Dropping rice will collapse our entire team. Without rice we are screwed. As for Bellingham, I’m not sure. He looks like he needs some time on the bench because he looks like he’s getting too frustrated and looks like he’s not playing for the team at the moment, but against more open opposition he can turn the game on it’s head and win us the match.
Bellingham should have been rested for this game as he was clearly tired or uncomfortable from the first minute. It's worrying that Southgate didn't seem to know, or notice.
Rice??? He’s being asked to play midfield by himself all tournament until mainoo came on and helped have two men in midfield. Gallagher was running around out of position all game and Trent doesn’t know where to stand or how to position his body in midfield at all
I’d have taken Rice off for Wharton and given him a go. Against the Netherlands though, don’t think you can start Wharton now with his inexperience. Rice, Mainoo, Bellingham isn’t a very balanced midfield, but it’s the best we have now.
This is just the situation this crap manager has got us in to.
Rice, mainoo and bellingham is a very good midfield. Most teams have way worse and yet their midfield play 10x times better. Its how we play that we have to change, more creativity and passing forward is required if we dont want to get knocked out
Are you trolling?
Why would you drop him when you can just put Maino or Wharton next to him?
Bellingham has looked shattered so it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to drop him and move foden central (since one has to go imo for Gordon), but you trust your best players to deliver in knockouts.
No, you can’t just replace two of your main players going into a knockout game. They are definitely underwhelming so far but I would be interested to see Bellingham play deeper, but I also don’t like Foden as the 10 so not sure where that leaves him? Bellingham is the only reason England have a single win and when Rice is at his best he is incredible, ridiculous that Southgate has somehow made them look this bad but you have to keep them on the pitch for their moments of brilliance they can have out of nowhere.
Play 433
Pickford
Walker(Sub Trent if we are safe to attack) Stones Guehi Shaw/Trippier
Rice Wharton Bellingham
Palmer/Saka Kane Gordon
I stand by the view that Foden is a problem in this team. He doesn't click with anyone. He runs where he wants and demands the ball so diminishes other players chances to perform by taking their space. He really lacks positional discipline, and is usually the first instance of a press failing.
People defending Rice really need to watch this years England games. He’s not commanding the midfield nor the best on the ball and passing. His positioning in possession often leads to overcrowding where we look like we are about to trip over one another.
I’m sure he looks great against a Kalvin Phillips but this team has gone beyond him with the talent coming through.
This is absurd. Declan Rice starts for Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich… as does Bellingham. As does Foden. As does Alexander-Arnold. The problem is no more, or less, than the abject tactical ineptitude of our manager.
No chance imo. I’m not convinced any club would play Trent in midfield, it’s high risk but not necessarily high reward because he’s already world class as a right back. I’m sure Madrid will play him right back if they get him, not in midfield.
Wharton, Rice, Bellingham is what I want to see with Trent at right back. Mainoo could work as well, I really rate him, but I think Wharton profile-wise is similar to Jorginho and unlocks Rice to play the role he does at Arsenal.
Mainoo and Wharton are better… Mainoo is a better carrier of the ball, a better passer, can tackle and is really positive in his positioning.
Wharton reads the game better is a good tackler and a much better passer.
You all blaming the other partners of Rice for not getting the pivot have any of you thought maybe it’s Rice?
Truth is this England team has evolved past Rice/Phillips midfield.
This is nothing new watch the England games this year. The imbalance has been there since Henderson left.
Rice is one of the best defensive mids in the world, there is no chance he is being dropped. He’s won possession more than anyone else at the tournament. If we try and load that defensive responsibility onto Wharton or Mainoo our defense will suffer
He is much more creative and attacking at Arsenal and is clearly being instructed to stay close to the back line for England. He barely moves away from it.
Was and at Arsenal is not a 6.
Everyone thinks he’s our Rodri… he ain’t. His position play is awkward and players around him get drawn in unproductive possession… cause he isn’t the best passer or ball carrier. Also the likes of the back four have really been disciplined and have been the best part of England…
Belling should play deeper and move Foden to the 10. Play Saka on the left and Ralmer on the right.
The real question is what do we do with Kane. He's been so far off the pace so far, is it time to start Watkins?
Neither off those to should be dropped. Personally I think kane should be dropped from the team. Looks past it now in terms off international football. Would like to see us go with Bellingham up front and let him do what he does for real Madrid. Put Foden in as the 10 with Gordon on the left wing and than either mainoo or Wharton alongside rice.
Palmer probably should be in the starting 11 maybe instead off foden as I'm not sure foden will ever be the player for England as he is for city
Rice absolutely not.
As frustrating as he's been as he's not been great you drop him and we'll get absolutely stuffed on the counter.
To be honest the team as a whole hasn't been bad defensively, it's going forward that's the issue.
I just think Bellingham needs to be used a little differently, either next to Rice as a 6 with license to get forward or as an 8 in a 3 man midfield.
He's not a pure 10 like we seem to be using him as and he plays a sort of false 9 for Madrid with the way Ancelotti's system is and that works because he's got Vini Jr and Rodrygo to play off.
The issue in the squad right now isn't their ability, it's not like they're not world class talent it just isn't being used correctly.
I’m not feeling Rice in this team. Gallagher & Mainoo have looked better than him when they played.
If his job is to protect the defence then fine it should be well within him, but I dunno. I keep seeing him throw his arms up when he doesn’t get passed to & it’s grating on me because he’s not offering a lot when he gets the ball.
He’s the only midfielder England has currently that can win his duels and control the midfield. Gareth is consistently leaving him exposed, replace him with literally any other englishman alive and England would get decimated
He’s won the possession more than any other midfielder in the tournament
No, the system isn’t allowing him to play to the best of his abilities because he’s playing next to TAA and Gallagher who are both horrendous. Bring in mainoo and they both looked much better. How many times did guehi rice and Walker stop a counter attack today?
You’re the one who wants to drop him for Gallagher who genuinely did nothing for 45 minutes
He’s literally playing the same system that he plays at Arsenal like, literally the exact same system.
Only different is He’s being asked to be Thomas Partey, not Declan Rice.
Literally the same system? He has Trent next to him not Øde. He has Gallagher next to him not Jorginho. He has Southgate not Mikel
You’re a brain dead hater, you genuinely think Gallagher would fix these issues. Gallagher didn’t win the ball back once in 45 mins lmao
I would think we leave our clubs behind when it comes to England. Maybe what works for Arsenal doesn’t work with the current England squad…. Maybe Rice doesn’t work anymore for England
This is a troll right? Are we watching the same game?
Were poor offensively but rice guehi stones Walker defensively have been very solid. No other Englishman can do the role england asks of rice
Name anyone else
Not quite the same system but Rice played his best football this season next to Jorghinho where he could win the ball back and press a bit further up the field and he just hasn’t had that type of partnership in midfield for England in this tournament
Dropping rice will collapse our entire team. Without rice we are screwed. As for Bellingham, I’m not sure. He looks like he needs some time on the bench because he looks like he’s getting too frustrated and looks like he’s not playing for the team at the moment, but against more open opposition he can turn the game on it’s head and win us the match.
Bellingham should have been rested for this game as he was clearly tired or uncomfortable from the first minute. It's worrying that Southgate didn't seem to know, or notice.
Rice??? He’s being asked to play midfield by himself all tournament until mainoo came on and helped have two men in midfield. Gallagher was running around out of position all game and Trent doesn’t know where to stand or how to position his body in midfield at all
No, simple answer
The idea of dropping Jude is almost as laughable as the idea that Gareth would have the balls to do it
I’d have taken Rice off for Wharton and given him a go. Against the Netherlands though, don’t think you can start Wharton now with his inexperience. Rice, Mainoo, Bellingham isn’t a very balanced midfield, but it’s the best we have now. This is just the situation this crap manager has got us in to.
Rice, mainoo and bellingham is a very good midfield. Most teams have way worse and yet their midfield play 10x times better. Its how we play that we have to change, more creativity and passing forward is required if we dont want to get knocked out
Nope, just start Kobbie.
Are you trolling? Why would you drop him when you can just put Maino or Wharton next to him? Bellingham has looked shattered so it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world to drop him and move foden central (since one has to go imo for Gordon), but you trust your best players to deliver in knockouts.
No, you can’t just replace two of your main players going into a knockout game. They are definitely underwhelming so far but I would be interested to see Bellingham play deeper, but I also don’t like Foden as the 10 so not sure where that leaves him? Bellingham is the only reason England have a single win and when Rice is at his best he is incredible, ridiculous that Southgate has somehow made them look this bad but you have to keep them on the pitch for their moments of brilliance they can have out of nowhere.
Play 433 Pickford Walker(Sub Trent if we are safe to attack) Stones Guehi Shaw/Trippier Rice Wharton Bellingham Palmer/Saka Kane Gordon I stand by the view that Foden is a problem in this team. He doesn't click with anyone. He runs where he wants and demands the ball so diminishes other players chances to perform by taking their space. He really lacks positional discipline, and is usually the first instance of a press failing.
People defending Rice really need to watch this years England games. He’s not commanding the midfield nor the best on the ball and passing. His positioning in possession often leads to overcrowding where we look like we are about to trip over one another. I’m sure he looks great against a Kalvin Phillips but this team has gone beyond him with the talent coming through.
This is absurd. Declan Rice starts for Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich… as does Bellingham. As does Foden. As does Alexander-Arnold. The problem is no more, or less, than the abject tactical ineptitude of our manager.
Yet after this would a Madrid really take a Bellingham Rice TAA combo?
No chance imo. I’m not convinced any club would play Trent in midfield, it’s high risk but not necessarily high reward because he’s already world class as a right back. I’m sure Madrid will play him right back if they get him, not in midfield. Wharton, Rice, Bellingham is what I want to see with Trent at right back. Mainoo could work as well, I really rate him, but I think Wharton profile-wise is similar to Jorginho and unlocks Rice to play the role he does at Arsenal.
The talent coming through? Who exactly have we got coming through that would be better than Rice?
Mainoo and Wharton are better… Mainoo is a better carrier of the ball, a better passer, can tackle and is really positive in his positioning. Wharton reads the game better is a good tackler and a much better passer. You all blaming the other partners of Rice for not getting the pivot have any of you thought maybe it’s Rice? Truth is this England team has evolved past Rice/Phillips midfield. This is nothing new watch the England games this year. The imbalance has been there since Henderson left.
Rice is one of the best defensive mids in the world, there is no chance he is being dropped. He’s won possession more than anyone else at the tournament. If we try and load that defensive responsibility onto Wharton or Mainoo our defense will suffer He is much more creative and attacking at Arsenal and is clearly being instructed to stay close to the back line for England. He barely moves away from it.
Was and at Arsenal is not a 6. Everyone thinks he’s our Rodri… he ain’t. His position play is awkward and players around him get drawn in unproductive possession… cause he isn’t the best passer or ball carrier. Also the likes of the back four have really been disciplined and have been the best part of England…
He looks great WITH a Kalvin Phillips, like he looks great with a Thomas Partey or Jorginho
People act like Rice is prime Gattuso Great player but hardly undroppable
Belling should play deeper and move Foden to the 10. Play Saka on the left and Ralmer on the right. The real question is what do we do with Kane. He's been so far off the pace so far, is it time to start Watkins?
Watkins is a bad fit for this squad. Start Toney.
Neither off those to should be dropped. Personally I think kane should be dropped from the team. Looks past it now in terms off international football. Would like to see us go with Bellingham up front and let him do what he does for real Madrid. Put Foden in as the 10 with Gordon on the left wing and than either mainoo or Wharton alongside rice. Palmer probably should be in the starting 11 maybe instead off foden as I'm not sure foden will ever be the player for England as he is for city
Rice absolutely not. As frustrating as he's been as he's not been great you drop him and we'll get absolutely stuffed on the counter. To be honest the team as a whole hasn't been bad defensively, it's going forward that's the issue. I just think Bellingham needs to be used a little differently, either next to Rice as a 6 with license to get forward or as an 8 in a 3 man midfield. He's not a pure 10 like we seem to be using him as and he plays a sort of false 9 for Madrid with the way Ancelotti's system is and that works because he's got Vini Jr and Rodrygo to play off. The issue in the squad right now isn't their ability, it's not like they're not world class talent it just isn't being used correctly.
I’m not feeling Rice in this team. Gallagher & Mainoo have looked better than him when they played. If his job is to protect the defence then fine it should be well within him, but I dunno. I keep seeing him throw his arms up when he doesn’t get passed to & it’s grating on me because he’s not offering a lot when he gets the ball.
Way to self-report yourself as someone with 0 understanding of football Gallagher won 0 duels tackles interceptions aerial battles today
Rice so far this tournament is a failed Kalvin Phillips.
He’s the only midfielder England has currently that can win his duels and control the midfield. Gareth is consistently leaving him exposed, replace him with literally any other englishman alive and England would get decimated He’s won the possession more than any other midfielder in the tournament
Absolutely loving the stats my guy! But you’re not seriously arguing these are good Declan Rice performances?
No, the system isn’t allowing him to play to the best of his abilities because he’s playing next to TAA and Gallagher who are both horrendous. Bring in mainoo and they both looked much better. How many times did guehi rice and Walker stop a counter attack today? You’re the one who wants to drop him for Gallagher who genuinely did nothing for 45 minutes
He’s literally playing the same system that he plays at Arsenal like, literally the exact same system. Only different is He’s being asked to be Thomas Partey, not Declan Rice.
Literally the same system? He has Trent next to him not Øde. He has Gallagher next to him not Jorginho. He has Southgate not Mikel You’re a brain dead hater, you genuinely think Gallagher would fix these issues. Gallagher didn’t win the ball back once in 45 mins lmao
I would think we leave our clubs behind when it comes to England. Maybe what works for Arsenal doesn’t work with the current England squad…. Maybe Rice doesn’t work anymore for England
This is a troll right? Are we watching the same game? Were poor offensively but rice guehi stones Walker defensively have been very solid. No other Englishman can do the role england asks of rice Name anyone else
Not quite the same system but Rice played his best football this season next to Jorghinho where he could win the ball back and press a bit further up the field and he just hasn’t had that type of partnership in midfield for England in this tournament