Euro 2020

[Deleted member 18588]

But where are the defenders for Southgate to select?

I cannot name too many centre-backs as alternatives to Maguire, Mings, Stones etc. Even Gomez seems to be fourth choice at Liverpool and, for whatever reason, his progress has stalled.

The former captain of the U21's , Clarke-Salter, is on loan at Birmingham and looks barely ready for the Championship never mind England.

Full-backs don't seem to be required to defend nowadays, which is possibly a good thing for TAA and Chilwell.

So we have to rely upon the midfield and wide players to provide the cover and protection.

It seems to me that football as a whole is passing through a period where decreasing emphasis is being placed upon defending and, if that is the case, spectators will have to accept that at the highest level there will be less certainty in performance and results.

 

[clubchamp98]

But where are the defenders for Southgate to select?

I cannot name too many centre-backs as alternatives to Maguire, Mings, Stones etc. Even Gomez seems to be fourth choice at Liverpool and, for whatever reason, his progress has stalled.

The former captain of the U21's , Clarke-Salter, is on loan at Birmingham and looks barely ready for the Championship never mind England.

Full-backs don't seem to be required to defend nowadays, which is possibly a good thing for TAA and Chilwell.

So we have to rely upon the midfield and wide players to provide the cover and protection.

It seems to me that football as a whole is passing through a period where decreasing emphasis is being placed upon defending and, if that is the case, spectators will have to accept that at the highest level there will be less certainty in performance and results.

Yes agree TAA defending is not up to scratch .
He would be a better midfielder imo.
Think Gomez is just getting over a broken leg it’s in his head ,once he sorts that he will be fine.
Teams will spot this weakness in wide areas.
We got caught out to often and better opposition will punish us.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Yes agree TAA defending is not up to scratch .
He would be a better midfielder imo.
Think Gomez is just getting over a broken leg it’s in his head ,once he sorts that he will be fine.
Teams will spot this weakness in wide areas.
We got caught out to often and better opposition will punish us.

I am not convinced that this is just a problem for England.

Looking at other nations I see many of the same weaknesses.

As I said it appears to be a change in football fashion and a result of the growth in the use of the "high press" with less reliance upon specialist defenders.

BTW I agree with you on TAA. I think he might be better deployed as a Beckham type midfielder with his passing and crossing ability. He could still provide support to the man behind him.

 

[Papas1982]

We arguably have one of the most potent attacking line ups in Europe at the moment and very dangerous going forward. However we are so lacking a holding midfield player and defensively we look a shambles still compared to the best sides. I fear unless we can solve the issues next years event will be another exercise in what could have been. We are definitely not far off and you wonder how as a defender Southgate can't recognise the issues or solve them

So you start by saying we don’t have a defensive midfielder then ask how Southgate solves it? He can’t pull a player out of nowhere. Atm we have one good cb, the rest are still learning.

For me our defensive issues all stem form a midfield that can’t keep hold of the ball. I’d ask Henderson to play the holding mid role. Imo he has more discipline and ability than Rice who is getting a game simply because he’s the only option. That would also allow us to play two midfielders with more ability on the ball. If we keep hold of it a little more it would help us no end.

Long term I Think there is a choice to be made. If we can’t find a midfield to control the Ball then we need to load the midfield with attacking options and play Bisakka at RB as defensively he is imo ahead of TAA but offers little going forward. I’d like to see Trent given a chance in the middle, but don’t see that being done by Southgate who imo is a cautious manager. Maybe Klopp could do us a favour and try it 😂

 

[Lord Tyrion]

They were saying thanks....... some very specific banners.

Yes, I knew the sentiments behind it. All very moving and real.

 

[clubchamp98]

So you start by saying we don’t have a defensive midfielder then ask how Southgate solves it? He can’t pull a player out of nowhere. Atm we have one good cb, the rest are still learning.

For me our defensive issues all stem form a midfield that can’t keep hold of the ball. I’d ask Henderson to play the holding mid role. Imo he has more discipline and ability than Rice who is getting a game simply because he’s the only option. That would also allow us to play two midfielders with more ability on the ball. If we keep hold of it a little more it would help us no end.

Long term I Think there is a choice to be made. If we can’t find a midfield to control the Ball then we need to load the midfield with attacking options and play Bisakka at RB as defensively he is imo ahead of TAA but offers little going forward. I’d like to see Trent given a chance in the middle, but don’t see that being done by Southgate who imo is a cautious manager. Maybe Klopp could do us a favour and try it 😂

TBF Henderson has played a bit further forward this year for us and has played really well.
But out of them all I agree he is more disciplined and if Southgate told him it’s his shirt he would do a good job.

 

[Papas1982]

TBF Henderson has played a bit further forward this year for us and has played really well.
But out of them all I agree he is more disciplined and if Southgate told him it’s his shirt he would do a good job.

Yeah I've been impressed with him for you. And whilst he can now play a little better further forward. It's still for me in a more direct manner. I don't see receiving the ball in tight spots and playing little give and goes as his main skill set. But like I say, the main thiught process was simply. I think he'd be the best option as a dm.

 

[clubchamp98]

Yeah I've been impressed with him for you. And whilst he can now play a little better further forward. It's still for me in a more direct manner. I don't see receiving the ball in tight spots and playing little give and goes as his main skill set. But like I say, the main thiught process was simply. I think he'd be the best option as a dm.

I agree he’s no spring chicken and he could make the DM holding role his for a couple of years.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Mega win by Scotland over ... erm ... Cyprus.

Anyway - a couple of cracking goals in the three - Christie's opener and Efrem's equalizer.

But what about Efrem's disallowed 'goal' - now if all the ball has to be over the line then it must have been the ball bouncing out of shape when it landed that put 1mm of the ball on the line...

But I'll take the win.

 

[3offTheTee]

Englandmust be pleased with the draw plus Wembley. My mate will be ‘over the moon’ going to Budapest where France and Portugal have a couple of matches.

Did I see that England are favourites!
l

 

[fundy]

Englandmust be pleased with the draw plus Wembley. My mate will be ‘over the moon’ going to Budapest where France and Portugal have a couple of matches.

Did I see that England are favourites!
l

they were always going to be drawn in the group that played at Wembley thats how its been organised (to the point of being a farcical draw where 9 sides knew which group they were in)

tough next game if they win the group!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not sure it's overly rosy for England as they play the runner up in that fascinating group of death. Fancy France to win the group so that means Portugal or Germany (assuming yet to be decided play off winner doesn't throw a spanner into the works). Not sure I'd fancy England beating any of France, Germany and Portugal

 

[ColchesterFC]

Not sure it's overly rosy for England as they play the runner up in that fascinating group of death. Fancy France to win the group so that means Portugal or Germany (assuming yet to be decided play off winner doesn't throw a spanner into the works). Not sure I'd fancy England beating any of France, Germany and Portugal

Are you confident that we'll actually manage to beat Croatia and finish top of our group? And we lost to the Czech Republic away in our group so that's not a given either.

And even the group of death isn't going to be that exciting when the top 2 from each group go through, and 4 of the third placed teams also qualify. All those group matches just to eliminate 8 of the 24 teams and everyone else goes through.

 

[Papas1982]

Are you confident that we'll actually manage to beat Croatia and finish top of our group? And we lost to the Czech Republic away in our group so that's not a given either.

Beat Croatia in the nations cup. Their squad is even older now. Czech were taken care of 5-0 when we were at home. Realistically we should comfortably win the group.

 

[ColchesterFC]

Beat Croatia in the nations cup. Their squad is even older now. Czech were taken care of 5-0 when we were at home. Realistically we should comfortably win the group.

Oh I know that we "should" comfortably win the group, but this is England we're talking about. And with our current defensive options I'm not overly confident.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Oh I know that we "should" comfortably win the group, but this is England we're talking about. And with our current defensive options I'm not overly confident.

I agree that the defence is still a big issue. If Southgate can find something that works and tighten that area then with home support in the group we should be OK. I still don't know if we have what it takes to beat the top sides though.