UEFA EURO 2024 (2 Viewers)

SBT

Well-Known Member
In which case we need to go less like 90s AC Milan and more like Keegan’s Newcastle, for better or worse our strengths clearly are not at the back.
Kevin Keegan’s tactics were renowned for winning tournaments at the highest level, and with England
 

SBT

Well-Known Member
I’ll go with this:

1716314555931.jpeg

But I could be tempted by this:

1716314722108.jpeg

The biggest problem either way is a lack of pace out wide, and a shaky left hand side defensively
 

Sky_Blue_Dreamer

Well-Known Member
Surprised that Southgate has left pretty much all his favourites out of even the extended squad.

Defence looks a bit weak but it's not like there's really many other options.

Trouble is now it's getting me optimistic about the tournament and I know it'll only be crushed on penalties.
 

Mucca Mad Boys

Well-Known Member
In which case we need to go less like 90s AC Milan and more like Keegan’s Newcastle, for better or worse our strengths clearly are not at the back.
We were the top scorers in Qatar before we got KO’d by France and only Italy scored more than us in Euro 2020. No one can really complain about our attacking intent under Southgate at major tournaments.

International football has always been more defensive than club football. Every game is KO football and teams are more afraid to concede than in club football.

The Keegan model might be entertaining but flawed especially at international level.
 

PUSB-We_are_going_up

Well-Known Member
Well when I set my England team to 4231 wing play on attack with custom instructions to press, be adventurous, play out from the back, and a few more added extras we smashed the Euros winning every game against teams like Brazil, France, Germany easily.
So that says to me we need to play more attacking rather than conservative
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
We were the top scorers in Qatar before we got KO’d by France and only Italy scored more than us in Euro 2020. No one can really complain about our attacking intent under Southgate at major tournaments.

International football has always been more defensive than club football. Every game is KO football and teams are more afraid to concede than in club football.

The Keegan model might be entertaining but flawed especially at international level.
Play to your strengths. In our case those are clearly the more attack minded players and central midfield. Why we stifle those in order to concede poor goals anyway is beyond me and our record against the better international sides under Southgate tells me it isn’t effective.

The Euros final is a great case of being rewarded for a more adventurous approach while then being punished for being too conservative. You see it with CCFC time and again, tentative and ponderous football is in some ways riskier than the higher tempo stuff.
 

Mucca Mad Boys

Well-Known Member
Play to your strengths. In our case those are clearly the more attack minded players and central midfield. Why we stifle those in order to concede poor goals anyway is beyond me and our record against the better international sides under Southgate tells me it isn’t effective.

The Euros final is a great case of being rewarded for a more adventurous approach while then being punished for being too conservative. You see it with CCFC time and again, tentative and ponderous football is in some ways riskier than the higher tempo stuff.

None of our KO losses under Southgate have been shameful, quite the contrary. It’s all well and good saying we were too conservative against Italy. Yet, being more attacking could’ve cost NUS more chances and conceded more - you don’t know. Considering they beat Belgium, Spain en route to the final, the ‘just attack more’ approach isn’t the silver bullet you think it is.

At Qatar, we had more attacking intent than France yet we lost. That’s the model to follow and Deschamps has attracted a lot of criticism for France’s set up - a team with an embarrassment of attacking riches like ourselves.

In 2020 and 2022, the weakness was our ‘CM’ area. All our best options in both tournaments are defensively minded. With Bellingham, Foden and Rice all establishing themselves as elite players for their top clubs, it’s perhaps the strongest this area has been since Southgate took over. For all the hate towards Southgate’s favourites of Phillips and Hendo, they were probably the best options - JWP isn’t what we needed in previous tournaments.

Personally, I reckon Southgate will try to emulate Man City’s attacking shape by letting Stones step into midfield. My team would be:

Pickford
Walker
Stones
Maguire
Trippier
Bellingham
Rice
Foden
Saka
Kane
Gordon

I’m not sold on who I’d play on the left hand side. If Shaw is fit, he plays ahead of Trippier. As for that LW slot, rather perhaps you’d put Foden there and give TAA a shot at CM alongside Rice? I really rate Palmer and think his role will be chief super sub this summer. We need to have some X-factor on the bench this tournament.
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
None of our KO losses under Southgate have been shameful, quite the contrary. It’s all well and good saying we were too conservative against Italy. Yet, being more attacking could’ve cost NUS more chances and conceded more - you don’t know. Considering they beat Belgium, Spain en route to the final, the ‘just attack more’ approach isn’t the silver bullet you think it is.

At Qatar, we had more attacking intent than France yet we lost. That’s the model to follow and Deschamps has attracted a lot of criticism for France’s set up - a team with an embarrassment of attacking riches like ourselves.

In 2020 and 2022, the weakness was our ‘CM’ area. All our best options in both tournaments are defensively minded. With Bellingham, Foden and Rice all establishing themselves as elite players for their top clubs, it’s perhaps the strongest this area has been since Southgate took over. For all the hate towards Southgate’s favourites of Phillips and Hendo, they were probably the best options - JWP isn’t what we needed in previous tournaments.

Personally, I reckon Southgate will try to emulate Man City’s attacking shape by letting Stones step into midfield. My team would be:

Pickford
Walker
Stones
Maguire
Trippier
Bellingham
Rice
Foden
Saka
Kane
Gordon

I’m not sold on who I’d play on the left hand side. If Shaw is fit, he plays ahead of Trippier. As for that LW slot, rather perhaps you’d put Foden there and give TAA a shot at CM alongside Rice? I really rate Palmer and think his role will be chief super sub this summer. We need to have some X-factor on the bench this tournament.
His record against the better international sides is extremely poor over the duration of his time in charge. As for that Euros game, we had Italy on the ropes and Mancini struggling for a response. Then spent the second half camped in our own half trying to hold a 1-0 instead of putting the game away.

My point is that boring, safety first football is actually not that safe at all if you find yourself behind and needing goals.
 

SBT

Well-Known Member
Southgate interviewed by GQ: it’s called fashion, darling, look it up

1716970968904.png

 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Southgate interviewed by GQ: it’s called fashion, darling, look it up

View attachment 35881

Isn’t this photo from your private collection?
 

SBAndy

Well-Known Member
Southgate interviewed by GQ: it’s called fashion, darling, look it up

View attachment 35881


At least we know Maddison’s in the squad if he’s dressing the manager.
 

AOM

Well-Known Member
Southgate interviewed by GQ: it’s called fashion, darling, look it up

View attachment 35881


You can still find 'em
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
Southgate interviewed by GQ: it’s called fashion, darling, look it up

View attachment 35881

Nice curtains.



I haven't actually said that phrase since way back, when I walked in on my auntie Maud in the bathroom, that etched-in-my-brain, wet Friday.
 

Sky_Blue_Daz

Well-Known Member
Not sure why Dier isn’t nailed on for a seat on the plane personally - every week starter for Bayern, plays in two positions where we’re weak, experienced at international tournaments, trusted by the manager…
decent penalty taker
 

CJ_covblaze

Well-Known Member
Not sure why Dier isn’t nailed on for a seat on the plane personally - every week starter for Bayern, plays in two positions where we’re weak, experienced at international tournaments, trusted by the manager…
decent penalty taker
He should be in the squad. Probably the only decision I’m a bit put out by. He’s been good at Bayern and his versatility would’ve been useful. He's contributed a lot down the years. The goal against Russia. The winner in Berlin. The tackle on Ramos that really set the tone. When it comes to competitive shoot outs we’ve only won three in our history. He’s scored the winner in two of them.
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
Team looks a little weak tonight, but that's fine. It's a friendly and a good chance to see what some players can do.

I see Conor Gallagher is in again. Just don't get the love for him from the manager (watch him play well tonight)
 

Evo1883

Well-Known Member
I don't expect much tonight as it's a patched up team ..but fuck me it's boring
 

1ccfc

Well-Known Member
Why do we always have to play with the two holding midfielders. It's so negative. Bosnia have lost to teams like Iceland and Luxembourg in their recent games. It's so dull.
 

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