England

[K-Hod]

I don’t think it’s ‘moaning’ to query the selection of four right backs.

When has that happened before? It was bound to be a talking point....

[roverandout]

I'm not talking on here really.  Facebook are the big moaners

[roverandout]

2 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

It would have made much more sense IMO to remove Trippier and include another CM or even a CB considering that Maguire is struggling with injury and is a doubt for the first game.

Trippier has been phenomenal for atleti this season.  He was in la liga team of the season.  So I guess when u have 4 interchangeable fullbacks who are world class its hard. I don't think jwp is up to international football.  I think Bellingham will start if Henderson isn't fit

[Oldgregg86]

Probably would of sacrificed sako or one of the RBS  for Watkins other than that it’s a good strong squad .  I complaints from me. Should be a good tournament COYW

[ben_the_beast]

Only way the 4 right backs make sense is if we are playing a wing back system. So James and Walker are RCB's and Tripper and Trent are wing backs. Personally I feel that is our stronger overall formation too. 

However if we begin to see Trent pushed into midfield I will be livid as that would be a true square peg. The players selected only work in a wing back system.

[Sparks Rover]

Lingard is left out, but for some reason he is starting the game tomorrow against Austria....🤷‍♂️ 

Looks like we have a Mogadonesque manager in charge, wants to be everyone's friend and we will end up nowhere.

Edited June 1, 2021 by Sparks Rover

[benhben]

15 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

Lingard is left out, but for some reason he is starting the game tomorrow against Austria....🤷‍♂️ 

Surely not. that would be utterly pointless!

Said it before the only thing holding this England side back is the man in charge. 

[davulsukur]

1 hour ago, Sparks Rover said:

Lingard is left out, but for some reason he is starting the game tomorrow against Austria....🤷‍♂️ 

Looks like we have a Mogadonesque manager in charge, wants to be everyone's friend and we will end up nowhere.

Yeah, really weird decision. 

As you say, Southgate now taking tips off Mowbray!

[joey_big_nose]

1 hour ago, Sparks Rover said:

Lingard is left out, but for some reason he is starting the game tomorrow against Austria....🤷‍♂️ 

Looks like we have a Mogadonesque manager in charge, wants to be everyone's friend and we will end up nowhere.

Yeah, really really can't fathom the sense in playing someone whose not in the squad when you have 26 who are!!! Madness.

[RoverDom]

Giving the champions league players a games rest maybe? 

[joey_big_nose]

2 hours ago, ben_the_beast said:

Only way the 4 right backs make sense is if we are playing a wing back system. So James and Walker are RCB's and Tripper and Trent are wing backs. Personally I feel that is our stronger overall formation too. 

However if we begin to see Trent pushed into midfield I will be livid as that would be a true square peg. The players selected only work in a wing back system.

Based on our qualifiers I think we will play 433 against Czech and Scotland but 343 against Croatia.

[Exiled_Rover]

4 hours ago, Oldgregg86 said:

Probably would of sacrificed sako or one of the RBS  for Watkins other than that it’s a good strong squad .  I complaints from me. Should be a good tournament COYW

Saka is much better than Watkins.

[DanLad]

It would be interesting to see the fallout if Lingard scores a hat trick tonight!

[Oldgregg86]

9 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

Saka is much better than Watkins.

Not as an out and out striker, through the middle with his back to goal as an alternative option to kane if he gets injured, tactical change or to save his legs he isnt.

similar situation with all rbs. we already have foden, sanche, Sterling etc . Watkins offers something different. I don’t think sako offers anything different to what we already have in abundance. 

Edited June 2, 2021 by Oldgregg86

[Dreams of 1995]

The right back situation will speak for itself when we see the formation. My guess is that he sees James as more of a right sided centre half.

If Southgate decides to play 5 at the back it leaves Walker / James as the right side, Stones / Coady as central, Maguire / Mings as the left side. That depth is probably about right. 
 

In truth we may need to play 5 at the back to counter a bad midfield. Ward-Prowse is unlucky to miss out. He’s a cracking player with a wand of a foot and those set piece specialists are huge in tournament football. Luckily for us we have capable back up in Trippier. 
 

Overall I think the squad is as strong as it could be. Greenwood is the biggest miss but that was injury related. I think Saka got in because of that. That said Saka has played everywhere for Arsenal this year and has had a good season.

 

Key is to get Henderson fit and hope him and Rice can anchor that midfield well enough to let our brilliant attacking options thrive. 

[Dreams of 1995]

Ps: I bet people would moan if Mount, Rashford etc got injured tonight when he could have game them a rest! They last played on Saturday after a pretty gruelling season. It makes sense to protect the players you want starting in the tournament. It isn’t like they will be unfit. 

[joey_big_nose]

1 hour ago, Dreams of 1995 said:

Ps: I bet people would moan if Mount, Rashford etc got injured tonight when he could have game them a rest! They last played on Saturday after a pretty gruelling season. It makes sense to protect the players you want starting in the tournament. It isn’t like they will be unfit. 

I guess my point is out of 26 players surely if Mount and Rashford etc need a break others could be used rather than someone not in the squad. Just play A-A in midfield or whatever. At least then you get to see the players who are actually going. 

[RoverDom]

Tbf I agree with that, TAA has been touted by some as a midfielder so a perfect time to do that experiment?

[Exiled_Rover]

3 hours ago, Oldgregg86 said:

Not as an out and out striker, through the middle with his back to goal as an alternative option to kane if he gets injured, tactical change or to save his legs he isnt.

similar situation with all rbs. we already have foden, sanche, Sterling etc . Watkins offers something different. I don’t think sako offers anything different to what we already have in abundance. 

His name is still Saka and we have Calvert-Lewin and Rashford to play though the middle if Kane needs a rest / gets injured. 

Saka provides creativity out wide (both sides) and extended cover at LB. With the season he's had he had to go.

[Bigdoggsteel]

17 hours ago, roversfan99 said:

Strange balance to the squad, Southgate has been indecisive and weak in choosing all 4 right backs simply because he can not decide who is the best. At a push, take 3.

The argument that they "can play elsewhere" is not a strong one either, all 4 are predominantly right backs. If we want one to cover midfield, it would have made sense to actually pick a central midfielder, even if it is someone like Ward Prowse who isnt necessarily great, he would be a much more useful central midfielder than Alexander Arnold/James because the position is totally different to which they play, the angles, the distances, you cant just throw one in midfield in a major tournament like that.

We look really strong at full back obviously and also in attacking midfield, the key is to play the right ones, I would say that Sterling and Rashford dont warrant places at the moment, so for me Sancho has to play to keep some pace, and then it would be Foden and Mount or Grealish. We look short in goal where none of the options inspire and at centre back where past the main 2, one of whom is injured, we look weak. Mings is very average and Coady is really underwhelming especially in a 2. We also look short in central midfield, we need Henderson to be fit as beyond him and Rice, there isnt too much. Bellingham is a refreshing choice, Phillips is ok, think we could have done with another in there.

You would think he could have brought Lingard instead of one right-back. 

[Dreams of 1995]

39 minutes ago, joey_big_nose said:

I guess my point is out of 26 players surely if Mount and Rashford etc need a break others could be used rather than someone not in the squad. Just play A-A in midfield or whatever. At least then you get to see the players who are actually going. 

That’s a fair comment I suppose. But it has been more than Mount and Rashford. 
 

James, Chilwell, Mount, Sterling, Walker, Foden and Stones all played. There’s a lot of tired legs. 

[roversfan99]

I hope we dont go down the route of playing 5 at the back, that in my opinion would again be weak management trying to fit in a second right back on the right hand side of the 3. We need Maguire to be fit, assuming he is, id just go with him and Stones in a 2, then Shaw at left back, and then pick one of the 4 right backs. Henderson and Rice will provide the necessary protection, and allow 4 (rather than 3 as would be the case if we play an extra CB) of our best attackers to score some goals.

[speeeeeeedie]

There were always going to be quibbles over the final 26, yet in tournaments prior England were struggling to name 23. 

Holding midfield is light and central defenders aren't world beaters either but the attacking talent should make up for it.

 

[roverandout]

3 hours ago, speeeeeeedie said:

There were always going to be quibbles over the final 26, yet in tournaments prior England were struggling to name 23. 

Holding midfield is light and central defenders aren't world beaters either but the attacking talent should make up for it.

 

True but I rate rice as one of the best holding midfielders in the epl. 

[BlackburnEnd75]

I don't think how we do will be determined by the squad selection. There's nobody he's left out that would've made any difference with the possible exception of the backup cbs in the case that maguire doesn't recover.

It will all come down to his team selection. Maguire needs to be fit as if he isn't I can see him reverting to 5 at the back which could be an attacking move but you just know it wouldn't end up being.

Interesting to see how he manages his attacking options. Kane will benefit from having pace around him but the pace options of sterling and rashford are 0ut of form. Grealish with all the clamour was 0ut for a long time.

I'd start with 

                             Henderson 

A right back   stones      maguire     Shaw

                                 Rice

              Bellingham      mount 

Sancho                                           Foden

                              Kane

 

Henderson for Bellingham after  an hour