Granted he has been poor for England but alongside Alderweirald for Spurs, he has been very good. The Spurs back four looks more solid with him in it that without him. The stats back that up and thats based on me having watched every Spurs game this season.
Anyhow, my two penneth for what its worth.
I was amazed Southgate started without any pace in the front 3 last night. Anyone that has watched PL football for the last 18 months or more will know both Vertonghen and Alderweirald have lost what little pace they had, so much so that Spurs let Verts go as a free agent.
Any pace in that front 3 would have had them drop off to cope and England would have been further up the pitch. Southgate picking no pace and two defensive midfielders just allowed their back 3 to push up and squeeze the game. Have to say Verts marshalled their defense brilliantly last night, back to his best.
Again, this new obsession with Kane dropping off and playing deep doesnt help either. If he does that, you need pace elsewhere. How many times did England get behind Belgium last night? Two of Rashford, Stiring and maybe Sancho has to start and one of the midfield holders has to be sacrified to get Grealish sitting centrally in a free role. Its the same with Spurs, Kane drops off, Sonny and one of Moura/Bale/Bergjwyn force the defense on the back foot, looking to get behind.
He has to drop this 3 at the back plan cobblers. He almost needs to go back to 4-2-3-1. That way you can get Grealish in the side as a number 10, two pacey wide players and then two central midfielders which arent all about defending. Henderson with a ball playing midfielder.
I havent seen enough of Mount to form an opinion really but Winks, Barkley maybe. I havent seen anything of Rice for England or West Ham to justify his inclusion. Perhaps Rice should be used as a CB.
I agree that 4-2-3-1 would be our best formation. I think it’s time that Southgate starts putting trust back into Maguire. I would probably have Mings next to him, who plays in a similar formation for Villa, until Coady can prove he can play in a centre back pairing. If he wants the full backs to push high up and get forward, then it would be asking a lot for Henderson to play as a ‘Mezzala’ and protect the centre backs, so he might start Rice as well depending on the opponent. I would have no problem with Mount playing alongside Henderson in the 2.
I think Kane dropping deep is a decent tactic as he has a lot of ability setting up moves as well as finishing them and it makes him harder to defend against. But yes, you look at a lot of international defences and pace worries them and surely you find a way to get that in the team.
We have an average defence and possibly the best attacking options in the World. It ought to be a no brainer how you set out to maximise that.
I keep seeing people suggest getting Grealish into the midfield, but doesn't he play on the left of a front 3 for Villa?
I'm not saying he cant play there or isn't better than what we have but it goes back to the same idea of forcing players into systems rather than doing what they know.
Much like Mount being a better option in the middle rather than stuck out wide like Sunday, surely where possible Grealish should play where he plays for his club. That's why all the past social media uproar about constantly playing Mount over Grealish was a bit a pointless if Southgate sees them in different positions (ie the positions they play for their club).
Yes, even with Gareth's system he could have played Mount alongside Henderson and then had someone pacier in the front 3
Rashford and Sterling both not being available did make things trickier, as Sancho isn't playing well and the other attacking options we had on the bench, Calvert-Lewis and Abraham are to me alternatives to Kane, rather than wide attackers
Republic of Ireland midfielder Alan Browne has tested positive for coronavirus having played against England on Thursday.
Preston's Browne, 25, played the full 90 minutes of his side's 3-0 defeat at Wembley Stadium.
The Football Association of Ireland said he had "no close contacts" and all other players and staff have tested negative.
BUT
Now McClean and Doherty have tested positive after Ireland's game against Wales yesterday. Did they really catch it independently of Brown having it on Thursday?
Why are they testing after the games & not before?
No but he is the 4th generation of footballers to play for the National team from his family going back to his great grandfather who played for Arsenal
Rice comes in for a lot of stick I think he’s been excellent tonight. With Henderson he probably doesn’t know his role but when he’s with a ball playing CM he comes into his own.
Comments
Sorry, calling you out on that.
Dier poor in the PL? What are you basing that on?
Granted he has been poor for England but alongside Alderweirald for Spurs, he has been very good. The Spurs back four looks more solid with him in it that without him. The stats back that up and thats based on me having watched every Spurs game this season.
Anyhow, my two penneth for what its worth.
I was amazed Southgate started without any pace in the front 3 last night. Anyone that has watched PL football for the last 18 months or more will know both Vertonghen and Alderweirald have lost what little pace they had, so much so that Spurs let Verts go as a free agent.
Any pace in that front 3 would have had them drop off to cope and England would have been further up the pitch. Southgate picking no pace and two defensive midfielders just allowed their back 3 to push up and squeeze the game. Have to say Verts marshalled their defense brilliantly last night, back to his best.
Again, this new obsession with Kane dropping off and playing deep doesnt help either. If he does that, you need pace elsewhere. How many times did England get behind Belgium last night? Two of Rashford, Stiring and maybe Sancho has to start and one of the midfield holders has to be sacrified to get Grealish sitting centrally in a free role. Its the same with Spurs, Kane drops off, Sonny and one of Moura/Bale/Bergjwyn force the defense on the back foot, looking to get behind.
He has to drop this 3 at the back plan cobblers. He almost needs to go back to 4-2-3-1. That way you can get Grealish in the side as a number 10, two pacey wide players and then two central midfielders which arent all about defending. Henderson with a ball playing midfielder.
I havent seen enough of Mount to form an opinion really but Winks, Barkley maybe. I havent seen anything of Rice for England or West Ham to justify his inclusion. Perhaps Rice should be used as a CB.
We have an average defence and possibly the best attacking options in the World. It ought to be a no brainer how you set out to maximise that.
I'm not saying he cant play there or isn't better than what we have but it goes back to the same idea of forcing players into systems rather than doing what they know.
Much like Mount being a better option in the middle rather than stuck out wide like Sunday, surely where possible Grealish should play where he plays for his club.
That's why all the past social media uproar about constantly playing Mount over Grealish was a bit a pointless if Southgate sees them in different positions (ie the positions they play for their club).
Rashford and Sterling both not being available did make things trickier, as Sancho isn't playing well and the other attacking options we had on the bench, Calvert-Lewis and Abraham are to me alternatives to Kane, rather than wide attackers
Pickford
Chillwell
Maguire
Mings
James
Henderson
Dier
Winks
Rice
Kane
A lot more creativity and it’s shows. We looks good.
Foden and Grealish are so good against these negative sides.
NO SHIT SHERLOCK / SOUTHGATE!!!