TalkSport

Probably not going to have someone like Kane again straight, because it feels football in a way over last 5 years has edged the striker out of the game unless they’re an early physical phenomenon. So Shearer to Owen to Rooney to Kane is a golden stretch in fairness, which will probably distort how we view our strikers. But this season we had an abundance of English strikers that were doing well. Solanke couldn’t make squad despite a strong scoring season, and sort of output other top nations would scream for. As long as can keep a couple of those present in the Prem and in form, it’s fine, even if they’re not at the top end level because the talent will be elsewhere (wide areas/CM).

Think it depends on the role he has with Real Madrid moving forward. Still be a key player, but playing a more disciplined CM role would change the perception around him. Would still be a top class CM, but then that’s in the same category as Declan Rice? He can’t and won’t be playing same role for Real Madrid this coming season, with Vini Jr and Mbappe in attack.

No way we drop off back to pre Southagte levels. If we did, it would be due to being on wrong side of the good ol penalty shootouts. Where with Colombia and Switzerland, we were on right side. Spain in the their last 4 tournaments have been knocked out 3 times by pens and won one, along with getting to nations league finals 2 out of 3. Probably been quite consistent with their level of performances in game over that time, and will be where we are for rest of this decade of the talent pool.

It’s a shame Burn ****ed his back up earlier in season, because I generally think the form he was in, he would’ve got called up to England squad because of the LB situation at the time. Played Tomori / Rico Lewis LB in the games in that international break That one window that was slightly open gone forever now.

Depends in what roles you are asking of them. If it's 2 8s and a 6 behind, and you want Rice as an 8, then yea, sure. If it's more a 10 with a double pivot, one I feel Bellingham can do that anywhere as a double with Rice, but if needs must, Foden is hands down the better option there as the 10. I really don't think people have seen much of Bellingham at Real Madrid apart from the highlight reel of clutch goals.

I thought last two games, Stones was back to his normal self, at worse just below. Could tell first 4 games he was rusty as anything, but he was up for the physical battle against Weghorst and kept him quiet and last night, was largely on it again. The goals conceded, he couldn't do anything about. First one, great first time flick by Carajval which took Shaw out of the play. Meant Guehi had to go to Yamal, Stones then cover Morata run, Walker same for Olmo and Williams is then unmarked. Second goal, played through middle, flicked out wide where first time cross is great as it takes first defender out and attacker gets ahead of Guehi. Looking at both goal, it really is a bit on Saka for it's his man in those moments. He can see the picture for both, and first one just lets Williams go, second one, same for Cucarella. He can't do anything about side being played through middle, but those other bits are on him. Looking at how both halves started are polarising. We start off first half, going straight back to Pickford who kicks long out of play for goal kick. Spain, retain possesion, clip it long one part but with intention to Morata to pick up 2nd ball, and from there go onto keep hold of ball and score.

By nature, of being in a side that's controlling ball, he would get forward and be effective. Like Fabian for Spain, throughout tournament he was in around the box, despite being the deeper CM with Olmo infront.

Bellingham hasn't been playing as a 10 for club though. Effectively been a striker for large part, so it's more playing Kane and Bellingham in that description.

That's just standard Walker at club level there though? Throw it backwards, get the ball under possession to entice opposition out and it's cycled left and right. Nothing wrong IMO throwing that backwards at 1-1, when we had momentum and control of the possession and swing at that point. Edit: There's 15 minutes left, plenty of time. Just we went into our shell as the seconds went by and aimlessly gave it away more.

65:30 the incident, but I was wrong on the build up, it was just simply as a result going long, despite Bellingham pleading to go short

Can’t remember if it was at 1-0 or a scoreline afterwards. Pickford got the ball, could’ve played it short, went long and we immediately lost it (again) and because players had to sprint up, people were all out of position so it was a simple pass through the middle, then inside to Yamal where he made a good save. All from his own doing

The only thing I can think (we won’t ever know till Southgate does an autobiography) for changing his approach, is he was so scared by not having Phillips, he felt he had to set side up with an extra body in the middle to help with control and defensive side, and that meant sacrificing one of the wings. Which was never going to be Saka, so it was the left.

Like we played it against France at World Cup ffs.

Which would be fine if Foden was playing as an actual LW. It wasn’t just pick the names, it was how they were picked and played. That’s all on Southgate rather than crumbling to outside noise. Nothing stopping it being an actual 4-3-3 and Foden quiet LW as it’s not his favourite position, dropped for someone.

We did that in the first half too

Probably can say, only facing France one of the three recent tournaments has helped. Because they will still be the side, to win a tournament, you will need to knock them out. We got to two finals by not needing to face them.

We’re still fine for that IMO. Germany had a chance with home Euros, but their squad isn’t looking the greatest for an upward trend going to 2028. Same for Italy. We’ll be strong favourites for next two tournaments and the side teams will not want to face till at least the final. Spain may be the tricky one if Yamal really breaks out as superstar and Williams takes next step. Having a philosophy that controls games, but then with superstars in final third is a dangerous combination. France replacing Deschamps with a better coach will be same, because alongside Mbappe, they’ve got some serious talent in the wide areas to get their chance in this next cycle.

Just looked, Pope has same amount of caps as Ramsdale / Johnstone / Henderson / Trafford combined Pickford can relax easily.

He’ll be under more scrutiny next cycle, but I like to think with an actual coach that insists on build up play through the lines, he’s capable of it. When he’s told, go long if you feel it’s a risk to go short, he will because that’s his mindset at club level. Slight risk, go long. Options outside him really depends on goalkeeper movement over next season. Ramsdale currently not a regular, best in age group below, is back in the Championship and still raw, then it’s like Johnston/Henderson, who are both at same club so it’s one or the other. Basically, he’s not got a direct competition, Ramsdale was closest in recent times, but last 12 months has pushed him back.

I’ll just never get over Southgate deciding and persisting with, no LW option. Just makes the pitch smaller, and regardless who plays the most advanced centrally out of Bellingham or Foden, they would struggle unless the game was stretched. Hopefully Carlo slaps Bellingham back into the CM role now Mbappe is there, and plays a more disciplined game. Game allowed to evolve for the worse last 12 months, despite the output, because it’s a role that’s not available at international level. Whoever is manager come next games, has some average ‘competitive’ games to try many different things, to gauge what should be the approach for WC campaign. Early on though the main below needs deciding for me: If Foden is playing CM or RW and battling with whoever/Saka If Rice will be deep man, or someone else permanently played there and he’s pushed on to an 8. Long term LB option, Shaw is great, but can’t be relying on him or nothing Long term LW. There’s many different players, experienced, breakout and yet to fully emerge who can take that. Rest should take care of itself regardless of formation (ST, CB pairing, RB). The above for me shapes how we play and control games moving to the WC cycle. If Lee Carsley got the job, could be some wild teams picked based on how he got the u21s playing. Lot more system rather than personnel.

Not quite. First few games he was playing LW, but told to come inside to 10. Then he was played central, but with no runners in final third. When you don’t have a striker who runs beyond to stretch the space, or someone on LW, to stretch the play, there’s only so much someone in the centre can do. No surprise his best game was SF, when he operated closer to right side and linked up with Mainoo / Saka, because it was players moving off the ball and creating options.

Smash our way through nations league beating heavyweights Ireland/Finland/Greece, motivated to stay on till WC26.

Not a case of rating/trusting him, more it was a clear tactical stance by Southgate to concede having nothing on left to have more in the middle/right. Grealish/Rashford would’ve had Eze minutes in the other games, but wouldn’t have been coming on loads. Carajval will never have an easier game at RB. Guy was bad on the ball, but was able to smoke cigars because he had no-one attacking him, just Bellingham on occasions which he must’ve been laughing at.

Watkins pushed them back though in that time we pressed. Nearly made Caravjal concede a one on one when Watkins put him under pressure, but he somehow got himself out of jail. Issue was, when we got the goal, we sat off again, but this time with a gap in midfield, so there was a big disconnect and easy to be played through.

Good job he never went into management. Just leave it down to the players to work it out is why we fail