It was a pretty terrible performance but i never read too much into friendlies. A lot of players probably had half an eye on not getting injured where as Iceland were right up for their 'big' night out at Wembley.
Also need to remember that next weekend we'll probably be bringing two of the worlds best players into the lineup in Bellingham and Saka. The side will look better balanced for sure with those two there.
Midfield is a bit of a conundrum though. Do we persist with Mainoo for the opening game and hope it works with him and Rice or do we play someone else there (Trent? Gallagher?)
The thing about players at Man City (like Grealish for example) is that they have big match mentality that means they won’t be overawed by a Euros knock out game. Grealish has come on and made the difference in big games v Madrid for instance.
Eze and Gordon may look like stars in a prem game v Brighton.
Euros is another level.
Or, do you mean Grealish is not trusted to start in the big games and can only be effective once City’s good players have tired out the opposition….
To the extent that squad numbers are any indication, TAA is no 8. If picked 1-11, the line up would be ( not the correct numbers but these are nos 1-11 in random order). Pickford, Shaw, Stones, Guehi, Walker, Rice, TAA, Bellingham Foden, Kane, Saka. I’d be surprised if that wasn’t the starting line up with Trippier deputising until/if Shaw is fit.
It's funny how people are saying Foden doesn't look as good for England, yet he has all that quality around him even for England.
Southgate tactics in a nutshell, the prem player of the season made to look ordinary in a friendly vs Iceland.
We've given the keys of a Ferrari to a bloke with no drivers license. There's a reason why a lot of ManU fans went into meltdown when he was being linked with the United job. Lovely bloke, inept football coach
Would I like Southgate to manage palace or Man Utd , yes
it’s time for England to deliver we will probably go in to every game favourite , which is good because we never win as an underdog in the knockout stages of a major friendlies , no interest in , the real stuff starts next weekend come on England
On balance, I would have taken Grealish. Having Eze, Bowen and Gordon feels like one too many "direct" wingers, whereas Grealish offers something different, as shown by his assist on Monday. Especially when we are talking about options from the bench.
There's a paucity of good goalkeepers for club and Country currently. This is quite a modern problem though. We haven't really replaced David Seaman yet in the England goal. And neither has anyone improved on Kiely for club. Does anyone have any theories why or is it just coincidence.
Going forward the England team looks lethal. But behind Rice - we are going to have problems. Lots of 'em ...
The thing about players at Man City (like Grealish for example) is that they have big match mentality that means they won’t be overawed by a Euros knock out game. Grealish has come on and made the difference in big games v Madrid for instance.
Eze and Gordon may look like stars in a prem game v Brighton.
Euros is another level.
Agreed that Eze is inexperienced. Gordon, however, has played in the champions league and played in all 6 games of last Euro u21 tournament.
Leaving Maguire out will cost England and ultimately Southgate his job.
Maguire himself has admitted he is injured and tried to rush back to fitness too quickly.
Just don't bother with him...
He seriously thinks that the Premier League POTY shouldn't be in the squad, along with the highest (English) scorer from the Premier League last season
Comments
Southgate tactics in a nutshell, the prem player of the season made to look ordinary in a friendly vs Iceland.
We've given the keys of a Ferrari to a bloke with no drivers license. There's a reason why a lot of ManU fans went into meltdown when he was being linked with the United job. Lovely bloke, inept football coach
it’s time for England to deliver
we will probably go in to every game favourite , which is good because we never win as an underdog in the knockout stages of a major
friendlies , no interest in , the real stuff starts next weekend
come on England
Going forward the England team looks lethal. But behind Rice - we are going to have problems. Lots of 'em ...
He seriously thinks that the Premier League POTY shouldn't be in the squad, along with the highest (English) scorer from the Premier League last season