16 Nov 2020 14:42:57
Last night was another dripping tap.
Southgate is locked in a defensive world that doesn't encourage attacking play.
While England play at the back they are wasting Jacks talents. He wants to go forward but the ball goes back to the keeper.
The best defence is attack but if the ball is going backward how can you attack.
Belgium used the ball wisely with adventure. One pass stood out midway through the second half when De Bruyn came away from defending and with a great swing he hit the ball with his outstep while still running and hit a pass diagonally across our defence and had a player running through to receive the pass. It wasn't lucky it was vision and skill.
I want to see Jack allowed to roam and use his talents like this and then we might see an England team looks like winning.
16 Nov 2020 17:14:02
I agree Oldvillan, been giving it some thought about a possible football playing ie comfortable on the ball and came up with this possibility 4-2-3-1
1 Henderson
2 Alexander Arnold
3 Sako
4 Stones
5 Maguire
6 Mount
7 Maddison
8 Grealish
10 Sterling
11 Rashford
9 Kane
Obviously the centre half position is difficult as there's not a massive choice. Mings may be good enough instead of Stones who may just need game time to get his mojo back or maybe Konsa may continue his upward curve.
Plenty of skill, pace and awareness in this line up and set up to play on the front foot for a change.
Be interesting to here everyone's thoughts on this and start a discussion while we wait for proper football to return ðŸ˜ðŸ‘.
{Ed002's Note - Lewis Dunk is a well liked CB.}
16 Nov 2020 17:38:05
Good call Ed002, also just remembered Conor Coady ðŸ˜.
{Ed002's Note - Another good option.
16 Nov 2020 18:11:39
I like the look of that team Moose.
I think Henderson is our most talented keeper but he needs to start playing again.
The back four I would go with would be, Alexander Arnold, Chilwell ( full backs), Maguire and Coady ( centre backs )
Mings has done Ok but I think the above are just that little bit more comfortable on the ball. Konsa as we well now is progressing all the time, and if he continues to improve, I think he’ll get his chance. I think he has similar qualities to Rio Ferdinand.
The rest of your team, I wouldn’t change. The prospect of Maddison, Grealish and Sterling in the same team is a mouthwatering one.
Who would be your captain, I think I’d stick with Kane.
16 Nov 2020 18:16:02
I think you need someone to sit, just not the 2 that Southgate insists on.
I'd swap out Maddison who is not in form for Hendersons experience in there allowing Mount to push up.
I personally don't get Kane. Not a hold up player and also can't run. His finishing was woeful last night also. I'd prefer Ings for now and hopefully Ollie can be consistent enough to push for the World Cup.
16 Nov 2020 19:30:12
Sitting is no good rk, they need to be on their feet running and doing some damage. 😂😂.
16 Nov 2020 19:43:11
Maddison has struggled with injury this season so not 100% but still a skillful player who's comfortable on the ball and unlike the likes of Rice and Phillips likes to play the ball forward and not sideways and backwards. If players are good at retaining the ball we don't need an out and out DM. Plus all 3 in front of the 2 midfielders I've suggested are more than capable of dropping deep and providing extra bodies in the centre of the park.
16 Nov 2020 20:08:41
Yeah, good point Moose. ðŸ‘.
16 Nov 2020 20:10:53
For me I would go with.
1. Pope
2. Alexander Arnold
3. Chilwell
4. Stones
5. Maguire
6. Henderson
7. Sterling
8. Foden
11 Rashford
10. Grealish
9. Kane.
16 Nov 2020 20:31:59
I see where you're coming from Moose but no team in the world can retain 90% possession like Brazil used to.
Quick counters are all the rage right now so you need someone who can break up play with cheeky niggly fouls 30-40 yards out. Neither Mount or Maddison give you that.
Maddison definitely has the ability but can't come in until he regains his form otherwise we're advocating something we regularly criticise England managers for doing.
16 Nov 2020 20:32:33
Take it Southgate won't be the manager with no Mount in the side John 😂😂😂.
16 Nov 2020 20:48:58
Horses for courses as they say RK which is a fair point, but playing 5 defenders and 2 holding midfielders hasn't really cut the mustard and takes away options when trying to hit quickly on the break. We are slow and predictable, unfortunately that'll probably be the way it stays whilst Southgate is manager, thinking of not losing 1st rather than trying to win. So much talent available, poorly utilised.
16 Nov 2020 20:52:13
I think our best front four so to speak is Kane as the nine, Rashford and Sterling either side, then Grealish as a 10 behind Kane. Their link up was quality last night and at times it seemed as though Grealish was the only player Kane trusted.
But with that much going forward we need more steel in midfield, Henderson as the six for me keeping it moving and protecting the back four. Then we need an 8, box to box, toughest decisions for me, with several options:
Maddison - can definitely get forward, can he put the same amount of effort in going the other way? Adds the quality from set pieces aswell.
Mount - similar to Maddison, without the set pieces.
Ward-Prowse - personally really rate him, he offers more defensively than the other two, and reads the game really well. Again adds the set piece quality.
I’ve left out winks from that list just because I’ve never seen it with him, too much sideways taking the easy option, and then hiding, shying from the ball when the going gets tough.
Defence is another tricky one, left back is surely Chilwell, Maguire is hit and miss but seems to step it up for England, Mings offers balance but we all know he has the occasional brain fart in him, Stones is good ball playing centre half but if he can’t get a game for club should he be playing for country? Then there’s right back, Alexander Arnold is brilliant going forward but very questionable defensively, trippier seems to be in decent form for club, Walker at his best is quality but how often to we see his best these days?
Then there’s the keeper, three in the running but for me Pickford shouldn’t be in the running.
Suffice to say, we have so many options, Southgate is employed to bring them together and make it work, he has no excuses. I hope he doesn’t waste, what is on paper a quality squad, capable of achieving things.
16 Nov 2020 20:59:03
Unfortunately Moose he will be in situ for some time I’m afraid but this is my eleven and whilst Mount might be a good player, at the moment I think there are better and in Villajohn’s starting eleven he doesn’t make the cut.
16 Nov 2020 21:18:03
At least we seem to be agreed that this back 5 malarkey is a load of nonsense and doesn't do what it says on the tin (copyright Ronseal) ðŸ˜.
16 Nov 2020 21:59:46
Its clearly not working but I do think its mainly the choice for 2 DMs causing the issue more than anything. Our full backs are all better attacking than defending so I see the reasoning for getting them further forward.
A back 3 only requires 1 DM to make it a 4 so there's no justification to have 2 safe players in there. A solid base is needed but its useless if you haven't got space to put anything on top of it.