England men's fixtures omdt.

[BIG D]

5 minutes ago, TheEnchanter said:

It would be a mistake not to play Foden and one Southgate surely won't make. Yes he wasn't clinical or as good as he can be in this round of fixtures but his technique, passing and movement all over the midfield and wide areas is superior to the likes of Bowen. He can really move the opposition around and scare them. He links up well with Bellingham and with Kane uptop the whole team is more productive. 

I agree with this  

[Adem Poric]

I think any team that plays us would rather we picked Bowen, Rashford, etc over Foden. For me he's the third name on the team sheet after Harry and Jude. 

 

Big fan of Bowen, he's quick, skilful and an absolute workhorse. However, Foden is one of the best footballers on the planet right now. You can also see how much Bellingham enjoys playing with him, some of their intricate link play was tremendous last night. 

[Owl_For_a_Lifetime]

2 minutes ago, BIG D said:

The problem with Scholes, Lampard and Gerrard was that they more or less played the same role so Scholes usually got shoved out of position. Surely it can’t be beyond Southgate to get Foden, Saka, Rice, Kane, Bellingham and even Mainoo into the starting line up (Southgate might think it’s early for Mainoo but I’d like to see him go) Bowen is a very good Premier League player but he could even get left out of the squad we’re that blessed up top. I’d take him before Gallagher although Gordon and especially Palmer could be in with a shout. I don’t understand why Palmer didn’t get a run out. 

Going to take this off topic and refer back to that "Golden Generation"...

 

Scholes, Gerrard & Lampard suffered from the 4-4-2 set up. Thing is if we went with something akin to what we have now I still wouldn't have all 3 in the same team (one of Hargreaves / Carrick / Barry with Scholes, Gerrard or Lampard further forward as a 10). We would have then had the issues of Beckham being able to get in the side as a wide forward? Could Owen play up top by himself?

 

Such a shame, those players had the potential if utilised correctly.

[alanharper]

4 hours ago, SnowyOwl13 said:

Something I've noticed. England's group games are all in the Rhineland and then Stuttgart. If we go as expected, we will continue to play in the Rhineland before the final in Berlin.

 

Yet, our training base is near Leipzig in the East of Germany. Isn't that a lot of pointless travel?

 

Fairly short plane journey with a one night hotel stay before the game I'd have thought, unless they fly out on the morning of the game.

 

We had to go to Rome for the quarter final in 2021, and there was a lot more travelling involved at Russia 2018.  2026 will be even worse, even the "regionalised" venues can be 1000+ miles apart, e.g. LA to Vancouver, Mexico City to Kansas, Miami to Toronto..

[Screen Door Slams]

2 hours ago, Owl_For_a_Lifetime said:

Going to take this off topic and refer back to that "Golden Generation"...

 

Scholes, Gerrard & Lampard suffered from the 4-4-2 set up. Thing is if we went with something akin to what we have now I still wouldn't have all 3 in the same team (one of Hargreaves / Carrick / Barry with Scholes, Gerrard or Lampard further forward as a 10). We would have then had the issues of Beckham being able to get in the side as a wide forward? Could Owen play up top by himself?

 

Such a shame, those players had the potential if utilised correctly.

 

The golden generation was crying out for 3 - 5 - 2 , yet despite all the money paid out to managers not one of them sussed it.......something like ;

Seaman

 

King  Campbell  Ferdinand

 

G.Neville  Gerrard  Beckham  Scholes  A.Cole

 

Owen  Rooney

 

SUBS

Dyer

Terry

Carragher

Bridge

Hargreaves

Lampard

J. Cole

Heskey

Fowler

Edited March 27 by Screen Door Slams

[Owl_For_a_Lifetime]

Given the way Cole Palmer is playing where do we sit with squad positions for the Euro's? I think it's a given that the following 9 players Southgate will start for England if fit.. 

 

Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Rice, Saka, Bellingham, Foden, Kane.

 

That leaves LB & CM up for grabs.

 

LB - depending on fitness / form I think will be these three in this order. Shaw, Trippier, Chilwell (if the other two are fit I don't think Chillwell is on the plane)

 

Preferred options of Southgate for CM will be Phillips, Henderson, Mainoo, Gallagher (though Phillips has almost certainly played himself out of the team now).

 

What about the rest though? If integration into the group and learning styles of play wasn't an issue I'd say these players were the form players in advanced areas.. Gordon, Palmer, Maddison instead of Rashford, Grealish, Bowen.

Toney & Watkins both should go...

 

In defence, I don't think Reece James will make it. Trent can cover midfield playmaker so will go, Gomez & Guehi have done enough to be there over Dunk.

[Bannofan]

As excellent as Palmer is, you really need to drop either Saka or Foden to get him in the team. 

 

He can go as a squad player, but that means someone like Grealish, Rashford , Maddison or Bowen missing out.

 

We just have an abundance of players in Palmers position. 

 

In fairness, so did Guardiola at Citeh which is why Palmer was sold to Chelsea . 

[BIG D]

26 minutes ago, Bannofan said:

As excellent as Palmer is, you really need to drop either Saka or Foden to get him in the team. 

 

He can go as a squad player, but that means someone like Grealish, Rashford , Maddison or Bowen missing out.

 

We just have an abundance of players in Palmers position. 

 

In fairness, so did Guardiola at Citeh which is why Palmer was sold to Chelsea . 

I’d have Palmer in front of all those at the moment. He’s definitely in ahead of Rashford, Maddison and Bowen for me. 

Edited April 16 by BIG D

[lukeyswfc]

Rashford shouldn’t be starting on current form.

 

He doesn’t look happy at Man Utd and we’d probably see a different Rashford for England but it wouldn’t a good look for someone having such a poor season to start ahead others who’ve had great seasons.

[Owl_For_a_Lifetime]

I'd love Southgate to try Maddison alongside Rice in one of the friendlies before the tournament. I wouldn't start hime there Vs Spain or France but against a weaker team where we have the ball it should be an option to help unlock deep defences..

[BIG D]

No idea why Southgate didn’t give Palmer any time on the pitch in the last 2 friendlies? 

[Owl_For_a_Lifetime]

 

4 minutes ago, BIG D said:

No idea why Southgate didn’t give Palmer any time on the pitch in the last 2 friendlies? 

He missed Brazil due to a minor injury, I think they were just taking no chances. At least he trained with the group and was in and around the set up. I'd imagine Chelsea were happy no risks were taken throwing him on for 45mins in a friendly...

[BIG D]

Fair enough

[Adem Poric]

Palmer only doesn't make the squad if he's injured. He's been one of the best players in the league in a very average team. Without him they'd be in a relegation battle.