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

I think Denmark put bodies behind the ball and Rashford needed a bit more help around him to be fair. If you are defensive minded against these teams, it is often a stalemate. When you play strong sides they try to beat you and that makes things more open for your strikers but Denmark tried to stop us and relied on errors from us or the ref and got a bit of both. 

Alex Scott was very very good post match.  Impressed!

V Belgium - sure, I get the idea two holding midfielders is "ok".   Pick players in form not players out of form.  Pickford and Maguire should be nowhere near the side.  His treatment of Grealish, Sancho and to a lower extent, Calvert Lewin has been poor.

Why does Southgate think we were great first 30 mins?   We were slightly the better side and relied on a debutant at wing back knocking the odd half decent cross in.  A debutant who is not as good as arguably the best right wing back in the world (certainly on stats anyway).   So if Rhys James is picked because he's playing well and TAA isn't, I.go back to why are Maguire and Pickford selected and why did Jack Grealish get NO game time in 180 mins after a MOTM performance.

I'm not sure Southgate even knows what his stance and aims are anymore.

He came in to the job declaring that clubs and player names don't matter, players will be picked on form regardless and a "shake up" with a lot of the younger players breaking in and a very youthful WC squad. No expectations, semi's. Great but also not great.

The squad and team selection is just confusing now, form players left out, youngsters being given debuts for the sake of it, and woefully out of form players starting. I get the need for consistency as the national team don't play as regularly (although they're now with the nation's league) but that shouldn't mean a guarantee starting spot.

In terms of football, 7 defensive players against a slightly weaker opponent. At home. 1-0 down at 35mins and the first attacking change comes on the 72nd. That's negative and not something I'd expect to see even in league one. 

We can come out with the usual "teams get players behind the ball against us, sit deep, stop us playing" but come on, Brazil we ain't. Yes this happens but other nations that we're supposed to be on par with manage to break down said teams The Kazakhstan's of football sure but I don't imagine Denmark were sh!tting themselves at the prospect of facing England at Wembley last night.

johnnybev1987 said:

Reece James, really impressed me last night. I dont think TAA really has done well for England so that could throw a spanner and a bit of competition (ironic when we have the most Right Backs ever) 
Mount, Normally dont think he should start but again worked well with RJ and had a good game. 
Maguire, always not quite sure, but not really much out there for England. Coady impresses me further and should be the first name in whatever defence for me. 
Maitland - Niles , looked ok but out of position too much. Simple things like from a defensive corner he ended up on the right and took a while to come back. 
Phillips, Semi impressed me and looks a better option than Rice for me. 

Overall a better selection last night for me, not a bad performance considering playing with 10 for a long period. We finished the game well and launching balls in and could have easily knicked a goal or two. I am sure we will learn more from our squad in last nights defeat than the other 2 games the last week, Denmark are a good team and hard to break down no shame in losing with 10 men. 

But at 1-0 down, in basically a must win game, why not put Grealish, Sancho AND Calvert Lewin on.  If you lose 3-0 you say, oh well, I wanted to give the boys a test of showing how they could perform as if it were tournament knockout football!??!

addick1956 said:

ForeverAddickted said:

addick1956 said:

Chris_from_Sidcup said:

ForeverAddickted said:

Chris_from_Sidcup said:

I didn't even realise we had a friendly match too. Seems pretty ridiculous that after a hectic start to the season (especially for Spurs) that we now have 3 internationals Thursday-Sunday-Wednesday.

What's the point of FIFA/UEFA arranging a round of friendly matches before these two nations league games? Wasn't the whole point of the Nations league to avoid pointless friendlies?

Its so everyone plays three games... this International Window you've got

Euro 2020 Play-Off Semi-Finals then the Nations League games - It'll be the same in November when you'll have the Play-Off Finals and two more Nations League games

Unless there is no International Window planned for next March I dont know why they've not had the Euro 2020 Play-Offs simply a year later as doesnt make much difference

It's still ridiculous. If Kane plays in all 3 games for England over the next week, he'll have played 11 games already this season and we'll only be 1 month in. I hope Southgate rests him v Wales.

Most players (not just England's) will be fucking exhausted by the time the Euro's start next summer.

Why...they are fit athletes...they party all night when it suits them but can't  be asked two play twice week ! 

Thats like saying a Marathon runner should be able to run a race of that distance every week

Non league players play lots of games and have a full time job. And they have to travel to away games etc mid week. Lower league players play a lot too. So why not the overpaid under worked premadonnas of the Premiership. 

You do understand the difference between elite athletes and semi pros??

addick1956 said:

ForeverAddickted said:

addick1956 said:

Chris_from_Sidcup said:

ForeverAddickted said:

Chris_from_Sidcup said:

I didn't even realise we had a friendly match too. Seems pretty ridiculous that after a hectic start to the season (especially for Spurs) that we now have 3 internationals Thursday-Sunday-Wednesday.

What's the point of FIFA/UEFA arranging a round of friendly matches before these two nations league games? Wasn't the whole point of the Nations league to avoid pointless friendlies?

Its so everyone plays three games... this International Window you've got

Euro 2020 Play-Off Semi-Finals then the Nations League games - It'll be the same in November when you'll have the Play-Off Finals and two more Nations League games

Unless there is no International Window planned for next March I dont know why they've not had the Euro 2020 Play-Offs simply a year later as doesnt make much difference

It's still ridiculous. If Kane plays in all 3 games for England over the next week, he'll have played 11 games already this season and we'll only be 1 month in. I hope Southgate rests him v Wales.

Most players (not just England's) will be fucking exhausted by the time the Euro's start next summer.

Why...they are fit athletes...they party all night when it suits them but can't  be asked two play twice week ! 

Thats like saying a Marathon runner should be able to run a race of that distance every week

Non league players play lots of games and have a full time job. And they have to travel to away games etc mid week. Lower league players play a lot too. So why not the overpaid under worked premadonnas of the Premiership. 

You chat some shit, Kane played 4 games in 7 days effectively. You cant just expect someone to recover and because they are premier league players they can be superhuman. Conference league is similar to our leagues often midweek and then weekend games, but also wont be as high intensity. 

I think it was well managed, if you want Kane firing for club and country for the season / Euros we need to rest him where possible, i doubt he would have been rested if it was a key game. 

I hope for the games next month we see Chilwell, Sterling, Foden and Sancho starting as they should improve things. Not to mention Southgate can't play Maguire so that'll help.

Dazzler21 said:

I couldn't care less about England during the actual season. 

I don't even know what our squad options are. 

Good to know 👍🏻

England team at the Semi-Finals of the World Cup: 

Pickford 

Walker
Stones 
Maguire

Trippier 
Young

Henderson 
Lingard 
Alli

Kane 
Sterling



I think the problem Southgate has is that he's changed his midfield to have 2 DCMs instead of just 1 with two more advanced midfielders alongside him. 

Rashford could play the Sterling role but he plays way too far out on the wing. He needs to be on the shoulder of Kane, occasionally dropping into the channels. 


We'll ignore the fact that England basically got through the World Cup on set-pieces (corners + penalties). 

MuttleyCAFC said:

I think Henderson is a very important player and allows more attacking midfielders playing around him whilst maintaining defensive stability. However, sometimes, even without Henderson, playing two defensive midfielders against a team with a defensive approach just means another pass. I really do not understand why managers who have had a career in the game don't see this. 

Henderson is one of those players you appreciate when he isn't playing.

Liverpool fans say the same.

LenGlover said:

MuttleyCAFC said:

I think Henderson is a very important player and allows more attacking midfielders playing around him whilst maintaining defensive stability. However, sometimes, even without Henderson, playing two defensive midfielders against a team with a defensive approach just means another pass. I really do not understand why managers who have had a career in the game don't see this. 

Henderson is one of those players you appreciate when he isn't playing.

Liverpool fans say the same.

So underrated , Even the merseyside derby he stood out for me. Also Thiago but people dont really give him the credit. I know he was up for POTY what not, but gets alot of critiscm when the last few years he has been borderline world class. Maybe thats a bit OTT? but i do rate him and we just need to find someone to slot in around him, depending on the system. 

paulie8290 said:

Interesting question I just saw raised on twitter.

Laporte is halfway to his 5 year eligibility and France seem to have no intention of playing him.

If after the 5 years is up and France still havent used him so he is eligible and wants to play would you call him up

Probably if he is playing regular for City, definitely better than we have currently. Although quite a while away still.. 

I saw something the other day about Arteta who was going to as he got British/ Citizenship and he felt alot for our country, now that would have been interesting. Why not, if they are good enough and add something. 

Needs more defenders.