England Team v Slovenia

[boatshed bill]

Probably much the same as the previous games, but I hope Shaw is fit and chosen.

[ecc]

And he's still experimenting, ffs.

There's no excuse for it. Whoever the manager whatever the country. Only if you've lost a key player or players just before the tournament e.g. De Jong for the Netherlands.

[JarrowClaret]

Southgate was praying for Shaw to be fit. Why he didn't include a natural LB like Burn only he knows.

I've not seen much of Foden TBH but he must surely be light years ahead of MLT. Foden couldn't be faulted for effort against Serbia - I didn't see the Denmark game - but the problem is fitting him and Bellingham into the team.

Bellingham doesn't seem to have a fixed position but has an incredibly handy knack of suddenly turning up in dangerous positions at the right time.

Rice seems wasted playing deep against "weaker" teams.

Whatever. Southgate has had 18 months to get ready for this tournament.

You couldn't drop Kane. That really wouldn't make sense.

Do you mean Dan Burn? If you do he is a Center half moved to Left Back after an injury crisis who did well and stayed there. He was then subsequently dropped after a run of poor form he then got brought back into the Center and did quite well there. I like Dan Burn but he would be no better than Tripps or any of the others who will stand in for Shaw.

[NottsClaret]

Gareth bemoans our inability to keep the ball, and then he’ll pick Gallagher ahead of Wharton. The sooner he’s back managing Boro or Hull, the better.

[Clockwork Claret]

————————Pickford
TAA———Stones———Guehi——Gomez
—————Wharton——Rice
Saka———-—Bellingham———-Gordon
—————-———Kane

It addresses several key issues

Balance: Wharton is two footed, primarily left, while Gomez can actually use his left foot, unlike Trippier. This creates better passing angles and makes retaining possession more natural, while now it’s forced.

Width: Gordon can play the role of providing the width we are missing on the left, this in turn allows more space for Kane to play in, with Bellingham, Saka and Gordon making runs beyond him

Better passers from deep: any team that wants to dominate the ball (which given our squad we should be doing) needs someone to be comfortable receiving the ball deep, playing on the half turn, fizzing simple balls quickly, one-two touch, Wharton offers that despite inexperience. Playing Trent at right back also allows better ball progression than Walker offers. Keeping in mind the above point of runners beyond Kane, Trent’s passing in behind will help create chances.

Round pegs, round holes: Rice played (and shone) alongside Jorginho (the 6, the sitter) all season at Arsenal, why’s he playing as a sole 6? His build up from deep is very basic and isn’t utilising his strength (aggressive ball winning & ball carrying). Foden is a wonderful player but without a genuine wing back it’s pointless playing him from the left unfortunately.

This is spot on. It's as close to a well balanced England side with real quality as I've seen in ages. Proper options off the bench.

Wharton can play the 6.

Rice is better further forward.

TAA is better at RB with the space in front and time to play the passes. He will link up nicely a give Saka the out ball.

Gomez can tuck in and make a solid 3 when TAA moves up. Shaw when fit means you can maybe play Walker.

Gordon gives us width and balance. Seriously lacking so far.

Bellingham gets to play 10 with freedom without Foden dropping in. Foden off rhe bench gives us something different.

Palmer off the bench can play across the front.

However, all this means dropping Walker and Foden. He won't do it!!!

[Clive 1960]

Probably much the same as the previous games, but I hope Shaw is fit and chosen.

How can the manager seriously consider Shaw who is not match fitness and he hasn't played for is club for a while, should never have took him and also looks bad on other left backs who haven't been considered...

[Passing Clouds]

Pickford
Walker Trippier
Stones Guehi
Wharton
Rice Bellingham
Foden
Saka Gordon
Kane

Bellingham and Foden are top class. Surely they can organise between themselves which one stays and which one goes forward. We need a left winger badly = Gordon.

[Passing Clouds]

The formatting went a bit whack. I think it’s self explanatory:-)

[claretonthecoast1882]

The formatting went a bit whack. I think it’s self explanatory:-)

Is it the old 4-4-3 formation with 12 players ?

[CoolClaret]

Pickford
Walker Trippier
Stones Guehi
Wharton
Rice Bellingham
Foden
Saka Gordon
Kane

Bellingham and Foden are top class. Surely they can organise between themselves which one stays and which one goes forward. We need a left winger badly = Gordon.

Playing with 12 men should give us the upperhand tbf = lets hope that the ref doesn't notice!

[Passing Clouds]

Ha ha. Damn. A glass of red with dinner obviously sent me over the edge:-)))

Let me re-think

[Passing Clouds]

Got it. Let’s get rid of Pickford

[Roosterbooster]

Playing with 12 men should give us the upperhand tbf = lets hope that the ref doesn't notice!

I'm beginning to think starting a formation with a 1 for the keeper has its merits...

[ArmchairDetective]

Pickford
Walker Stones Guehi Tripps (if Shaw isn't available)
Rice Bellingham
Saka Foden Eze
Kane

[Jakubs Tash]

Loads of posters choosing to drop the player of the year and not play the young player of the year….but are happy to pick players who don’t even look fit just because of who they are.

[Passing Clouds]

Pickford
Walker Stones Guehi Tripps (if Shaw isn't available)
Rice Bellingham
Saka Foden Eze
Kane

That looks good. But Gordon instead of Eze. I like him but he’s another one who likes to play centrally. We need some width.

[ChorltonCharlie]

It’s like groundhog day after Burnley’s season. Long threads debating who GS should and shouldn’t pick, but it’s pretty much irrelevant when the manager is coaching them so badly and sending them out with passive tactics. The team he has been picking should have been more than capable of dominating both games, but they’ve not been able to go out on the front foot and take the game to teams. We sat deep against Denmark with no intention to press, but then constantly tried to play out from the back when it was clear their press had the upper hand. The front three were hung out to dry with the way we played. Unless we change our approach to games it really doesn’t matter who we pick.

[Boss Hogg]

To start with Gordon on the left. Midfielders in the middle ( not TAA) and maybe Watkins up front for Kane.

[Casper2]

So the only change is Gallagher for Trent , that’ll make a huge difference

[willsclarets]

So the only change is Gallagher for Trent , that’ll make a huge difference

I'm disappointed with that too, but the team is capable of much better if we get foden and saka going beyond Kane. Its more about our mentality than getting different players on the pitch.

[Taffy on the wing]

Probably much the same as the previous games, but I hope Shaw is fit and chosen.

If he does choose him, he'll probably play him in midfield.

[jlup1980]

I'm disappointed with that too, but the team is capable of much better if we get foden and saka going beyond Kane. Its more about our mentality than getting different players on the pitch.

Foden won't go beyond Kane though, that's one of the problems. Foden will get drawn inside, leave a gap on the left as he has done in the first two matches, and generally get in the way of Bellingham in the process. Foden is a wonderful player but he'll never be a left winger in the same way that TAA will never be a CM and Trippier will never be a LB. It doesn't make any of them bad players, they're just being hung out to dry by the Manager. Kane will continue to drop deep as well, especially if we take the lead as the back 4 will be inside our penalty area for the rest of the game.

I sincerely hope Southgate see's the error of his ways but the fact he seems to be going with the same set up again, minus TAA for Gallagher, just shows how utterly hopeless he is. We've qualified and this is the easiest game we have on paper (lowest world ranking at least). Give Shaw an hour if he's getting close, try Bellingham in the 8 with Foden as the 10, get Gordon and Palmer on the pitch for a decent period. Try things out now, not in the knockout phase!

[willsclarets]

Foden won't go beyond Kane though, that's one of the problems. Foden will get drawn inside, leave a gap on the left as he has done in the first two matches, and generally get in the way of Bellingham in the process. Foden is a wonderful player but he'll never be a left winger in the same way that TAA will never be a CM and Trippier will never be a LB. It doesn't make any of them bad players, they're just being hung out to dry by the Manager. Kane will continue to drop deep as well, especially if we take the lead as the back 4 will be inside our penalty area for the rest of the game.

I sincerely hope Southgate see's the error of his ways but the fact he seems to be going with the same set up again, minus TAA for Gallagher, just shows how utterly hopeless he is. We've qualified and this is the easiest game we have on paper (lowest world ranking at least). Give Shaw an hour if he's getting close, try Bellingham in the 8 with Foden as the 10, get Gordon and Palmer on the pitch for a decent period. Try things out now, not in the knockout phase!

I've seen Foden go beyond Haaland plenty of times, but I agree it's not his "go to", he prefers pockets of space in the 10 position. All I was saying is regardless of 1 change, that 11 should be more than capable of performing a heck of a lot better. As discussed on some podcast this week, Spain won the Euros with Fabregas as a false 9, Silva on the right and Iniesta on the left. They're top players, and at international level that includes an ability to adapt.

That said, I don't disagree that we have better options. No chance I'd play Foden on the left I'd have him in the 10 and ask Bellingham to be an 8 with Gordon on the left. And possibly 3 at the back even. But regardless as I said originally, Southgate's failings (and the players to be fair), are not just in formation/positions. Because you can make that work with fluidity, IF the players have clear instructions with/without the ball and the right mentality to go alongside.

[summitclaret]

Assuming Shaw is not fit yet, against sides like Slovenia, I'd play Saka left back with total licence to get forward. I'd also play Trippier at right back.

Palmer has to start also, probably widish right, with Foden 10 and Bellingham and Rice deeper centrally. Take your pick for the last attackers, but tonight I'd start Gordon and Watkins.

[equinox]

Does Kane tell Southgate or does Southgate tell Kane....?

Listening to Declan Rice being interviewed earlier, this guy should be leading our country, yes I know he's next but he should be now.

[bobinho]

It’s like groundhog day after Burnley’s season. Long threads debating who GS should and shouldn’t pick, but it’s pretty much irrelevant when the manager is coaching them so badly and sending them out with passive tactics. The team he has been picking should have been more than capable of dominating both games, but they’ve not been able to go out on the front foot and take the game to teams. We sat deep against Denmark with no intention to press, but then constantly tried to play out from the back when it was clear their press had the upper hand. The front three were hung out to dry with the way we played. Unless we change our approach to games it really doesn’t matter who we pick.

I get this. Sadly, it’s too late to give them another message. They have had the attacking intent coached out of them when wearing the England shirt. Completely irrelevant who he picks, the message will remain the same - don’t concede. Criminal.

[SonofPog]

The only way this team works if Foden and Saka switch sides. Allow Walker to bomb on. Keep Tripper back (Total waste, might as well be Gomez)

Otherwise, it'll be the same disjointed crude.

[roperclaret]

We don’t have a left back, so don’t play one

Pickford
Walker Stones Geuhi
Rice Wharton
Saka Bellingham Foden Gordon
Kane

When Kane drops deep Bellingham pushes on
Saka and Gordon hug the lines

[LeadBelly]

Jesus- just one change, Gallagher for TAA. Still Tripps and Foden on the left. Same old... same old... (but I hope the 11 can do better).

[Woody9229]

Southgate in one stroke justifying all the memes out there about him being cautious. Gallagher his only change FFS. No one in the country apart from him would pick this line up.

[TheFamilyCat]

Southgate in one stroke justifying all the memes out there about him being cautious. Gallagher his only change FFS. No one in the country apart from him would pick this line up.

I guess he'll see it as one last chance to click in a virtual dead rubber against a team we should always beat comfortably.

If it doesn't though, he surely has to change it for the next game and he'll have missed the chance to try something different.

It's a shame there isn't more at stake as I fear it will feel like a friendly with energy saving and injury avoidance being the priority rather than putting in a performance that will give us some momentum.

[expoultryboy]

If true Cat - why not try Gordon left and Foden in the 10 ? I have the same feeling for Southgate as I do for Rishi and Simon Garner

[Tresor'sTracksuit]

If we don't up our performance tonight I reckon it'll be a draw. Slovenia will be hard to break down and our performances so far have been meh.

[Murger]

If it’s another shocking performance, then the team and especially the manager deserve every bit of criticism that comes their way.

[Elizabeth]

If we’re honest we are half expecting another poor performance. Slovenia are poor though and this is unlikely to happen. If I’m right I still won’t know if it will prove anything

[Vegas Claret]

Gareth loves a runner, Scholes is right - a brain is more important

[Mattster]

Like every starting lineup and all the initial substitutions so far, Southgate had planned this ahead of the tournament. He hasn't got a shred of imagination and is almost totally incapable of responding of the cuff when something isn't working.

The only thing that will force a deviation from his planned tedium is an injury.

[RVclaret]

Blows my mind that he’s gone with the same team after that sh1te the other night. Yes he’s changed Trent for Gallagher but that’s not changed anything structurally or tactically.

[TheFamilyCat]

What sort of moron boos a national anthem?

Oh, the sort that can't sing in time to music.

[ecc]

England are in need of providing a statement of intent.

I think the Slovenians will be tired and cannot see beyond an England team.

However, Šeško is a real danger. Yes he's yet to score but the lad is quality.

[Goalposts]

He’s changed nothing Gallagher for Trent is the change he made previous 2 games in the 2nd half and both half’s we were worse than the first

[Murger]

Not a great start. Very sloppy.

[willsclarets]

Bellingham and Foden are swapping in and out a bit to get Foden central with Bellingham moving out left. Hopefully we'll grow into the game a bit.

[wilks_bfc]

Bellingham and Foden are swapping in and out a bit to get Foden central with Bellingham moving out left. Hopefully we'll grow into the game a bit.

The change should have been Jude deeper, Foden in the middle and Gordon on the left

[ElectroClaret]

Yellow for Trips.

[The Shire Claret]

You can at least see what they are trying to do ….

[willsclarets]

The change should have been Jude deeper, Foden in the middle and Gordon on the left

I would've preferred that too tbh. I can't see what Gallagher gives us. And hopefully that means he has a stormer now I've said that

[RVclaret]

Awful this.

[willsclarets]

It might not be the worst thing in the world to go 1 down early on. They need a spark desperately

[CoolClaret]

Still no natural width down the left. Trippier and Foden both have instincts to cut inside...

Good play there though - just half a yard offside. Unlucky.