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England Squad (v Republic of Ireland/Belgium/Iceland from p29)

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  • edited October 2020
    Agree on the excellent wing backs down the right but (despite Southgate's attempts yesterday) you can only play one of them. We don't have a playmaker because Southgate isn't giving them minutes. 

    I don't agree we need a midfielder like De Bruyne. Games against teams like Wales having say Henderson and Phillips as the two CM's with a front 4 of Grealish, Sancho, Sterling and Kane would work. We should be dominating those games so you can let the front 4 do their thing with support from the CM's and FB's. It then also works against the better teams because you have the pace to counter, but also the defensive is protected by the midfield. Every formation has it's risks, otherwise everybody would be playing exactly the same one and I do accept the fact that when the full backs are forward it can leave us slightly vulnerable. My concern if we proceed with a 523 ish formation that we're just going to let the better teams dictate the play. We won't be in the game and it's a tough ask to then just change it up if you're 1-0 down. It's very reliant on getting lucky or being absolutely sound defensively and nicking a goal. That's a lot easier to do against someone like Wales than it will be against Brazil or Germany. 
    So if we are on the front foot, why do you play 2 Centre Defensive Midfielders? We have 3 Centre backs behind them should be able to play 1 DM, the centre of the 3CB's can push into a DM role ideally. 

    If we play an overloaded midfield maybe but if we are the attacking team and not playing a better team eg. France/Germany/Belgium, then we shouldn't really be playing 2 imo, i do like the look of Phillips he offers more than Rice and looks tidy. 

    Edit - it doesn't make sense above, basically any better teams we play i could justify 2 DM, as long as they complement each other and offer creativity 
  •                    Pope
    TAA Gomez Coady Chilwell
              Henderson Foden
      Sancho.    Grealish.  Sterling
                        Kane
    Swap Grealish and Foden and that looks good to me
  • England draw with Denmark or Iceland... "You wouldnt see the Netherlands or Italy doing that"

    Both draw 0-0 with Bosnia and Poland respectively

    Oh but they know how to play in the actual Tournaments
    Yes but to be fair the latest set of International results are not to be taken seriuosly. The Nations League is the Carabao Cup of International football. Let's start comparing results when the Euro's or World Cup are being played.
  • Agree on the excellent wing backs down the right but (despite Southgate's attempts yesterday) you can only play one of them. We don't have a playmaker because Southgate isn't giving them minutes. 

    I don't agree we need a midfielder like De Bruyne. Games against teams like Wales having say Henderson and Phillips as the two CM's with a front 4 of Grealish, Sancho, Sterling and Kane would work. We should be dominating those games so you can let the front 4 do their thing with support from the CM's and FB's. It then also works against the better teams because you have the pace to counter, but also the defensive is protected by the midfield. Every formation has it's risks, otherwise everybody would be playing exactly the same one and I do accept the fact that when the full backs are forward it can leave us slightly vulnerable. My concern if we proceed with a 523 ish formation that we're just going to let the better teams dictate the play. We won't be in the game and it's a tough ask to then just change it up if you're 1-0 down. It's very reliant on getting lucky or being absolutely sound defensively and nicking a goal. That's a lot easier to do against someone like Wales than it will be against Brazil or Germany. 
    I agree with you completely that we could have beaten Wales with a more open formation, but then I think we likely could have beaten them with a team of uncapped players in any formation, given that this was a team whose keeper last played a league match for his club back in September 2019 and whose number 8 can't even get into our struggling League One starting line-up. I think Southgate was trying to breed a bit of familiarity in the formation and prepare for Belgium given how few games international teams get to play together.
    When I say we need a de Bruyne type player to be a really open team I mean against the best, if and when we get deeper into tournaments and come up against great teams. The good thing about yesterday was we were faced with a very similar situation to the one we were in against Croatia in the World Cup and this time we recognised to the issues and overcame them. Against Croatia we started well, were a hair away from going 2-0 up and then didn't adapt at all once they started to play their game and ultimately got pinned back by the full backs and handed them the win. This time we actually adapted to the way the opposition were playing, pushed our wing backs higher and took the initiative away from their midfield three. After that we won all our battles, were ruthless in taking the chances we needed to take control, restricted their chances, countered superbly and could have had two more goals and managed out the game brilliantly (I know it was only the Nations League but when have you ever felt that calm towards the end of a tough match with England ahead by a goal?) The thing with international football is you'll rarely get a team that plays beautiful flowing football due to the lack of preparation time, but the one who can shut other teams down, adapt to the situation, take chances and make the most of a little bit of luck are the ones who win tournaments. We do lack a key component to take games by the scruff of the neck against better sides, so I'm happy for us to develop a style that manages games and combines using talented players with a bit of nous. I would like to see us be a bit more open against weaker sides, but we've actually not got the easiest looking group going for the Euros so it wouldn't shock me if we weren't.
  • I agree with you completely that we could have beaten Wales with a more open formation, but then I think we likely could have beaten them with a team of uncapped players in any formation, given that this was a team whose keeper last played a league match for his club back in September 2019 and whose number 8 can't even get into our struggling League One starting line-up. I think Southgate was trying to breed a bit of familiarity in the formation and prepare for Belgium given how few games international teams get to play together.
    When I say we need a de Bruyne type player to be a really open team I mean against the best, if and when we get deeper into tournaments and come up against great teams. The good thing about yesterday was we were faced with a very similar situation to the one we were in against Croatia in the World Cup and this time we recognised to the issues and overcame them. Against Croatia we started well, were a hair away from going 2-0 up and then didn't adapt at all once they started to play their game and ultimately got pinned back by the full backs and handed them the win. This time we actually adapted to the way the opposition were playing, pushed our wing backs higher and took the initiative away from their midfield three. After that we won all our battles, were ruthless in taking the chances we needed to take control, restricted their chances, countered superbly and could have had two more goals and managed out the game brilliantly (I know it was only the Nations League but when have you ever felt that calm towards the end of a tough match with England ahead by a goal?) The thing with international football is you'll rarely get a team that plays beautiful flowing football due to the lack of preparation time, but the one who can shut other teams down, adapt to the situation, take chances and make the most of a little bit of luck are the ones who win tournaments. We do lack a key component to take games by the scruff of the neck against better sides, so I'm happy for us to develop a style that manages games and combines using talented players with a bit of nous. I would like to see us be a bit more open against weaker sides, but we've actually not got the easiest looking group going for the Euros so it wouldn't shock me if we weren't.
    I agree, and it's probably one of the main reasons why we're not quite there yet. However, in my opinion, as we don't have that at the moment we are better suited to utilise the attacking midfielders we do have. Getting Grealish on the ball to support the front 3 is best for us at the moment I feel. If/when we do have a genuine playmaker then you revisit. Southgate doesn't seem to want to play more than 2 attacking midfielders though so we're still not getting the playmaker option, and then if you do have someone like Grealish on the ball he'll only have another two in front of him. 
  • I get your point, but on paper that team was dog. We started ok first 10 then looked like Belgium were going to steam roller. 

    We beat the best team (ranking wise) in the world, so thats fair enough and great, but you cant really deny we had the luck

    Yes i am an office bod, i can't really say that i will do better than Southgate, just the two pennies and having an opinion. Not sure they could afford me anyway  ;)
    That's why I wrote "England win a game luckily", JB.  :)   
  • So if we are on the front foot, why do you play 2 Centre Defensive Midfielders? We have 3 Centre backs behind them should be able to play 1 DM, the centre of the 3CB's can push into a DM role ideally. 

    If we play an overloaded midfield maybe but if we are the attacking team and not playing a better team eg. France/Germany/Belgium, then we shouldn't really be playing 2 imo, i do like the look of Phillips he offers more than Rice and looks tidy. 

    Edit - it doesn't make sense above, basically any better teams we play i could justify 2 DM, as long as they complement each other and offer creativity 
    I didn't mean 2 defensive midfielders and 3 CB's, I'd play two of each. To be honest, I don't even think Henderson is out an out DM at all. Someone like Phillips offers some good energy, agree he offers more than Rice. 

    The reason I wouldn't play 3 CB's is that most teams play 5 in midfield now and 1 striker. 3 CB's is overload, particularly against the weaker sides. 
  • I didn't mean 2 defensive midfielders and 3 CB's, I'd play two of each. To be honest, I don't even think Henderson is out an out DM at all. Someone like Phillips offers some good energy, agree he offers more than Rice. 

    The reason I wouldn't play 3 CB's is that most teams play 5 in midfield now and 1 striker. 3 CB's is overload, particularly against the weaker sides. 
    Yeah thats bang on tbf, sorry i think i misread your post. 
  •                    Pope
    TAA Gomez Coady Chilwell
              Henderson Foden
      Sancho.    Grealish.  Sterling
                        Kane
    It looks great - but I just worry it will be torn a new one defensively by the better teams 
  • It looks great - but I just worry it will be torn a new one defensively by the better teams 
    Tbf, we're still not on par with those better teams, so fully expect Brazil, Germany etc to do that anyway. 

    I'd say that 11 should be a quarters with luck going our way semi's.


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  • I know I have said this before, but there's no such thing as luck. 

    People are willing to reject sightings of Ghosts or UFO's but willing to believe in luck?
  • edited October 2020
    thenewbie said:
    There's absolutely such a thing as luck. Scientifically it's probably more accurately described as probability or statistical something-or-other but it exists.
    Mount's shot hitting someone at the exact right point that it moved in exactly that way and went in is exactly what luck is. Of all the potential outcomes, this one fell in England's favour but if you repeated the exact same circumstances in exactly the same way the ball would end up somewhere completely different.
     Luck is not a thing. 
     
     The defender was forced into a mistake. Do you think the defender thought 'Oh that was unlucky' or 'Should have got more on it/Committed sooner/Stood him up a second longer'.

     Freak goals like Darren Bent's beach ball assisted goal are harder to argue...

    What you've explained is the physics of the way the ball moved after it left Mount's boot and its direction was changed by a defender trying to clear and making a mistake. 

    Mount receives the ball, defender tries to read Mount's intent, Mount shoots defender mistakenly mistimes block, ball ends up in the same goal it was headed towards, just with a loop rather than the direct line it left his boot. 

    Was the penalty Dier gave away unlucky? No he made a mistake. No luck incorrect decision to try and slide past Lukaku. 
  • edited October 2020
    Dazzler21 said:
     Luck is not a thing. 
     
     The defender was forced into a mistake. Do you think the defender thought 'Oh that was unlucky' or 'Should have got more on it/Committed sooner/Stood him up a second longer'.

     Freak goals like Darren Bent's beach ball assisted goal are harder to argue...

    What you've explained is the physics of the way the ball moved after it left Mount's boot and its direction was changed by a defender trying to clear and making a mistake. 

    Mount receives the ball, defender tries to read Mount's intent, Mount shoots defender mistakenly mistimes block, ball ends up in the same goal it was headed towards, just with a loop rather than the direct line it left his boot. 

    Was the penalty Dier gave away unlucky? No he made a mistake. No luck incorrect decision to try and slide past Lukaku. 
    Luck is a thing, in football/ pool and most sports. To an extent you do make your own luck (maybe united penalties are an example?) , but there are such small margins that this part of luck (whether you agree or not) can be huge and outcome a game/ not always a season as people say it should even out. 

    That goal by Mount was alot of luck, nearly fluke terroritary in my opinion, that took such a huge deflection and resulted in a goal. Yes he has taken a shot and it worked out, but still you cant really say with that much of a deflection thats not luck? 

    Also following the same logic, you could attribute pretty much any goal to an error if you look hard enough. 

    Dier wasn't unlucky he was wreckless and it was the right decision. 

    We got lucky with our penalty decision :) 
  • Yes but to be fair the latest set of International results are not to be taken seriuosly. The Nations League is the Carabao Cup of International football. Let's start comparing results when the Euro's or World Cup are being played.
    Have you not just proven my point in a way? ;)

    England struggle against Denmark and Iceland and everyone seems to have a meltdown

    Netherlands / Italy do it... Oh well its because the Nations League is shit
  • Dazzler21 said:
     Luck is not a thing. 
     
     The defender was forced into a mistake. Do you think the defender thought 'Oh that was unlucky' or 'Should have got more on it/Committed sooner/Stood him up a second longer'.

     Freak goals like Darren Bent's beach ball assisted goal are harder to argue...

    What you've explained is the physics of the way the ball moved after it left Mount's boot and its direction was changed by a defender trying to clear and making a mistake. 

    Mount receives the ball, defender tries to read Mount's intent, Mount shoots defender mistakenly mistimes block, ball ends up in the same goal it was headed towards, just with a loop rather than the direct line it left his boot. 

    Was the penalty Dier gave away unlucky? No he made a mistake. No luck incorrect decision to try and slide past Lukaku. 
    Yes but the ball just so happened to hit the players leg in just such a way that it took just the right trajectory to land where it did. Lots of different variables that could have resulted in a different outcome. The exact turn of events is just one of many possible. It being this one is lucky. 

    Luck is a mathematical concept. You could theoretically sit down and calculate all the potential outcomes and the probability of each but you wouldn't know with 100% which it would be in advance. That's luck.
  • Occasional football viewer of my acquaintance on hearing that Harry Kane wasn't starting because of "fatigue"
    "Fatigue?  Fatigue!  And Southgate's putting up with that is he?  FFS!  Kane should be too embarrassed to show his face!  Fatigue!  He's sposed to be a professional athlete!  When did he last play a game?  A week ago right?  What's he been up to? Playing for England not good enough for him?  Stupid lazy prick!!"
    She's got a point.
  • Harry Kane speaks here, 1m 51 sec shows what he thinks of the Nations League. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33ehym9bKmg
  • Dazzler21 said:
     Luck is not a thing. 
     
     The defender was forced into a mistake. Do you think the defender thought 'Oh that was unlucky' or 'Should have got more on it/Committed sooner/Stood him up a second longer'.

     Freak goals like Darren Bent's beach ball assisted goal are harder to argue...

    What you've explained is the physics of the way the ball moved after it left Mount's boot and its direction was changed by a defender trying to clear and making a mistake. 

    Mount receives the ball, defender tries to read Mount's intent, Mount shoots defender mistakenly mistimes block, ball ends up in the same goal it was headed towards, just with a loop rather than the direct line it left his boot. 

    Was the penalty Dier gave away unlucky? No he made a mistake. No luck incorrect decision to try and slide past Lukaku. 
     Not sure if i’m being whoosed or not, but are you seriously claiming Mount’s goal wasn’t lucky?
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  • edited October 2020
    I'm stating I don't believe in 'luck' as the term is used so freely.

    Can you tell me it wasn't going to be a goal already?

    Mount made his own luck by having a shot. He speculated someone might make a mistake and so was rewarded with a goal.

    I hate it when people pass off success as luck. People who work harder or try things more often always seem to be more 'lucky' weird isn't it.

    It's almost like their work is being rewarded.


  •                    Pope
    TAA Gomez Coady Chilwell
              Henderson Foden
      Sancho.    Grealish.  Sterling
                        Kane
    I like that side a lot, that's the team i'd like to see in the next round of games in November if they're all available.

    The issue is that side is very attacking, especially with TAA and Chilwell bombing forward too. Foden isn't really a holding midfielder, Guardiola plays him much further forward. So it would be ok against the so called lesser nations, but if you play that team against France or Germany and i fear they'd kill us on the break. 
  • Dazzler21 said:
    I'm stating I don't believe in 'luck' as the term is used so freely.

    Can you tell me it wasn't going to be a goal already?

    Mount made his own luck by having a shot. He speculated someone might make a mistake and so was rewarded with a goal.

    I hate it when people pass off success as luck. People who work harder or try things more often always seem to be more 'lucky' weird isn't it.

    It's almost like their work is being rewarded.


    So just so I am clear on this Dazz, are you saying:

    Mount took the shot knowing in his own mind the shot would not go directly in, however he calculated that by taking the shot it would either take a deflection or a defender might make a mistake dealing with the shot and either of these scenarios would lead to a goal?
  • Dazzler21 said:
    I'm stating I don't believe in 'luck' as the term is used so freely.

    Can you tell me it wasn't going to be a goal already?

    Mount made his own luck by having a shot. He speculated someone might make a mistake and so was rewarded with a goal.

    I hate it when people pass off success as luck. People who work harder or try things more often always seem to be more 'lucky' weird isn't it.

    It's almost like their work is being rewarded.


    For Mounts shot to go in was lucky, thats clear as day - not was it a mistake by the defender. I like Mount hes a good player, but it was very fortunate to end in a goal.
  • I like that side a lot, that's the team i'd like to see in the next round of games in November if they're all available.

    The issue is that side is very attacking, especially with TAA and Chilwell bombing forward too. Foden isn't really a holding midfielder, Guardiola plays him much further forward. So it would be ok against the so called lesser nations, but if you play that team against France or Germany and i fear they'd kill us on the break. 
    Swap Grealish and Foden. Athough he is flash, Grealish can get stuck in, Foden doesn't, and needs a licence to roam in the hole 
  • It's incredible how many good midfield players we have currently and that one of my favourites Ross Barkley doesn't even get a mention  .
  • I think people are forgetting that across football you have players without a decent pre season, 2 international games, a crowded club schedule followed by 3 internationals in 7 days. These are matches where managers are managing minutes as much as trying to get results.

    With yet another game on Wednesday followed by another THREE internationals in November, the likes of Grealish will get plenty of opportunities
  • edited October 2020
    I think people are forgetting that across football you have players without a decent pre season, 2 international games, a crowded club schedule followed by 3 internationals in 7 days. These are matches where managers are managing minutes as much as trying to get results.

    With yet another game on Wednesday followed by another THREE internationals in November, the likes of Grealish will get plenty of opportunities
    World Cup Qualifying starts in March with another three games then too

    This is almost ideal preparation for Southgate in a way as feels he's got more genuine competitive games to work out his best team for Euro 2021...

    Plenty will see that as a negative but I genuinely dont think he needs to know a settled England eleven, what he needs to know is what eleven to put out in a set scenario depending on the opposition and the way they setup themselves 
  • World Cup Qualifying starts in March with another three games then too

    This is almost ideal preparation for Southgate in a way as feels he's got more genuine competitive games to work out his best team for Euro 2021...

    Plenty will see that as a negative but I genuinely dont think he needs to know a settled England eleven, what he needs to know is what eleven to put out in a set scenario depending on the opposition and the way they setup themselves 
    Going to be really weird having WC qualification matches at a time when countries will normally be planning friendlies in preparation for the Euros

    Indeed Qatar is a scandalous choice, but it might be quite handy that the 2022 WC won't be until November, as it'll allow more time for the qualifiers to be played around the globe! There should be a full schedule of Asian qualifying games tonight for example
  • Dazzler21 said:
     Luck is not a thing. 
     
     The defender was forced into a mistake. Do you think the defender thought 'Oh that was unlucky' or 'Should have got more on it/Committed sooner/Stood him up a second longer'.

     Freak goals like Darren Bent's beach ball assisted goal are harder to argue...

    What you've explained is the physics of the way the ball moved after it left Mount's boot and its direction was changed by a defender trying to clear and making a mistake. 

    Mount receives the ball, defender tries to read Mount's intent, Mount shoots defender mistakenly mistimes block, ball ends up in the same goal it was headed towards, just with a loop rather than the direct line it left his boot. 

    Was the penalty Dier gave away unlucky? No he made a mistake. No luck incorrect decision to try and slide past Lukaku. 
    Dier wasn't unlucky - but Lukaku fooled the ref. The ball was going off to the right and instead of following it, Lukaku moved left so he would fall over Dier.  

    Our penalty wasn't exactly crime of the century either. 
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