David Ornstein (reliable journo) on Twitter suggesting Tripps to start at left back alongside Mings, Stones and Walker. Phillips in with Rice and Sterling Mount Foden Kane ahead.

Must say i’m surprised Tripps starts ahead of Chilwell and Shaw who have been excellent this season.

Score prediction? 1-1

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 10:49 am

David Ornstein (reliable journo) on Twitter suggesting Tripps to start at left back alongside Mings, Stones and Walker. Phillips in with Rice and Sterling Mount Foden Kane ahead.

Must say i’m surprised Tripps starts ahead of Chilwell and Shaw who have been excellent this season.

Score prediction? 1-1

I wouldn’t be surprised with any decision Southgate makes

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 10:51 am

I wouldn’t be surprised with any decision Southgate makes

Another way to look at it

Dyche to England? ( after the tourney )

Bonkers if true but it wouldn't surprise me with this clown in charge. Square pegs in round holes again for no apparent reason.

I've gone for a 2-2 on Super6, England have goals in them, but there's absolutely no way we'll keep clean sheets in this tournament.

And if Sterling starts he can count himself a lucky boy.

I’d wait until the team is announced, because that seems a silly decision to me. Shaw has had a brilliant season.

If the rumoured line up is true, it just confirms what a clown Southgate is.

Absolutely baffling how he's starting Tripps at LB ahead of Shaw and Chilwell.

For a team that relies quite heavily on set pieces it wouldn’t be a surprise if he picked a set piece taker in a lineup that is otherwise lacking one.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:31 am

For a team that relies quite heavily on set pieces it wouldn’t be a surprise if he picked a set piece taker in a lineup that is otherwise lacking one.

Yes it's a pity we couldn't have selected someone such as JWP isn't it who's a specialist on set plays.

As CT says above you can’t be surprised by odd decisions Southgate makes. He’s failed every time we’ve come up against a half decent side in a tournament, and only held onto his job by sneaking into the semis in the last World Cup, where predictably we were beaten once we played a good team.

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:36 am

Yes it's a pity we couldn't have selected someone such as JWP isn't it who's a specialist on set plays.

And who would you have selected JWP ahead of?

Winstonswhite wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:19 am

I’d wait until the team is announced, because that seems a silly decision to me. Shaw has had a brilliant season.

I don’t watch La Liga but by all accounts Tripper has had a more brilliant season than Shaw.

Southgate thinks he's Guardiola. Tries to overthink everything. Looking at that lineup has really annoyed me.

I’m shocked that he’s going 4-3-3 when one of his centre backs is Tyrone Mings - that’s the biggest concern I have. Yes, Rice will drop back and make it a three at times I guess, but Mings is an utter liability. I fully expected a back three of Stones, Mings and Walker flanked by two full backs.

Let’s hope he’s got it right. Shirt on and off to the local I go, come on England.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:40 am

And who would you have selected JWP ahead of?

I'd have played him in place of Phillips, 2 holding midfielders against Croatia is incredibly defensive for me, especially given it's effectively a home game today.

Love Trips to bits but that absurd decision was one I predicted on the Dear England thread when I predicted poor judgement from Southgate.

I’m also not convinced by Mings and Sterling (latter on form, former on talent). But those are lesser issues than silly tactical choices that must make every natural left back feel Southgate must think they aren’t good enough.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:42 am

I don’t watch La Liga but by all accounts Tripper has had a more brilliant season than Shaw.

At right back!

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:48 am

I'd have played him in place of Phillips, 2 holding midfielders against Croatia is incredibly defensive for me, especially given it's effectively a home game today.

Fair enough. To be honest I don’t really feel that JWP is international quality. Then again I could say the same about Phillips, although he probably offers more.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:42 am

I don’t watch La Liga but by all accounts Tripper has had a more brilliant season than Shaw.

Not disputing that, but he didn’t play at left back, unlike Shaw, did he?

Maybe Southgate got him in for his free kicks.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:56 am

At right back!

Do you not think that a right back can perform the role of a left back? Tripper has played at left back for England on numerous occasions and hasn’t looked out of place. Players are adaptable and many can play in a variety of positions. Although when I see the uproar on here whenever a wide player is played on the ‘opposite’ flank I understand that some find this difficult to grasp.

Winstonswhite wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 11:59 am

Not disputing that, but he didn’t play at left back, unlike Shaw, did he?

Maybe Southgate got him in for his free kicks.

See my post above. But yes, no doubt free kicks and corners will be a reason for the decision. Seeing as most of England’s goals tend to come from corners or penalties it’s hardly the craziest of decisions by Southgate.

I think Trippier has looked half the player when playing on the left side tbh

Usually watching England in tournaments I know a calamity will happen, I just don’t know when and from where. This time, it all seems so obvious. We’ll struggle to create, no left wing crosses, no Grealish to probe. Kane will drop too deep. Then, that left side of defence, Trips and Mings (I’m guessing Mings to Stones’ left) exposed, with a poor goalie behind them. Probably trying to dribble or do something inappropriate.

I actually think we will win 2-1 today, with a 2nd round exit. But we’ll see.

Hopefully Trippier will have a good game but I’m not convinced playing a natural right back at left back when we have very good alternative options who have been in excellent form.

Shaw and Chilwell must be furious.

Apart from anything Trippers best attribute by far is his crossing ability. So you stick him on the side where he has to cut back inside to cross...

Is that definitely the team selected?

England have yet to win the opening fixture during any of their previous European Championship campaigns.

Starting today at Wembley would give everybody a boost (especially those that follow the cricket).

Chilwell not even on the bench.

Murger wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 12:46 pm

Chilwell not even on the bench.

Must be injured.

Not very on brand for me but I’ll save my thoughts on the line-up for AFTER the game. Come on England. Let’s do this.

boatshed bill wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 12:22 pm

Is that definitely the team selected?

Yes been confirmed.

Sancho not on the bench either.

Southgate is nuts.

If England lose this, he's probably chucked his last bit of goodwill.

ksrclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 12:56 pm

Southgate is nuts.

If England lose this, he's probably chucked his last bit of goodwill.

Out of interest what is nuts about the team selection? Is it just Tripper at LB or something more?

Bizarre decision regarding Tripps at left back. Did we ever play him there? Never liked playing players out of position unless in a crisis.
Rice to sit in front of back four and with Mings and Stones starting he'd better not go very far upfield.
Grealish to come on around the 60th minute for Mount. Rashford for Kane on 70 minutes.
Going for 1-1.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 12:58 pm

Out of interest what is nuts about the team selection? Is it just Tripper at LB or something more?

The whole selection is a joke. Trips at LB when we have 2 in the squad (3 if you include Saka).
Mings being in the squad full stop.
An out of form Sterling in over Grealish.
2 defensive midfielders against an aging Croatia side.

Shocking from Southgate from start to finish.

Murger wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 1:01 pm

The whole selection is a joke. Trips at LB when we have 2 in the squad (3 if you include Saka).
Mings being in the squad full stop.
An out of form Sterling in over Grealish.
2 defensive midfielders against an aging Croatia side.

Shocking from Southgate from start to finish.

This 100%

Murger wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 1:01 pm

The whole selection is a joke. Trips at LB when we have 2 in the squad (3 if you include Saka).
Mings being in the squad full stop.
An out of form Sterling in over Grealish.
2 defensive midfielders against an aging Croatia side.

Shocking from Southgate from start to finish.

Theres not much point in keep whinging about squad selection.

Take Tripper out of the side and who is taking the set pieces?

Sterling is in the side for pace and threat in behind. Kane and Foden both come deep and like the ball to feet. Grealish doesn’t offer that threat in behind.

2 defensive midfielders are to protect a weak defence. I don’t agree with this a lot of the time but on paper this is England’s toughest group game.

It’s fine to disagree with the selection, but at least put some thought into why he’s selected the side that he has.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 12:58 pm

Out of interest what is nuts about the team selection? Is it just Tripper at LB or something more?

Trippier at left back is bizarre enough. But add in the inclusion of Sterling over Rashford or Grealish, and I think it's pretty nuts. There are other questionable decisions but I can see why he's made those. I can't see why he's made the first two.

CaptJohn wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 12:59 pm

Bizarre decision regarding Tripps at left back. Did we ever play him there? Never liked playing players out of position unless in a crisis.
Rice to sit in front of back four and with Mings and Stones starting he'd better not go very far upfield.
Grealish to come on around the 60th minute for Mount. Rashford for Kane on 70 minutes.
Going for 1-1.

Think he played LB at Newcastle when Long snapped his cruciate in an emergency cos Reid had to come on and play RB with Mee going from LB into the middle

The selection of Trippier, Mings and Sterling certainly wouldn’t be my choice but I hope we go on to smash Croatia

Shearer also surprised Trippier has been selected at LB

ksrclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 1:06 pm

Trippier at left back is bizarre enough. But add in the inclusion of Sterling over Rashford or Grealish, and I think it's pretty nuts. There are other questionable decisions but I can see why he's made those. I can't see why he's made the first two.

I wouldn’t have picked Trippier at LB, but as I’ve said this looks to be for his set pieces.

Sterling hasn’t had the best season but I’d have picked the same front 3 as Southgate. Sterling offers a more direct threat in behind which will stretch the defence. When he runs at players they panic.

Not everyone is going to agree with all of the team selections. I just find the constant bashing to be utterly tedious. We haven’t even kicked a ball.

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 1:12 pm

I wouldn’t have picked Trippier at LB, but as I’ve said this looks to be for his set pieces.

Sterling hasn’t had the best season but I’d have picked the same front 3 as Southgate. Sterling offers a more direct threat in behind which will stretch the defence. When he runs at players they panic.

Not everyone is going to agree with all of the team selections. I just find the constant bashing to be utterly tedious. We haven’t even kicked a ball.

Opinions, innit.

Vrsaljko playing right back for Croatia. May explain Tripps at left back. Though I'd still have played Chilwell or Shaw there.They're team mates at Atletico. Don't know what Mings has on Southgate though. Must be big to keep getting picked. If Romania had better players they could have been 0-2 up against us within 15 minutes due to his awful marking and decision making. He's also a red card/penalty waiting to happen. I'd rather have Walker in there. At least he knows Stones' game.

ksrclaret wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 1:16 pm

Opinions, innit.

True dat. I just think some are going a bit overboard on the criticism. Let’s face it, whilst Southgate may have his limitations, he knows football and his players a hell of a lot better than us. And you can guarantee his selection will have been very well considered. That’s not to say that it will prove to be correct, just that his decision is much more informed than our opinions.

Now we know why Southgate picked all those right backs , so he could play one at left back

Red Fox Rocks Socks wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 1:09 pm

Think he played LB at Newcastle when Long snapped his cruciate in an emergency cos Reid had to come on and play RB with Mee going from LB into the middle

He did, played the second half at left back after we’d had to make three substitutions in the first half. That was an unavoidable emergency and I can’t recall him otherwise playing anywhere other than at right back for us

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 13, 2021 1:20 pm

True dat. I just think some are going a bit overboard on the criticism. Let’s face it, whilst Southgate may have his limitations, he knows football and his players a hell of a lot better than us. And you can guarantee his selection will have been very well considered. That’s not to say that it will prove to be correct, just that his decision is much more informed than our opinions.

He clearly doesn’t, he’s playing Trippier at left back