Euro 2024

[Vegas Claret]

ha brilliant

[GetIntoEm]

Germany were playing Scotland. Spain were playing Croatia. If that's your knowledge of international football I don't blame you for your opinion.

These are the same pundits and ex pros that have mainly tipped us to be one of the favourites yeah?

[Vegas Claret]

Germany were playing Scotland. Spain were playing Croatia. If that's your knowledge of international football I don't blame you for your opinion.

These are the same pundits and ex pros that have mainly tipped us to be one of the favourites yeah?

There are ways to have a conversation, you aren't worth my time.

[AlargeClaret]

We were just about ok 2nd and decent 1st, rode our luck a bit 2nd half , but never truly had to step in up .We’re a tough watch but Bellingham looks hugely impressive , but AA a CM! and Foden just doesn’t quite fit for me . Almost guaranteed a last 16 and should top the group. Needs a top team to really bring our game out ( imo ) though defensively we look a touch lumpen , though we’ll sharpen as we progress .

[Jamesy]

We were just about ok 2nd and decent 1st, rode our luck a bit 2nd half , but never truly had to step in up .We’re a tough watch but Bellingham looks hugely impressive , but AA a CM! and Foden just doesn’t quite fit for me . Almost guaranteed a last 16 and should top the group. Needs a top team to really bring our game out ( imo ) though defensively we look a touch lumpen , though we’ll sharpen as we progress .

I wish I could share your optimism.

[bfcjg]

Just hope the catering was better.
No it was a lot wurst.

Groan

[Carlos the Great]

Southgate has the luxury of some fantastic players in his squad .. Bellingham ..Rice …Saka … Trent .. etc but still managed to put a performance that was underwhelming and lacklustre and most of the fans will be concerned from what they saw .. I would like to see Gordon and Eze have some time but think Southgate won’t make any changes at all

[Newcastleclaret93]

This team has the same problem as the golden generation

Too many great players that practically play the same position.

I think Foden is the one that’s got to make way moving forward. He’s been really poor recently for England

[bumba]

This team has the same problem as the golden generation

Too many great players that practically play the same position.

I think Foden is the one that’s got to make way moving forward. He’s been really poor recently for England

Doesn't matter which players are selected until the manager has made way, we won't win anything with Southgate in charge.
Performances since the last major tournament have been awful

[ClaretFelix]

Shoe horning TAA into midfield when there are actual midfielders in the squad is Southgates problem.
He'll never be a midfielder as long as I've got a hole in my arse.

Tournament football is where he should be putting round pegs in round holes, he's had plenty of time to tinker about and find his best formation

[Dyched]

TAA had a decent game.

We lost patience in the 2nd half, Foden looking frustrated at times. It’s like we looked to rush and score every time. Just keep it. Kane also dropping far too deep too often.

I’d swap Palmer for Kane in the next game.

[taio]

Southgate got the tactics wrong in the second half and in a way many supporters predicted a long time ago.

[jlup1980]

TAA shouldn't be playing CM. Trippier shouldn't be playing LB. Foden shouldn't be playing LW. We all knew that beforehand and we still know it now.

As good as his passing is, TAA doesn't have the energy to play in CM. Gallagher makes far more sense. I was saying last night that Gallagher is like a better version of Josh Brownhill. He would compliment Rice and Bellingham well. Rice mops up and Bellingham has the freedom to roam. Gallagher can be that nuisance factor, breaking up the play when the opposition is getting more of the ball.

Not having a second left back in the squad is embarrassing. Tyrick Mitchell would have been the obvious answer for the group stages, until Shaw is fit. Trippier just doesn't look comfortable at left back.

You can't have Foden coming inside all the time, certainly not in our formation. With Kane up front and Bellingham in the no.10 you need two out and out wingers. Gordon or Eze makes more sense IMO.

[RVclaret]

TAA shouldn't be playing CM. Trippier shouldn't be playing LB. Foden shouldn't be playing LW. We all knew that beforehand and we still know it now.

As good as his passing is, TAA doesn't have the energy to play in CM. Gallagher makes far more sense. I was saying last night that Gallagher is like a better version of Josh Brownhill. He would compliment Rice and Bellingham well. Rice mops up and Bellingham has the freedom to roam. Gallagher can be that nuisance factor, breaking up the play when the opposition is getting more of the ball.

Not having a second left back in the squad is embarrassing. Tyrick Mitchell would have been the obvious answer for the group stages, until Shaw is fit. Trippier just doesn't look comfortable at left back.

You can't have Foden coming inside all the time, certainly not in our formation. With Kane up front and Bellingham in the no.10 you need two out and out wingers. Gordon or Eze makes more sense IMO.

Was agreeing with all of this until the very last shout, Eze is not an out and out winger and in fact does all his work in the same central areas of Foden. So it’s Gordon or Grealish, oh wait, Grealish isn’t even here.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Southgate showing why he will appeal to top sides around Europe once he leaves the England job.

There aren't many managers out there who could keep Foden n Kane so quiet for 90 minutes

[taio]

We need Shaw starting from Thursday to correct the imbalance.

[CaptJohn]

I didn't think the ref was very good. He should have stamped down on the Serbian thuggery early on in the game. They were trying to kick Saka from the outset. I thought Rice was the important player for us. Covered a lot of ground and protected the back four which is in need of protection with Tripps at left back. Defended way too deep 2nd half and allowed an average Serbian side to dictate the game. Kane had a quiet game and with both Bellingham and Foden occupying the same space it didn't allow him to drop back to receive the ball which is a big part of his game. Need Gordon and Saka out wide for next game. Drop Foden. Luke Shaw, if fit, to replace Tripps and the side will have a better shape. I'm still not sure about TAA in midfield but would give him another go.

[Stayingup]

I thought we did OK and of course won. But we are weaker on the left side than the right and the best teams will exploit that. Graelish may have made a difference but no natural left back???

[CoolClaret]

No idea why Southgate doesn't put two up top in games like that, oh and continues to put square pegs in round holes. It has never worked and never will work. Want Bellingham to start? Drop Foden. Want Foden? Drop Bellingham.

As for Trent in CM, I just don't get it? He put in his best performances at right back for Liverpool, with Henderson shuttling across infront of him providing defensive cover. His long range passing and crossing from right back is the best in the world, no idea why you'd then take that and plonk him in midfield.

[warksclaret]

We won last night which was the main thing, however only because of the brilliance of certain players we have. We were very short of ideas for most of the second half, and it was all leading up to Serbia stealing a goal or a result. There was no plan B. Foden was having a stinker and should have been replaced by Gordon or Palmer. Instead he played all game. Toney should have come on with 15-20 minutes to go as Kane was being really contained by the Serbian defence. Having watched most of this tournaments games and previous England's performances I fear we will be not outplayed, but out thought. Our manager and coaching team are well behind the levels of those teams that will progress in this tournament. I can see us using just 16-17 players in this tournament despite taking three proper strikers and some of the best wide men in Europe

[Ric_C]

Last night was really concerning. Why we sit back and invite pressure is baffling when our weakest part of our team is our defence. The most worrying thing was that we lost control of the game against a pretty average side. It was eerily similar to the Italy final, where we just lost control and couldn't get it back. Seems like Southgate hasn't learnt his lessons.

Good job we have Bellingham, what a player he is. Foden is seriously under performing consistently for England, I'd drop him tbh.

The squad looks unbalanced, and not taking Rashford, Grealish and Branthwaite is looking like a big error now. At least Rashford has got goals in him.

Pinning our hopes on Luke Shaw being fit is already giving me alarm bells in my head

[Colburn_Claret]

As long as our talented players are asked to play in positions, or perform in anyway that is different from their club roles, we will be crap, because we will never be a team.
Playing Foden back there, he may as well be in goal, yet some fans blame him.
A striker of Kanes quality, and we can't find him. He has to play in the middle of our half to see the ball.
I judge us on performances, not results, same as I judge the Clarets, and England stink. They'll continue to stink as long as Southgate just chucks XI players on the pitch, with no shape, no plan, and no idea.

[jlup1980]

Was agreeing with all of this until the very last shout, Eze is not an out and out winger and in fact does all his work in the same central areas of Foden. So it’s Gordon or Grealish, oh wait, Grealish isn’t even here.

Gordon is the obvious one, but Eze can pay there. You're right, he does like to play through the middle as well though. We basically have Shaw and Gordon who ply their trade on the left. Very odd to leave yourself so short on one side of the pitch. Square-pegs in round holes never works.

[expoultryboy]

To wait until the tournament starts to play TAA in midfield is baffling. We've just had 2 friendlies to try this , which would of allowed him and Rice to play together . The guy that did impress was Wharton , who remained on the bench ( plus Grealish but we won't go there ) !

[ClaretFelix]

Foden was hung out to dry on the left. What I don't get with top teams, and I include Burnley in this, is the inflexibility to swap wide men over every 20 minutes or so? It's down at amateur and lower levels regularly.

I get that they work on patterns of play, and may have an understanding with their full back, but if you're being nullified, why not swap over and have a go at the other full back?
Case in point last night, Saka ran them ragged first half but was kept quiet in the 2nd. Why not bring Foden over, who has played from the right with Walker hundreds of times with City, and allow Saka to have a go at the other full back. Despite both being left footed, they are completely different types of players so will have the full backs second guessing.

[Rileybobs]

We played some great football in the first 30 minutes but again Southgate struggled to adapt when Serbia decided to have a go. We just didn't look to retain possession, going back to Pickford who just hit long balls which were mopped up by the taller and more physical Serbia. Not many opposition teams will be as aggressive and physical but we need to find a way to retain possession when the pressure is on and also have an out-ball, which probably means playing runners in behind Kane from either side.

Rethink needed, so presuming Shaw is fit I'd probably go for the following on Thursday;

-------------Pickford
Walker--Stones--Guehi--Shaw
--------Gallagher---Rice
Saka-----Bellingham----Gordon
---------------Kane

[RVclaret]

We played some great football in the first 30 minutes but again Southgate struggled to adapt when Serbia decided to have a go. We just didn't look to retain possession, going back to Pickford who just hit long balls which were mopped up by the taller and more physical Serbia. Not many opposition teams will be as aggressive and physical but we need to find a way to retain possession when the pressure is on and also have an out-ball, which probably means playing runners in behind Kane from either side.

Rethink needed, so presuming Shaw is fit I'd probably go for the following on Thursday;

-------------Pickford
Walker--Stones--Guehi--Shaw
--------Gallagher---Rice
Saka-----Bellingham----Gordon
---------------Kane

If Shaw is fit then Foden stays in for me. It can work just fine if 1) there’s some potential combination play on the outside, which Trippier cannot do on that side 2) we play a midfielder capable of playing simple, yet effective, line breaking passes that Foden and Kane want to feet. So in that case I would love to see Wharton given a go as he’s probably the only midfielder in the squad capable of that. Southgate giving him zero minutes against Iceland suggests we won’t see it though.

[Rileybobs]

If Shaw is fit then Foden stays in for me. It can work just fine if 1) there’s some potential combination play on the outside, which Trippier cannot do on that side 2) we play a midfielder capable of playing simple, yet effective, line breaking passes that Foden and Kane want to feet. So in that case I would love to see Wharton given a go as he’s probably the only midfielder in the squad capable of that. Southgate giving him zero minutes against Iceland suggests we won’t see it though.

Good point re. Shaw and Foden, and naturally I would like to find a way to get the best out of Foden rather than drop him.

[RMutt]

I don’t know why I particularly noticed it last night. Maybe because Serbia were a physical side but the use of arms and hands seemed excessive. I know it’s been in the game a long time now but the amount of pushing, pulling, shirt tugging, obstructing with arms and general ‘hands on’ approach to the way players operate these days really caught my eye in last night’s game. Perhaps I was just a bit distracted because the second half football wasn’t particularly entertaining.

[taio]

Pickford
Walker Stones Guehi Shaw
Mainoo Rice
Saka Bellingham Foden
Kane

[JohnMcGreal]

Now that the pressure is off a little bit I'd be tempted to drop Kane and play Foden in that position, but as a false 9.

Gordon or Eze out on the left. Might be interesting.

[CoolClaret]

-------------Pickford
Trent--Stones--Guehi--Shaw
--------Gallagher---Rice
Saka-----Bellingham----Gordon
---------------Kane

Trent at right back for me, Gallagher doing the old Jordan Henderson role, shuttling and ratting about.

[ecc]

First-half: Serbia couldn't get hold of the ball. England can keep possession thanks to their technical ability.

A second goal in the first 45 would have finished it.

I couldn't believe how England started, and continued, the second-half. They invited the Serbs to attack. Serbia's main hope was crosses and dead-ball kicks as they are strong in the air.

They almost did it and Vlahovic forced Pickford to make an excellent save.

Trippier came very close to conceding a needless penalty.

Only Southgate knows why he told his players to defend deep.

[ISpeds00]

No surprise it's Burnley fans in the vids fighting with Serbs

[Roosterbooster]

Foden was hung out to dry on the left. What I don't get with top teams, and I include Burnley in this, is the inflexibility to swap wide men over every 20 minutes or so? It's down at amateur and lower levels regularly.

I get that they work on patterns of play, and may have an understanding with their full back, but if you're being nullified, why not swap over and have a go at the other full back?
Case in point last night, Saka ran them ragged first half but was kept quiet in the 2nd. Why not bring Foden over, who has played from the right with Walker hundreds of times with City, and allow Saka to have a go at the other full back. Despite both being left footed, they are completely different types of players so will have the full backs second guessing.

Absolutely agree
Saka would be fine on the left, especially with a right footed LB in Trippier. Foden on the right with Walker, or centrally needs to happen. You can't have a player that good playing "out of position". And I say out of position, because a RW for England is not the same as a RW for City

Because here's one other thing about Foden. He has played on the right plenty of times for City, and been great. But at City he is given all the licence in the world to drift. First 20 minutes yesterday he was drifting all over and had we actually given him the ball in the pockets he found himself in, he could have been very influential. But we hardly ever gave him the ball. After that he stayed left much more, and Bellingham took that central role away, especially when we had the ball.

Last thing I will say is this. Bellingham's press is shocking

[Scampi]

Actually think that Bellingham disrupted the shape too much, because he didn't play as a 10, but a roving CM - and thus Foden wasn't confident as to when or how he should come in from the left. The brave, but I think correct choice, is to play Bellingham next to Rice, Foden at 10, then your pick from Palmer/Eze/Gordon on the left. Rice's positioning is so good, and Bellingham is just generally so good, that I think that works, and TAA was a total passenger last night so someone else is going to need to slot into the spot next to Rice in any event.

[bumba]

Southgate got the tactics wrong in the second half and in a way many supporters predicted a long time ago.

Good god, your miserable

[taio]

Good god, your miserable

You're

[bumba]

You're

[ClaretPete001]

I was really impressed with Anthony Gordon against us at Turf so I wouldn't have anything against him playing.

Like others I was a bit mystified by the tactics and subs but let's be honest we are Burnley fans and are pretty used to a scintillating first 20 minutes followed by 70 minutes of 'what happened?' and 2 or 3 'why him rather than him from the bench?'...!

But ho hum we won and Southgate has a habit of grinding out victories early in a tournament.

[AGENT_CLARET]

No surprise it's Burnley fans in the vids fighting with Serbs

Where ??

[CoolClaret]

Actually think that Bellingham disrupted the shape too much, because he didn't play as a 10, but a roving CM - and thus Foden wasn't confident as to when or how he should come in from the left. The brave, but I think correct choice, is to play Bellingham next to Rice, Foden at 10, then your pick from Palmer/Eze/Gordon on the left. Rice's positioning is so good, and Bellingham is just generally so good, that I think that works, and TAA was a total passenger last night so someone else is going to need to slot into the spot next to Rice in any event.

That's been his role for Madrid and I think is where he's best -also gives much more defensive solidity in both pressing and recovery runs.

For me Foden can't play with Kane as Kane isn't a striker anymore that can stretch a defensive line. Bellingham can get in and alongside Kane, making runs past him whilst giving him the space to operate a bit deeper.

For me, Foden may be better playing in that '10' spot with Toney leading the line and could be a good option to have in certain games as Kane can go quiet when we're under pressure and need more of a target man to win possession from 50/50s and pen the opposition back - it happened against Croatia (2018 WC semi), Italy(2020/1 EU final) and France (2022 WC final).... Does Gareth have the minerals to make such a change though?

Silly decision to not take one of Rashford/Grealish over Palmer or Eze imo. Hopefully Shaw is back to full fitness soon.

[Burnley1989]

No surprise it's Burnley fans in the vids fighting with Serbs

I recognised a few, one got a decent kick in by the looks of it

[ArmchairDetective]

Ukraine v Romania already looking like a decent game. Goalless for now. Strong start by Ukraine.

[ClaretPete001]

That's been his role for Madrid and I think is where he's best -also gives much more defensive solidity in both pressing and recovery runs.

For me Foden can't play with Kane as Kane isn't a striker anymore that can stretch a defensive line. Bellingham can get in and alongside Kane, making runs past him whilst giving him the space to operate a bit deeper.

For me, Foden may be better playing in that '10' spot with Toney leading the line and could be a good option to have in certain games as Kane can go quiet when we're under pressure and need more of a target man to win possession from 50/50s and pen the opposition back - it happened against Croatia (2018 WC semi), Italy(2020/1 EU final) and France (2022 WC final).... Does Gareth have the minerals to make such a change though?

Silly decision to not take one of Rashford/Grealish over Palmer or Eze imo. Hopefully Shaw is back to full fitness soon.

Kane has had a stunning season with Bayern but he should have come off yesterday and replaced by someone quicker to give us an out ball in the second half. Grealish does look to be a big mistake now.

I just wonder whether Southgate had the cajones to take him off. As soon as they got to grips with Saka we had almost nothing to offer.

[CoolClaret]

Kane has had a stunning season with Bayern but he should have come off yesterday and replaced by someone quicker to give us an out ball in the second half. Grealish does look to be a big mistake now.

I just wonder whether Southgate had the cajones to take him off. As soon as they got to grips with Saka we had almost nothing to offer.

He has and he's a marvellous footballer - absolutely no doubts there. The only downside to his game is his general athleticism and he can go missing when isolated.

I don't think Southgate has the minerals to, no, which is to our detriment. The Croatia game sticks in mind with Vardy sat on the bench who was absolutely tailor made for that situation.

I've got no issues either playing two up top with Kane in a deeper role with someone running in behind - Watkins or Bowen, just not convinced that Foden can play with Kane.

[ArmchairDetective]

What a finish by Stanciu for Romania. 1-0. Great timing from the commentator re: Lunin

[Conroysleftfoot]

What a finish by Stanciu for Romania. 1-0. Great timing from the commentator re: Lunin

Yeah, amazing how many times it happens.

[wilks_bfc]

Keeper isn’t having a game he’ll want to remember

[ArmchairDetective]

3-0. Ukraine wasteful, Romania lethal.