England - Euro 2021 Discussion | FA chairman: Southgate to be offered new contract until Euro 2024

Lingard would be a waste. The likelihood is that Foden, Mount and Sterling start in behind Kane and all of Grealish, Sancho and Rashford (and probably Saka) are coming off the bench ahead of him.
 
Uninspiring and I'm not particularly optimistic of us doing anything but there was probably only Pickford, Mings, Rice and Kane that will actually start tbf.

I can see us going 5 at the back too, especially with Maguire not looking like he'll be fit.
 
Mings can not start. He’s a disaster waiting to happen. If Maguire can’t play we have to play a 5 with Walker & Shaw playing with Stones & Chilwell & either James, Trippier or TAA as wing backs.
 
That CB position is a huge issue, the team itself doesn’t look coached well, but Mings will lose you games at that level. Not sure a half fit Maguire and Stones will be great either. Then after that there’s who? Coady? Another walking disaster at this level.
 
Liver_bird said:
That CB position is a huge issue, the team itself doesn’t look coached well, but Mings will lose you games at that level. Not sure a half fit Maguire and Stones will be great either. Then after that there’s who? Coady? Another walking disaster at this level.
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Godfrey has been quality all season and played right across the back line for Everton.
 
so all this unnecessary media around Trent being in the squad or not and now he could be out injured in a friendly? It's kinda ironic really
 
Annihilate Now! said:
If Maguire is out and he goes back 3... he could potentially go for a back 3 of James -- Stones --- Shaw .. which might suffer aerially, but on the ball it would be fantastic.
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I like this idea (although would probably have Walker RCB with James RWB). With Rice sitting in front of the back three who can drop back so it's a back four. Could allow us to have two attacking mids starting centrally:

Kane - Rashford

Saka - Grealish - Mount - James
Rice
Shaw - Stones - Walker

​
Could replace Saka with Chilwell, Foden instead of one of the AMs, Sterling/Sancho instead of Rashford ideally too. Possibly even bin off the second striker and play all 3 of Foden, Grealish and Mount.
 
PoTMS said:
Who do we take now Trent is out? Lingard or Ward-Prowse? We're a bit short in central midfield, particularly if Henderson is still not 100%.
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Yeah one of those would need to come in IF TAA is ruled out because we lack something in midfield whether it's someone who can run in behind which is clearly Jesse or someone good on the ball in CM and deadly from set-pieces which is JWP. I agree that Godfrey has the flexibility to pay along the backline and and could quite easily see Gareth doing that but would still be the midfield depth option for me.
 
The way the ITV reporter was carrying on you would've thought Alexander Arnold was prime Maradona. His first few questions were all about him and would he be OK but just worded in a different way each time.
 
Acole9 said:
The way the ITV reporter was carrying on you would've thought Alexander Arnold was prime Maradona. His first few questions were all about him and would he be OK but just worded in a different way each time.
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The whole narrative around him has been ridiculous for the past few months. I've never seen such a pro-agenda towards a player before.
 
Acole9 said:
The way the ITV reporter was carrying on you would've thought Alexander Arnold was prime Maradona. His first few questions were all about him and would he be OK but just worded in a different way each time.
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wasnt it just.

would have loved Southgate to come back and tell him to duck off. Must have been 6/7 attempts at the same question.

southgate did well to not show any annoyance.

the answer in any case is obvious. He’s got an injury, we don’t know how serious it is, we will wait and see - any tool knew that beforehand.
 
Nero said:
The whole narrative around him has been ridiculous for the past few months. I've never seen such a pro-agenda towards a player before.
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its really bizarre - this is a player who has been very indifferent before, everyone acknowledges his clear weaknesses and he’s never done it for England.

I’m not trying to shit on him, he’s got some excellent qualities and was very good for Liverpool for two years. But most people wouldn’t even start him in their England team.
 
Judas said:
I still can't believe those are the CBs we've been left with. Southgate has certainly given himself his own headaches really.
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Godfrey and White are both comfortably better than Mings. I have no idea how Mings even made the squad.
 
With as many good forward options as England have it seems stupid to play 3 at the back.
 
Godfather said:
Your midfield looked pretty bad. Second string team though
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Makes me reminisce of the Parker-Gerrard combo at Euro 2012.

I think playing Grealish and Foden ahead of Rice would be a fine midfield for this tournament, but that won't happen. Especially as Southgate doesn't see Jack as a CM.
 
In the first game I think he'll go for

----------------Pickford--------------
----Walker--Stones--Mings----
James---------------------Chilwell
------Rice------Bellingham-------
--------Foden----------Mount-----
------------------Kane-----------------

With maybe Sterling in for Foden or Mount. I think we saw last night that we need someone with the pace to run in behind and only Rashford and Sterling can offer that.
 
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Acole9 said:
The way the ITV reporter was carrying on you would've thought Alexander Arnold was prime Maradona. His first few questions were all about him and would he be OK but just worded in a different way each time.
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There is no denying he is a very talented player.

However, prior to his potential Championships-ending injury last night; would I have included him in the 26 man squad as a right-back? No I wouldn't.

Would I have included him in the 26 as a right-winger? Absolutely I would have.
 
Classical Mechanic said:
In the first game I think he'll go for

----------------Pickford--------------
----Walker--Stones--Mings----
James---------------------Chilwell
------Rice------Bellingham-------
--------Foden----------Mount-----
------------------Kane-----------------
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Replace Mings with Shaw & I have no problem with that.

Sadly, I see him almost certainly starting Sterling.
 
Schmeichel's Cartwheel said:
Replace Mings with Shaw & I have no problem with that.

Sadly, I see him almost certainly starting Sterling.
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I can't see him starting two full/wing backs in the three. Mings is left footed and good aerially. I not a fan of his but in a back three I'm less worried about him. I do think we need some direct pace up top so Sterling or Rashford could get the nod.
 
Classical Mechanic said:
I can't see him starting two full/wing backs in the three. Mings is left footed and good aerially. I not a fan of his but in a back three I'm less worried about him. I do think we need some direct pace up top so Sterling or Rashford could get the nod.
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You can’t play Mings and leave out Shaw. He’d be better playing Shaw as the left sided centre back and playing Coady on the other side who is used to playing in a back 3. Coady isn’t brilliant but he’s miles better than Mings and really Shaw is better than Walker too.
 
TrustInJanuzaj said:
You can’t play Mings and leave out Shaw. He’d be better playing Shaw as the left sided centre back and playing Coady on the other side who is used to playing in a back 3. Coady isn’t brilliant but he’s miles better than Mings and really Shaw is better than Walker too.
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It's a possibility but Coady isn't good in the air. You need a player with some aerial presence. It isn't a case of 'I think this player is better than this player'. More of a compromise in trying to find a balance, especially at international level.
 
Classical Mechanic said:
It's a possibility but Coady isn't good in the air. You need a player with some aerial presence. It isn't a case of 'I think this player is better than this player'. More of a compromise in trying to find a balance, especially at international level.
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Yeah I'm no fan of Mings but he's the only aggressive CB in the squad. Coady is a steadier player but a little more passive and without Magurie there's not much physical or aerial presence from any of the other CBs. I think we could have done with someone link Dunk in the squad instead.
 
Classical Mechanic said:
I can't see him starting two full/wing backs in the three. Mings is left footed and good aerially. I not a fan of his but in a back three I'm less worried about him. I do think we need some direct pace up top so Sterling or Rashford could get the nod.
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I do agree with this, as Kane often drops deep so probably does need a bit if pace out wide as we see with Son. I’m not a big fan of starting players who are out of form though. Sterling has been poor for a while & Rashford has looked unfit all season & was honestly atrocious in the EL final. Perhaps Sancho could be a shout to start & play the “Son role” so to speak?
 
Schmeichel's Cartwheel said:
I do agree with this, as Kane often drops deep so probably does need a bit if pace out wide as we see with Son. I’m not a big fan of starting players who are out of form though. Sterling has been poor for a while & Rashford has looked unfit all season & was honestly atrocious in the EL final. Perhaps Sancho could be a shout to start & play the “Son role” so to speak?
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I'd be surprised if Sancho does that given he's never looked impressive for England

England have good options despite some weaknesses, just don't trust Southgate to get the best out of them
 
Schmeichel's Cartwheel said:
I do agree with this, as Kane often drops deep so probably does need a bit if pace out wide as we see with Son. I’m not a big fan of starting players who are out of form though. Sterling has been poor for a while & Rashford has looked unfit all season & was honestly atrocious in the EL final. Perhaps Sancho could be a shout to start & play the “Son role” so to speak?
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Sancho isn't really the quickest either. Rashford really is the only truly pacey option England have so we better hope he's fit.
 
Amarsdd said:
so all this unnecessary media around Trent being in the squad or not and now he could be out injured in a friendly? It's kinda ironic really
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Quite amusing as well from a certain point of view. Id imagine Southgate isnt too worried about it given that he doesnt seem to fancy him anyway and it solves the issue of the drama around who plays right back.
 
Harsh on Mount but surely you have to play Grealish and Foden in the starting lineup, Sancho / Sterling too should be in there. Just play the most technically sound players and you always gonna have a good chance. Don’t have much confidence in Southgate’s decision making though. Also, just one of the Rice / Henderson should be starting, having both of them on the pitch will make you boring and static imo.
 
Rajma said:
Harsh on Mount but surely you have to play Grealish and Foden in the starting lineup, Sancho / Sterling too should be in there. Just play the most technically sound players and you always gonna have a good chance. Don’t have much confidence in Southgate’s decision making though. Also, just one of the Rice / Henderson should be starting, having both of them on the pitch will make you boring and static imo.
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If you weren't a waistcoat wearing softcock you would obviously play:

Henderson
AnyRB Stones Maguire EitherLB
Rice Mount
Sancho Foden Grealish
Kane​

If Maguire is out then pick any CB other than Mings and pray you score more goals than you concede.
 
diarm said:
If you weren't a waistcoat wearing softcock you would obviously play:

Henderson
AnyRB Stones Maguire EitherLB
Rice Mount
Sancho Foden Grealish
Kane​

If Maguire is out then pick any CB other than Mings and pray you score more goals than you concede.
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Can/does Mount play central midfielder? I thought he was more of an attacking midfielder?
 
Berbasbullet said:
Can/does Mount play central midfielder? I thought he was more of an attacking midfielder?
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He is, I’m not sure putting him in a two gets the best out of him. It seems we’re going to be putting players in roles they’re not accustomed to.
 
Liver_bird said:
He is, I’m not sure putting him in a two gets the best out of him. It seems we’re going to be putting players in roles they’re not accustomed to.
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Agreed why not just play Bellingham in this instance?
 
Berbasbullet said:
Agreed why not just play Bellingham in this instance?
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Bellingham would be just fine. Agree that it's probably a better idea than forcing Mount in there. There's a decision then to be made on whether you play Foden at 10 with Grealish left, or Mount at 10 with Foden left. Grealish vs Mount is a tricky call.

Southgate won't play Belllingham though. It'll be Rice and Henderson in there and if Henderson is injured, Phillips.
 
Berbasbullet said:
Agreed why not just play Bellingham in this instance?
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Southgate that’s why unfortunately. He’ll play both rice and Henderson in midfield if he can. Despite both of them being more than capable of playing as a lone DM at a high level. Henderson did it for us last season at a high level when Fabinho was out and Rice has improved a lot this past season.

I think we’re going to end up playing a side to cover for the defence rather than focusing on the strengths of the players we have who have all played at a high level in both the league and CL over the last 2-3 years. Sterling Rashford Henderson Maguire have all been key players for Southgate and all are subject to doubt over injury and form. If we play them all there’s every chance one of the most talented squads we’ve had will be putting in limp displays.
 
It isn’t even an indictment of the quality of those players, they’ve all proven themselves. But there’s other options in form who are just as good.

Maguire is the obvious exception, someone mentioned Godfrey and he’s one I hadn’t thought of yet. But with Gomez out and Maguire uncertain in terms of fitness there’s a real lack of quality there.
 
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