He should go but Southgate isn’t dropping Mount or Grealish for him.
England Starting 11 for 2022 WC
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He should go but Southgate isn’t dropping Mount or Grealish for him.
I think Maddison has to come because if Kane gets injured England will have no little playmaking centrally, and then playing Maddison as a 10 becomes very useful. Not sure there will be enough creativity if Kane gets hurt and it's someone like Abraham, Wilson or Calvert-Lewin up top. Sticking Maddison behind them or having him come off the bench to replace Mount in a 4-3-3 if they're chasing a game makes sense.
Based on form this season, this should probably be the line-up:
Expect White to be in the squad but Maguire to be in his place. Rashford out for Sterling and Maddison out for another CB or Mount.
Pickford
Trippier, White, Stones, Shaw
Rice, Bellingham
Saka, Maddison, Rashford
Kane
Players in bold I think will start our first game. Trippier, White, Stones, Shaw
Rice, Bellingham
Saka, Maddison, Rashford
Kane
Expect White to be in the squad but Maguire to be in his place. Rashford out for Sterling and Maddison out for another CB or Mount.
Sterling has been awful this year - maybe not all his fault due to being moved around positionally and Chelsea being pretty poor as a team, but nevertheless he's looked completely toothless.
Not sure how he can possibly start for England in this form. But Southgate will Southgate and I bet he starts against Iran.
Not sure how he can possibly start for England in this form. But Southgate will Southgate and I bet he starts against Iran.
Sorry for late feedback, but have been busy to make a decent reply. Walker might comeback to his good form, things are not black and white, unless he had decided to follow the Delle Ali route. I agree that the 4x3x3 seems to suit your talent pool much better than the actual system.
3 at the back would make sense if England lacked physicality in the team, because usually you use 3 Cbs in order to cover more width easily so the defense can't be so easily exposed to opposition's pace when switching lanes. England rarely had problems with pacey opposition, your players are pretty much fast.
GK: Ramsdale - The english keeper in best form this season.
RB: Has to be TAA. Yes, defensively he has some issues but Trippier is doing well but not being that impressive, is it? And TAA offers much much more when in possession.
LB: Shaw or Mitchell, even though Shaw usually plays well for England. But Mitchell is doing a very solid season IMO.
CBs: Tomori and White are the ones in better form this season, but I can't see Southgate risk on this, simply because for him to make them gel it would need time, and there will be almost no time for preparation.
DM: Declan Rice is still the most complete at his position.
MC: Bellingham seems a no brainer
MC: Foden: this would be my "risky" take. Foden is disciplined and is very energetic. Him and Bellingham would provide a lot of quality to the team.
RW: Saka no brainer too.
LW: Difficult to choose, because there's no LW at top form atm. I think Sterling is the one who makes more sense overall.
FC: Kane: no brainer too.
As this is NT, it's understandable to have quality gaps in some positions, you can't just go to the transfer market and hire someone (well, except if it's an Arab federation
).There will be no perfect teams, every team will have strong points and weak points.
Pickford
Trippier Stones Maguire Shaw
Rice Bellingham
Foden Maddison Sterling
Kane
Trippier Stones Maguire Shaw
Rice Bellingham
Foden Maddison Sterling
Kane
Sorry for late feedback, but have been busy to make a decent reply. Walker might comeback to his good form, things are not black and white, unless he had decided to follow the Delle Ali route. I agree that the 4x3x3 seems to suit your talent pool much better than the actual system.
3 at the back would make sense if England lacked physicality in the team, because usually you use 3 Cbs in order to cover more width easily so the defense can't be so easily exposed to opposition's pace when switching lanes. England rarely had problems with pacey opposition, your players are pretty much fast.
GK: Ramsdale - The english keeper in best form this season.
RB: Has to be TAA. Yes, defensively he has some issues but Trippier is doing well but not being that impressive, is it? And TAA offers much much more when in possession.
LB: Shaw or Mitchell, even though Shaw usually plays well for England. But Mitchell is doing a very solid season IMO.
CBs: Tomori and White are the ones in better form this season, but I can't see Southgate risk on this, simply because for him to make them gel it would need time, and there will be almost no time for preparation.
DM: Declan Rice is still the most complete at his position.
MC: Bellingham seems a no brainer
MC: Foden: this would be my "risky" take. Foden is disciplined and is very energetic. Him and Bellingham would provide a lot of quality to the team.
RW: Saka no brainer too.
LW: Difficult to choose, because there's no LW at top form atm. I think Sterling is the one who makes more sense overall.
FC: Kane: no brainer too.
As this is NT, it's understandable to have quality gaps in some positions, you can't just go to the transfer market and hire someone (well, except if it's an Arab federation
There will be no perfect teams, every team will have strong points and weak points.
I'm not English, just watch a lot of Prem.
Agree in general, particularly with the idea of risking Foden in central midfield. He's got the highest upside of any potential midfield choice but Southgate seems too risk averse for it, as it has potential to be simply too easy to play through. Would work better if England pressed and could play a high line and keep the ball, but that's probably beyond England, at least for now.
From what I've seen, Trippier has been fantastic defensively and going forward. Takes set pieces very well and Alexander-Arnold has been really unreliable defensively for a while now. Seems like the obvious move is to leave James at home as he's unlikely to be recovered and bring Trippier as a starter, Walker as a defensive option in a big game and option in a back 3 and then Alexander-Arnold as a sub since he can change a game with his long passing. Trippier might be the backup LB anyways.
I'd go with that vs Iran but replace Maddison for Saka.
I’d probably go with:
Pickford
Trippier
Stones
Tomori
Shaw
Rice
Bellingham
Saka
Foden
Rashford
Kane
Central defence is the most difficult as we lack quality there.
I’m expecting the reality to be that we start 3 at the back and that Sterling is in somewhere.
Pickford
Trippier
Stones
Tomori
Shaw
Rice
Bellingham
Saka
Foden
Rashford
Kane
Central defence is the most difficult as we lack quality there.
I’m expecting the reality to be that we start 3 at the back and that Sterling is in somewhere.
Maddison is this tournaments Grealish I see.
Stones has been injured, and has featured since his return.
Ramsdale
TAA Tomori Stones Shaw
Bellingham Rice Maddison
Saka Kane Rashford
Easily the best balanced 11 IMO. Rashford on the left is the best fit for Kane, closest thing England has to Son in terms of playing style, and Rashford is in form unlike Sterling. Grealish, Sancho and Foden just don't fit Southgate in the slightest. Midfield 3 for me should be a lock as it has a great balance of everything. Right back should be James but he's injured, but TAA is obviously world class if in form.TAA Tomori Stones Shaw
Bellingham Rice Maddison
Saka Kane Rashford
Pickford
7 Defensive players
2 midfielders
Kane
7 Defensive players
2 midfielders
Kane
agree with all of this including the Eze shout
Credit to Trippier, can see why Southgate trusts him and Ole wanted him, he deserves to start
I really like this team, except I might have White instead of TAA depending on the opponent and whether you wanted more threat or more defensive solidity at RB. Its very frustrating that we won't see something along these lines when its so obvious.
IMO, Maddison would make a big difference in midfield, adding both creativity and balance. Southgate just alternates between having no creative midfielder and shoehorning players like Foden into that position.
Pickford
TAA ---------------------------------------------------------------- Trippier
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------WalkerTAA ---------------------------------------------------------------- Trippier
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------White
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Justin
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Walker-Peters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Young
Mount
Sterling - Kane
Sterling - Kane
Reece James would obviously have played ahead of Mount but Gareth will have to make do with just the 7 RB's in the squad.
Gareth jumping for joy that he won't have to worry now about the pressure to play the attack minded wing back reece James had he been fit and can go with a more Conservative right back now
Is Trippier a conservative choice?
He's more balanced imo. His attacking output hasn't been too bad for Newcastle this season (3 assists and 1 goal in 15 games).
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So, from everything I’ve read, James would be ready to go by the 3rd game, which is about right for a severe grade 1 lcl sprain, or a minor grade 2.
As a Chelsea fan no too emotionally invested in England’s WC I would be thrilled if they passed him up to rest it more.But an LCL isn’t like an MCL a or and ACL, with a brace he probably could have played two weeks later if his life depended on it. It is an impact injury. Would Garett really not set aside a spot for James, confident he could clear that weak group without him if medical told him he’d be fine?
An LCL is generally not the type of thing you re-injure though playing. It’s just a stabilizer that usuallly only gets bruised or torn if the knee is dislocated.
Everything is going to fall apart in the first knockout with Southgate in charge anyway …. But still seems an odd decision.
As a Chelsea fan no too emotionally invested in England’s WC I would be thrilled if they passed him up to rest it more.But an LCL isn’t like an MCL a or and ACL, with a brace he probably could have played two weeks later if his life depended on it. It is an impact injury. Would Garett really not set aside a spot for James, confident he could clear that weak group without him if medical told him he’d be fine?
An LCL is generally not the type of thing you re-injure though playing. It’s just a stabilizer that usuallly only gets bruised or torn if the knee is dislocated.
Everything is going to fall apart in the first knockout with Southgate in charge anyway …. But still seems an odd decision.
Mount has the same issue with England that he has with us: he isn’t really technical or creative enough to be a 10 or displace Foden, and he really hasn’t shown he can shine as an 8. You certainly take him, and he’s “good” in a lot of spots. But do you displace a Sancho, Saka, or Grealish in the attacking spots? Do you play Mount and Foden together and possibly get overrun in spaces?
In an ideal England 11 I just don’t get where he starts.
In an ideal England 11 I just don’t get where he starts.
I think there are better options as 10s, but England are so poor in midfield that hoping Mount plays well in a 4-3-3 with Bellingham and Rice may well be England's best option.
So looking at that squad I think it's a nailed on back 5 for the knockout games.
Trippier Walker Maguire Stones Shaw
Bellingham Rice
Foden Kane Sterling
... although I'd predict that by the Quarters, Saka will be in for Foden, as Foden/Kane has never worked in a front three.
Trippier Walker Maguire Stones Shaw
Bellingham Rice
Foden Kane Sterling
... although I'd predict that by the Quarters, Saka will be in for Foden, as Foden/Kane has never worked in a front three.
I think this is spot on - Gareth's likely first choice. With a chance that Phillips plays instead of Bellingham.
If we switch to a four, again, I think Walker goes to RB, Phillips becomes more likely, and then one/ both of Bellingham and Mount play.
If Sterling continues his Chelsea form I also wouldn't be shocked to see Saka on the right, and Foden or Mount starting on the left.
Gotta start with saka with his form.
it’s a shame cause this WC could have given sancho the boost he needs to get him firing again. Sort of afraid how not going will effect him.
side note- so the ones that don’t go I know we have a friendly during the wc, how much rest are they given otherwise?
Maguire seems like a disaster waiting to happen, Southgate really shouldn't be starting him.
Southgate has many options. I just pray for Southgate that if he picks Maguire, Maguire doesnt make an error as if he does both will be crucified.
Maguire does not belong in this football team. If Soughgate cant recognize the anxiety and negative energy a Maguire error would trigger, then he really is blind. Given Maguires performances an error is possible.
There is no upside to playing Maguire and plenty of downside.
Maguire does not belong in this football team. If Soughgate cant recognize the anxiety and negative energy a Maguire error would trigger, then he really is blind. Given Maguires performances an error is possible.
There is no upside to playing Maguire and plenty of downside.
_________Ramsdale
Trippier_maguire_stones_shaw
________rice___bellingham
___________foden
_____saka__kane_sterling
In the knockout stages Against the superior sides where southgate will clearly act likea coward I would swap kane for rashford as kane will be pointless when we sit so far back, at least with rashford he gives us an outlet on the counter. maguire should not be starting but dier and coady are woeful.
Trippier_maguire_stones_shaw
________rice___bellingham
___________foden
_____saka__kane_sterling
In the knockout stages Against the superior sides where southgate will clearly act likea coward I would swap kane for rashford as kane will be pointless when we sit so far back, at least with rashford he gives us an outlet on the counter. maguire should not be starting but dier and coady are woeful.
Against shit teams (eg. Iran):
Against anyone decent:
Pickford
Stones Maguire Shaw
TAA Rice Bellingham Saka
Foden Rashford
Kane
Stones Maguire Shaw
TAA Rice Bellingham Saka
Foden Rashford
Kane
Against anyone decent:
Pickford
Trippier Stones Dier Maguire Shaw
Rice Bellingham
Foden Rashford
Kane
Trippier Stones Dier Maguire Shaw
Rice Bellingham
Foden Rashford
Kane
Is that what you think we will play or what you want us to play? I can see Southgate going for something like that but the second formation will mean we really struggle to get any control against a decent team. If we are playing 3 at the back, we’d need the wing backs pushed well into midfield and I would want Walker’s pace in the back 3.
I mean the upside is if he’s playing well he’s their best option and he’s shown that in previous tournaments
Should be available for the final group game.
Supposedly expected to be fit during the group stage so may well be available for the more difficult matches.
I'd play Maddison against Iran. They'll sit back and you want Kane in the box, not dropping deep and leaving nobody in the box, especially with no Reece James and the wingers being good (1 in every 2.5/3 game types) but not truly great goalscorers.
A potential option to gin up some creation is to use TAA at RB but Taremi is a pretty direct runner in that area. Rather use Maddison center-right like he often plays for Leicester and just have Trippier at RB.
The risk of Maddison playing and being a bit lost and having negative chemistry with Kane is lower to me than an anonymous Mount performance, and that seems like the primary non-Maddison option.
Also I think Gallagher might be best to start against the U.S because Japan's mobile midfielders and wide men ran them to death and they didn't like it one bit.
Not sure I like either starting in the knockouts though, but depends on the matchup I think.
Southgate should really tinker. Kane can play as a 9 or drop deep and Rice in front of the defence and Bellingham as an 8 or a 10, Shaw at LB and Pickford (he's been the man for them and done well and I do think stabilit in net makes sense in general and it's not like Ramsdale's superior passing is going to be well used in all likelihood, though I guess he could play against a particular matchup where you felt it was a big deal, not sure off hand who that would be) and then I think it's game to game, I'd worry less about the team coming together than trying to get the right matchups/style of players on the pitch.
The difference between and weaknesses of say White and Maguire are massive. No sense in saying one is your man when Maguire can defend deep and aerially better and White is much better if you're playing a high line.
I don't think there's one England XI that should be favoured to beat say both the Dutch under Van Gaal - if one of the Dutch or English disappoint and end up 2nd in their group - AND the Danes or French in the QF. They both involve Kane, Bellingham, Rice, Shaw and Pickford.
A potential option to gin up some creation is to use TAA at RB but Taremi is a pretty direct runner in that area. Rather use Maddison center-right like he often plays for Leicester and just have Trippier at RB.
The risk of Maddison playing and being a bit lost and having negative chemistry with Kane is lower to me than an anonymous Mount performance, and that seems like the primary non-Maddison option.
Also I think Gallagher might be best to start against the U.S because Japan's mobile midfielders and wide men ran them to death and they didn't like it one bit.
Not sure I like either starting in the knockouts though, but depends on the matchup I think.
Southgate should really tinker. Kane can play as a 9 or drop deep and Rice in front of the defence and Bellingham as an 8 or a 10, Shaw at LB and Pickford (he's been the man for them and done well and I do think stabilit in net makes sense in general and it's not like Ramsdale's superior passing is going to be well used in all likelihood, though I guess he could play against a particular matchup where you felt it was a big deal, not sure off hand who that would be) and then I think it's game to game, I'd worry less about the team coming together than trying to get the right matchups/style of players on the pitch.
The difference between and weaknesses of say White and Maguire are massive. No sense in saying one is your man when Maguire can defend deep and aerially better and White is much better if you're playing a high line.
I don't think there's one England XI that should be favoured to beat say both the Dutch under Van Gaal - if one of the Dutch or English disappoint and end up 2nd in their group - AND the Danes or French in the QF. They both involve Kane, Bellingham, Rice, Shaw and Pickford.