Disagree with this part. 1) It was the wrong formation and the wrong tactics. 2) Mount and Foden operate with different roles so it’s virtually impossible to say one should have played over the other. They can play in the same team if set up correctly. But yes Foden is the better player.
Regarding formation.
He chose to bring 4 cms with one 1 not being fit or match ready for the entire tournament. First mistake.
His next mistake was to play 3 flat midfielders and attempt to shoehorn a 10 (Mount in this case) into one of the spots. Mount, ignoring the fact that he is completely out of form, is better as an inside forward.
Third mistake. Relying heavily on Henderson to fix the first two mistakes. This is by no means Hendersons fault, but he is a 6 and at this point in his career shouldn’t be asked to dictate the phases of play for the team. He was made to press, run between the lines, alter the flow of the game, organize the team and contribute to the final third. Guess he didn’t speak to Klopp at all about what Henderson can actually bring to the team.
His fourth mistake. Selecting too many 10’s. Maddison and Gallagher unsurprisingly got 0 minutes in the tournament. Maddison a LW/AM is not as good as Foden, Grealish or Rashford and cannot play CM. Seems like a media pick because I called it before a ball had been kicked he wouldn’t play. If Southgate had gone with a 10 in his system, he may have seen some minutes. Gallagher.. inexperienced and positionally too sloppy to play CM. Wants to be in the action and leaves too much space.
Ultimately it’s clear he wanted Bellingham to be his main man. A dynamic exciting box to box midfielder and he went for 4-3-3 to try and get the best out of him. Jude had a great tournament and can leave proud of what he achieved but this really only worked out for 2 out of 5 games.
From the personnel he selected he was better of going a fluid 4-2-3-1. Make no mistake this isn’t the same as a rigid defensive 4-2-3-1 which everyone has misconceptions about on here. The reason this formation is so widely used is it can seamlessly become different shapes. 5-4-1, 5-2-3, 5-3-2, 4-5-1, 4-3-3, 4-1-4-1, 4-4-1-1 etc based on the flow of the game. With Harry Kane best as a false 9 he should have played Foden at 10 with no set position and had Rashford playing on the left. Harry needs runners cutting inside because he is never in the box.
Starting positions:
———————Pickford——————
Walker—Stones—Maguire—Shaw
————Rice—-Bellingham————
——-—————Foden———————-
Saka————-Kane————Rashford
With Foden drifting all over, when the momentum is with England it still gives Jude the opportunity to bomb forward. Saka can both stay wide and come inside, Harry gets the chance to drop down and Rashford can cut inside. No need to passing between Rice, Maguire and Stones.
Attacking example:
———————Pickford——————
-—Stones—Maguire—Shaw——
————————Rice————————
Walker-——Kane———Bellingham—-
—|——Saka——-Rashford——|——Foden
..|………….\…………………/…………|………
..V…………………………../…………..V………
All of a sudden England have some options in attack and aren’t relying on any one person to make something happen. Rashford was criminally underused and is the perfect foil for Kane. Here Kane is able to play his natural game as is Bellingham and Rashford. Foden or Grealish can create space by forcing teams to follow their movements and suddenly Saka and Rashford can use their pace to get in behind.
Unfortunately Southgate has no concept of tactics and that’s why he should step aside.
True! That's how football works! Don't you guys understand the rules of the game! Jeez.