Dreams of 1995

Totally and utterly put off by the squad Southgate has put out He hasn’t learnt a thing and to be honest it is just jarring now. He is ruining his reputation. Above that, he is ruining our chances at a major tournament

That thought has gone through my mind too All Wharton needs is a game to prove himself. Southgate is being stupid. I don't understand why he took him if he doesn't intend to use him. Surely you would drop Wharton and take a genuine left footed left back that may actually get some game time? Tyrick Mitchell must be scratching his head and wondering what he has to do. To my mind he's the best left footed left back we have who is fit. How the fuck did he not get in but Wharton did when Southgate is clearly not going to give him a chance?

Woke up feeling hopeful today. The pressure is off. You literally couldn't have a more perfect moment to really express yourself Push high up the pitch, trust the back line to win their 1 v 1s and if we score push on and get another. For me, this is the perfect opportunity to play Mainoo and potentially make a replacement to show what Wharton can do Knowing the results elsewhere and injuries, my revised team would be Pickford Walker Stones Guehi Konsa Mainoo Rice Saka Bellingham Gordon Watkins Kane is obviously struggling. We can beat Slovenia without him. I also think Watkins deserve a shout. His running in behind is something we have desperately missed Of course, we won't go for that and it will probably look something like Pickford Walker Stone Guehi Konsa Gallagher Rice Saka Bellingham Foden Kane Eventually the penny will drop that we can't play with Foden on the left. Jude has to drop back or Southgate has to have the bollocks to drop one of them to the bench. I wouldn't be averse to giving starting Eze over Gordon either.

Aviva are head quartered in Norwich Waitrose is reading Vincent Tan was owner of Cardiff then hence the Visit Malaysia sponsor Obviously Wrexham is a bit of an outlier, being owned by Hollywood stars means better sponsors naturally. The Netflix series helped… The only real zinger there is the Hull City deal with McVities. Everything else is just local sponsors sponsoring the local club We have brands like Euro Garages and Crown paints. I can’t think of anything else in Blackburn that comes close to Waitrose or Aviva The size of the brand also doesn’t necessarily determine the size of the sponsorship package. Norwich and Reading will have a similar marketing catchment as us and will probably charge about the same amount I am just glad we have got rid of Totally Wiked. I don’t mind that it is a local firm and I suspect the sponsorship package will be in line with other Championship clubs that aren’t sponsored by betting companies

Could be a blessing in disguise Chad. I reckon Konsa or Gomez would do a better job

Saka has been the only player to beat a man, aside from that one run by Foden against Denmark I would go with 3 at the back Pickford Walker Stones Guehi Trent Rice Bellingham Trippier (Or Shaw if fit) Saka Kane Gordon

Yeah, this isn’t like the sides Southgate has put out before Typically we have been hard to beat and can be too defensive depending on your outlook, but always looked a threat when going forward and organised This tournament has been a real outlier. The players don’t seem to know their roles and the balance of the team is just off. I don’t understand what he’s trying to do to be honest. Dropping TAA is a start, but it doesn’t fix the issues we have when on the ball It all looks like an unhappy camp

Didn’t he also bring in Bacuna and Dembele? All players suited for the counter

Don’t worry I’m sure we will have you to reply to his every post reminding us all that it isn’t credible 👍😂

Eustace loves out and out wingers. I’ve nailed my colours to the mast on this one - I think we will sign at least 2 proper wingers this summer. It is what JE wants

I still don’t understand why he doesn’t go for 3 at the back. For me, this solves this issue of shoe horning players in. Saka started as a LWB and he’s our only natural left footer who can do that. It just seems like an easy decision

It is clearly a case of the tactics being employed as opposed to the players he has available We didn't close down, we didn't press high, we didn't pass and move. Far too often the emphasis was on holding the ball and slowing the game right down. Our tempo was next to non-existent. These players aren't used to that. They are used to pressing high, moving the ball quickly, interchanging positions It was clear that Jude has his 'wings clipped'. He was everywhere vs Serbia. Yesterday, he didn't move from that central area and as a result we were much, much weaker To compound issues, whenever we do manage to spread it wide, our two full backs aren't good enough to attack. Walker was probably our best player in the first half but he doesn't have the passing ability that Trippier or TAA has. On the left, Trippier is forced inside far too much, and so our natural width in the full backs are lost. Saka holds natural width but again wants to move inside and so when there's no direct overlap from either our central midfielder (which I think is what TAA's role is meant to be) or from Walker, we are left too congested and unable to find a way through Far too often yesterday we found ourselves in a position where there were 4 or 5 players within a proximity of each other trying to play intricate football. It doesn't work. You need to spread the game I don't even want to talk about the lack of leadership when it came to the free kicks towards the end of the game. 1-1 in a major tournament and we get a free kick. Pickford demands he delivers the ball, wastes 30 seconds getting everybody forward and then passes it to his side to Walker. I turned away after that. To be passing the ball as slow and lethargic as we were in that final 10 minutes summed it up for me. A lack of desire to win. For me, it is all down to the instructions they are given And posters can hark on about how they always knew Southgate was a bad manager all they want. This isn't how England have played at major tournaments under Southgate. The criticism is that he sits back when in front. But these past two games, we've not sat back and tried to counter, but been a totally pedestrian side with no desire to even catch a team on the break. It's been bizarre more than frustrating. I really don't know what they are trying to achieve but they won't do anything playing this way

That was crap

I don't know. I have seen better players. He's a back to the wall defender and spends a fair bit of time on the floor. These defenders are often celebrated by people in the stands but for me they bring the team down. There's a reason he has 3, maybe 4, relegations to his name

A natural right foot, left foot midfield is always ideal I do think Wharton will get a chance. If we beat Denmark, I can see him getting at least 20 minutes v Slovenia. I hope that 20 minutes is with Rice where he can really demonstrate what he can do

Forget about that. He's a bit of a prat I played against McFadzean when he was at Alfreton Town. I don't understand how he has managed to etch a living as a League 1 / Championship footballer, really. He thought he was better than he was then. I guess it is just a case of luck, which is a real factor between players at the League 1 and National League level

How have you found the transport Joey? A lot of talk is about how poor the coordination has been, leaving fans stranded or with several mile long walks to the ground It doesn't sound very German to me.........🤣

Having Trippier at left back caused issues because he was forced inside constantly If you think back to our goal v Italy in the last final, it started from Shaw taking the ball at the left back position and opening his body out. It brought us out from defence quickly. With a right footed left-back, you don't get that I do wonder why don't move to 3 at the back. Walker isn't really an attacking right back. He's best when he is left at the back to mark 1 on 1. Playing 3 at the back with Walker, Stones and Guehi there would give us much more of an attacking emphasis. Play Saka on the left. It is not like we haven't got others who can play right wing. You can then put TAA at RWB where he is much better. His best period of play was the first half where we focused our play down that right flank But this is the thing with football, we all have an opinion. I think Southgate is here to just win games. Unfortunately, that mentality might let us down against better teams. Spain or Germany would have picked us up apart yesterday and so we have to improve. I hope that was our bad performance out of the way and we move on better & stronger We should beat Denmark. Meaning we will top the group and have an easier last 16. That is the way I am looking at it

The only thing that matters is tournament football is that we win every game 1-0 will do for me We looked as poor as we have under Southgate during tournament football. I don’t think TAA helped in midfield. He isn’t one really. That experiment has failed. Would much rather see Mainoo in there England will improve with better opposition. A win against Denmark and we may see young Adam Wharton play vs Slovenia. We can dream

Mark Venus coming back is worrying I have always had a real sneaking suspicion that the housing development plan did not die as it was portrayed You feel as though Venus was involved in that. Although, I admit that is just a wild leap and not based on any inside knowledge There's currently another situation in which a cash grab can be excused. Waggott embedding himself in with his old mates like Park and Venus tells me he is here for the long-haul. In that respect, everybody should be wary of new plans to develop on Brockhall

Where Leonard differs from strikers like Vale, or even Gallagher, is that he got in goal scoring positions consistently. His finishing was then impressive at times but by the fact you've got in that position to begin with shows a natural ability. Gallagher can go entire games without ever looking like scoring. That never really happened for Leonard I think there's a player in there and a loan to a L1 team might do him some good. I don't think we can afford to do that though. He is required here as back up

What a crap article that is. Some people will read that as a matter of fact. Wow.

Lewis Dunk isn't the best on the ball is he!! I would bring Ben White back in when Southgate goes. Trippier hasn't gone long left and Kyle Walker is 33 so probably both of their last tournaments. White can play right back very well.

You'd imagine that Brainthwaite and Trafford are sure fire to not go. I don't think he will take Jarrod Bowen either. One of Quansah, Guehi or Dunk will go. Up top I'd say Ivan Toney will be dropped. Unfortunately, I think the last one to go will be Wharton I think it is surprising he has named Guehi and Dunk over Tomori. He does not rate him whatsoever or can't be arsed to go to Italy

Maguire has been anything but a calamity for England