It’s so fucking obvious what to do, but EVERYTHING with England is trying to get all the “stars” on the field at once!
Simply play Walker and Stones the same way Pep often played them…with Stones stepping into midfield, as needed, or sliding across in the 3 when Walker goes down the line as a wing back. If Trent was half the player he’s supposed to be, he’d be able to play the inverted full back, but he can’t defend!
That would allow Bellingham and Foden to run the inside channels, using their intelligence to exploit the spaces they and Kane can create, with Gordon and Saka/Bowen on the wings.
When we are defending, a midfield 5 of Saka/Bowen, Foden, Rice, Bellingham, Gordon should simply collapse on any potential counter to regain the ball as Walker and Stones slide back into their defensive positions.
City play this way for fun, and Southgate watches us enough to see us play this way, but the problem is that, good as England’s players are, they are simply not as good as City’s players!
At this point, after seeing Foden play his best football playing as a 10, coming inside from the RIGHT, on his left foot, it seems unconscionable that we try to shoehorn him into the team as a left winger, with an overlapping left back who is right footed!!!
For me, it should be simple, but if Southgate isn’t going to play Foden where he plays best, then simply play Gordon as a LM/LW and save Foden for a sub.
As others have mentioned, and as seems ridiculous to have to say at this point, Southgate should play his best TEAM, not his best eleven players in whatever position he can play them!
…………………Pickford
Walker..Stones…Guehi…Trippier
……………..….Rice
……...Foden…..….Bellingham
Bowen……..Kane……..Gordon