Southgate about to pick the wrong side - again

Southgate is a very conservative manager.

I fear we will see him start the likes of Sterling and Rashford, both out of form, along with an excess of non creative midfielders.

The likes of Grealish or Foden may only get about 20 minutes to try to make an impact.
 
Mwelolo said:
Southgate is a very conservative manager.

I fear we will see him start the likes of Sterling and Rashford, both out of form, along with an excess of non creative midfielders.

The likes of Grealish or Foden may only get about 20 minutes to try to make an impact.
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Absolutely no chance. Southgate knows one of Foden and Grealish must start. I'd love to see both in a 4-2-3-1 but England will not suddenly start playing that formation.

In a 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 one misses out starting as pace is needed hence Sterling or Rashford.
 
Mwelolo said:
Southgate is a very conservative manager.
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I don't think that's true. He's taken the most radical approach to the job of any England manager in my memory, which goes back to Bobby Robson.

Who has ever been quicker to promote new, young talent to the England first team?

He'll pick the team based on his knowledge of, and trust in, individuals. He won't have gained this knowledge and trust through "reputation": I doubt he's relied on Sky of The Sun for any input at all. He will have gained it through working with said individuals, both over a period of years, and in recent weeks.
 
My predictions

The strength of our team is in attack, Southgate is likely to play 5 defenders and 2 holding midfielders sacrificing a number of our best players to give the likes of Phillips a game to keep it tight while inevitably conceding from individual mistakes which can’t be accounted for.

Sterling to start the first game and run into blind alleys continuously

Stones to drop a clanger

Southgate to wear a light grey waistcoat and brogues combo
 
I think he'll go 3-4-3 for the first match
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Rashford, Sterling, Grealish, Bellingham from the bench... OOF

We've got as good of a squad as I've even seen, if we can avoid France we might have a chance.
 
coluka said:
I’m sure he will stick with experience for the opener its a toughie afterall. Managers get nervous and they mainly rely on the ones they trust rather than be brave. I would have Grealish, Foden and Sterling supporting Kane personally but i worry Sir Gareth will go (assuming Maguire is injured)

……………….Pickford

……… Walker Stones Mings
James…………………………Shaw

Mount……….Rice………..Sterling

……Rashford
…………………Kane



I’d prefer this team, be attacking from the off but with Phillips and Rice to protect the defence and give the ball to Grealish to do his thing

…………………………..Henderson

James……….. Stones…………….White……….Chilwell


……….……Rice………………………..Phillips…………

…………………………Grealish (free role)………………

………Foden……………Kane………….Sterling

CB is where we will eventually come unstuck as we lack quality even if Maguire was fit
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No Mount?
 
I know its not just England that treat the first game as a must not lose but I think in this tournament the first game is almost a free hit, I'd love us to go for it and if we lose so be it, but the reward for a win is you have almost guaranteed qualification with two games to go.
 
Pak_Doo_Ik said:
I know its not just England that treat the first game as a must not lose but I think in this tournament the first game is almost a free hit, I'd love us to go for it and if we lose so be it, but the reward for a win is you have almost guaranteed qualification with two games to go.
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Under this format, you're more likely to get out the group with 3 draws than a win and 2 defeats.
3 draws, your GD is 0. However, with 1 win and 2 defeats, it is more likely to be a negative number.

Portugal drew all 3 group matches last time and won the tournament. I'm not suggesting that's something we should aim for though.
 
Frozen Horse said:
I think I'd like to go on record now as saying, if we should win this tournament, it will be despite Southgate, not because of him.

It will not be because he has consistently given youth a chance over more experienced players during his tenure, thus producing a squad rich in international experience while retaining its youth.
It will not be because he has fostered the best team spirit in the England camp in at least 25 years.
it will not be due to his eloquent but passionate leadership of the England camp.

He will clearly have been the beneficiary of outrageous good fortune; the blunderer who happened to be in the right place at the right time. I know this because he lost a cup match against Cardiff 13 years ago.
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Clever Frozenhorse very clever
 
1
uncle_rico said:
I agree with the OP. Southgate is going to sacrifice a forward player, probably Grealish, because he doesn’t think any of the centre backs he called up are good enough to replace Maguire.

There’s even talk of him playing Walker and Shaw in a back 3 with Stones.

Ben White has been brilliant this last season and played really well vs Romania. He should be starting at CB with Stones.

Team should be this…

……………Pickford

Walker…Stones…White…Shaw

………Rice…Bellingham

Mount……Foden……Grealish

…………….Kane


Any of the fullbacks could play though. I rate them all.
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100% Agree with this 👌
 
Frozen Horse said:
Under this format, you're more likely to get out the group with 3 draws than a win and 2 defeats.
3 draws, your GD is 0. However, with 1 win and 2 defeats, it is more likely to be a negative number.

Portugal drew all 3 group matches last time and won the tournament. I'm not suggesting that's something we should aim for though.
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I GET THAT, but my point was the first game is a free hit, not a must not lose game thanks to potentially qualifying in 3rd place.

If we were positive and lost 3 2 to Croatia I'd be much happier, than if we play defensively a scrape a 0 0 or 1 1.

Obviously we could play defensively and win 1 or 2 - 0, but then that would probably set the tone for the rest of the tournament.

What I'm saying is

ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK!!!!
 
Ex Footy Legs said:
He’ll pay for it too.

the wrong side means playing mount sterling, foden or sancho BEFORE our most creative player Grealish.
Grealish offers England something no other player can offer.
carries the ball with ease and draws fouls in dangerous areas or finds a dangerous pass.
He is the 1 st name of the sheet for me
Sadly, Southgate doesn’t get his value to the 11 and never will
Jude B should also be in there alongside rice as he is the most exciting and mature young player I’ve seen in decades
Wonderful talent
I expect neither will feature from the start which is worrying about Southgate and his abilities (which I’ve always doubted)
Southgate doesn’t really learn and can’t see these gift horses of Grealish and Bellingham

if they don’t feature from the start I predict an early train home
Plus: if he goes with maguire at any point in this tournament it’ll be a huge risk and the equivalent of playing his 4th choice Centre half because he hasn’t played for 4-5 weeks and won’t be match fit when facing the best forwards who will be very sharp

Maguire might as well be sent home with Henderson
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If we win it isn't the wrong side....we win most games, end of
 
Smogonthethames said:
If we finish one of the best placed 3rds, then we would have an easier run to the semi's.
Bonkers groupings
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I'm not really a fan of this new format.
I say that however, if we sneaked into the KO rounds finishing 3rd, I doubt I'd be complaining much.
 
Frozen Horse said:
I don't think that's true. He's taken the most radical approach to the job of any England manager in my memory, which goes back to Bobby Robson.

Who has ever been quicker to promote new, young talent to the England first team?

He'll pick the team based on his knowledge of, and trust in, individuals. He won't have gained this knowledge and trust through "reputation": I doubt he's relied on Sky of The Sun for any input at all. He will have gained it through working with said individuals, both over a period of years, and in recent weeks.
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He has a conservative approach to matches and I think we’ll see that again tomorrow.
 
Nero said:
Absolutely no chance. Southgate knows one of Foden and Grealish must start. I'd love to see both in a 4-2-3-1 but England will not suddenly start playing that formation.

In a 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 one misses out starting as pace is needed hence Sterling or Rashford.
Click to expand...
We’ll see tomorrow
 
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