The Official England Thread- The Team We All Support [Vol 3]

[carlo996]

Blackpuddin said:

That Foden interview was more depressing than an Ed Sheeran concert. Southgate has the verbal dexterity to explain a plan but the players (all of whom have been soccer-institutionalised since boyhood) don't have anything like the same level of expressiveness. That's what Foden is saying in his own cack-handed way when he says there are no leaders in the pitch. What he means is there is nobody on the pitch who can accurately and passionately remind the players of the plan when the moment calls for it.

What motivation do they need? Also, he had the option of Grealish, Maguire and Rashford..on the balance of things all of them would have improved the team and being more senior would have been of benefit around the squad. If Southgate can't get a tune out of the team he has picked surely that highlights his poor choices and lack of planning? I still don't think he knows his best team, which leading up to a quarter final is pretty crazy.

[Blackpuddin]

carlo996 said:

Blackpuddin said:

That Foden interview was more depressing than an Ed Sheeran concert. Southgate has the verbal dexterity to explain a plan but the players (all of whom have been soccer-institutionalised since boyhood) don't have anything like the same level of expressiveness. That's what Foden is saying in his own cack-handed way when he says there are no leaders in the pitch. What he means is there is nobody on the pitch who can accurately and passionately remind the players of the plan when the moment calls for it.

What motivation do they need? Also, he had the option of Grealish, Maguire and Rashford..on the balance of things all of them would have improved the team and being more senior would have been of benefit around the squad. If Southgate can't get a tune out of the team he has picked surely that highlights his poor choices and lack of planning? I still don't think he knows his best team, which leading up to a quarter final is pretty crazy.

I'm talking about simple verbal skills, nothing to do with motivation.

[Hants PHer]

I like the idea of a 3-5-2 formation, provided that it doesn't become a 8-0-2 given Southgate's inherent prudence.

I'd pick Stones/Konsa/Walker for the three (given that Guehi is unavailable), Gordon/Rice/Bellingham/Mainoo/Palmer for the five, and Kane/Toney for the two. Perhaps Trent instead of Mainoo.

I'd be putting Foden and Saka on the bench, given their performances in this tournament so far, and telling Kane stay up top, close to Toney - I was impressed with Toney when he came on against Slovakia.

Do I think that Southgate will be so adventurous? No! Still, perhaps I'll be pleasantly surprised.

[aeropilot]

Hants PHer said:

I'd be putting Foden and Saka on the bench, given their performances in this tournament so far, and telling Kane stay up top, close to Toney - I was impressed with Toney when he came on against Slovakia.

His stats were telling, he had more touches of the ball in the 20 mins he was on than Kane did in the 105 mins he was on.......

[cerb4.5lee]

Hants PHer said:

I like the idea of a 3-5-2 formation, provided that it doesn't become a 8-0-2 given Southgate's inherent prudence.

I'd pick Stones/Konsa/Walker for the three (given that Guehi is unavailable), Gordon/Rice/Bellingham/Mainoo/Palmer for the five, and Kane/Toney for the two. Perhaps Trent instead of Mainoo.

I'd be putting Foden and Saka on the bench, given their performances in this tournament so far, and telling Kane stay up top, close to Toney - I was impressed with Toney when he came on against Slovakia.

Do I think that Southgate will be so adventurous? No! Still, perhaps I'll be pleasantly surprised.

I'd go with your suggestion there as well.

[paulrockliffe]

It's obvious what Foden is saying. He can't press the way he's been asked because there is a player in front of him that isn't moving at all, so he is having to press two players at once, which simply doesn't work.

Why is he being asked to press? Either they don't press high, or that player that isn't pressing needs to be off the pitch. Yes I know that player is the Captain, but this isn't beyond the wit of man to sort out.

[Blackpuddin]

paulrockliffe said:

It's obvious what Foden is saying. He can't press the way he's been asked because there is a player in front of him that isn't moving at all, so he is having to press two players at once, which simply doesn't work.

Why is he being asked to press? Either they don't press high, or that player that isn't pressing needs to be off the pitch. Yes I know that player is the Captain, but this isn't beyond the wit of man to sort out.

It may be beyond the wit of 11 men to sort out.

[sugerbear]

aeropilot said:

Hants PHer said:

I'd be putting Foden and Saka on the bench, given their performances in this tournament so far, and telling Kane stay up top, close to Toney - I was impressed with Toney when he came on against Slovakia.

His stats were telling, he had more touches of the ball in the 20 mins he was on than Kane did in the 105 mins he was on.......

All that tells you is that the mid field didn't give Kane any service. Kane isn't there to take the ball from the midfield, it's the job of the midfield to give him chances in and around the penalty area. I can't remember any crosses of passes that were anywhere near as good as he was receiving when he is playing club football. He needs crosses or passes that cut open the defence that he can run onto. If he isn;t getting those then all he can do is try to pull defenders out of position so that the midfield / wingers can run in and score.

[48k]

JuniorD said:

So Ed Sheeran played a lame private gig for the England team after the Slovenia victory.


https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/m...

And in case they beat Switzerland they'll provisonally booked James Blunt

And if they lose, they'll get two James Blunt gigs.

[TEKNOPUG]

sugerbear said:

aeropilot said:

Hants PHer said:

I'd be putting Foden and Saka on the bench, given their performances in this tournament so far, and telling Kane stay up top, close to Toney - I was impressed with Toney when he came on against Slovakia.

His stats were telling, he had more touches of the ball in the 20 mins he was on than Kane did in the 105 mins he was on.......

All that tells you is that the mid field didn't give Kane any service. Kane isn't there to take the ball from the midfield, it's the job of the midfield to give him chances in and around the penalty area. I can't remember any crosses of passes that were anywhere near as good as he was receiving when he is playing club football. He needs crosses or passes that cut open the defence that he can run onto. If he isn;t getting those then all he can do is try to pull defenders out of position so that the midfield / wingers can run in and score.

Alternatively the defence didn't fear Toney so they dropped off as they were happy for him to have the ball. Stats are meaningless without context.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Puzzles said:

You don’t need stats to tell you when it’s pissing down outside

But when you've had a 50 year monsoon, plain old pissing down is a massive improvement.

[NRG1976]

If Foden said that then he is a disgrace, he is shirking all responsibility. Every player on the pitch should be a leader.

[Mr Magooagain]

NRG1976 said:

If Foden said that then he is a disgrace, he is shirking all responsibility. Every player on the pitch should be a leader.

Yes I agree but these individuals seem like lost children that are angry but dare not do or say anything. Apathy comes to mind.
There’s just no maturity or class about them. Look how that wally goalkeeper behaved!

[Murph7355]

Hants PHer said:

I like the idea of a 3-5-2 formation, provided that it doesn't become a 8-0-2 given Southgate's inherent prudence.

I'd pick Stones/Konsa/Walker for the three (given that Guehi is unavailable), Gordon/Rice/Bellingham/Mainoo/Palmer for the five, and Kane/Toney for the two. Perhaps Trent instead of Mainoo.

I'd be putting Foden and Saka on the bench, given their performances in this tournament so far, and telling Kane stay up top, close to Toney - I was impressed with Toney when he came on against Slovakia.

Do I think that Southgate will be so adventurous? No! Still, perhaps I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Broadly agree.

I'd even be inclined to put Toney with Watkins.

sugerbear said:

All that tells you is that the mid field didn't give Kane any service. Kane isn't there to take the ball from the midfield, it's the job of the midfield to give him chances in and around the penalty area. I can't remember any crosses of passes that were anywhere near as good as he was receiving when he is playing club football. He needs crosses or passes that cut open the defence that he can run onto. If he isn;t getting those then all he can do is try to pull defenders out of position so that the midfield / wingers can run in and score.

Chicken and eggs.

Is Kane coming back because he's not getting the passes? Or is he not getting the passes because he seems more attracted to his own box than the oppo's?

The whole team drops back and back and back. There's no point whapping 20yrd pin point passes up front if there's nobody there with the same shirt on as you.

[biggbn]

carlo996 said:

Blackpuddin said:

That Foden interview was more depressing than an Ed Sheeran concert. Southgate has the verbal dexterity to explain a plan but the players (all of whom have been soccer-institutionalised since boyhood) don't have anything like the same level of expressiveness. That's what Foden is saying in his own cack-handed way when he says there are no leaders in the pitch. What he means is there is nobody on the pitch who can accurately and passionately remind the players of the plan when the moment calls for it.

What motivation do they need? Also, he had the option of Grealish, Maguire and Rashford..on the balance of things all of them would have improved the team and being more senior would have been of benefit around the squad. If Southgate can't get a tune out of the team he has picked surely that highlights his poor choices and lack of planning? I still don't think he knows his best team, which leading up to a quarter final is pretty crazy.

Maguire was injured wasn't he?

[hotchy]

Still can't believe he never picked Rashford, considering his teams been playing camped in for large parts, someone with a good bit of pace up front would be ideal. His pace would be ideal for pressing aswel but Instead we've kane, slowest man on planet earth.

Then we have "kane must stay up top" but if he had any ounce of pace at all, he could drop deep, pass out to running wingers etc, use any semblance of pace to then get back up top creating more room with that movement. He can't do that though because it takes his zimmer frame to long to get back up top.

Anyway 2-1 England tomorrow. I also expect to make the final because of the teams we can potentially get. The hard draws will start again when we get a competent manager lol

[TEKNOPUG]

Watkins and Gordon are both just as fast as Rashford and he isn't playing those either. Arguing which players should have been chosen to sit on the bench and not play, seems somewhat moot

[GloverMart]

TEKNOPUG said:

Watkins and Gordon are both just as fast as Rashford and he isn't playing those either. Arguing which players should have been chosen to sit on the bench and not play, seems somewhat moot

100% agree. Rashford didn't deserve a seat on the plane based on this season's form.

If Rashford is the answer, not sure what the question is.

[coldel]

Given he has picked Gordon Palmer Bowen as wingers ahead of Grealish or Rashford then the discussion on these two is irrelevant. And to be honest I would have Palmer or Gordon out on the left in front of Grealish or Rashford in any team let alone England, both have had stinking seasons and showed no form at all for England when they did play.

[CountyAFC]

hotchy said:

Still can't believe he never picked Rashford, considering his teams been playing camped in for large parts, someone with a good bit of pace up front would be ideal. His pace would be ideal for pressing aswel but Instead we've kane, slowest man on planet earth.

Rashford press???