a bit inconsistent he was very poor on the friendly v Iceland if I remember rightly.

 

[sycophantia]

What I’ve seen of Mainoo I think he can be a bit inconsistent he was very poor on the friendly v Iceland if I remember rightly.

I think what he offered the other day when he came on was energy and he does have some talent, we'd been very flat for 2 games before that. I'd like to have seen Wharton but I'm happy enough for him to be in if Southgate refuses to drop Bellingham back a little bit.

 

[The Bear]

He was better than Gallagher, which is the only bar he needs to get over in this tournament.

Wharton would probably be better all round but Gaz ain't gonna pick him over a Man Utd player is he.