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Group D: England, Croatia, Scotland, Czech Republic

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The issue with England the other night is exactly what we've seen with Everton managers over the years.

Not being able to change system during a game.

The starting XI was understandable, but it wasn't working and after an hour you have to do more than just replace Foden with Grealish, but have Grealish doing exactly what Foden was doing. It doesn't do anything to disrupt the opposition, they don't have to change their roles.

The change had to be Rice off - and I like Rice, but Phillips is better on the ball as a deep-lying playmaker - and Grealish on, dropping Mount back into midfield, having Grealish central and able to link up with Foden.

Then from there you take Sterling or Foden off if needed for Rashford and/or Sancho, and then if you're going to take Kane off, you do not bring on a player who needs space to run into against a defence which sat deep.

So boring, so negative and safe. But it's a symptom of a poor manager and we all know that's what GS is, even if he's a nice guy.

Managers simply have to be able to and willing to tweak systems during games or you get nowhere.
 
tsubaki said:
TBF I am not sure it is - the problem with the England squad is that it is very much a secondary concern to players and the FA, and has been for years.

Who was the last player to absolutely bust a gut for the England shirt, in the sense of putting in one of their best ever performances? Beckham vs Greece?
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When you look at the Scotland game last week, every single one of their key players played to their own high expectations. Robertson, Tierney, McGinn and McTominay. Then they got performances from players I didn't believe were capable of, Adams, O'Donnell and Dykes. As for Gilmour, I can't praise the teenager highly enough on his first International start.

From England's perspective, only Pickford played well. Some were OK, mainly defensively where we didn't concede much in the way of clear cur chances. But too many were below par. I don't think Harry Kane has played 2 worse games in the last 5 years than the 2 he's played in this tournament.

Scotland were the better team on the night. They played better football and had they a better finisher in their team would probably have won. I don't believe, with the players they have available, that they are capable of performing much better, bt if they can replicate that performance against Croatia they have a chance of qualifying for the next stage.

England, however, are capable of much better. I don't know what is wrong with Kane and his form is worrying, but I don't expect the likes of Mount, Rice and James to put in that level of performance again. A lot depends on Southgate though. His outlook is far too negative and his substitutions against Scotland, both the ones he made and the lack of more, were staggeringly bad. He doesn't need to change much; just replace Shaw with Chilwell at left back, bring in Grealish for Philips in the midfield, and I'd give Sancho the nod ahead of Sterling. That group of 4 behind Kane, Foden, Mount, Grealish and Sancho, could be very fluid and interchangeable, and should be enough to see of the Czechs to qualify as group winners.

But I've just seen the report on Sky News and they're saying he's contemplating going to a back 5. lol
 
BlueToff said:
The issue with England the other night is exactly what we've seen with Everton managers over the years.

Not being able to change system during a game.

The starting XI was understandable, but it wasn't working and after an hour you have to do more than just replace Foden with Grealish, but have Grealish doing exactly what Foden was doing. It doesn't do anything to disrupt the opposition, they don't have to change their roles.

The change had to be Rice off - and I like Rice, but Phillips is better on the ball as a deep-lying playmaker - and Grealish on, dropping Mount back into midfield, having Grealish central and able to link up with Foden.

Then from there you take Sterling or Foden off if needed for Rashford and/or Sancho, and then if you're going to take Kane off, you do not bring on a player who needs space to run into against a defence which sat deep.

So boring, so negative and safe. But it's a symptom of a poor manager and we all know that's what GS is, even if he's a nice guy.

Managers simply have to be able to and willing to tweak systems during games or you get nowhere.
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I'd have done the same but would have taken off Philips rather than rice. Both were poor on the day but I think Rice gives you a bit more defensively which you would need when replacing Philips with Mount.

Reports today are of a back 5, probably with Philips and Rice sat in front. I can see us drawing the game, finishing second in the group and ending up in the top half of the draw. The way things are going that will see us having to play Spain, then France and the winners of Italy/Belgium on the way to the final. lol
 
Paul Rideout said:
why would I do something that has a derogatory effect on the point I’m trying to make? Lol

I’m also not including the Scottish born lads that live in England, nor the English born lads that live in Scotland, nor the migrant populations that would play for their home countries rather than the country they live in - just a pure population based statistic.

As yard stick it’s a relatively fair approximation.
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Err, I didn’t make the post you’re quoting

Has the forum gone a bit wacky @mods ?
 



'Bizarre' to suggest players should be playing based on form and fitness. One of the big problems with England for years has been playing favourites based on their reputation. Kane has stunk the gaffe out for both games and Southgate saying stuff like this just allows for subpar performances.
 
Barnfred 55 said:
I'd have done the same but would have taken off Philips rather than rice. Both were poor on the day but I think Rice gives you a bit more defensively which you would need when replacing Philips with Mount.

Reports today are of a back 5, probably with Philips and Rice sat in front. I can see us drawing the game, finishing second in the group and ending up in the top half of the draw. The way things are going that will see us having to play Spain, then France and the winners of Italy/Belgium on the way to the final. lol
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Only reason I'd have had Phillips over Rice is that he offers more on the ball but it's a toss up.

I think we'll do well to beat the Czechs regardless, they're a very solid team. Huge too.

If it's a back five that's fine, it doesn't mean it has to be defensive. James and Chilwell are both better at playing wing-back than full-back. But then the midfield has to be right.

He really should be able to get more out of this group.
 

Barnfred 55 said:
When you look at the Scotland game last week, every single one of their key players played to their own high expectations. Robertson, Tierney, McGinn and McTominay. Then they got performances from players I didn't believe were capable of, Adams, O'Donnell and Dykes. As for Gilmour, I can't praise the teenager highly enough on his first International start.

From England's perspective, only Pickford played well. Some were OK, mainly defensively where we didn't concede much in the way of clear cur chances. But too many were below par. I don't think Harry Kane has played 2 worse games in the last 5 years than the 2 he's played in this tournament.

Scotland were the better team on the night. They played better football and had they a better finisher in their team would probably have won. I don't believe, with the players they have available, that they are capable of performing much better, bt if they can replicate that performance against Croatia they have a chance of qualifying for the next stage.

England, however, are capable of much better. I don't know what is wrong with Kane and his form is worrying, but I don't expect the likes of Mount, Rice and James to put in that level of performance again. A lot depends on Southgate though. His outlook is far too negative and his substitutions against Scotland, both the ones he made and the lack of more, were staggeringly bad. He doesn't need to change much; just replace Shaw with Chilwell at left back, bring in Grealish for Philips in the midfield, and I'd give Sancho the nod ahead of Sterling. That group of 4 behind Kane, Foden, Mount, Grealish and Sancho, could be very fluid and interchangeable, and should be enough to see of the Czechs to qualify as group winners.

But I've just seen the report on Sky News and they're saying he's contemplating going to a back 5. lol
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Was the worst performance of the Southgate era IMO. Along with defeat away to the Czechs in qualifying. The players looked lethargic and frustrated which is a bit of a worry. I think if one change is needed it’s to remove a bit of the stodge from midfield as you said.
 
Billy Dean said:
Was the worst performance of the Southgate era IMO. Along with defeat away to the Czechs in qualifying. The players looked lethargic and frustrated which is a bit of a worry. I think if one change is needed it’s to remove a bit of the stodge from midfield as you said.
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Think he will bring Maquire back, if fit, straight swap for Mings. Rice or Philips to drop out. Mount Foden Grealish Sterling and Kane.
 

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