Will Gareth Southgate pick his strongest available team against Belgium or maybe give those who have played no or little part for us in the World Cup Finals some game time?

The likes of Nick Pope and Jack Butland could be given 45 minutes each and Phil Jones Gary Cahill and Danny Welbeck to start maybe

Big changes will be made as most of them looked knackered. There clubs will demand a bit of rest.

I presume Butland comes in if he was no.2 though.

He should be in with a shout, yes

I'd have thought everyone who is fit and hasn't played much, will be playing tomorrow. Same team as for the first Belgium game, perhaps.

If he does that, I can't see him leaving out Pope - you wouldn't want everyone in the squad playing twice apart from one man who played not at all.

Rutland hasn't played yet.

Butland and Pope are the only two not to have played a minute.

He should give them half each but wouldnt be surprised if Butland just gets the full 90

Southgate has said there won't be major changes.

Several things that he'll take into account.

Players knackered
Players carrying a knock
Being pressured to allow players to go back home to join their clubs

If Pickford doesn't apply to any of the above, I'd expect him to start again.

Although the game isn't that important I wouldn't risk someone as inexperienced as Pope so for me id give our star man Pickford a rest and give Butland 90 mins

Pope is better than Pickford

In Burnley fans eyes only

Belgianclaret wrote:Pope is better than Pickford

I remember some bright spark's suggestion that should England go to a penalty shoot-out, they should sub Pickford for Pope with minutes to go.

DustyBawls wrote:I remember some bright spark's suggestion that should England go to a penalty shoot-out, they should sub Pickford for Pope with minutes to go.

Like Holland did bringing on Krul that time. It worked

Pope should play half a game, I assume as third-choice keeper, he'll miss the pre-match line-up and take the second half.

Southgate said: "We have to think who can give us the best performance. It won't be the same XI but, ideally, we want to make as few changes as possible."

I wouldn't read too much into that, tbh.

Belgianclaret wrote:Pope is better than Pickford

He isn't. Pickford has proved his worth this tournament. He has been exceptional.

edison wrote:Southgate said: "We have to think who can give us the best performance. It won't be the same XI but, ideally, we want to make as few changes as possible."

And rightly so. We want to finish 3rd if possible and at least finish on a little bit of a high. This isn't really about giving players minutes just because they're part of the squad.

When 8 changes were made for the Belgium game it was too many for the team to continue to function. I think that's where Gareth is coming from with "there wont be too many changes..."

Injured and over tired players should be the first to be replaced. I'm not sure if Ashley Young is either of those, but given his age it may be an opportunity to give one of the "2nd team" some more "competitive" experience.

Pickford should be rested - he's proved what he can do, and he did a lot of it very well.

Butland or Pope? It's a "competitive" game so I can't see both getting 45 mins. I'd love it to be Nick Pope, but only Gareth and his coaching squad will know what is the best decision.

BTW: it was the media that reported that Nick Pope might be used if a game went to pens. I think it was based on their respective stats, pen saves - though that was before Columbia. It may also have been influenced by respective heights, and reach, but I'm expect a cadbury's cream egg or two has now been discounted.

Devils_Advocate wrote:In Burnley fans eyes only

No seriously, he's just better

Pickford will play

I expect

Butland
Arnold Jones Cahill Maguire Rose
Dier Delph
Lingaard Alli Sterling
Kane

Devils_Advocate wrote:In Burnley fans eyes only

So not in your eyes then?

cricketfieldclarets wrote:I expect

Butland
Arnold Jones Cahill Maguire Rose
Dier Delph
Lingaard Alli Sterling
Kane

That would be 12. Thought it looked strong

Alli out.

He should play his strongest team. Pope would therefore sysrt.

turfytopper wrote:He should play his strongest team. Pope would therefore sysrt.

Your view is out of date.. Did you miss the world cup? Pickford higher rated than de gea and cortoius..

No chance for NP, unfortunately. Still, what a great experience at the end of his first PL season. I wonder if an equally inexperienced goalkeeper has ever been selected.

Japebe43 wrote:Your view is out of date.. Did you miss the world cup? Pickford higher rated than de gea and cortoius..

The smiley face was there for a reason? I'm a burnley supporter so pope would be my pick...

:—))

In an interview during the World Cup, Eric Dier, our match winning pen taker in the shoot out v Columbia, said when he practiced his pens, he preferred to do so against Pope as he was such a giant of a keeper, and seemed to fill the goal.

I think the outstanding think with Pickford is his comfort on the ball.. You can pass back to him again and again, it doesn't faze him at all, and he keeps the game flowing with his distribution. Wouldn't be surprised if Pep fancies him now.

Pickford’s distribution has been first rate throughout - and this is probably IMHO the least impressive aspect of Pope’s game. I suspect Butland will start and Pope will be the one player not to get any game time

Devils_Advocate wrote:In Burnley fans eyes only

Stats prove that is totally correct.

cricketfieldclarets wrote:He isn't. Pickford has proved his worth this tournament. He has been exceptional.

Nah.
Ok.

SpringHillClaret wrote:Pickford’s distribution has been first rate throughout - and this is probably IMHO the least impressive aspect of Pope’s game. I suspect Butland will start and Pope will be the one player not to get any game time

That is a myth! More often than not, caught being slow, putting defence under pressure and forced into clearance. Rather have a better keeper!

Pickford in goal so that's that.

Oh well Euros might have a chance in that in 2 years

Pickfords playing the full 90 mins as he should based on his performances to win us 3rd place and bronze

Pickford, Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Jones, Rose, Dier, Delph, Loftus-Cheek, Sterling, Kane

Blimey, all I can think of seeing this is the Hazard v Jones mismatch from the Cup Final.

Id have preferred to have Dier at the back instead of Jones and Rashford given a start with Sterling and Kane with Delph and Loftus-Cheek sitting deep

Cahill for me and Dier left on the bus!

IanMcL wrote:Cahill for me and Dier left on the bus!

Cahill far too slow to get into this England team. Decent at defending, but receiving the ball, turning and getting the ball into midfield? Nah. Not on my watch.

DustyBawls wrote:Cahill far too slow to get into this England team. Decent at defending, but receiving the ball, turning and getting the ball into midfield? Nah. Not on my watch.

He might have come in handy!

IanMcL wrote:He might have come in handy!

Only because Jones is worse. Defending and a creator is what we lacked this World Cup. Defending when off the ball and somebody to spot a pass.

Nick never had a sniff of a game. The experience will live with him for the rest of his life though