Lack options centre midfield? Are you kidding? The two centres should be Bellingham and Foden, both playing behind Kane who should have been up front and not spending most of his time in the second half hanging around midfield. Alexander Arnold does play the odd good pass but he gives the ball away just as much. No, Foden and Bellingham in midfield and go from there.
It's more to do with the he's playing in a system which just doesn't suit him. Time and again especially in the second half he was finding pockets of space but his teammates either didn't see him or ignored to pass to him and he increasingly got more and more frustrated. Foden needs to player under a manager like Pep rather than Mr Beige to flourishI've said it before the tournament started that this is a tournament too far for Phil to shine. The lad must be running on complete empty and he'll not improve against Denmark and Slovenia if picked unfortunately. Walker and Stones should be fine as they'll not have loads to do in this group stage
You mean as he's offers absolutely fuck all.
He did nothing going forward apart from a couple of Hollywood passes. Defensively he hasnt got a clue. To play in that midfield role you need spatial awareness and read situations and anticipate what's going to happen. He hasn't got that. At All. Rice was constantly covering him.
His set pieces were absolutely shite as well
Good commentNot sure there is such a clique (in fairness, Southgate has done well to stop factions within the group, which was previously, a big problem) ?
If there is a clique, Phil has his City pals to team up with.
Kane seems the major influence in the squad, as captain.
He should be ensuring the team are fully together...
I think Foden will get another start against Denmark. If he does nothing again he’ll probably lose his place. I actually think the side would look more balanced with Gordon there.The big irony is that if Foden doesn't play against Denmark, we'll look just as limited with the same flaws, and he'll suddenly be the obvious answer.
Foden has been educated by Guardiola into always looking five passes ahead and drifting almost unnoticed into goal scoring positions.
His first goal against United in the 6-3 provides the perfect example of a patient City move that drags opponents out of position.
This doesn't work for England,.not necessarily because Foden is surrounded by poor players, but more that they offer something completely different.
Even the Walker chance (where he should have taken the shot himself) Kane and Foden made the same run, when Haaland would have peeled-off to the far post
Similarly City don't have a Saka type so whereas City preach patience, England charge down the right wing and hope for the best.
Bellingham is a great talent, but he also appears irritatingly ring fenced from criticism, as do Rice, Saka, and Alexander-Arnold, who all mixed moments of brilliance with sloppy casual mistakes.
Compare that with Shearer's eagerness to pounce when Foden lost the ball cheaply midway through the Second Half.
As for the defence I fear for us the moment we face a more potent strike force.
Not so sure. But who knows. Bellingham and Arnold clearly love themselves and each other.Not sure there is such a clique (in fairness, Southgate has done well to stop factions within the group, which was previously, a big problem) ?
If there is a clique, Phil has his City pals to team up with.
Kane seems the major influence in the squad, as captain.
He should be ensuring the team are fully together...
Pep wouldn’t allow it though, he’d bench him, he reminds me of Yaya/Viera, unfortunately he’s selfish as well, theres was a bit last night where he tried to take someone on three times on the left when all he had to do was knock it back to Tripper to cross in and got nowhere with it.If you wanted him at City this is how you cure yourself. Watch how hard he works when he loses possession or goes down and doesn’t get a free kick.
Clue: he doesn’t. He simply doesn’t work hard enough for a Pep team. He loses the ball and lies on the deck for 10 seconds before getting up, dusting himself down and then jogging on towards the action. Obviously Southgate is prepared to give him more leeway than Pep would.
He is a phenomenal talent, but - my judgment- lacks humility.
Thas how i feel mate, that match of hoofball was terrible. Most of them players can play from the back so why southgate cant use there strength's i dont know. Watching pickford just blast it down the middle is painful.Summed up by a mate on a Whatsap football group: I prefer England to win, but I prefer not to watch it.