16th June.
England Euro 2024 Squad and Discussion
- Thread starter BabySinclair
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We have a really strong team for this Euros. There are still some weaknesses at the back but the prospect of Rice, Bellingham and Mainoo in midfield is fantastic.
Also our attacking options with Kane, Saka, Foden, Palmer, Eze, Maddison etc are pretty stacked.
I have a feeling we may genuinely win it this time if we can dodge injuries to key players.
Also our attacking options with Kane, Saka, Foden, Palmer, Eze, Maddison etc are pretty stacked.
I have a feeling we may genuinely win it this time if we can dodge injuries to key players.
Those 2 are probably not going
You are not dominating possession against the likes of Spain or Germany with that midfield. You'd also risk being fairly open against the kind of teams that will invite you to dominate possession...
What I've been saying, if Shaw is fit, Walker plays and everyone is in their right place. If not, it's either Trippier, sub optimal but he still gets to play Walker and the attacking talent really might be enough anyways, or play a LW - that likely requires to play a third CB, and drop Walker and Mainoo for Alexander-Arnold
Against weaker teams he might just decide to run the risk with Rice as lone midfielder, with Walker and 3 CBs behind
The one advantage of having Tripier on the pitch is the set piece advantage which England have used well historically. I really do hope Shaw makes it though as the team will be better with him in it.
So which part of the boom bust cycle are you currently at?
Southgate on Kobbie:
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No Proper manager will dominate the ball with that midfield actually. I dont understand why fans think Rice Bellingham Foden offers possession based football for an international tournament.
It wouldn't even work in domestic competitions, evidence is there this season.
Lets start with Rice, Arteta thought the same, let me have Rice, Odegard, Havertz and surprise surprise it didnt work, what did he have to do? play someone alongside Rice, a player who can break passing lanes in Jorginho and Partey.
Now lets look at Jude, Anchelotti plays him as a CAM or false 9, and is on record saying he doesn't like Jude further back, he has enough better midfielders for that role.
Yet, every England fan thinks that it would work. The balance is completely off, Jude is not a 6.
Think one of them will but not sure which
I love these types of formations, reminds me of total football and Serie A in the 90s! I like the fact that a Rice can drop int9 defence if needed. For balance I’d have Brantwaite in for Maguire, although I think Harry has actually earned his place where nobody will complain for once. Maybe James for Trent if he was fit.
In other words I cant leave him out as hes already made mockery of the excuse I was going to use for his omission.
Oh and Kobbie Mainoo is awesome as well.
I think every formation needs Foden. He's an x-factor player that like young Thomas Muller with Germany.
After listening to the Rooney Overlap podcast, I think trying this in a friendly could be interesting and fun...
----------------------------Pickford--------------------------------
----------------Walker--Stones--Maguire-----------------
Trent--------------Mainoo------Rice------------------Saka
------------Bellingham------------------Foden---------------
------------------------------Kane-----------------------------------
----------------------------Pickford--------------------------------
----------------Walker--Stones--Maguire-----------------
Trent--------------Mainoo------Rice------------------Saka
------------Bellingham------------------Foden---------------
------------------------------Kane-----------------------------------
Defence and left side is suss whatever, particularly without a rusty Shaw.
Pickford
Walker - Stones - Guehi - Shaw
Rice - Bellingham
Saka - Foden - Gordon
Kane
Southgate in cream and tan.
Pickford
Walker - Stones - Guehi - Shaw
Rice - Bellingham
Saka - Foden - Gordon
Kane
Southgate in cream and tan.
why Tyrick Mitchell is not even selected for the initial squad, Luke Shaw is just back from injury and Chilwell is out, Mitchell should have been given a look in case Luke Shaw is not fit enough to feature in the Euros
That would be great to see to be honest and would shore up a lot of weaknesses England have.
Pickford
Walker Stones Maguire Shaw
Rice Mainoo
Saka Bellingham Foden
Kane
I think that would be my preference. The big problem being, Foden would drift inside and Shaw is a FB that thrives on a forward ahead of him keeping width to link-up with as he's not someone who will constantly carry the ball singlehandedly down the wing.Walker Stones Maguire Shaw
Rice Mainoo
Saka Bellingham Foden
Kane
Maybe swapping Saka and Foden could work. Saka can keep the width on the left and Foden can come inside on the right as Walker can singlehandedly carry the ball down the wings unlike Shaw.
A lot depends on whether Southgate plays with 'inverted' full backs. Walker is very used to doing that with City, but not Shaw.
To be honest I would be very surprised if Shaw does play.
And if Foden is told to stay wide, he would be less effective.
Yes definitely.
How do you know what every England fan thinks??
His international record doesn't really show that, Sake for exampe, has a much better international track record than Foden does.
Shoehorning Foden (or anyone else) in to the team just so he plays is basically Scholes/Lampard/Gerrard again and we all know how that panned out
Problem with this is you still just have 0 runners in this team which is my main concern with the England squad anyways.
Really think the best version of an England lineup involves Gordon, or (if I’m honest) dropping Kane and having Watkins up front/ playing Jude and Foden more centrally together. I’ve never been a fan of Kane for England and think he’s been incredibly mediocre in the team but he’ll never get dropped so it’s a non starter
Yeah more I think about it, the bold and correct call is starting Gordon
Ok. Agreed with you both then.Inspired
I just looked back in the thread.I don't love Saka on the left and especially not as a left wing back. Also, agree that rice will be better if he's not the loan holder to Bellingham and Foden in front of him.
Me either but at the same time I think it's the only viable option to get all of the *best* players on the pitch at the same time for England.
Is TAA much more preferable to Shaw? I like the 4231 Yagami posted with Shaw at LB rather than TAA but it might also depend on Shaw's fitness
Yeah, it ticks a lot of boxes. Similar to Brazil in 2002, when they didn't have much depth at CB - so benefited from an extra defender to shore things up; didn't really have a top class 8 (by their standards) - so needed a way to get their inside-forwards on the ball in central areas; to free up their wing-backs (or right-backs in England's case) to attack; and to build a shape to put their 3 best players (3 Rs) free through the middle (Foden, Bellingham, Kane).
I think Shaw is brilliant but I think what TAA is capable of in terms of attacking creativity in terms of passing and set pieces is a level above. Saka would be the so called 'sacrificial lamb' in that formation but his quality is capable of playing in that role and it would free up the three (arguably) best players in Foden, Bellingham and Kane through the middle in their best roles.
Agree, sadly due to the way he played the 3/5 at the back before and the outcry that got, I don't think he will ever go back to it.
Crystal ball.
The right answer.
The thing is when you have a player like Trent in your team, I feel you need forwards that will be willing to run in behind. I dont see Foden, Bellingham and Kane doing that. We would need to start a Gordon or someone like that to get the best out of TAA passing.
TAA is a very good player. But he does have a tendency to wander out of position. And top teams will exploit that.
I would like to see Shaw playing. But as others have said, we need to wait on his fitness.
Have you seen the goals Bellingham has scored this year? Lots of them are from positions or from runs which would are tailor-made for TAA. Also Kane is superb in the box, would also capitalise on his deliveries.
I have seen the goals but International football is different. Its slower and TAA has never played LB.
I didn't put TAA as a LB in the formation I posted.
It's debatble if TAA has ever played RB TBH!
And yet, in all the big CL matches, Bellingham played in the 6/8 role. Drift into channels and then sit in on the midfield line in defense. Look at the heat maps vs Bayern and City, compared to the heat maps vs typical La Liga teams.
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