European championships 2020 thread (29 Viewers)

[stay_up_skyblues]

I understand the frustration but got to be pragmatic & get the best out of what we have whilst also nullifying the opposition threats.

Croatia aren't quite what they used to be but are still excellent on the ball - a Midfield including Modric, Kovacic, Brozovic, Perisic etc. can dominate the ball against most sides. I think it would be incredibly naïve to expect Rice alone to handle that & if you stick Bellingham in rather than a natural DM like Phillips you're going to have to ask him to curb his natural enthusiasm to get forward which is what he's best at.

Sterling or Rashford have to start imo. I know both aren't in the best form but we need someone prepared to go in behind the striker, particularly as Kane drops deep himself. Nobody's better at that than Sterling.
Otherwise you'll just find Croatia, with their slow backline, will just sit in a low block & be incredibly difficult to break down.
Grealish will get plenty of game time throughout the tournament.

The only issues I have with the supposed lineup are Mings & Trippier, just don't understand the rationale there at all.

You’re right RE needing a forward to run in behind based on how we play but I can’t see any reason Kane doesn’t just stay up front and not come deep. That would accommodate the better (in my opinion, based on current form) Grealish over Sterling. But yeah he and the others will get game time. I don’t think any of the midfield/forwards have come to warm the bench for the duration of the group games. With the exception of DCL maybe.

 

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[Macca]

I don’t know why but I can’t help thinking we will labour through the group stage and get knocked out by the first decent side we meet. The ball will go from side to side and backwards a lot and we will look to build for next time

 

[PVA]

We got absolutely over-run in midfield by Croatia when we only played 1 holder at the World Cup. Phillips is a good player as well.

That was three years ago, and our midfield three that day was Henderson, Alli, Lingard.

Rice, Bellingham, Mount would be much more balanced.

Rice, Phillips, Mount goes the other way and is too defensive for me.

We have an exciting young attacking team and it's just disappointing to go classic England and revert to the safe option.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

If he starts tripper LB it is ridiculous

 

[PVA]

If he starts tripper LB it is ridiculous

If we had no good left backs you could understand, but we have two very good ones. One of which has just won the champions league.

The man sure does love a right back!

 

[SBAndy]

Sterling or Rashford have to start imo. I know both aren't in the best form but we need someone prepared to go in behind the striker, particularly as Kane drops deep himself. Nobody's better at that than Sterling.
Otherwise you'll just find Croatia, with their slow backline, will just sit in a low block & be incredibly difficult to break down.

Sancho?

 

[Evo1883]

Are neither Shaw or Chilwell fit?
Or is Trippier purely in for set pieces?

Seems crazy that we have our weakest CB in Mings in purely on the basis he's left footed but then play a right footer at LB.

Southgate is a tit

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Are neither Shaw or Chilwell fit?
Or is Trippier purely in for set pieces?

Seems crazy that we have our weakest CB in Mings in purely on the basis he's left footed but then play a right footer at LB.

I raised my eyebrow at Trippier’s inclusion at LB. Both Chillwell and Shaw are both good fullbacks.

However, I’m not mad at that team if that’s what we go for. I think Grealish should start, but was unlikely after playing all the warm ups. Trippier adds a lot of value from set-pieces and that was the foundation on our successful 2018 World Cup run. So I get understand the thinking. Phillips and Rice isn’t what I’d go for either but gives us cover and pressing in the middle to allow the front 4 to do their thing.

With 5 subs allowed, I think that’s a good chance to get Grealish, Sancho, Rashford some good minutes from the bench. I really like our depth and we’ve got plenty of options.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

That was three years ago, and our midfield three that day was Henderson, Alli, Lingard.

Rice, Bellingham, Mount would be much more balanced.

Rice, Phillips, Mount goes the other way and is too defensive for me.

We have an exciting young attacking team and it's just disappointing to go classic England and revert to the safe option.

You’re forgetting that we’re not playing 5 at the back like we did in the World Cup and Maguire is out injured.

We’ve potentially got Foden, Sterling, Mount and Kane as attacking players. Compare that to just Sterling and Kane in 2018 who were supported by Alli and Lingard.

I think Southgate has selected a sensible starting 11 and it’s up to him to be brave and proactive with our substitutes because we have a lot of good players on the bench.

 

[Sick Boy]

Mad really. English journalists leaking the team hours before a game. Sure the Croatians are made up.

The English media has always sought to attack them before it’s even begun and ruin it.

 

[Mr Panda]

Trippier has played over 400 games across his career, of which under 10 have been at left back.

I like Trippier, but as people have already said you've got UCL winner Chilwell and Shaw who has had the season of his life who will be both on the bench if reports are true.

I just don't get it

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Trippier has played over 400 games across his career, of which under 10 have been at left back.

I like Trippier, but as people have already said you've got UCL winner Chilwell and Shaw who has had the season of his life who will be both on the bench if reports are true.

I just don't get it

Set pieces. With Trent being injured and no Ward-Prowse in the squad, we do not have a dead ball specialist. Our success in 2018 was down to our set-pieces.

 

[Frostie]

Set pieces. With Trent being injured and no Ward-Prowse in the squad, we do not have a dead ball specialist. Our success in 2018 was down to our set-pieces.

Mason Mount is a dead ball specialist & has one of the highest chances created from set pieces in the PL.

 

[tisza]

Seeing Pickford in goal never fills me with confidence.
Cannot see the logic of playing Trippier at left-back when you've got specialists there - particularly in a tournament.

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

Seeing Pickford in goal never fills me with confidence.
Cannot see the logic of playing Trippier at left-back when you've got specialists there - particularly in a tournament.

The only thing that p*sses me off more than seeing a player go down the wing only to turn back and play it back into their own half, in case they lose possession, is a player going down the wing and having to cut back because it's on their wrong foot. As for set piece specialists - they are top international footballers. I can't believe that no one in an England starting eleven is incapable of putting in a decent free kick or corner. Bizarre.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Iconic football song.

It really isn't, World in Motion much much much better

 

[fernandopartridge]

Set pieces. With Trent being injured and no Ward-Prowse in the squad, we do not have a dead ball specialist. Our success in 2018 was down to our set-pieces.

Well take Ward Prowse

 

[PurpleBin]

The English media has always sought to attack them before it’s even begun and ruin it.

Aye. Madness. A desire to break news clearly from inside sources rather than protect the team.

 

[Sick Boy]

Aye. Madness. A desire to break news clearly from inside sources rather than protect the team.

It's a really strange attitude that I don't think exists to the same extent elsewhere. It's like they intentionally look to do it before major tournaments.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Well take Ward Prowse

I like him, but he’s not good enough to be a starter and we needed to take White because we had 3 fit centre backs.

Mason Mount is a dead ball specialist & has one of the highest chances created from set pieces in the PL.

I did not know that! Southgate must prefer Trippier on set-pieces or has trained really well.

Maybe I’m reading into squad numbers too much, but generally I think the players numbered 1-11 are generally considered the first choice options with a fully fit squad.

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

Feel like Southgate tries to be too elaborate than just picking the obvious

 

[stay_up_skyblues]

 

[Philosoraptor]

Fuck, iplayer just switched to BBC One Scotland. That will not do.

 

[Frostie]

I like him, but he’s not good enough to be a starter and we needed to take White because we had 3 fit centre backs.



I did not know that! Southgate must prefer Trippier on set-pieces or has trained really well.

Maybe I’m reading into squad numbers too much, but generally I think the players numbered 1-11 are generally considered the first choice options with a fully fit squad.

Trippier's set pieces are quality, no doubt, & of course we're used to them so if we're determined to use him, stick him at RB.

 

[Nick]

Bit of a random team, nice and safe.

Lets hope for a pen or something.

 

[Evo1883]

Why are there 2 goalkeepers on the bench ?

What could possibly be the reason

 

[TomRad85]

Love the Euro 96 nostalgia. Good times.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

 

[It’sabatch87]

Love the Euro 96 nostalgia. Good times.

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

Remember it well it was hot that day in London v Scotland

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

Rio now going on about the knee.

Just fuck off.

 

[Evo1883]

I'm at the stage now where I just want the fans to stop booing so we can just get it over with .

People just care about the football

Hopefully if fans don't react to it then eventually it just stops naturally

 

[Nick]

I'm at the stage now where I just want the fans to stop booing so we can just get it over with .

People just care about the football

Hopefully if fans don't react to it then eventually it just stops naturally

Don't get why it's so hard to get the booing.

Just do a different gesture against it.simple.

The media want to make it a thing constantly.

 

[Evo1883]

Don't get why it's so hard to get the booing.

Just do a different gesture against it.simple.

The media want to make it a thing constantly.

I understand the booing

I just think they will keep at it until the booing stops

But we should be talking about the football , instead all day sky sports news, these lot too have been on about taking a knee and the fans reaction

It's at a farcical stage now tbh

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

I understand the booing

I just think they will keep at it until the booing stops

But we should be talking about the football , instead all day sky sports news, these lot too have been on about taking a knee and the fans reaction

Primary school arguing

 

[Evo1883]

Primary school arguing

I'm not arguing

 

[Evo1883]

If its worth anything , I wouldn't boo .

More because I couldn't be arsed with the hassle of it all if somebody started arguing with me about it in the ground , I'd just sip my drink and not react at all