Bigwig

At least we should have completely new fullbacks for the next tournament.

I remember when left wing was our biggest problem area because we didn’t have any options there. Now we have loads but don’t want to use any of them.

It’s all City’s fault for ruining Phillips.

We don’t seem to have any playing style or identity. At best I could say we play to stifle the opposition, but I can’t say whether that’s down to the (relatively) weaker opposition. I don’t really see what we’re working on in training. We’re not a high pressing side, we don’t tiki-take, we’re not possession based or counter attacking, we’re just kinda there. It’s like we’re just expecting players to bring their club style into the national side which doesn’t really work when they have different approaches, such as Pickford going long when others want it short.

I had us down to win 2-0 on the Super Six. Not sure what I was thinking.

Subs Gareth. Subs.

Still topping the group. Trust the process.

I think it will be Howe next.

Euro 2020 was the one that annoyed me the most as it was probably the first tournament since Euro 96 that I thought we genuinely could have won it. The stars seemed to align with the bigger teams dropping out and we were favourites for the final but then did what Southgate does. I thought he should have went after that and could have left with his head held high, but we’re somehow still here four years later with the same mistakes being made over and over. The worst thing is he’s nailed in to get a knighthood for services towards trying your best at the end of his stint because we love being the plucky runner-up for some bizarre reason.

I’m not buying the rhetoric that this is what happens when you pick players based on form. This is what happens when you ignore players in form for the majority of the build-up then throw them in last minute for some reason. Take someone like Gordon as an example. He’s been excellent all season but was constantly ignored while the likes of Rashford gets picked despite struggling, then just before the tournament in March Gordon gets his first cap. The guy could have been integrated into the side well before now but for whatever reason Southgate decided to do a massive u-turn right before the tournament. Could also use other examples like Guehi, Palmer or others who probably should have been getting more game time long before now.

Kinda think Southgate’s happy with this. Stay as it is and go into the last game top of the group with it in our hands.

Passing is so bad.

Foden’s had a couple of ‘almost’ moments. Just needs one of them to come off and people will be praising him.

Have you never watched Southgate’s England team before?

He’s just a poundshop Mark Noble.

Looked such a nothing game beforehand but probably the best game so far.

Ha the snickometer. When did that start?

But it’s his trademark finish.

Do the groups go on head—to-head or GD? Think if we beat Denmark we’ve pretty much won the group and can use the last game to give a bit game time to those who need it.

We look imbalanced, particularly down the left. I thought Trippier had a good game defensively but offers nothing going forward on the left. Few times overlapped but it was just pointless other than taking someone with him. We discussed Foden not long ago and people seemed to agree we would be better with someone more comfortable there so it’s surprising to see so many people saying we have to fit him in there. This is his third tournament now and we’re still waiting for him to click. Hopefully happens soon.

Think we look better playing on the counter. Build up play is pretty bad.

We’re still winning. These games always goes one of two ways, we hold on (or score in the break) and Gareth is great or we concede and he’s a fraud.

McCoist saying it’s a good tackle at first.

Nah we’d just cram them all in then scratch our heads when the side isn’t balanced.