Robson 07

Direct passes are more vertical by nature. This would be useful for counter attacks. Tempo is about speed of decision & action. Low tempo equates to meaning more touches i.e. dwelling on the ball. High tempo is the opposite and it helps make you press-resistant. Although a low tempo invites in the press (something you may want but it is dangerous), it will slow transitions.

One of my favourite roles in a 4411 is the Poacher. Because the wide players start deeper, and you have a single striker, I found it important to use a role that keeps him central and focused on goalscoring. The team then build around creating for a definitive no.9. It tends to be a fairly secure formation too and so can win steadily if you get that striker firing consistently.

Player Of The Tournament: Nico Williams Looked a dangerous player, constantly. Most Disappointing Team: Belgium This may come a tournament too late as that golden generation had already begun dropping away. Even so, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Tielemans, Doku, Onana, Courtois, Trossard...come on. Surprise Package/Over Achievers: Austria Where did that football come from. Looked nice. Best Individual Team Performance: Spain vs Germany The Germans were dangerous. Taking them down, as the host nation, was an indicator of champions. Match Of The Tournament: England 2-1 Netherlands (SF) Maybe some bias but I loved it. Goal Of The Tournament: Arda Guler (Tur vs Geo) Was given time admittedly but it was a peach.

Lots and lots of plaudits and I'm a big fan! Shamefully but less trophies.

Commendable. Love players playing through knocks. But equally crap from Southgate; Kane was sh*te. Imagine playing with 10.25 players from kickoff. Or 9.5 if Trent and Gallagher were also starting.

Look at reasons why we may have done better, not at what perpetuates England failing to win a tournament.

In which case, Southgate's inability to see this and control over it, simply gets worse. Horrendous if true.

He was fit. What's this mysterious injury?

Why is he being paid over £5M a year? Get to the finals and show people why you earn that money. He's proved before now that the Daily Mail doesn't pick the team but there are also reasons to look for in why we haven't won the Euros. Kane being undroppable is a massive reason.

Agree mostly. I think winning and losing in competitive sport is often in the margins, Centre forward is pivotal, no one can deny that. England played with an ineffective striker all tournament. They just did, Go figure how important that is.

Trent is Emperor's clothes, all day long.

Was he? Looked like regulation Kane to me. Same as. Either way, should have been passed over at this tournament, it's Southgate's legacy glaring error.

Except he's not. Proven bad defender and midfielder. Knocking a long pass is alone not a good player.

Trent is Liverpool and Sky hype.

Kane clearly picked on reputation alone. It's so easily done/overlooked. Has been brilliant, but emphasis in has been. Actually will probably do well again for Bayern over a season with such a dominant team. But does not have the legs/stamina/pace to add on an England schedule on top. He's not there physically. Not his fault, it's just time/age/sharpness, it does not live at elite level forever across 60-games seasons at that age. He's done for Engalnd (unless we play Malta or San Marino qualifiers) but Southgate did not have the balls for the biggest of big decisions,

Kane. Waste. Of. Time.

Managerial blind spots no.1 - legendary past it players. Example - Harry Kane. Great forward and finisher but lacking recent tournament form and coming off a heavy season. He offers zero movement. and a reduction in shape by dropping deep that he cannot replace as he's simply not fit or fast enough to spear the oppo defence. Has become a poacher (aka a dinosaur) in modern football very much akin to Cristiano Ronaldo and is most useful to team that generate tap-ins. A flat-track bully perhaps. A complete blind spot to Southgate for two consecutive tournaments and a campaign killer at the tip of a squad better than Spain's. The best signing Man Utd never made.

What are England supposed to do? Ref, ref it wasn't a foul and actually Saka said it brushed his hand. No, the officials officiate. We stick away the penalty. End of. Twitter can do one. {er please note, this is trademark non-quotable if Man Utd are ever robbed by VAR}

We played well all game but particularly 1st half when Foden, Saka and Mainoo were sensational. Clinical finish from Ollie. Pleased for Southgate, he just seems to be a genuine nice guy. He may not be a tactical genius but he creates a good camp and the results have been tremendous tbf. Who came before, Capello and Allardyce? Christ, it is a millions mile from that sh*te to be fair. Feeling proud.

auf wiedersehen, pet

Although not without a couple of qualities he's not really a miss; not particularly special at passing; and should honestly be considered as highly doubtful in his ability to have made England look better at this tournament.

Astonishing post that is.

You know where it's at @_Ben_, that's more like it. For some reason I want to say you were once Padova maybe 15 years or so ago? Maybe the mind plays tricks, and I got that all wrong? Of course one of my all time favourites is Pescara, and what is not to like? Put a dolphin on your badge and you're already winning in life. Good luck buddy. I still look at your threads from time to time - not as much as I should - and they're every bit as good as they always were. Better in fact. A LEGENDARY FM'er and storyteller. Take care, man. (from England Away or EA, as the artist was formerly known on The Dugout )

There's certainly no such role at FIFA.

We'd be unstoppable if Pep hadn't messed up Kalvin Phillips but Gareth is managing now to tactically steer around this huge problem.