Match Day Thread Italy v England

Graham Potter would’ve been ideal. If the FA weren’t so smitten with Southgate, they could’ve got him before Chelsea did. Southgate just isn’t good enough for England. He’s a lot like Shota at City and Solskjær at Man Utd. Nice guys but not cut out for the job.

 

Watched the Scotland ROI game...actually a very entertaining game, and the days of hoof ball seem to be over with these two...both seemed to be incredibly comfortable playing out from the back. Game could have gone either way...that Obafemi guy seems to have a very explosive burst of pace.

 

Southgate got us to a semi of a World Cup and euros finals playing pragmatic football. He’s not going to abandon that now. His philosophy is keep it tight at the back and that’s the foundation to build on and win games. Fans will accept this while we’re winning but soon turn once the negative tactics don’t bring results.
It’s simple enough to see that England’s best formation is 4-3-3 with one holding midfielder not two. We have the players in attack to keep the ball and create enough to negate our less than world class backline. Rice holding with Bellingham and Foden pulling the strings is the obvious choice. That will allow us to keep the ball away from the opposition and control the tempo of games. Southgate prefers to sacrifice that control and pack out the starting 11 with hard working defensive plays who aren’t technically as gifted. That leaves us with disjointed attack and only a few small chances of scoring via a bit of Kane brilliance or a set piece.
He’s an excellent statesman and he deserves this shot at this World Cup but he really is limited tactically. I’d like to see (when everyone is fit)


Pickford

chilwell. Maguire. Stones. Walker


Rice
Bellingham Foden



sancho. Kane. Rashford.



Swap out rashford & sancho for grealish, sterling, Saka etc based on form and fitness