I know it’s probably easier watching England on Tv And spotting what the side needs but it seems so bloody obvious
1. Starting with the goalkeeper, he’s constantly kicking the ball long , which much surely be part of his instruction ? He’s also being asked to calm down all the time. My opinion is that he can’t be trusted to play out from the back with confidence so we just let him play his own game. Which undermines our apparent philosophy of possession football. He needs replacing but Southgate won’t do that
2. Declan Rice is not a number six, if you watch the build up , he actively avoids getting on the ball. He should be the pivot against which the whole team moves but instead we are shuffling the ball wide to try and build through the flanks. I don’t think he can play on the half turn which would have opened up space yesterday. Without a number six we can’t control games and pin teams back. Mainoo isn’t the answer either , he played more advanced yesterday , where we needed someone to play alongside Rice. We need to try Adam Wharton next to Rice , who also give the advantage of being left footed which opens up the pitch when partnered with a right footer. But Southgate won’t do that
3. What is Bellingham’s role ? What is he actually good at ? For me he’s a box to box midfielder that arrives in the late to finish off cut backs or crosses. He’s not a playmaker so is stifling our creativity through the middle. He was shunted out wide yesterday in the second half but there are numerous players we have who are better than him there. I think it’s a choice between him or Foden , and for me there isn’t any competition in that choice. Build the team around Foden and let him take on the teams creative burden. But Southgate won’t do that.
4. Kane needs or people running in behind , at the moment all our front four players want the ball to feet so there is no none stretching the pitch. Steriling would have been a better pick in this England set up but I think his days are gone. I think Gordon could do a decent job as he he’s used to being direct for Newcastle.
My team for the knockouts would be
Ramsdale
Walker Stones Guehi Shaw ( surely he must be fit otherwise why pick him?)
Rice Wharton
Palmer Foden Gordon
Kane