England Euro 2024 Squad and Discussion

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Trent is a luxury you can’t carry in a major tournament. He looked good in an early first 20 when he became a wing back but once pegged back as a 6 he wanted too much time on the ball and doesn’t have the 360 vision you need.
Foden kicks on once you have Shaw overlapping wanting to get a ball into the box.

Gallagher to start on Thursday and maybe if shaws not fit, we need a winger who can go on the outside so maybe bring in Gordon
 
Bluelion7 said:
So does England sacrifice everything a 10 should bring you and stick Foden into complete limbo just to get Bellingham closer to trailing in the box for headers? He used to be the most dominant future box to box midfielder maybe in the world and now he’s a better version of Dele Ali it looks like.

The whole team is dysfunctional and primarily misused or out of position.

Foden looks devoid of belief in everything they do.

Was miserable compared to the other favorites.
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In fairness, he’s been playing that far forward for Madrid all season, it’s not an England thing. He should be playing in midfield with a proper defensive midfielder, but it’s more about Southgate deciding what the system is and picking the best players for that system.

Foden out of Pep’s system is always an interesting one, he’s never a left forward in most systems but I can’t see how he can be benched for someone like Gordon.

The quicker Southgate realises Mainoo is the correct midfield option the better, but I don’t think he will in time. Putting him in as a 10 at the end of the game instead of Gallagher in midfield shows that. A team with TAA or Gallagher in midfield won’t win a tournament.
 
England need someone who is capable of dictating the tempo of the game as it swings wildly, just like United games.

You have players like Gallagher and Rice in CM who will happily chase the ball all day, but cannot dictate the play, or are being asked not to.

Its severely unbalanced in midfield and the left hand side is a mess really. It needs Shaw at LB and Gordon LW, drop TAA from CM before he sends England home too. I'd also say Kane needs dropping if he doesn't start contributing, the Serbian CBs had their easiest game tonight.
 
Bluelion7 said:
So does England sacrifice everything a 10 should bring you and stick Foden into complete limbo just to get Bellingham closer to trailing in the box for headers? He used to be the most dominant future box to box midfielder maybe in the world and now he’s a better version of Dele Ali it looks like.

The whole team is dysfunctional and primarily misused or out of position.

Foden looks devoid of belief in everything they do.

Was miserable compared to the other favorites.
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I agree on all accounts, I don’t see what Bellingham really brings to the team besides these late runs into the box which to his credit he has a good sense for, but as a overall package he’s rather underwhelming for a number 10 role.
 
Bellingham is class, insane he’s only 20. And the fact that all your other mega talents (Saka aside) seem unable to put in decent performances at national level only shows how talented he is.

it’s amazing you keep giving Southgate such unbelievably talented squads and he consistently fails to get a tune out of them. He’s a good man manager and did great things to get unity amongst the players and fans again but you’ll fail as soon as you encounter a properly good team, again.
 
Southgate is like a baby with one of those shape blocks. Trying to shove squares into circles and stars into rectangles.
No actual shape fits
 
Foden very quiet.

Bellingham outstanding in the first half in particular.

Guehi tidy.

Southgate doing Southgate things in his game management.

Overall not eye catching, need to step it up as they go along.
 
Massive Spanner said:
Bellingham is class, insane he’s only 20. And the fact that all your other mega talents (Saka aside) seem unable to put in decent performances at national level only shows how talented he is.

it’s amazing you keep giving Southgate such unbelievably talented squads and he consistently fails to get a tune out of them. He’s a good man manager and did great things to get unity amongst the players and fans again but you’ll fail as soon as you encounter a properly good team, again.
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He's been manager for 8 years...and he still calls them "a young squad".

Sorry, but 8 years of growth is more than enough to make a mature squad ready to win. He has no plan, no tactical knowledge and worse of all he seems to be given all the plot armour in the world by the press, FA and fans. Absolute melt, as I type this he's being interviewed. fecking drip of a human being :lol:
 
Foden and Saka are cut-inside merchants, constantly running into other people's space or into traffic. Kind of like watching Garnacho at his worst and Anthony.

The lack of width today was bordering on offensive. One moment from Bowen, one from Saka led to chances, so go on the outside a bit more often FFS.

Dare I say it, a certain much-maligned but talented forward who likes pointing his finger at his head would have done better today than that lot.
 
avgp_1 said:
None of England's other midfielders are really good at setting the tempo, passing the ball around dictating play. Guess TAA has been tried to see if he can provide that, his passing abilities are definitely up there, but ideally Southgate should have tried this in games prior to the actual competition
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His passing ability is not up there, no even close.

After repeatedly hitting it long he didn't get anywhere, his short passing game is so with absolutely 0 direct for our play.

We have no good passing midfielders, central midfield is our weakest position.
 
I can’t believe how much great talent and years have been wasted on Southgate. Which also came at a time where most of the traditionally good international sides were on a downturn. Now the others are coming back, and England seem to be getting worse despite the squad being better now than it has been during all of his tenure. It’s quite the achievement. I’m convinced everything England has accomplished in the recent years has been in spite of Southgate not because of him. I’d rather have ChatGPT manage the team.
 
simonhch said:
Really mental take. He was head and shoulders our best player tonight. Never gave the ball away. Was a consistent threat but also got through a ton of work. Received the ball in tight areas and kept it all game. Absolute titan of a player. Used it so intelligently, ran with it well. If you don’t see it with Bellingham, who on earth do you see it with?
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He charged around a lot and popped up wherever he felt like. Like I said, he’s Gerrard. Goal aside, I didn’t see this consistent threat of his. He’s a good player but trying to be a one man army isn’t going to win the tournament.

I didn’t really see it with anyone tonight, but I thought Saka was probably our best player in the first half.
 
I do think we potentially underestimate Serbia coming into this fixture, though. Seeing their team on paper having not really been aware of them I thought these could be a handful if we give them any impetus because they've got an immense physical presence up front. Workmanlike in most areas of course but not a team you want getting crosses in or playing up against your centre backs in deep defensive positions. They'll be a threat in the group.
 
Massive Spanner said:
Bellingham is class, insane he’s only 20. And the fact that all your other mega talents (Saka aside) seem unable to put in decent performances at national level only shows how talented he is.

it’s amazing you keep giving Southgate such unbelievably talented squads and he consistently fails to get a tune out of them. He’s a good man manager and did great things to get unity amongst the players and fans again but you’ll fail as soon as you encounter a properly good team, again.
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Honestly as a no.10 I don't think he is nearly as good as Bruno. Great athletic who can make good run and score nice goals but not a creative force and lack vision to lead an attacking team. In Madrid, it is Vinicius Jr, not him.
 
pascell said:
England need someone who is capable of dictating the tempo of the game as it swings wildly, just like United games.

You have players like Gallagher and Rice in CM who will happily chase the ball all day, but cannot dictate the play, or are being asked not to.

Its severely unbalanced in midfield and the left hand side is a mess really. It needs Shaw at LB and Gordon LW, drop TAA from CM before he sends England home too. I'd also say Kane needs dropping if he doesn't start contributing, the Serbian CBs had their easiest game tonight.
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Don't fecking worry, if England ever have a player who can dictate play well, they wouldn't fecking play him, or bring him at all (Carrick).
 
Guehi looked very steady this evening, and I'm sure he will grow into his role, its his for the taking.

Agreed with what others have said, there really is a huge lack of structure and ideas, and once Serbia pressed properly in the 2nd half it was like watching west ham last season again!
 
As unconvincing as ever. What half decent team just hoofs the ball up like we did second half? You’ll barely see anyone playing like that in this entire tournament, nevermind one of the supposed favourites.
 
Hammondo said:
Don't fecking worry, if England ever have a player who can dictate play well, they wouldn't fecking play him, or bring him at all (Carrick).
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Or shunt them to LM (Scholes).

As I've mentioned previously, Southgate is holding England back. I'm just glad he won't be the United manager next season.
 
Koldbeer2021 said:
You can get away with it to an extent in this group but yeah I pray that this doesn't become a long term idea because I don't think it worked or will work in a bigger match.

Foden and his position is a huge headache.
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Foden has to be dropped after that.
Not necessarily permanently but try Gordon or preferably eze out there.
We can afford to experiment a little during the group.
 
Southgate’s inability to make early changes continues…..he has actually learnt nothing

Foden was anonymous but stayed on….
Kane should not be unsubable
Trent is not cut out for this level

Why didn’t Cole come on?
 
Really really unconvincing. Players looked terrified like they didn't know what they were doing.

why are we the only "big nation" who play with nerves like that? I reckon Denmark will do us 2-0. These players look weak mentally
 
pascell said:
England need someone who is capable of dictating the tempo of the game as it swings wildly, just like United games.

You have players like Gallagher and Rice in CM who will happily chase the ball all day, but cannot dictate the play, or are being asked not to.

Its severely unbalanced in midfield and the left hand side is a mess really. It needs Shaw at LB and Gordon LW, drop TAA from CM before he sends England home too. I'd also say Kane needs dropping if he doesn't start contributing, the Serbian CBs had their easiest game tonight.
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You have 2 but to be fair they're young. But it's also more just the manager not knowing how to coach them to control games.
 
GoldanoGraham said:
Southgate’s inability to make early changes continues…..he has actually learnt nothing

Foden was anonymous but stayed on….
Kane should not be unsubable
Trent is not cut out for this level

Why didn’t Cole come on?
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My 9 year old son asked me today what would happen to our car if I simultaneously put my foot down on the accelerator and the brake at the same time.
I don’t know what the answer is, but I’m guessing it’s something like watching Southgate managed England. But with not much pressure in the accelerator
 
To my memory Foden has never turned up for England. Don’t think both Foden and Bellingham can play in the same eleven.
Not sure the TAA thing worked either. Time for a rethink next game.
 
FootballHQ said:
If you're going to experiment in that 8 position I've always said Foden would be a decent option as he can receive the ball in tight areas and wriggle away from opponents or set the tempo

All the teams that win tournaments have that player down the years. Xavi/Iniesta, Pirlo, Kroos, Modric, Alexis MacAlister and Greizmann dropping back deeper for France in last World cup was a big success.

It continues to be a major failing of English football that the midfielders produced are usually box to box workaholics and the technical ones get pushed into the front 3.
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I agree with that. Try Foden in the next game deeper
 
Trent is no Carrick let alone Scholes!

Southgate caused us more problems than the players, changes should’ve been made earlier and Gallagher shouldn’t have been one of them!

Bowen was the only positive change and that’s stretching it
 
Ole'sattheWheel said:
Really really unconvincing. Players looked terrified like they didn't know what they were doing.

why are we the only "big nation" who play with nerves like that? I reckon Denmark will do us 2-0. These players look weak mentally
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I don't see how you can come out of watching the individual Denmark/England games today thinking Denmark will win the next game. :lol: They looked abysmal
 
bosnian_red said:
You have 2 but to be fair they're young. But it's also more just the manager not knowing how to coach them to control games.
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I'm not sure Mainoo and Wharton are ready to dictate games yet, I was more meaning a deep laying playmaker of sorts. The system seems to be getting it out wide and pumping it into the box, or hoofing it route one style.

I'm just glad Southgate won't be United manager next season, he has no tactical nous and is there to gel together the young players.

Thankfully it'll be curtains for him as England manager after this tournament.
 
Hulme91 said:
I don't see how you can come out of watching the individual Denmark/England games today thinking Denmark will win the next game. :lol: They looked abysmal
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They basically did the same thing we did. Play well the first half, then fall off a cliff the second half in terms of attacking play and control. The only difference being they’re pretty average defensively and they were hugely unlucky with the goal they conceded.
 
Bellingham was great as an 8 for Dortmund. You lose his goal threat, but you get his pace, technique and dribbling from deep beside Rice, and you get a useful Foden.

It’s either that, or you start Gordon and drop him.
 
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