Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England

[Billy Dean]

I’m not sure that “No one” actually gave one when Grealish was left out. There was a good argument for his inclusion and a lot of people made it. I genuinely think Guehi is a decent defender and has done nothing wrong so far. A few on here (Blues I presume) have commented on how well he has done. I get that you think Branthwaite should have gone over Guehi, and think him a better player, I rate him highly as well,but I ask you again, what difference would it have made to England performances so far?

I think a lot of hostility to Guehi on here is because of Branthwaite getting left out. He’s been Englands best player this tournament so far imo

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

I’m not sure that “No one” actually gave one when Grealish was left out. There was a good argument for his inclusion and a lot of people made it. I genuinely think Guehi is a decent defender and has done nothing wrong so far. A few on here (Blues I presume) have commented on how well he has done. I get that you think Branthwaite should have gone over Guehi, and think him a better player, I rate him highly as well,but I ask you again, what difference would it have made to England performances so far?

Maybe not much but our entire left hand side is a no play zone at the moment as there are no decent forwards passes coming from Geuhi because he's not left footed, nothing from Tripper because he's not left footed and nothing from Foden because he doesn't want to stay wide or run down the line. Branthewaite is left footed and has genuine quality on the ball. He plays through the lines all the time and is excellent at big diagonal switches to the right. That would make a difference to our ability to retain the ball in my opinion.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

I think a lot of hostility to Guehi on here is because of Branthwaite getting left out. He’s been Englands best player this tournament so far imo

That's hardly a big endorsement.

 

[duncs pigeon]

I disagree with Scholes being in that category but agree with you generally. James McLean was spot on about Rice yesterday too

If Rice was playing for ROI, that d/head would be saying Rice would easily get into the England team. He likes to be controversial.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

If Rice was playing for ROI, that d/head would be saying Rice would easily get into the England team. He likes to be controversial.

Rice is actually bang average though. I've been saying it for years. He's the type of midfielder the English like though which is why we can't pass the ball around.

 

[MikeH72]

If Rice was playing for ROI, that d/head would be saying Rice would easily get into the England team. He likes to be controversial.

Talks a lot for someone who was a Championship and League 1 stalwart and never sniffed a major tournament.

 

[Billy Dean]

If Rice was playing for ROI, that d/head would be saying Rice would easily get into the England team. He likes to be controversial.

Haha yeah maybe but I did agree with what he was saying

 

[Billy Dean]

That's hardly a big endorsement.

Haha yeah it’s a low bar

 

[duncs pigeon]

Rice is actually bang average though. I've been saying it for years. He's the type of midfielder the English like though which is why we can't pass the ball around.

He's not though mate, imo he's a very good player, maybe not 'world class'.

 

[Kurt.]

Does he though? Why do we always get beat by the first decent team we play?

Because england are…. Wait for it…… not a top team. Massively overhyped at every tournament by the media and the players buy into that mentality and believe they have a god given right to win.

 

[MikeH72]

Because england are…. Wait for it…… not a top team. Massively overhyped at every tournament by the media and the players buy into that mentality and believe they have a god given right to win.

It’s because the manager is grossly incompetent tbh.

 

[Kurt.]

The glaring problem at this tournament is Southgate shoehorning Alexander Arnold into the starting 11 and upsetting the balance of the whole team…. It’s as plain as the nose on your face

 

[Papa Shango]

It’s because the manager is grossly incompetent tbh.

Can't it be both?

 

[MikeH72]

Can't it be both?

I suppose it could be yes. But when I look at the quality of players he has at his disposal, what they’ve done for their clubs, compared to how we actually perform and how the team is structured then I’m inclined to believe it’s more on poor management.

Southgate for me is not good enough to manage at any level in the football league. I genuinely rate him that lowly. The concept of a game of football is the same regardless of level, and he has demonstrated to me that he does not understand the fundamentals. If we were a struggling League 1 club looking for a manager I wouldn’t go near him.

 

[Kurt.]

I suppose it could be yes. But when I look at the quality of players he has at his disposal, what they’ve done for their clubs, compared to how we actually perform and how the team is structured then I’m inclined to believe it’s more on poor management.

No doubt Southgate is a part of the problem … but technically teams like Spain, France and Germany are better …. All of the flair has been drained out of that england team.