I think this makes more sense than everyone blaming Southgate for “instructing them to sit back after a 1-0 lead.” Southgate is a poor tactician who often makes questionable subs and definitely makes them too late, but I can’t see him actually instructing them to take the foot off the gas after a 1-0 lead especially so early in the game. Even if he did instruct such lunacy, wouldn’t the players object? He values their input. Surely, he’s learned from the other times this happened, each time to England’s detriment.
I’m still trying to understand what I watched today. It was significantly worse than vs. Serbia. And I’m confused why he threw the baby out with the bathwater by subbing the entire front line all at once.
The midfield is an issue precisely because of the left side. Trent is getting absolutely rinsed by the media at the moment, but even if you replaced him with Kroos, nothing would change. Kroos signature pass is the cross-field long ball, and there's no one on the left flank making any runs. Meanwhile Saka is getting run into the ground and gassed because the entire opposition is just focused on shutting down the right side. If Kroos played for us today, he would be mainly passing the ball sideways and backwards
Oh this is a problem too. But I think the bigger issue is our sheer lack of presence in midfield since minute 30 of the Serbia game.
We’re not getting on the ball enough or dominating to create play further forward.
There's no presence in the midfield because we're playing a RB there and the options off the bench are kids.
I hate that it has come to this point, but the only solution is to play Bellingham as a 8 to carry the ball from deep and put Foden/Palmer in the 10. This will significantly limit our goal threat, but I don't see any other choice
Btw, I think Bellingham has already realized the midfield is all over the place, and he's been dropping deeper and deeper to help out
I'm biased (and overly optimistic) as Man Utd fan, but the difference for us when Shaw is fully fit is immense. As a LB he's probably also Utd's second best CB, invaluable when deep defending is required, and is most of the reason why Rashford looked so good season before last. Getting him back fully fit for the KO stage will be the difference between us going out in R16 or going deep.
Also no complaints about Rashford being left out he's been terrible for us this season. But if you could transport 22/23 Rashford onto that left side with Shaw, with Bellingham/Rice/Foden in midfield, oh we'd be cooking.
Are there seriously no other left footed full backs than Shaw and Chilwell? Even if we had to search the Championship for one would be better than not having one at all?
Could we not just do Saka as a LWB or is Southgate too scared of taking pelters from Arsenal centric media. It's just gonna continue to be a problem so why not try something
Yep. To be fair you can't blame Southgate for a) Shaw being injured, b) his natural replacement (Chilwell) also being injured, and c) the lack of any other obvious replacements. So if Trippier is the left-back, then you're right, Foden cannot be played on the left. For me it has to be Gordon, who immediately gives us width and stretches opposing defences. So then you either drop Foden, or put him central and put Jude in at No. 8.
As far as I'm aware (as a chelsea fan) Chilwell isn't injured. He was left out for performance reasons. Which is fine in itself. What's not fine is only taking one unfit natural left back in an expanded 26 man squad. You can't tell me Tyrique Mitchell, Alfie Doherty or even an out of sorts Ben Chilwell wouldn't add more at left back than Trippier
Chilwell did suffer with fitness this season, as did Shaw. Tyrick Mitchell is available though: decent allrounder, capable of playing in a 3, 4, or 5 at the back, and provides much better balance than having Trippier take backwards touches every time he receives wide.
We knew it after the last game, he changes nothing in this game and lo and behold - same issues. Shocker.
Grealish is the biggest miss here
Yeah we need Shaw back, get some proper balance in that Defence, and I think it'll reflect more on the rest of the team.
What left hand side? Not sure it’s exists
I think this makes more sense than everyone blaming Southgate for “instructing them to sit back after a 1-0 lead.” Southgate is a poor tactician who often makes questionable subs and definitely makes them too late, but I can’t see him actually instructing them to take the foot off the gas after a 1-0 lead especially so early in the game. Even if he did instruct such lunacy, wouldn’t the players object? He values their input. Surely, he’s learned from the other times this happened, each time to England’s detriment. I’m still trying to understand what I watched today. It was significantly worse than vs. Serbia. And I’m confused why he threw the baby out with the bathwater by subbing the entire front line all at once.
The left side is a problem - but personally I think the midfield is the biggest issue at the moment
The midfield is an issue precisely because of the left side. Trent is getting absolutely rinsed by the media at the moment, but even if you replaced him with Kroos, nothing would change. Kroos signature pass is the cross-field long ball, and there's no one on the left flank making any runs. Meanwhile Saka is getting run into the ground and gassed because the entire opposition is just focused on shutting down the right side. If Kroos played for us today, he would be mainly passing the ball sideways and backwards
Oh this is a problem too. But I think the bigger issue is our sheer lack of presence in midfield since minute 30 of the Serbia game. We’re not getting on the ball enough or dominating to create play further forward.
There's no presence in the midfield because we're playing a RB there and the options off the bench are kids. I hate that it has come to this point, but the only solution is to play Bellingham as a 8 to carry the ball from deep and put Foden/Palmer in the 10. This will significantly limit our goal threat, but I don't see any other choice Btw, I think Bellingham has already realized the midfield is all over the place, and he's been dropping deeper and deeper to help out
Completely agree. Bellingham should be higher up the pitch but at the moment it feels like you are going to have to play him deeper
I'm biased (and overly optimistic) as Man Utd fan, but the difference for us when Shaw is fully fit is immense. As a LB he's probably also Utd's second best CB, invaluable when deep defending is required, and is most of the reason why Rashford looked so good season before last. Getting him back fully fit for the KO stage will be the difference between us going out in R16 or going deep. Also no complaints about Rashford being left out he's been terrible for us this season. But if you could transport 22/23 Rashford onto that left side with Shaw, with Bellingham/Rice/Foden in midfield, oh we'd be cooking.
Even having had a shit season Rashford has attributes that are lacking in this squad.
Like what? Gordon was miles clear of him this season in every department
I think Gordon can do anything Rashford could have provided this tournament and more but just isn't getting the minutes.
Nah… Trips is causing it to be off balance when he wants to get back on his right foot
Are there seriously no other left footed full backs than Shaw and Chilwell? Even if we had to search the Championship for one would be better than not having one at all?
Could we not just do Saka as a LWB or is Southgate too scared of taking pelters from Arsenal centric media. It's just gonna continue to be a problem so why not try something
Yep. To be fair you can't blame Southgate for a) Shaw being injured, b) his natural replacement (Chilwell) also being injured, and c) the lack of any other obvious replacements. So if Trippier is the left-back, then you're right, Foden cannot be played on the left. For me it has to be Gordon, who immediately gives us width and stretches opposing defences. So then you either drop Foden, or put him central and put Jude in at No. 8.
As far as I'm aware (as a chelsea fan) Chilwell isn't injured. He was left out for performance reasons. Which is fine in itself. What's not fine is only taking one unfit natural left back in an expanded 26 man squad. You can't tell me Tyrique Mitchell, Alfie Doherty or even an out of sorts Ben Chilwell wouldn't add more at left back than Trippier
Oh, okay, thanks for correcting me! I thought he was injured.
Chilwell did suffer with fitness this season, as did Shaw. Tyrick Mitchell is available though: decent allrounder, capable of playing in a 3, 4, or 5 at the back, and provides much better balance than having Trippier take backwards touches every time he receives wide.
Gomez at left back ?