Impressed with Spain's coach also. He prepared his team very well, he knows exactly the players he need to use and reacts during the game.

59 minutes ago, Nibs said:

I would honestly drop Kane. He has been useless - akin to us playing with Jackson only somehow worse!

Maybe Kane is just jinxed and any team with him in the side is never destined to win anything. Great player on his day but we're playing with 10 men currently (despite the tap-in goal).

Actually what England need is somebody like Jackson 😁😁

 

1 hour ago, Nibs said:

I would honestly drop Kane. He has been useless - akin to us playing with Jackson only somehow worse!

Maybe Kane is just jinxed and any team with him in the side is never destined to win anything. Great player on his day but we're playing with 10 men currently (despite the tap-in goal).

Massive difference up front in movement, pressuring defenders etc as soon as Watkins came on. Kane is still an outstanding goal scorer, but if Southgate wants to leave him isolated and expects him to run around then its a complete waste of time.

3 minutes ago, dkw said:

Massive difference up front in movement, pressuring defenders etc as soon as Watkins came on. Kane is still an outstanding goal scorer, but if Southgate wants to leave him isolated and expects him to run around then its a complete waste of time.

England need runner, they have too many player who want to come towards the ball. 

Kane doesn't have the speed to do so. 

Edited June 21, 20242 yr by Bob stark

Couple of the things that surprised me after an initial positive start, the Saka-Walker combination stopped working, I am guessing the Danes doubled up.

Foden was better yesterday yet no thanks to Trippier,  he could not play out simple passes from the back so Foden moved centrally and Trippier moved up on the left.

Foden had three shots by my count all astray.

Another observation last night Watkins pressures the Danes, Kane shuffles over and another England players moves up and the Danes miss thier pass and we get possession, this was late yet you can see how a different formation or personnel could have brought benefits. 

Slovenia is no certainty and if the Serbs win their match it could get very sticky.

 

 

38 minutes ago, strider6004 said:

Couple of the things that surprised me after an initial positive start, the Saka-Walker combination stopped working, I am guessing the Danes doubled up.

Foden was better yesterday yet no thanks to Trippier,  he could not play out simple passes from the back so Foden moved centrally and Trippier moved up on the left.

Foden had three shots by my count all astray.

Another observation last night Watkins pressures the Danes, Kane shuffles over and another England players moves up and the Danes miss thier pass and we get possession, this was late yet you can see how a different formation or personnel could have brought benefits. 

Slovenia is no certainty and if the Serbs win their match it could get very sticky.

 

 

Will Southgate have the balls to drop his skipper and start Watkins or Toney in the next game? Kane shouldn't be skipper anyway - would let Stones or Bellingham take the armband.

Really hope to see Palmer next game and for him to have a blinder. Love Gallagher, but one thing about his game is that when he picks up an early yellow, you really fear a red is going to follow - it's just the way he plays that makes it so likely to happen.

 

28 minutes ago, strider6004 said:

Couple of the things that surprised me after an initial positive start, the Saka-Walker combination stopped working, I am guessing the Danes doubled up.

Foden was better yesterday yet no thanks to Trippier,  he could not play out simple passes from the back so Foden moved centrally and Trippier moved up on the left.

Foden had three shots by my count all astray.

Another observation last night Watkins pressures the Danes, Kane shuffles over and another England players moves up and the Danes miss thier pass and we get possession, this was late yet you can see how a different formation or personnel could have brought benefits. 

Slovenia is no certainty and if the Serbs win their match it could get very sticky.

 

 

Danes doubled up after Walker embarrassed Kristiansen. Good tactics. Tripper offers nothing on the left and now it seems Shaw has had some sort of setback. So either Trippier or Gomez at LB for the duration meaning the left will remain a wasteland. Foden started wide left, on the chalk, obviously under orders. What a waste. His only contributions came when he drifted centrally. Walker-Saka is the only functioning attacking option. The rest is a shambles and will remain so while there is zero control in midfield. 

3 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Will Southgate have the balls to drop his skipper and start Watkins or Toney in the next game? Kane shouldn't be skipper anyway - would let Stones or Bellingham take the armband.

Really hope to see Palmer next game and for him to have a blinder. Love Gallagher, but one thing about his game is that when he picks up an early yellow, you really fear a red is going to follow - it's just the way he plays that makes it so likely to happen.

 

Given his persistence with TAA, it's unlikely unless he has some sort of road to Damascus moment. Watkins offers what Saka does. Running in behind. Toney is only a poor man's Kane.

2 hours ago, Bob stark said:

England need runner, they have too many player who want to come towards the ball. 

Kane doesn't have the speed to do so. 

This too many want ball to feet.

Rice has to go solo in that DM position.  the TAA experiment has not worked.

Which means England can either go with

-----------------Rice

Saka -----Palmer----Bellingham----Foden
-----------Kane/Watkins

OR

-----------------Rice

Saka ------Bellingham----Foden
------Watkins-----Kane

Sounds silly but not sure Frances attack is any good. Mbappe Dembele combo couldn’t do the job for PSG when it counted and not sure they will for France. Griezmann still got it I wonder?  Spain and Germany looking more the go. 

I think France can still find a way.

Griezmann, once I recognised him, did quite well tbh...needs to stop playing with his hair though.

 

imo...my money would be on one of them 3 (France, Spain or Germany) or Portugal.

 

All 4 seemed comfortable and improving (just waiting for the other 2 to play their second games) but yeah, if I was a betting man...

Edited June 21, 20242 yr by Simplymo

BBC pundits saying in the premier league most players play for clubs that press why doesn't England?

If we press Foden might actually win the ball on the left rather than waiting for sporadic service.

Of course they think Harry cannot do that, will Southgate change?

Very public dilemma now and no place to hide for Southgate, his reputation is on the line. 

Reminds me of Bobby Robson manager for England way back when Paul Parker played as a wb. 

France have this great in-form and healthy midfield player. He is like IF Caicedo and Enzo were one player. Amazing player. He is everywhere. He does all the hard work.
 

Spain have looked the best so far, imho, but they could easily choke against a more aggressive team.  Portugal and Germany are solid. Professional.
 

England have the talent, but they just havent started yet. Southgate has to play Palmer and be less cautious. Go for the win.

Have to say, the Southgate memes over the last 24 hours have been superb.

20 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

"We don't have a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips".......this is the level of sh*t we have to deal with. You have abundance of English midfielders that you could have taken and made something out of. If you can't make a midfield out of Rice and one of Gallagher, Mainoo, Loftus-Cheek, Bellingham, Wharlton, Jones, Ward-Prowse then you need to go. There are option there to make an excellent midfield or at least a competent one without resorting to desperation and picking Alexander-Arnold who will perform worse than every single one of them.

I mean, he's not wrong.

People are laughing cause it's Southgate and he mentioned Phillips but his overall point is correct, we don't have a natural DM. 

Granted I don't think the lack of DM is that much of an issue and can be reasonable solved with a 3atb in possession. 

Putting aside the historical inaccuracies of this statement I found this funny.

Those of us who are of a certain age will remember the original lines in this sketch.

Looking forward to seeing Netherlands and France tonight.

Saw some of Ukraine and was surprised they turned it around, good goal to win it too.

 

Saka -----Palmer----Bellingham----Foden
-----------------Kane

Or you could play Watkins alongside Kane
 

Declan Rice would be solo and he would have to get a LOT of support from the two CBs
 

Normally this formation would be 'too risky' but this is Tournament Football - and the team is constipated currently

15 hours ago, Bob stark said:

🤑🤑🤑 50m please 

We need the money to sign olise 

Cucu sale won't count towards any profit for the club. Because of the daft PSR rules. 

Yesterday was the most diabolical tournament draw against inferior opponents, since the 1-1 against USA in 2010. Watched that one in a pub with mates- people were throwing beer mats and other items at the screens at full time….

What other top footballing nation ( not that we are) would have a Sam Alladyce is the national coach ?

And just think, Southgate is the only manager for over half a century to get us to a final.

sh*te record 

3 minutes ago, The Rising Sun said:

What other top footballing nation ( not that we are) would have a Sam Alladyce is the national coach ?

And just think, Southgate is the only manager for over half a century to get us to a final.

sh*te record 

I do agree that to some extent our players are over hyped. We didn’t qualify for a tournament from 1970 till 78, despite having a surplus of skilful mavericks. Went to Cologne flogging merchandise World Cup 2006- stayed in “ Camp Englander” by the Rhine. High  hopes. Back home before the postcards

11 minutes ago, Timmy Elms said:

I do agree that to some extent our players are over hyped. We didn’t qualify for a tournament from 1970 till 78, despite having a surplus of skilful mavericks. Went to Cologne flogging merchandise World Cup 2006- stayed in “ Camp Englander” by the Rhine. High  hopes. Back home before the postcards

Everyone forgets that as hosts we didn't need to qualify for 1966

And as the 66 winners we automatically qualified for the 1970 world cup.  ( As the rules were back then ) Then when we  were actually required to qualify we failed to do so until '78 .

You got any merchandise left over ?🤣