All the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order.
England are currently reminding me of City during the 16/17 season: the foundation of a potentially brilliant side is there, but the current personnel attempting to bring this idea to life are some way off being able to do so. They're lacking the crucial details. For example, if Stones had found himself isolated with the ball while playing for City, the opposition striker bearing down on him, he'd simply shuffle the ball to Ederson. I'm not sure he has the same confidence in Pickford, much like he never did with Bravo, so last night he held on one second too long and paid for it. For City, you'd imagine that Fernandinho and Silva would drop deep to give him an option, or Zinchenko would move into midfield to make himself available. I'm not sure Barkley, Rice, or Chilwell are as intuitive to spot danger before it happens.
And therein lies the bigger problem: the midfield. They honestly looked clueless in possession. I'd love to know how many times Sterling, Sancho, and Rashford touched the ball between them, because they were given absolutely nothing by Rice and Barkley. Delph's job was more of a defensive one as opposed to being the distributor, so I can forgive him a little. Without the ball, though, they didn't press well enough, and for long periods of the game they were being passed through quite easily. That's where Delph fell short for me - he looked good in key moments but he never quite looked capable of controlling the game. England will look better with Henderson, Dier, and Alli in midfield for games in the future, but Southgate has to start getting things right. The goodwill from the World Cup won't last long if England struggle through their qualifying group.
