England Discussion

Having watched England since Italia 90 Bellingham is the most excited I have been about a player since Gazza. I’d put him above Foden. The way he moves and reads the game is outstanding. He is only 19 and will only get better.
 
To be fair to Southgate they were the two changes I advocated for after the USA where we didn't get any kind of foot on the ball in midfield.

Bringing in Henderson's experience was a good idea considering Mount was such a non entity. Better at building play.

Rashford is always going to be a decent option in this form. I think you can go for any of Saka, Rashford, Foden around Kane - I think Sterling should be put aside.
 
TheNewEra said:
100% mismanaged, but also as you said "could have had" Sven managed to push Scholes out on the left trying to have Lampard and Gerrard in the center.

Scholes could control a game and he should have been first pick, maybe Gerrard and Scholes with a CDM behind them would have been the best.

When Scholes retired in after Euro 2004 I think it was, England just dropped off for me.

This team just has a better balance for me and before the tournament I thought "England, no chance under Southgate" but honestly I can see a semi final at least.
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It’s weird, the England manager never seemed to bring them all together as England managers do today. There was look at this 11 but never look at this squad. If a big name wasn’t pencilled into start he was never given a chance to displace a favourite
You see random lineups from massive games back then and you have big names with Danny Mills at RB or Trevor Sinclair on the left while players like Mcmanaman were never really trusted
 
Blackbeard said:
Having watched England since Italia 90 Bellingham is the most excited I have been about a player since Gazza. I’d put him above Foden. The way he moves and reads the game is outstanding. He is only 19 and will only get better.
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Rooney in 2004 was better.
 
Idxomer said:
I doubt they're beating France if both reach the quarterfinals.
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France have been outstanding for sure so it's a hard call but we'll see, it's not the strongest France team but competing with Dembele and Mbappe will be a headache
 
Abraxas said:
To be fair to Southgate they were the two changes I advocated for after the USA where we didn't get any kind of foot on the ball in midfield.

Bringing in Henderson's experience was a good idea considering Mount was such a non entity. Better at building play.

Rashford is always going to be a decent option in this form. I think you can go for any of Saka, Rashford, Foden around Kane - I think Sterling should be put aside.
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Sterling and Mount should definitely be dropped from the 11 that started in the first game.
 
PoTMS said:
Rooney in 2004 was better.
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yea fair one Rooney was to be honest. Owen was pretty exciting in 98 as well. I’m probably getting carried away. He does look good though!
 
Good performance. Entertaining to watch. Happy days.
 
Here you go, folks, congrats! Watch your transitional spaces in R16… Senegal are pretty aggressive, also fast.
 
WeePat said:
His own manager at club level has said Foden isn’t quite ready to play in midfield. Unless you mean as a 10 behind the strikers?
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That might be because he has De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Gundogan, etc ahead of him at City...
 
Said it in the match thread, but Wilson was sharper and looked more dangerous than Kane. He will never start ahead of him, but Kane just looks off it.
 
BlueMoonOutcast said:
That might be because he has De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Gundogan, etc ahead of him at City...
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I mean it’s not the reasons Pep gave. He flat out said he wasn’t ready. You can disagree if you want but I’m just telling you what your manager said.
 
Southgate did what I expected today and brought Henderson in to bring a better passer from deep in that midfield, but I was surprised he chose to put Foden on the wing and pushed Bellingham on instead of having him central behind the forwards.

Either way, Rashford is probably a must start at this point. Kane will always start because of his status, so it leaves two spots for Saka, Foden, Mount, Sterling, Grealish, Maddison (RIP), Bellingham.
 
England looked better when rashford and foden switched wings
 
Canucantona20 said:
Senegal will be a tough game.
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It will be think England will be o.k. In terms of style I think Ecuador with their pressing style would've been a harder match up, Senegal will play at slower pace and think England backline will be comfortable with no Mane to track.

Really want to see an England-France QF tbh. That will settle a few things once and for all with the Southgate tenure.
 
Senegal won't be a walkover but England should be fine and progress to next round. Then it would probably be against France which is completely different challenge.
 
Valencia Shin Crosses said:
Kane sucks for England, there I said it. He scores a lot of goals (many through pens and tap ins) but never has the type of performances he gave for Spurs.
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Wilson held it up much better than Kane, is more physical and has the legs to run in behind.
When we play a 9 that can play on the shoulder and not allow the opposition to compress everything it gives us so much more space in midfield.
If it was up to me I’d play Wilson vs Senegal. Someone else can take a penalty if we get one.
 
Senegal would be a cakewalk provided Southgate doesn't complicate things. Start the same team and should be a comfortable 2-0 win.
 
bond19821982 said:
Senegal would be a cakewalk provided Southgate doesn't complicate things. Start the same team and should be a comfortable 2-0 win.
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Yeah i feel the same way, England are levels above Senegal talent wise.

Of course theres been plenty of upsets recently and anything can happen but i fancy England to make the quarters and then getting knocked out by France.
 
Cant see Senegal posing England that many problems. Who do England play after Senegal?
 
Not sure Senegal are an outfit that massively challenge England stylistically. They have some pace upfront which in theory should trouble England but nothing special quality wise and I don't see a hugely threatening pressing outfit to pressure England's laborious build-up at times. Should be relatively comfortable.
 
Should England beat Senegal they will most likely crash out in the quarters if they meet France, but if they somehow manage to clear that hurdle they have a decent chance of going all the way.
 
I’d play the same team we put out today. Personally think that’s the most assured we’ve seen England in some time. Even better than the Iran game tbh. That midfield 3 is undoubtedly our best bet currently. If Mount plays, I think it’ll be a real problem for us. He just doesn’t do enough. Bellingham, Rice and Henderson is a lot of energy and running, and plenty of quality on the ball. Bellingham is pretty incisive too when he has the freedom to break forwards.

I’d play the same front line too. Be madness to drop Kane.
 
simonhch said:
I’d play the same team we put out today. Personally think that’s the most assured we’ve seen England in some time. Even better than the Iran game tbh. That midfield 3 is undoubtedly our best bet currently. If Mount plays, I think it’ll be a real problem for us. He just doesn’t do enough. Bellingham, Rice and Henderson is a lot of energy and running, and plenty of quality on the ball. Bellingham is pretty incisive too when he has the freedom to break forwards.

I’d play the same front line too. Be madness to drop Kane.
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Biggest thing for me about this starting lineup: assurance in the midfield, and the Foden and Rashford compliment each other really well in how they open up defenses, so you could find yourself up a goal earlier.

Miunt hasn’t played as badly as people think apparently. I don’t always trust stats, but he actually graded out as one of your best players in the first two games. BUT I think Mason would be more effective as a sub for this squad. Particularly because of his versatility. When you bring him on you can’t immediately be sure what spaces he’ll occupy if you are the opposing team, and he could give tired legs problems when he’s fresh. Mount could match up as a solid 8 in that situation, maybe curl up to occupy a forward mid role with Bellingham alternating back, dropping all the way back again, or switching mid play with a Foden or Grealish long enough to let them force play centrally.

It isnt just that he shouldn’t start, for THIS team I think he could be particularly effective as a sub. Hendo gives you a stable opening presence, but he isn’t got g to go 90. It just makes sense really.
 
simonhch said:
I’d play the same team we put out today. Personally think that’s the most assured we’ve seen England in some time. Even better than the Iran game tbh. That midfield 3 is undoubtedly our best bet currently. If Mount plays, I think it’ll be a real problem for us. He just doesn’t do enough. Bellingham, Rice and Henderson is a lot of energy and running, and plenty of quality on the ball. Bellingham is pretty incisive too when he has the freedom to break forwards.

I’d play the same front line too. Be madness to drop Kane.
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Agreed. Mount, in particular, should be nowhere near the team. Foden and Rashford is a better balance than Sterling and Saka, too.

Fully expect Southgate to play the same front six as he did against Iran and the US, though.
 
TheNewEra said:
France have been outstanding for sure so it's a hard call but we'll see, it's not the strongest France team but competing with Dembele and Mbappe will be a headache
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IF it happens then could suit us being underdogs
 
Kopral Jono said:
Should England beat Senegal they will most likely crash out in the quarters if they meet France, but if they somehow manage to clear that hurdle they have a decent chance of going all the way.
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Can't see it happening but could do with someone doing a Switzerland to them on Sunday afternoon
 
Kag said:
Agreed. Mount, in particular, should be nowhere near the team. Foden and Rashford is a better balance than Sterling and Saka, too.

Fully expect Southgate to play the same front six as he did against Iran and the US, though.
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My guess is Saka and Rashford with Foden off the bench. Can't see Rashford not starting, not like Sterling has been impressive.
 
You'll beat Senegal in my opinion.
Senegal are a good team, I don't know why everyone had Ecuador as the favorites in their last game.
They're fast, they press well. However, England will have more than enough to beat them.
 
simonhch said:
I’d play the same team we put out today. Personally think that’s the most assured we’ve seen England in some time. Even better than the Iran game tbh. That midfield 3 is undoubtedly our best bet currently. If Mount plays, I think it’ll be a real problem for us. He just doesn’t do enough. Bellingham, Rice and Henderson is a lot of energy and running, and plenty of quality on the ball. Bellingham is pretty incisive too when he has the freedom to break forwards.

I’d play the same front line too. Be madness to drop Kane.
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Agree with this, maybe Saka for Foden.

Think that was a good and balanced line up, wasnt particularly exciting football but it was functional and tough to break down.
 
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