Wembley Tonight: England v Germany thread. Is it all over for Southgate?

It’s Mastermind, Only Connect and University Challenge followed by an early night for me . Not going to watch England till Southgate has gone. Dire, turgid pointless football. His arrogance in showing he is superior to everyone else by leaving TAA out of the match day squad because pundits dared to challenge him. His dumb loyalty to players like McGuire and Stirling despite the terrible performances of late. Ignoring players like Tomori having a great season in Italy but not good enough to play against the players he actually knows and lines up against. Eric Dier? I would never want my club or country to lose a match but his team selection is worrying. Enjoy the game

I hope you enjoyed your little programs.
 
Agree with a few of the comments have read on here.
Don’t think Foden has fit into the way England play and Saka is a better fit and should start. Sterling’s movement was good but his finishing still lets him down.

The defence was a complete mess, Maguire looks out of form and doesn’t look likely to play much for Man Utd before the World Cup so won’t play his way into form. Would like to see someone instead of Eric Dier too.

I guess Southgate was eager to win these 2 games but what’s the point of having Toney in the squad and giving him no minutes? If he goes to the World Cup it would be without playing a competitive game. Surely could have had a look at him at some point tonight as the result was pointless.
 
First Nations League match I've watched this time around, some observations.

Bellingham (already probably our best player) continues to progress, thought he was exceptional last night. So brave on the ball with incredible awareness. Need to build the midfield around him.

Kane looked much better second half dropping deep with runners off him (although it was arguably Saka's introduction which impacted this?) Agree that Foden doesn't really have a defined role. He likes to drift out wide but he's encroaching on the WB positions, need better understanding between him and James? Or just play Walker there?

I assume Nick Pope isn't our number 1? Very little presence, crap with his feet and poor on shots.

Back three needs some footballers in there. Dier is a good player, Stones at times looks over confident though? I'm firmly in the Tomori camp, decent with the ball and the best defender of the lot of them.

I don't think it was a terrible result last night, this next German generation could be as good if not better than the last (Musiala - wow!) Both sides struggled when possession was turned over though (like watching Boro at times). I expect a much more structured, pragmatic style of football at the WC from England.
 
Haha, quite! Ripping it up in the Bundesliga this season. Was Bellingham eligible for them too? Would have been quite the midfield with those two.
No Bellingham is a kid from Birmingham ( he was outstanding when we played them) who had an amazing offer from dortmund and took it.

He spoke no German had no family links but took the challenge and is thriving ( he had sancho there as well but still a bold step).

He’s a great talent.
 
I think Foden playing wide right is a bit of a square peg in a round hole. Southgate tried it in the opening games of the Euros and Foden flattered to deceive, so he ended up playing Sancho and Saka there.

Foden is used to playing wide left at City, but it may also just be a case of Foden being more suited to the way his club team plays. He's a talent but at City he plays in a team which plays possession based football, and he has other quality attacking midfield players who he can bounce off. He's not used to playing in a team which players on the counter and looked isolated last night and didn't really link well with James. At one point in the 2nd half James had the ball out wide and wanted Foden to give him an option down the channel but Foden wanted the ball playing inside and you could see James was frustrated.

I think it needs to be Saka wide right, and one of either Foden or Sterling wide left. Kane likes to drop deep and when he does this we need players with pace who can then bomb on and look to make those runs in behind. I think because of that, starting Saka and Sterling either side of Kane is our best option.
 
I think Foden playing wide right is a bit of a square peg in a round hole. Southgate tried it in the opening games of the Euros and Foden flattered to deceive, so he ended up playing Sancho and Saka there.

Foden is used to playing wide left at City, but it may also just be a case of Foden being more suited to the way his club team plays. He's a talent but at City he plays in a team which plays possession based football, and he has other quality attacking midfield players who he can bounce off. He looked isolated last night and didn't really link well with James. At one point in the 2nd half James had the ball out wide and wanted Foden to give him an option down the channel but Foden wanted the ball playing inside and you could see James was frustrated.

I think it needs to be Saka wide right, and one of either Foden or Sterling wide left. Kane likes to drop deep and when he does this we need players with pace who can then bomb on and look to make those runs in behind. I think because of that, starting Saka and Sterling either side of Kane is our best option.
Front 3 for me has to include Foden & Kane, then 1 other.

Personally, if the WC started today, I'd go:
Foden LW
Kane ST
Saka RW

That RW slot is definitely up for grabs though.

The team and squad should be built around Foden & Jude for the next 10 years. They're by a clear distant our best bet at being successful in the next decade.
 
Front 3 for me has to include Foden & Kane, then 1 other.

Personally, if the WC started today, I'd go:
Foden LW
Kane ST
Saka RW

That RW slot is definitely up for grabs though.

The team and squad should be built around Foden & Jude for the next 10 years. They're by a clear distant our best bet at being successful in the next decade.
I think Southgate is going to go with two different set-ups at this tournament, as he did at the Euros. Think we will go with a back 4 when we're up against a team we're expected to beat, and he'll switch to wing-backs when up against tougher opposition.

It could be an idea to play Foden wide left when we set up with a back 4, and when we're likely to dominate possession, then start Sterling when we switch to wing-backs and look to play on the counter.

A 433 set up with Mount, Bellingham and Foden in the same side is a mouthwatering prospect, although Southgate is more likely to go 4231, with two sitters and one of either Bellingham or Mount playing as the no 10.
 
Back
Top