Problem is, you play Sancho, Foden, Grealish, Kane etc and you’ve got nobody to try and protect shit like Dier, you’ll be more than 2-0 down to sides like Belgium.
Alternatively you play a back 5, look like shit and lose anyway.
We've now scored 3 goals in 4.5 games in this group, and 2 of those goals were penalties. The simple fact is we have good attacking players and should be doing a lot better than we are.
The problem with England since about 2018 is we're managing to beat D + C level international teams.
But even coming up against B level teams like Denmark, Switzerland, Czech Rep + Iceland and we struggle.
Against A level nations we have no chance.
Either that's because our players are bad (not true) or the system they're being forced into doesn't bring out their potential.
I’ve been critical of Southgate for playing 2 defensive CM against poorer teams than us. However, I think he was correct to approach tonight like it. A shit pass and a poor ref decision has been the difference. We’ve had a couple of decent chances and Pickford has done nothing but pick the ball out twice. I think he will make changes at HT and we will see what this teams about. If anything, it’s a good learning curve.
The problem with England since about 2018 is we're managing to beat D + C level international teams.
But even coming up against B level teams like Denmark, Switzerland, Czech Rep + Iceland and we struggle.
Against A level nations we have no chance.
Either that's because our players are bad (not true) or the system they're being forced into doesn't bring out their potential.
You do realize that we beat Belgium only a month ago, right? And Spain quite recently as well?
I don't think Southgate is a tactical genius by any stretch, far from it - but some of our fans have some very selective memories when it comes to England. There is absolutely zero patience shown.
Anyway, away from the usual "Southgate out"/England are terrible boring chat, we've actually not looked too bad in this first half and the scoreline doesn't necessarily reflect dominance on Belgium's part as far as the overall play goes.
The problem with England since about 2018 is we're managing to beat D + C level international teams.
But even coming up against B level teams like Denmark, Switzerland, Czech Rep + Iceland and we struggle.
Against A level nations we have no chance.
Either that's because our players are bad (not true) or the system they're being forced into doesn't bring out their potential.
You do realize that we beat Belgium only a month ago, right? And Spain quite recently as well?
I don't think Southgate is a tactical genius by any stretch, far from it - but some of our fans have some very selective memories when it comes to England. There is absolutely zero patience shown.
Anyway, away from the usual "Southgate out"/England are terrible boring chat, we've actually not looked too bad in this first half and the scoreline doesn't necessarily reflect dominance on Belgium's part as far as the overall play goes.
We've looked average for at least two years so there's been plenty of patience from me.
Since the world cup Southgate has slowly been setting us up more + more negative with each game. This has led to us playing worse + worse.
Don't think our defence have been too bad. We look pretty toothless up front, normally i'm very critical of England but i think we're unlucky to be 2 down tbh. Rice/Dier aint good enough though.
Let’s be honest, a great crop of attacking English talent is being wasted away by a negative and talentless manager. The sad thing is the first truly world class striker we have had for a long time is going to be past his best by the time we have a decent manager.
Winks over Foden. It’s like he’s aware of how negative he is and is doing it on purpose
Yeah I dont get that
England's problem is we dont have any pace but the bigger problem especially in this second half is they cant pass it round the opposition
If you're a good enough defender then whilst pace is frightening it should be possible to deal with it, worst case just drop deep and they cant get in behind you
Even someone Grealish is easy to counter against, just take it in turns to bring him down
In which case why not bring on the one player who can actually pass through the eye of a needle?
The problem with England since about 2018 is we're managing to beat D + C level international teams.
But even coming up against B level teams like Denmark, Switzerland, Czech Rep + Iceland and we struggle.
Against A level nations we have no chance.
Either that's because our players are bad (not true) or the system they're being forced into doesn't bring out their potential.
You do realize that we beat Belgium only a month ago, right? And Spain quite recently as well?
I don't think Southgate is a tactical genius by any stretch, far from it - but some of our fans have some very selective memories when it comes to England. There is absolutely zero patience shown.
Anyway, away from the usual "Southgate out"/England are terrible boring chat, we've actually not looked too bad in this first half and the scoreline doesn't necessarily reflect dominance on Belgium's part as far as the overall play goes.
We've looked average for at least two years so there's been plenty of patience from me.
Since the world cup Southgate has slowly been setting us up more + more negative with each game. This has led to us playing worse + worse.
The final straw for me was when he picked Daniel James to play right back. :-)
The problem with England since about 2018 is we're managing to beat D + C level international teams.
But even coming up against B level teams like Denmark, Switzerland, Czech Rep + Iceland and we struggle.
Against A level nations we have no chance.
Either that's because our players are bad (not true) or the system they're being forced into doesn't bring out their potential.
You do realize that we beat Belgium only a month ago, right? And Spain quite recently as well?
I don't think Southgate is a tactical genius by any stretch, far from it - but some of our fans have some very selective memories when it comes to England. There is absolutely zero patience shown.
Anyway, away from the usual "Southgate out"/England are terrible boring chat, we've actually not looked too bad in this first half and the scoreline doesn't necessarily reflect dominance on Belgium's part as far as the overall play goes.
We've looked average for at least two years so there's been plenty of patience from me.
Since the world cup Southgate has slowly been setting us up more + more negative with each game. This has led to us playing worse + worse.
We've lost 3 games in the last 2 years, and shortly before that was a trip to the World Cup Semi Finals, so I'd argue that a lack of patience is being shown if already the manager requires sacking.....
Talk about 'easy group' or whatever you want about that World Cup, but we still got further than any other manager had taken us in 28 years, and we'd fallen to teams on a similar level (or worse) than the likes of Sweden and Colombia in tournaments before that under over managers.
I doubt there are an abundance of international sides who have been in absolutely blistering form well beyond England's over the last two years.
Do I agree with Southgate's tactics all the time? No, I don't - but his results over the past two and a half years have earned him a bit of leeway IMO.
The development and progress Grealish has made this calendar year is fantastic.
He’s far, far better than Mount, who unfortunately, I just don’t know what he adds when we are set up like this.
When was the last time we had someone similar to Grealish who can play more centrally in midfield if needed as well as cut in from the left? He glides passed opponents and is always thinking forward.
Great player, who surely won’t be at Villa for too much longer.
We haven't been great but Belgium have been woeful - only interest up to now is to foul, foul and foul again. Rice shouldn't be near this team, Dier isn't as bad but still a no. Take Sterling and Rashford out this team and we look so pedestrian.
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But even coming up against B level teams like Denmark, Switzerland, Czech Rep + Iceland and we struggle.
Against A level nations we have no chance.
Either that's because our players are bad (not true) or the system they're being forced into doesn't bring out their potential.
We've now scored 3 goals in 4.5 games in this group, and 2 of those goals were penalties. The simple fact is we have good attacking players and should be doing a lot better than we are.
I do think if he had utter confidence in our attacking options he could think fuck it, we might concede 2 but score 3 or 4.
But he's going defensive to protect the team and ultimately his job.
I don't think Southgate is a tactical genius by any stretch, far from it - but some of our fans have some very selective memories when it comes to England. There is absolutely zero patience shown.
Anyway, away from the usual "Southgate out"/England are terrible boring chat, we've actually not looked too bad in this first half and the scoreline doesn't necessarily reflect dominance on Belgium's part as far as the overall play goes.
Since the world cup Southgate has slowly been setting us up more + more negative with each game. This has led to us playing worse + worse.
England's problem is we dont have any pace but the bigger problem especially in this second half is they cant pass it round the opposition
If you're a good enough defender then whilst pace is frightening it should be possible to deal with it, worst case just drop deep and they cant get in behind you
Even someone Grealish is easy to counter against, just take it in turns to bring him down
In which case why not bring on the one player who can actually pass through the eye of a needle?
Bit like Williams sometimes needs to learn when to pass rather than hold on to it
Talk about 'easy group' or whatever you want about that World Cup, but we still got further than any other manager had taken us in 28 years, and we'd fallen to teams on a similar level (or worse) than the likes of Sweden and Colombia in tournaments before that under over managers.
I doubt there are an abundance of international sides who have been in absolutely blistering form well beyond England's over the last two years.
Do I agree with Southgate's tactics all the time? No, I don't - but his results over the past two and a half years have earned him a bit of leeway IMO.
He’s far, far better than Mount, who unfortunately, I just don’t know what he adds when we are set up like this.
When was the last time we had someone similar to Grealish who can play more centrally in midfield if needed as well as cut in from the left? He glides passed opponents and is always thinking forward.
Great player, who surely won’t be at Villa for too much longer.
Got visions of a yellow toothed bastard smiling everything we get a FK
Feels like if we stop playing him everyone still start questioning why we bothered "poaching" him from Ireland in the first place
If he wasn't Irish he'd be nowhere near this team.