i’m going to get slated for this probably, but those options on the left are why I would have taken Rashford. He’s the one player I would have made an exception for when picking players on form.
Yes, he had a poor season last season, but a front three of Rashford, Kane and Saka has potential golden boots in each of those positions.
And when Kane drops back - which he always will - Rashford can lead the front line with saka linking with him.
Also, in that central names you missed Bellingham.
So without Rashford, I can see foden moved to the left Bellingham playing the role he did at times for Real, and Rice & Trent playing in the 2 Defensive Midfield with John Stones stepping up from defence to suppliment/compensate Trent’s defensive frailties and free him up to play a quarterback role.
A rotating midfield three of Trent/rice/Bellingham could play havoc with most teams. Rice and Bellingham can drop to the defensive roles against strong teams with Trent free and higher up with his range of passing.
Against the weaker teams, Trent can do a job defensively while either Bellingham or Rice push forward - as they have both done for their clubs at times.
So you are leaving out Foden and Palmer from your starting team to accommodate Rashford? Surprising.
Bellingham is one of , growing to arguably be, the best player in the world. You have to play him in his best position at centre attacking midfield surely.
I think Southgate sees Gordon as offering a similar profile to Rashford - pace, dribbling, directness off the left as a right footer. I’m not sure I agree, but I wouldn’t take both, and Gordon certainly had a better season. I’m a big fan of Marcus though, and think that if he played for a less dysfunctional club, he’d be a far more consistent player
surely Rashford is responsible for his own performances. Can be a top player but not performed consistently this season.
similarly Grealish is responsible for his omission. Bit too fond of the Gascogne lifestyle. Bit of a kick up the arse maybe just what he needs. His choice how much he wants it now.
I'm quite glad that Sterling, Grealish & Rashford haven't been selected for the Euro's. Both of them saw themselves as regulars under Southgate and he needed to change and mix things up to prove to these players that they need to put in the hard work consistently. They also have age of their side where this isn't their last chance. However, I'm not sure Maguire will come back from this, I think it just depends where he ends up this summer.
My only question mark is why Trent hasn't been selected as a Right Back that he plays week in, week out for Liverpool? Just because he has filled in at Centre-Mid once or twice, doesn't make him an out and out centre midfielder?
My Centre Mid pairing would be Rice and Gallagher. Rice can sit in front of the back 4, break up play, distribute well and change the tempo of the game. Whereas Gallagher is an excellent box-to-box midfielder who'll chase everything, get his foot in and make himself available as another attacking option going forwards. A little bit like Matt Bloomfield in his hayday but much better!
No. If rashford is there, Foden plays behind Kane and rice and Bellingham are the midfield two.
Palmer misses out/is back up for foden.
Attacking Mid is a position Bellingham played for Real Madrid as a stop gap. He did well, is very very good in that position, I don’t think that’s his best position.
I don’t anticipate him playing in that position next year for Real. My preference for foden is behind/roaming around hind Kane in the Att Mid role, linking into the front three. I think he is better at that than Jude- at the moment.
Wharton will end this tournament as the new star of English football. Just selecting him allows Rice and Bellingham to play in their best positions. Foden can get further forward and be allowed to go wherever he likes really (far too much importance is given to "formation" as if footballers just stand still for 90 minutes)
That does rely on our left back to provide attacking width though which is why it's so important that Luke Shaw gets fit.
Losing Maguire is a real blow mind. I don't see who we have to replace the way he's played for England the last 3 tournaments
Walker gets the nod at right back because he is defensively better than TAA. And if stones does what he does for City and pushes forward (releasing one of Rice/bellinging/whoever else is the Def mid two to go forward) Walker tucks in to make a back three out of possession, with the remaining CB and the LB
if Trent plays, he is the midfield wildcard for me.
If Wharton can do it against France in the final, then yes.
Would I bet on him right now on Potential alone? No.
But there’s a lot of football to come and he absolutely could force his way in.
Right now, Rice, Bellingham, Foden, Kane and Saka HAVE to start. I would just fill that last spot (left of the forward) with Rashford who could easily score 5 or 6 in a tournament by himself.
Given the question marks in defence, the priority at left and right back has to be the defensive qualities rather than the getting up the field, so between Walker and TTA (or any of the other options), I would prefer Walker for the serious tests and look to give him a rest where opposition allows. Likewise on the left, Shaw if he gets fit and probably he needs to not be a starter in the group stage but come on for minutes sometime in the second half to build up to the knockout stages. Left and right side further up really can be the specialists that have been selected, they are all good enough, no need to shoehorn Foden into a dedicated left wing role when he is clearly much stronger roving the gap for pockets of space as and when they appear. As for wasting Rice, he is a formidable defensive midfielder and we have a wealth of talent further forward, it would be a waste to not use him for the precise role that we so desperately need to help break up play and protect the back line.
you should let him know, he is labouring under the misapprehension that he is. Personally I think he is right and moreover it is exactly where England need him most.
You get the point. whether it’s the final or before, We have to be able to beat the best teams to get to win the tournament and. France are the biggest threat, but not the only threat.
And yes, we HAVE to be aiming to win. Nothing less.
Yes I have seen the highlights, I am aware that his club team use him for a different purpose. They have Saliba and Gabriel at the back, England don’t.
If that’s the case then TAA goes to RB and walker in the middle.
But as I said before, walker in RB can come inside and be part of a back three to defend against the pacey striker issue as/when the LB or Stones go forward.
We have to be confident in the threat we have is greater than the threat the other teams have. I’m not suggesting we go full John Gorman in our approach but we have to be confident in out scoring anyone we come up against given the attacking and midfield options.
Yes Rice or Bellingham aren’t out and out DM’s but they can sit and do a decent role in that position and then get forward as they have with there clubs with Stones doing what he has done for city, in stepping forward also.
Foden is about the only one I think would have his talent wasted a bit, out on the left But with the announced squad, he is the best option to play there. That and the rashford thing is my hill to die on.
I Hate seeing us adapt everything to stop teams, cos that stops us playing the way we want to.
and nor will you if you don’t look. A basic search on something like ‘what is Declan Rice’s best position’ and you would see that actual journalists have asked the actual player. Here is one such recent untruth https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cd17p0320x2o.amp
Comments
I very much doubt either Eze or Gordon will start in the big games. Great options to have in reserve however.
And very easy to get around with a VPN and a broker.
Hence why bet365 are referred to across the globe as 'The tool of the professional punter.'
Imagine the professional punter might have an account with a professional bank, Standard Chartered amongst one of many good options perhaps?
Eze tears up trees in the group stage. Does Southgate start him then?
'The Freedom Fighter's Bank' I believe is their tag line
i’m going to get slated for this probably, but those options on the left are why I would have taken Rashford. He’s the one player I would have made an exception for when picking players on form.
Yes, he had a poor season last season, but a front three of Rashford, Kane and Saka has potential golden boots in each of those positions.
And when Kane drops back - which he always will - Rashford can lead the front line with saka linking with him.
Also, in that central names you missed Bellingham.
So without Rashford, I can see foden moved to the left Bellingham playing the role he did at times for Real, and Rice & Trent playing in the 2 Defensive Midfield with John Stones stepping up from defence to suppliment/compensate Trent’s defensive frailties and free him up to play a quarterback role.
A rotating midfield three of Trent/rice/Bellingham could play havoc with most teams. Rice and Bellingham can drop to the defensive roles against strong teams with Trent free and higher up with his range of passing.
Against the weaker teams, Trent can do a job defensively while either Bellingham or Rice push forward - as they have both done for their clubs at times.
So you are leaving out Foden and Palmer from your starting team to accommodate Rashford? Surprising.
Bellingham is one of , growing to arguably be, the best player in the world. You have to play him in his best position at centre attacking midfield surely.
I think Southgate sees Gordon as offering a similar profile to Rashford - pace, dribbling, directness off the left as a right footer. I’m not sure I agree, but I wouldn’t take both, and Gordon certainly had a better season. I’m a big fan of Marcus though, and think that if he played for a less dysfunctional club, he’d be a far more consistent player
The question would be who do you drop in his place? He'll be looking for a slot in the squad that Foden , Bellingham & Saka currently hold.....
surely Rashford is responsible for his own performances. Can be a top player but not performed consistently this season.
similarly Grealish is responsible for his omission. Bit too fond of the Gascogne lifestyle. Bit of a kick up the arse maybe just what he needs. His choice how much he wants it now.
I'm quite glad that Sterling, Grealish & Rashford haven't been selected for the Euro's. Both of them saw themselves as regulars under Southgate and he needed to change and mix things up to prove to these players that they need to put in the hard work consistently. They also have age of their side where this isn't their last chance. However, I'm not sure Maguire will come back from this, I think it just depends where he ends up this summer.
My only question mark is why Trent hasn't been selected as a Right Back that he plays week in, week out for Liverpool? Just because he has filled in at Centre-Mid once or twice, doesn't make him an out and out centre midfielder?
My Centre Mid pairing would be Rice and Gallagher. Rice can sit in front of the back 4, break up play, distribute well and change the tempo of the game. Whereas Gallagher is an excellent box-to-box midfielder who'll chase everything, get his foot in and make himself available as another attacking option going forwards. A little bit like Matt Bloomfield in his hayday but much better!
Nothing to stop TAA playing right back of course but surely Walker is by far the better defender in an otherwise fairly weak defence.
Rice is somewhat wasted as a pure DM. Not sure whether Mainoo is ready or whether Wharton can play that role to free Rice up a bit.
Really is an embarrassment of riches going forward.
No. If rashford is there, Foden plays behind Kane and rice and Bellingham are the midfield two.
Palmer misses out/is back up for foden.
Attacking Mid is a position Bellingham played for Real Madrid as a stop gap. He did well, is very very good in that position, I don’t think that’s his best position.
I don’t anticipate him playing in that position next year for Real. My preference for foden is behind/roaming around hind Kane in the Att Mid role, linking into the front three. I think he is better at that than Jude- at the moment.
Wharton will end this tournament as the new star of English football. Just selecting him allows Rice and Bellingham to play in their best positions. Foden can get further forward and be allowed to go wherever he likes really (far too much importance is given to "formation" as if footballers just stand still for 90 minutes)
That does rely on our left back to provide attacking width though which is why it's so important that Luke Shaw gets fit.
Losing Maguire is a real blow mind. I don't see who we have to replace the way he's played for England the last 3 tournaments
Walker gets the nod at right back because he is defensively better than TAA. And if stones does what he does for City and pushes forward (releasing one of Rice/bellinging/whoever else is the Def mid two to go forward) Walker tucks in to make a back three out of possession, with the remaining CB and the LB
if Trent plays, he is the midfield wildcard for me.
If Wharton can do it against France in the final, then yes.
Would I bet on him right now on Potential alone? No.
But there’s a lot of football to come and he absolutely could force his way in.
Right now, Rice, Bellingham, Foden, Kane and Saka HAVE to start. I would just fill that last spot (left of the forward) with Rashford who could easily score 5 or 6 in a tournament by himself.
Presuming we both win our groups, we can't meet France in the final
Given the question marks in defence, the priority at left and right back has to be the defensive qualities rather than the getting up the field, so between Walker and TTA (or any of the other options), I would prefer Walker for the serious tests and look to give him a rest where opposition allows. Likewise on the left, Shaw if he gets fit and probably he needs to not be a starter in the group stage but come on for minutes sometime in the second half to build up to the knockout stages. Left and right side further up really can be the specialists that have been selected, they are all good enough, no need to shoehorn Foden into a dedicated left wing role when he is clearly much stronger roving the gap for pockets of space as and when they appear. As for wasting Rice, he is a formidable defensive midfielder and we have a wealth of talent further forward, it would be a waste to not use him for the precise role that we so desperately need to help break up play and protect the back line.
Rice is not a defensive midfielder
The problem is that we really need Walker as one of the centre backs, particularly when we are up against pacy strikers.
Oh for two Kyle Walkers!
you should let him know, he is labouring under the misapprehension that he is. Personally I think he is right and moreover it is exactly where England need him most.
Obviously haven't watched Arsenal a lot this season?
You get the point. whether it’s the final or before, We have to be able to beat the best teams to get to win the tournament and. France are the biggest threat, but not the only threat.
And yes, we HAVE to be aiming to win. Nothing less.
Yes I have seen the highlights, I am aware that his club team use him for a different purpose. They have Saliba and Gabriel at the back, England don’t.
If that’s the case then TAA goes to RB and walker in the middle.
But as I said before, walker in RB can come inside and be part of a back three to defend against the pacey striker issue as/when the LB or Stones go forward.
We have to be confident in the threat we have is greater than the threat the other teams have. I’m not suggesting we go full John Gorman in our approach but we have to be confident in out scoring anyone we come up against given the attacking and midfield options.
Yes Rice or Bellingham aren’t out and out DM’s but they can sit and do a decent role in that position and then get forward as they have with there clubs with Stones doing what he has done for city, in stepping forward also.
Foden is about the only one I think would have his talent wasted a bit, out on the left But with the announced squad, he is the best option to play there. That and the rashford thing is my hill to die on.
I Hate seeing us adapt everything to stop teams, cos that stops us playing the way we want to.
More of a paddy fielder
I just don't see a grain of truth in Ed's assertions
They are a bit puffed up.
and nor will you if you don’t look. A basic search on something like ‘what is Declan Rice’s best position’ and you would see that actual journalists have asked the actual player. Here is one such recent untruth https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cd17p0320x2o.amp
Mate, there's no point. Evidence and puny facts are worthless against Eric's self-belief.