The England Thread

[Marty]

Don't get me wrong I think he is decent but he is a defensive midfielder and not the sort of player that can control a game - at least I haven't seen him do it regularly. It's who you guys have playing next to him that is the real concern though, can a right back be the best midfield option beside Rice? Surely that's not the case.

The best solution IMO is to play Bellingham deeper with Rice and a creative number 10 in front of them. It's just hard to see Southgate doing that so the likely option probably is one from a right back, an 18 year old or Conor Gallagher. Neither option fills me with confidence.

 

[McFlash]

Don't get me wrong I think he is decent but he is a defensive midfielder and not the sort of player that can control a game - at least I haven't seen him do it regularly. It's who you guys have playing next to him that is the real concern though, can a right back be the best midfield option beside Rice? Surely that's not the case.

It's not who I'd pick to partner him tbh honest but then, TAA is a weird one.
He's possibly better in midfield than he is at RB because his attacking skillset is better than his defensive one.

I don't think a midfield three of Rice sitting, TAA on the right and Bellingham on the left is too bad tbh, the more I think about it.
Give Bellingham the freedom to get into the box and TAA spreading balls about like a quarterback.
Then a front three of Foden, Kane and Saka.

I'd much rather have that the the two defensive mids like Rice and Henderson that Southgate usually goes with.

 

[spursville]

I know he's a West Ham and Arsenal player but sod that, he's been a top five CM in the world this season. He isn't Rodri, nobody is, but I can't think of many others who are better.

Not sure he can control games à la Modric or Xavi for example which is what England needs. The last time we were in a final in 2021 we were dominated by Jorjinho & co (and having 5 at the back didn't help us either).

 

[ItsBoris]

Don't get me wrong I think he is decent but he is a defensive midfielder and not the sort of player that can control a game - at least I haven't seen him do it regularly. It's who you guys have playing next to him that is the real concern though, can a right back be the best midfield option beside Rice? Surely that's not the case.

I wouldn't say right back is his best position anymore though. His skillset is more suited for a midfield role.

But anyway that's why we're talking about Mainoo or Gallagher in midfield - I think that gives the best balance with Rice and Bellingham

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

I wouldn't say right back is his best position anymore though. His skillset is more suited for a midfield role.

But anyway that's why we're talking about Mainoo or Gallagher in midfield - I think that gives the best balance with Rice and Bellingham

For my money - Bellingham paired with Rice is England's best CM2 - with Maddison or similar playing behind Kane.

I think Bellingham can be disciplined to stay a little deeper agains th the strong, teams, but against weaker competition, or just when you need a goal - push him forward and you have so many attacking options that defenders will struggle to pick them all up.

 

[RuskyM]

"It was described by sources as having begun when Holland asked Kyle Walker a question relating to Manchester City’s performance in the previous season.

When he asked the same of White relating to Arsenal, the 26-year-old said that he did not know the answer. It is claimed Holland responded by saying that was because White was not sufficiently interested in football. It was that moment that ultimately led to the player asking to come home on Nov 30."

...that's it? That's all it was?

Just as a reminder, this is how Arsenal replied.



What a ****.

Nah my head's fully gone at this. There's people saying "well I'd be mad too if Maguire was in front of me". If this is how he reacts to a benign snarky comment, can you imagine how he'd have reacted to the abuse Maguire's got over the past few years? And plus, how is throwing a paddy and deciding to walk out a mark in his favour?

He's the worst man alive. I am absolutely convinced of this.

 

[ItsBoris]

For my money - Bellingham paired with Rice is England's best CM2 - with Maddison or similar playing behind Kane.

I think Bellingham can be disciplined to stay a little deeper agains th the strong, teams, but against weaker competition, or just when you need a goal - push him forward and you have so many attacking options that defenders will struggle to pick them all up.

After 3 months of the season I would have said the same, but lately Maddison just hasn't been good enough. I think there's a lot to be gained from either TAA's creativity and passing ability in midfield, or Gallagher's energy and box to box ability, or Mainoo obviously. For me those 3 are ahead of Maddison right now. Can always bring on more attack minded players later in the game but any of those 3 players would allow greater midfield control imo. And then front 3 of Foden Kane Saka

 

[IfiHadTheWings]

One good game and he's suddenly in a squad? I don't buy it. I'm guessing all his other effective appearances together had more of an impact than just one match. Hopefully Southgate will admit he made a mistake initially and has now corrected his error.

He looks the part.

plays way above an 18 year old and i'd say should be integrated in to the senior set up.

 

[ghjk_91]

He looks the part.

plays way above an 18 year old and i'd say should be integrated in to the senior set up.

Agreed, some players just seem to have 'it' and he looks like one of them to me.

 

[Styopa]

I think Southgate did tremendously well to turn the culture around at the time, but England still tend to exit a tournament when they meet a decent team.

The 2018 WC and 2021 Euros were great in terms of everyone being really excited and England getting beyond the quarters. But I think if we’re being honest you would expect England under normal circumstances to win most of the matches they won on the way to the semi and final in those tournaments - Colombia, Sweden, Ukraine, Denmark.

Germany stands out as being the one special result even though they were not the Germany of the past.

Then England have also lost two of their three knock out rounds to teams who haven’t won the tournaments- Croatia and France.

It would be good to see England start beating the likes of France, Brazil, Italy etc in these big knock out games and not just the matches everyone expects England to win.

 

[Westmorlandspur]

Yeah, I don't particularly like Rice but it can't be said that he's not a very good player. He's improved in his time at Arsenal too, adding goals to his defensive work.

On another note, the thing that's really pissing me off with Southgate, well, apart from his overly defensive style is that he seems scared of playing youngsters.
I'm sure I remember being quite impressed with him at first, because coming from the U21 set up, he was eager to give them a chance in the first team.
Whether it's the usual pressure on an England manager that's got to him, he now seems almost fearful of playing too many young players at once.

So instead of playing to our current strengths by choosing a youthful, vibrant and attacking team, he seems obliged to balance any youngsters out by picking the likes of Maguire and Henderson.
Experienced heads who calmly slow the game down, when we should be focusing on giving the youngsters a chance to show what they can do.
Give the likes of Foden, Bellingham, Mainoo etc the chance to play freely.

He's not the brave manager he once appeared to be.

You don’t win these tournaments by playing attacking football with a bunch of young players. Spain won the World Cup in 2010. They were the best international team since Brazil 1970. Lost first game 1-0, won the rest 1-0. Our defence cannot be relied on, therefore I am sure he will play a defensive player with Rice.

 

[Mr Pink]

Team is simple for me:

Pickford

Walker
Stones
Maguire
Shaw/Chilwell

Rice
Bellingham
Maddison

Saka
Kane
Foden

I mean thats s hell of a team, with a tonne of quality that will be on the bench.

If Henderson is in the squad let a lone the team its utterly ridiculous.

 

[VoteMe4Prez]

More joke friendlies to play. Really hate international weeks, especially when they're just for friendlies. Want the bloody Premier League back

 

[easley91]

More joke friendlies to play. Really hate international weeks, especially when they're just for friendlies. Want the bloody Premier League back

These are a chance for players to stake their claim for the Euros. So joke to you, but important for managers and players heading into the summer.

 

[Japhet]

"It was described by sources as having begun when Holland asked Kyle Walker a question relating to Manchester City’s performance in the previous season.

When he asked the same of White relating to Arsenal, the 26-year-old said that he did not know the answer. It is claimed Holland responded by saying that was because White was not sufficiently interested in football. It was that moment that ultimately led to the player asking to come home on Nov 30."

...that's it? That's all it was?

Just as a reminder, this is how Arsenal replied.



What a ****.

Nah my head's fully gone at this. There's people saying "well I'd be mad too if Maguire was in front of me". If this is how he reacts to a benign snarky comment, can you imagine how he'd have reacted to the abuse Maguire's got over the past few years? And plus, how is throwing a paddy and deciding to walk out a mark in his favour?

He's the worst man alive. I am absolutely convinced of this.

Seems pretty obvious to me that he's not that interested in football if he doesn't want to play for his country. Gives him more time to spend constructively under the sun lamp I guess.

 

[FrankSpencer]

Team is simple for me:

Pickford

Walker
Stones
Maguire
Shaw/Chilwell

Rice
Bellingham
Maddison

Saka
Kane
Foden

I mean thats s hell of a team, with a tonne of quality that will be on the bench.

If Henderson is in the squad let a lone the team its utterly ridiculous.

If we can’t out score teams with that front 6, Southgate needs to be binned off. I just have a feeling he wants Bellingham in the 10 role, so Maddison will be benched for Gallagher I would imagine.

 

[allatsea]

Team is simple for me:

Pickford

Walker
Stones
Maguire
Shaw/Chilwell

Rice
Bellingham
Maddison

Saka
Kane
Foden

I mean thats s hell of a team, with a tonne of quality that will be on the bench.

If Henderson is in the squad let a lone the team its utterly ridiculous.

Maddison unfortunately does not deserve to be playing for England. Needs to concentrate on his recovery in form before he should be considered again for the England team.

 

[easley91]

Maddison unfortunately does not deserve to be playing for England. Needs to concentrate on his recovery in form before he should be considered again for the England team.

Maybe a good game for England will help his form?

 

[Mr Pink]

Maddison unfortunately does not deserve to be playing for England. Needs to concentrate on his recovery in form before he should be considered again for the England team.

Think he's more than enough time to prove himself before the season ends, ten games to go.

 

[PCozzie]

Guess fucking what? Who wants to bet me one shiny pound he starts against City having had a nice week's rest?