| Adam Wharton 08:09 - Jun 21 with 5409 views | IPSWICHFANITFC |
He would solve most of Southgate's problems. He has to start in a midfield 3 with Rice and Bellingham. That midfield 3 has so much balance and quality to it as well - all 3 are Champions League quality.
Trent to right back. Gordon in for Foden.
Sacrifice the players who don't fit into the balance of the side otherwise Southgate's problems won't go away with the unbalanced side at the moment. |  |
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| Adam Wharton on 08:21 - Jun 21 with 4495 views | GeoffSentence |
Sam Morsy certainly would.
Unfortunately for Southgate Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee's Egyptian, Portman Road's his kingdom. |  |
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| Adam Wharton on 08:29 - Jun 21 with 4446 views | davblue |
Mainoo for me in Central midfield. I wouldn't drop Walker either at RB. Can see the merit of a Gordon on the left but they've got to get Foden in at 10.
I would have if it's a 2 in Midfield, Bellingham and Rice, if a 3 Mainoo in there with them. |  | | |
| Adam Wharton on 09:02 - Jun 21 with 4314 views | unbelievablue |
Doesn't solve the issue that we're playing a RB at LB though. |  |
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| Adam Wharton on 09:11 - Jun 21 with 4261 views | _clive_baker_ |
The fact we're still 'experimenting' in the absence of a 'natural replacement for Phillips' in Southgate's words at this stage is a bit embarrassing to be honest. He's started once or twice for England in the past what, year? How are we still figuring it out, and what did we learn in our warm up games for these Euros? |  | | |
| Adam Wharton on 09:14 - Jun 21 with 4235 views | MattinLondon |
| Adam Wharton on 09:02 - Jun 21 by unbelievablue |
Doesn't solve the issue that we're playing a RB at LB though. |
Who would have thought that only taking one LB (who was injured) to a major tournament would backfire? |  | | |
| Adam Wharton on 09:16 - Jun 21 with 4227 views | BlueBlood90 |
I wouldn't be against Wharton coming in at all but I would really like to see us try Rice in the no.4, Jude in the no.8 and Foden in the number 10 roles. Jude has the athleticism to be a box to box midfielder and Foden is completely lost out on the wing.
We really lack some attacking width on the left hand side. We are crying out for Gordon to play in my opinion. |  |
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| Adam Wharton on 09:19 - Jun 21 with 4200 views | _clive_baker_ |
| Adam Wharton on 09:16 - Jun 21 by BlueBlood90 |
I wouldn't be against Wharton coming in at all but I would really like to see us try Rice in the no.4, Jude in the no.8 and Foden in the number 10 roles. Jude has the athleticism to be a box to box midfielder and Foden is completely lost out on the wing.
We really lack some attacking width on the left hand side. We are crying out for Gordon to play in my opinion. |
I've said this for ages and I understand the arguments against in that we would lose Bellingham in the #10 but frankly that's OK by me as it would free up Foden in there and to bring some natural width on the left in someone like Gordon.
Plus you then have a central 2 of Rice and Bellingham that starts to look world class with the ability to bring us up the pitch and look after the ball in tight areas. | | | |
| Adam Wharton on 09:20 - Jun 21 with 4192 views | unbelievablue |
| Adam Wharton on 09:16 - Jun 21 by BlueBlood90 |
I wouldn't be against Wharton coming in at all but I would really like to see us try Rice in the no.4, Jude in the no.8 and Foden in the number 10 roles. Jude has the athleticism to be a box to box midfielder and Foden is completely lost out on the wing.
We really lack some attacking width on the left hand side. We are crying out for Gordon to play in my opinion. |
Yes please.
The only caveat here is that Bellingham looks knackered atm. | |
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| Adam Wharton on 09:20 - Jun 21 with 4192 views | BloomBlue |
| Adam Wharton on 09:11 - Jun 21 by _clive_baker_ |
The fact we're still 'experimenting' in the absence of a 'natural replacement for Phillips' in Southgate's words at this stage is a bit embarrassing to be honest. He's started once or twice for England in the past what, year? How are we still figuring it out, and what did we learn in our warm up games for these Euros? |
True but finding a natural defence midfielder who is happy to sit in front of the defence isn't always easy. Look at France, they're still using Kante in that role even though they've had a few years to find his replacement. |  | | |
| Adam Wharton on 09:22 - Jun 21 with 4163 views | wrightsrightglove |
| Adam Wharton on 08:21 - Jun 21 by GeoffSentence |
Sam Morsy certainly would.
Unfortunately for Southgate Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee's Egyptian, Portman Road's his kingdom. |
I was thinking this during the game, Morsy is exactly what England needed and without him in the town team at times we haven’t looked dissimilar to that England performance last night. Someone comfortable taking the ball from defence and distributing it, and someone who breaks up play. It shows how important he is to the way we play and why it’s vital we find a similar replacement for him at some point soon. |  | | |
| Adam Wharton on 09:25 - Jun 21 with 4139 views | woodbridge_blue |
Surely this is quite straightforward....
Rice and Bellingham sitting with licence to break forward in support.
Foden in the 10 role.
Gordon wide left, Saka wide right.
Kane up front with Watkins as a replacement when required.
Round pegs in round holes. | | | |
| Adam Wharton on 09:29 - Jun 21 with 4113 views | _clive_baker_ |
| Adam Wharton on 09:25 - Jun 21 by woodbridge_blue |
Surely this is quite straightforward....
Rice and Bellingham sitting with licence to break forward in support.
Foden in the 10 role.
Gordon wide left, Saka wide right.
Kane up front with Watkins as a replacement when required.
Round pegs in round holes. |
I'm convinced the majority of fans would be onboard with this, but I can't see it from Southgate. Personally I would change all 6 for the next game, go with something like:
Wharton Gallagher
Bowen Palmer Gordon
Watkins
Bring in some fresh legs and a few with a point to prove. A little rest and a kick up the ass to a few of the others. Then for the knockouts I would do as you suggest:
Rice Bellingham
Saka Foden Gordon
Kane | | | |
| Adam Wharton on 09:33 - Jun 21 with 4083 views | IPSWICHFANITFC |
| Adam Wharton on 09:25 - Jun 21 by woodbridge_blue |
Surely this is quite straightforward....
Rice and Bellingham sitting with licence to break forward in support.
Foden in the 10 role.
Gordon wide left, Saka wide right.
Kane up front with Watkins as a replacement when required.
Round pegs in round holes. |
Not sure I'm on board with Bellingham dropping into a deeper role. I think he's a 10 and should stay where he is.
I don't think you get the best out of him there. He's not really a ball carrier and I don't think you get the best out of him putting him into positions where he has to take the ball under pressure on the half turn. He doesn't play in a deeper role for Real Madrid so I'm not sure why it makes sense to stick him there for England as he would have more defensive responsibilities.
As a 10, he can attack the box better like the goal vs Serbia. Get Wharton in the deeper role who can play the ball into Bellingham and Kane's feet. | |
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| Adam Wharton on 09:35 - Jun 21 with 4068 views | dirtyboy |
| Adam Wharton on 09:22 - Jun 21 by wrightsrightglove |
I was thinking this during the game, Morsy is exactly what England needed and without him in the town team at times we haven’t looked dissimilar to that England performance last night. Someone comfortable taking the ball from defence and distributing it, and someone who breaks up play. It shows how important he is to the way we play and why it’s vital we find a similar replacement for him at some point soon. |
Almost the only option is Stones in that position.
But that then puts us on the back foot in the central defence position.
Ultimately, looks like the selection has cost us.
The left back situation is a bit of a joke really. Not saying that because of 'our' clamour for Leif there, but having a player who has to step on the ball and naturally go back (not his fault) is so damaging when players like Foden, Bellingham and Rice are so comfortable at taking the ball on the move. |  | | |
| Adam Wharton on 09:44 - Jun 21 with 3997 views | _clive_baker_ |
| Adam Wharton on 09:33 - Jun 21 by IPSWICHFANITFC |
Not sure I'm on board with Bellingham dropping into a deeper role. I think he's a 10 and should stay where he is.
I don't think you get the best out of him there. He's not really a ball carrier and I don't think you get the best out of him putting him into positions where he has to take the ball under pressure on the half turn. He doesn't play in a deeper role for Real Madrid so I'm not sure why it makes sense to stick him there for England as he would have more defensive responsibilities.
As a 10, he can attack the box better like the goal vs Serbia. Get Wharton in the deeper role who can play the ball into Bellingham and Kane's feet. |
There's definitely some compromise to it, Bellingham is arguably our best player and playing him in his best position certainly feels like the most obvious thing to do. I just think the benefit to that trade off is you upgrade your partner for Rice and Bellingham would bring some real quality in there and ability to bring us up the pitch, you also free up Foden into his preferred position, and in turn can bring in some natural width on the left which we've lacked. We've created next to nothing from that side (not much from the right to be fair, but both our goals have come from there). Pros and cons to it for sure but on balance I would be keen to see it. | | | |
| Adam Wharton on 09:48 - Jun 21 with 3961 views | soupytwist |
If you believe this X/Twitter thread he's basically every good midfielder ever rolled into one
I'd put him in a 3 with Rice and Bellingham with Palmer, Kane and Saka up front. |  | | |
| Adam Wharton on 09:55 - Jun 21 with 3909 views | soupytwist |
| Adam Wharton on 09:33 - Jun 21 by IPSWICHFANITFC |
Not sure I'm on board with Bellingham dropping into a deeper role. I think he's a 10 and should stay where he is.
I don't think you get the best out of him there. He's not really a ball carrier and I don't think you get the best out of him putting him into positions where he has to take the ball under pressure on the half turn. He doesn't play in a deeper role for Real Madrid so I'm not sure why it makes sense to stick him there for England as he would have more defensive responsibilities.
As a 10, he can attack the box better like the goal vs Serbia. Get Wharton in the deeper role who can play the ball into Bellingham and Kane's feet. |
Was he not pressed into service as a 10 on his arrival at Real Madrid because they were lacking in that position and they had Kroos and/or Modric to do the midfield bit?
This article from late in his Dortmund career suggests that there's more to him than a 10
https://onefootball.com/en/news/jude-bellingham-i-feel-most-comfortable-playing- | | | |
| Adam Wharton on 09:58 - Jun 21 with 3863 views | Vaughan8 |
Personally I don't think we need 2 "holding" CMs (though was Trent acting like a holding midfielder anyway).
The obvious switch is just to bring in a left winger for Trent, move bellingham back and Foden as number 10.
Having said that, unl;ess you change the mentality/tactics, its always going to be like it is. | | | |
| Adam Wharton on 10:12 - Jun 21 with 3771 views | LankHenners |
| Adam Wharton on 09:11 - Jun 21 by _clive_baker_ |
The fact we're still 'experimenting' in the absence of a 'natural replacement for Phillips' in Southgate's words at this stage is a bit embarrassing to be honest. He's started once or twice for England in the past what, year? How are we still figuring it out, and what did we learn in our warm up games for these Euros? |
I think that's why a lot of the talk about bringing individual players in is for the birds imo. It's not going to materially change much as we still have a RB at LB who doesn't even attempt to disguise the fact he's always looking to cut inside, and as you point out the midfield clearly hasn't been worked on properly and seems to have been cobbled together as an idea in the days before the opening match.
Obviously the hindrance of international football is you don't have the luxury of time to drill bespoke patterns of play into the team nor the ability to sign someone for a problem position, but the teams that have looked a step above so far (namely Germany and Spain) have got the best out of their players' strengths by having a clear idea of what they're doing and doing it very well. We're still doing our 'get in front then hang onto the lead' thing but with the players looking very uncomfortable doing it and not being sure how to approach a situation where we can do more than that.
Not sure what the solution is really other than hoping Shaw is back which will at least make the LHS look less dire and hoping we can give ourselves a bit of a kick up the backside. Despite ceding control of both games pretty easily we've not looked that vulnerable and are defending ok so should still have enough to squeeze past Slovenia. God knows what will happen in the knockouts though. |  |
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| Adam Wharton on 10:28 - Jun 21 with 3689 views | Ftnfwest |
Just feels very similar to svens last tournament when he couldn’t be a**ed and took Walcott as a joke. Either rest Jude for a game and bring in Wharton, foden to 10 plus Gordon or pull Jude back alongside rice instead. Trent is a fine player but not in that role, rice is running around being pulled out of position trying to cover all the time. |  | | |
| Adam Wharton on 11:51 - Jun 21 with 3471 views | Garv |
| Adam Wharton on 09:25 - Jun 21 by woodbridge_blue |
Surely this is quite straightforward....
Rice and Bellingham sitting with licence to break forward in support.
Foden in the 10 role.
Gordon wide left, Saka wide right.
Kane up front with Watkins as a replacement when required.
Round pegs in round holes. |
Yep. Bellingham could play right back if he needed to, he can play anywhere.
Either play Foden central or have the balls to drop him. Gordon not getting minutes is a big shame, same for Palmer but at least he's got competition. Gordon has none and yet still doesn't play. |  |
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| Adam Wharton on 12:41 - Jun 21 with 3324 views | IPSWICHFANITFC |
He probably can play as an 8, but I think in this England team I'd keep him as the 10 and get more of a technician in Wharton into the team. I think once Wharton eventually gets in then he won't drop out.
Kane doesn't have the physical attributes to press these days, probably why Bayern is the perfect team for him to be at, so having Bellingham's legs further forwards if they're going to stick with Kane in the 9 makes sense. If Watkins was the sole striker then maybe you could drop Bellingham back as Watkins has the legs to lead the line himself and press from the front. | |
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| Adam Wharton on 12:57 - Jun 21 with 3266 views | SmithersJones |
| Adam Wharton on 09:16 - Jun 21 by BlueBlood90 |
I wouldn't be against Wharton coming in at all but I would really like to see us try Rice in the no.4, Jude in the no.8 and Foden in the number 10 roles. Jude has the athleticism to be a box to box midfielder and Foden is completely lost out on the wing.
We really lack some attacking width on the left hand side. We are crying out for Gordon to play in my opinion. |
That might be worth a try against Slovenia but against stronger teams our midfield would get overrun. Bellingham in front of Rice and Mainoo/Wharton is more flexible imho.
Main issue is we’ve got two right footers covering the left side. If Shaw isn’t fit then I don’t think we’ve got an option other than Trippier, and I’m not sure many of the attackers are left footed (Gordon is right footed as well according to FotMob). Maybe you bring Saka - who IS left footed - across to the left but he’s rarely if ever played there as far as I know. | | | |
| Adam Wharton on 06:36 - Jun 22 with 2797 views | ibbleobble |
Dropping Foden is madness. Play Foden and Bellingham, drop Trent for Gordon. Bring Watkins and Palmer off the bench. Simple. | | | |
| Adam Wharton on 06:42 - Jun 22 with 2789 views | tcblue |
The majority of this won't work because your players are used to playing 2024 era football and your manager is stuck in 1996 | | | |
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