With our plethora of midfield talent it would be a shame not to base the system around a heavy midfield. I'd go for something like the 3-2-4-1 Johann Cruyff used to play at Barca.
I have never been a fan of Rashy except from when he burst on to the scene in 2016.
Rashy should go to the Euros, but he goes purely as a squad member for me. Grealish must be ahead of him in the pecking order as would like more creative to supply Kane and Sterling than trying to supply, Kane, Sterling and Rashy.
Interestingly I was looking on twitter recently regarding Konsa and a number of people are saying he's more important to their defence than Mings - and more assured. He might be in with a shout
Pickford, for me, shouldn't be starting. He's far too erratic. Step forward Popey
For me the midfield is a bit iffy. Not a fan of Rice or Dier as I can't see what they bring. Mount is a bit raw. Foden has to be there though as he is special and with Sterling they have a good understanding. Grealish will be there but we need to make sure his ego stays in check.
Whilst we have a number of great young players I am not sure there is enough there as a team to win the thing.
I don’t think Rashford has been good enough personally. I’d have Grealish, Sterling, Sancho and Foden infront of him at the moment.
By what standards are you judging whether he's been good enough?
Rashford has 16 goals in 35 games this season. In his best season (last year) he scored 22.
Absolutely no doubt he should be going to the euros but I wouldn’t be starting him. I think he’s been too inconsistent this season when I’ve seen him play (I agree the same can be said for Sancho). He’s not performed well against the top sides in the league either. All those mentioned have similar stats, I’m just going on his all round performance.
With the attacking options available to us, I really want our defenders to be able to defend and not be bombing forward the whole time. TAA has been poor this season in that respect because his defending has been awful at times and he has been a lot less effective going forward too. Don't want us to play two holding midfielders for that reason and have also become a Mount convert as I think that he's been terrific for Chelsea.
So this would be my starting X1
Pope
Wan Bissaka/James Maguire Stones Chillwell
Mount Henderson Foden
Grealish Kane Sterling
And would bring Rashford on for the last 20 minutes or so, if required, for his pace against tired opposition legs
With the attacking options available to us, I really want our defenders to be able to defend and not be bombing forward the whole time. TAA has been poor this season in that respect because his defending has been awful at times and he has been a lot less effective going forward too. Don't want us to play two holding midfielders for that reason and have also become a Mount convert as I think that he's been terrific for Chelsea.
So this would be my starting X1
Pope
Wan Bissaka/James Maguire Stones Chillwell
Mount Henderson Foden
Grealish Kane Sterling
And would bring Rashford on for the last 20 minutes or so, if required, for his pace against tired opposition legs
I like this team with Wan Bissaka starting, but would substitute Henderson for Rice. Rice is just getting better and better, is younger (so the future) plus being mates with Mount may help.
I also wonder about playing Shaw since the left sided cb is Maguire. I agree with a previous poster that with the attacking flair available to us that we need solid defenders. There is not such a need for attacking full backs.
Finally on occasions I'd like to see a 442 up front. The way Kane is playing assisting Son so many times perhaps he could do the same with DCL. The new Shearer/Sheringham maybe.
Harvey Barnes should be a starter, at the very least he needs to be in the squad .. Sancho, Hudson-Odoi ?, he's better than both but just doesn't get the same amount of publicity
Harvey Barnes should be a starter, at the very least he needs to be in the squad .. Sancho, Hudson-Odoi ?, he's better than both but just doesn't get the same amount of publicity
Hudson Odoi I agree with. Sancho is finding his form in an underachieving Dortmund side. 4 goals and 4 assists in his last 8 games.
It’s that dreaded time of year when every English players picks up and injury. Henderson out for 10 weeks. Justin ruled out and Barnes now.
Yep. You just know Kane is going to roll is ankle again soon.
That is the fear.
Personally, I would not swap Sterling and Kane for any two attacking players in world football at the moment. If we can these two on form at the euros. Then it is going to be a brilliant summer.
It’s that dreaded time of year when every English players picks up and injury. Henderson out for 10 weeks. Justin ruled out and Barnes now.
Yep. You just know Kane is going to roll is ankle again soon.
That is the fear.
Personally, I would not swap Sterling and Kane for any two attacking players in world football at the moment. If we can these two on form at the euros. Then it is going to be a brilliant summer.
Completely agree with this, we have such an exciting team this year but first two on the team sheet for me. Saka/ Foden both great talents but hard to fit them in the starting line up, that is saying something, good to have Stones getting games and in good form. Sort the midfield balance out and we have a great chance.
Comments
Rashy should go to the Euros, but he goes purely as a squad member for me. Grealish must be ahead of him in the pecking order as would like more creative to supply Kane and Sterling than trying to supply, Kane, Sterling and Rashy.
Grealish or Foden?
Pickford, for me, shouldn't be starting. He's far too erratic. Step forward Popey
For me the midfield is a bit iffy. Not a fan of Rice or Dier as I can't see what they bring. Mount is a bit raw. Foden has to be there though as he is special and with Sterling they have a good understanding. Grealish will be there but we need to make sure his ego stays in check.
Whilst we have a number of great young players I am not sure there is enough there as a team to win the thing.
Pickford
Johnstone
Trent
Wan Bissaka
Walker (can also play cb)
Stones
Maguire
Gomez (if not fit then Konsa)
Mings
Shaw
Chillwell
Saka (can also play on the wing)
Rice
Kalvin Phillips
Henderson
Mount
Grealish
Foden
Sterling
Sancho
Rashford (can also play striker)
Kane
Calvert Lewin
Rashford and Sancho to come on against tiring defence. Rice to come on and stiffen up the defensive side if necessary
------Gomez - Maguire - Stones
Trent ----- Henderson ---- Chilwell
---------Grealish - Foden
--------------Sterling
----------------Kane
Trent or James
Stones
Maguire
Chilwell
Henderson
Mount
Foden
Grealish
Kane
Sterling
So this would be my starting X1
Pope
Wan Bissaka/James
Maguire
Stones
Chillwell
Mount
Henderson
Foden
Grealish
Kane
Sterling
And would bring Rashford on for the last 20 minutes or so, if required, for his pace against tired opposition legs
I also wonder about playing Shaw since the left sided cb is Maguire. I agree with a previous poster that with the attacking flair available to us that we need solid defenders. There is not such a need for attacking full backs.
Finally on occasions I'd like to see a 442 up front. The way Kane is playing assisting Son so many times perhaps he could do the same with DCL. The new Shearer/Sheringham maybe.
Pope
Wan Bissaka
Maguire
Stones
Chilwell
Henderson
Foden
Mount/Rice (Mount in games we are going to dominate, Rice in games we are expected to sit in a bit more)
Sterling/Saka (Sterling if he can show he's capable from the RW position, Saka if not).
Kane
Grealish
If you think Sterling isn't capable at RW (which i'm sure he is, as he can play all across the front 3), then i think Sancho would be a better option.
Sterling is capable I'm sure but it's whether he's a good fit for the role in a goalscoring sense.
Sancho hasn't showed enough chemistry with Kane/anyone else to be considered a starter.
Personally, I would not swap Sterling and Kane for any two attacking players in world football at the moment. If we can these two on form at the euros. Then it is going to be a brilliant summer.