UEFA Nations League & Euro 2020 Qualification

[Tony Towner]

I know we aren’t interacting but what do you think of that? Chance for him to prove himself but are we seeing the effect of a lot of players getting positive tests?

I think Grealish has the ability to be a top class player. He's the only person holding himself back from that. There's two fundamental issues and they are big. The first is him being the best player in the Villa side means he thinks he has the right to go all over the pitch searching for the ball, blowing the formation and meaning he's not in areas where he can actually do some damage. Smith seems unwilling or unable to stop him. Reminds me of Afobe at the start of his second season under Jackett.

The second is the falling over. Kightly made a really good point on the Spiers and Oatley podcast which is that Traore would have more free kicks than Grealish if he chose to go down at the slightest touch like he does, but chooses to stand on his feet and get into dangerous areas whereas Grealish takes the free kick in the centre circle.

In summary I think he's a number 10 that can't be trusted to be one and Southgate's called him up because it's getting him heat in the media which he can extinguish pretty easily without actually have to give him many, if any minutes

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I think Grealish has the ability to be a top class player. He's the only person holding himself back from that. There's two fundamental issues and they are big. The first is him being the best player in the Villa side means he thinks he has the right to go all over the pitch searching for the ball, blowing the formation and meaning he's not in areas where he can actually do some damage. Smith seems unwilling or unable to stop him. Reminds me of Afobe at the start of his second season under Jackett.

The second is the falling over. Kightly made a really good point on the Spiers and Oatley podcast which is that Traore would have more free kicks than Grealish if he chose to go down at the slightest touch like he does, but chooses to stand on his feet and get into dangerous areas whereas Grealish takes the free kick in the centre circle.

In summary I think he's a number 10 that can't be trusted to be one and Southgate's called him up because it's getting him heat in the media which he can extinguish pretty easily without actually have to give him many, if any minutes

Pretty spot on.

I thought he was largely terrible for Villa post-lockdown, hindered them more than anything. Got the goal on the final day but let's face it, that was woeful goalkeeping more than anything else.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Grealish is ludicrously over rated as is Rice Winks Pickford Dier Mings.

The squad Southgate has picked is mince.

 

[Tony Towner]

Consensus seems to be that Dier will play as the middle centre half.

 

[The Bear]

Mourinho has played him at CB in their friendlies so obviously he is going to play there for Spurs too.

 

[Tredman]

Nonsense decision.

 

[Freddeno]

Grealish is ludicrously over rated as is Rice Winks Pickford Dier Mings.

The squad Southgate has picked is mince.

I dont think Grealish is that overrated, Rice is a fairly good player too in his limited area..the other you mention though I agree with

 

[Freddeno]

Sweden - France today...very tough game but will be nice to watch

 

[Tony Towner]

I think the Nations League is better than playing Brazil and Germany every year in a pointless friendly, but it stops Coady from getting a token 15/20 mins in the way Jarvis did

 

[darlowolf64]

Consensus seems to be that Dier will play as the middle centre half.

Typical Southgate shit... we have a player who has played the position for 3 years very successfully or a bloke who usually plays midfield but has played CB. Nah, the second option will do.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Tbf Mourinho has consistently played him at CH.

But not as a ball-playing sweeper in a three.

 

[Tredman]

It was a fucking piss poor back 3 too.

 

[jd1981]

Coady on the bench Foden starts

 

[Tredman]

Is he playing Trippier LWB?

 

[jd1981]

Is he playing Trippier LWB?

Looks like it

 

[Tredman]

That’s some proper shite defence. Actually takes some effort that.

 

[darlowolf64]

Back 4 of Trippier, Dier, Gomez, Walker

 

[jd1981]

Back 4 of Trippier, Dier, Gomez, Walker

Unless Rice is playing in a back 3

 

[Tony Towner]

Is he playing Trippier LWB?

Back 4 I think.

 

[Tredman]

I thought Rice in a 3, since he’s clearly not good enough to play in CM.