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England v Belgium / Euro 2024 Squad

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EverybodyDannsNow Flag SE19 27 Mar 24 10.22am Send a Private Message to EverybodyDannsNow Add EverybodyDannsNow as a friend

Despite the usual fallout, I thought they played very well last night barring the individual errors from Pickford and Dunk - created more than enough chances to win the game comfortably, despite no Saka or Kane.

I thought a lot of the Mainoo hype going into the game was over the top, but I have to say he looks top drawer. Assuming Bellingham and Rice are nailed on in the midfield 3, he's made a real claim for that third sport. Gallagher was poor against Brazil by contrast.

Toney gave a good account of himself and his link up play looked an upgrade on Watkins - I suspect he gets the 2nd striker spot behind Kane as it stands.

Bowen was also very lively and did his chances no harm.

I was also impressed with Konsa - he may well sneak a spot in the squad given his ability to play both right back and centre half. Looks a better player than Joe Gomez to me.

Dunk was really poor - suspect we will not see him in an England shirt again.

Very surprised neither Branthwaite nor Palmer were given any minutes across the two games.

Assuming everyone is fit, I think the preferred XI at the moment looks something like;

Pickford
Walker Stones Maguire Shaw
Mainoo Rice
Saka Bellingham Foden
Kane

 

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Palace Old Geezer Flag Midhurst 27 Mar 24 10.53am Send a Private Message to Palace Old Geezer Add Palace Old Geezer as a friend

Pickford in goal. Really?

 


Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

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EverybodyDannsNow Flag SE19 27 Mar 24 10.55am Send a Private Message to EverybodyDannsNow Add EverybodyDannsNow as a friend

Originally posted by Palace Old Geezer

Pickford in goal. Really?

Yes... who would you pick?

 

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A89M Flag Streatham 27 Mar 24 11.20am Send a Private Message to A89M Add A89M as a friend

Can't disagree with that lineup.

However, I was slightly concerned with how easily Belgium broke on numerous occasions, this is the issue when you play only one holding midfielder with Mainoo playing further forward than Rice and often pressing high up the pitch. If we're on the front foot a little more, then I'm all for it but it does comes with its risks. There's no room for error and last night it cost us.

Exciting nevertheless.

 

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EverybodyDannsNow Flag SE19 27 Mar 24 11.29am Send a Private Message to EverybodyDannsNow Add EverybodyDannsNow as a friend

Originally posted by A89M

Can't disagree with that lineup.

However, I was slightly concerned with how easily Belgium broke on numerous occasions, this is the issue when you play only one holding midfielder with Mainoo playing further forward than Rice and often pressing high up the pitch. If we're on the front foot a little more, then I'm all for it but it does comes with its risks. There's no room for error and last night it cost us.

Exciting nevertheless.

Don't disagree at all, but we were behind most of the game yesterday so naturally had to take more risks - Southgate is usually so risk averse I actually didn't mind seeing us play more open.

But you're right, knockout football is so brutal and there is no room for error - we certainly can't afford individual errors at the back like the two last night.

 

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ASCPFC Flag Pro-Cathedral/caravan park 27 Mar 24 12.09pm Send a Private Message to ASCPFC Add ASCPFC as a friend

I see you say Southgate's preferred line up - do you agree? There are a few I don't agree with. Some I downright don't think good enough. Mainly defence and goal but also midfield.

Pickford - I prefer Ramsdale or (obviously biased) Johnstone. Pickford hasn't been the same for a couple of seasons now.
Defence, I would like to drop Maguire - I know Southgate won't. I think Stones, Guehi, White - even Dunk, are better options.
Full backs - a hard one - bring White as cover, Tripper, Walker, Chilwell.
Holding midfielder - just one at a time in my opinion. Play Rice as an Anchor. Bellingham can cover, Stones plays this role foran City sometimes.
Box to box - Bellingham, covered by Mainoo, maybe Advanced midfielder central - both can play that role as can Foden
I feel there's room for someone like Maddison in the squad.
There are loads of no. 10s in England, arguably Eze is right up there. The jury's out there. I'm having an embolism thinking of what to do with all those tens and inside forwards. The nailed on ones are Foden and Saka - I'd agree with that. But there may be something to this play Foden centrally argument - that really throws a spanner in the works. Anyway a good problem to have. Up front - obviously Kane, I personally feel next best is Toney - so no Watkins.
Cover for wide men quite hard to think of. England missed Saka and Rashford is right off the boil. Perhaps try and get his head right. Shame Utd have ruined Sancho.
Anyway, probably still left largely confused.

 


Red and Blue Army!

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EverybodyDannsNow Flag SE19 27 Mar 24 12.26pm Send a Private Message to EverybodyDannsNow Add EverybodyDannsNow as a friend

Originally posted by ASCPFC

I see you say Southgate's preferred line up - do you agree? There are a few I don't agree with. Some I downright don't think good enough. Mainly defence and goal but also midfield.

Pickford - I prefer Ramsdale or (obviously biased) Johnstone. Pickford hasn't been the same for a couple of seasons now.
Defence, I would like to drop Maguire - I know Southgate won't. I think Stones, Guehi, White - even Dunk, are better options.
Full backs - a hard one - bring White as cover, Tripper, Walker, Chilwell.
Holding midfielder - just one at a time in my opinion. Play Rice as an Anchor. Bellingham can cover, Stones plays this role foran City sometimes.
Box to box - Bellingham, covered by Mainoo, maybe Advanced midfielder central - both can play that role as can Foden
I feel there's room for someone like Maddison in the squad.
There are loads of no. 10s in England, arguably Eze is right up there. The jury's out there. I'm having an embolism thinking of what to do with all those tens and inside forwards. The nailed on ones are Foden and Saka - I'd agree with that. But there may be something to this play Foden centrally argument - that really throws a spanner in the works. Anyway a good problem to have. Up front - obviously Kane, I personally feel next best is Toney - so no Watkins.
Cover for wide men quite hard to think of. England missed Saka and Rashford is right off the boil. Perhaps try and get his head right. Shame Utd have ruined Sancho.
Anyway, probably still left largely confused.

On the whole I do agree with it, yeah - I'd have Guehi over Maguire but I think that's my only change.

I think Pickford has his flaws but still the best of the bunch - Ramsdale hasn't played enough and he's just a error-prone as Pickford to be honest.

I'm not as hard on Maguire as others are - broadly I think Stones, Guehi and Maguire are our best 3 centre backs, and a fair way above the rest of the pack (Dunk, Konsa, Branthwaite etc.)
I'd start Stones and Guehi but Maguire comfortably third choice for me.

White has ruled himself out of selection unfortunately, which is a shame because I think he would displace Walker based on performances this season, but I'm considering him unavailable for the tournament.

As much as we do have exciting options to play 10 (Foden, Maddison, Eze), I would leave Bellingham there - as much as he can play deeper and the temptation is always to do that, I think you play your best players in their best roles, and I think getting Bellingham and Kane close together at the top end of the pitch is key to us carrying enough of a threat in games.

I would definitely have Maddison in the squad - if we are chasing a game he's so good at creating chances, as yesterday's late equaliser showed.

I hope Grealish can get fit and into some form as he's still a major upgrade on someone like Gordon - if we had Grealish & Rashford as back up wingers to Foden and Saka... those are great options. Maybe Bowen or Palmer sneaks in to add some depth off the right.

 

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eagleman13 Flag On The Road To Hell & Alicante 27 Mar 24 1.24pm Send a Private Message to eagleman13 Holmesdale Online Elite Member Add eagleman13 as a friend

Here's what the bbc think, not too bad a piece either, for them . . . [Link]

 


This operation, will make the 'Charge Of The Light Brigade' seem like a simple military exercise.

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Palace Old Geezer Flag Midhurst 27 Mar 24 2.18pm Send a Private Message to Palace Old Geezer Add Palace Old Geezer as a friend

Originally posted by EverybodyDannsNow

Yes... who would you pick?

Southgate seems fixated with Pickford and I just think we've seen the best of him. I'd like to see Nick Pope given a chance or either of our two.

Maybe it's just because I find Pickford's behaviour annoying.

 


Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

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rob1969 Flag Banstead Surrey 27 Mar 24 4.07pm Send a Private Message to rob1969 Add rob1969 as a friend

Originally posted by eagleman13

Here's what the bbc think, not too bad a piece either, for them . . . [Link]

Nice to see a few of our guys get a mention - bit unlike the Beeb!

 

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CrazyBadger Flag Ware 27 Mar 24 5.00pm Send a Private Message to CrazyBadger Add CrazyBadger as a friend

The Performance yesterday, was a good one and gives hope.
Belgium were organised and defended well, played quite narrow and left little room for us to exploit. Clear cut chances were never going to be easy to create, and proved as such.
It was the finishing that let us down last night. Bellingham being a main offender for this, missing a header and blasting a chance over the bar after good pressure on their keeper and defence, the 2 that I remember. He is some player, mind, and those rare incidents was the only blemishes on a wonderful display, involved in everything good we do. I hope we do not become too reliant on him.
This Was our best effort at breaking down a resolute defence I've seen for a long while and that was mainly down to the triumvate of Bellingham, Mainoo and Rice. Foden was part of that in the second half with a much improved showing after the break.
What this midfield could have done with Kane and Saka alongside them is genuine cause for optimism.
Which brings me to their replacements; Bowen was lively, if a little too eager to please and at times greedy which hindered Toneys involement. There were times he should have passed to Toney instead of shooting but can't blame him for that. Thought overall Toney had a decent game, popped up everywhere, and got a few shots off, good movement to win pen.

Pickford needs to go back to 'keeper school. He's competent, that's about it. When he first came into the team, it was because of his distribution. He aint got that no more. Id rather an out of sorts Ramsdale than him.
Defence has a lot of questions over it. not convinced with any of the players on show last night. It's a shame we didn't get a look at Brathwaite. Never been sure of Stones, but it's got to be Guehi and Stones as our no1 Pairing.
Can't stand Chilwell, would rather a 50yr old Trippier.
Walker is top dog on the right, but Ponza had a reassuringly quiet night - even against Doku.

A promising performance, without the result it deserved. Which I've seemed to have said regularly over the past 25 years.

All in all a draw means that it changes nothing to my thoughts of our chances in the summer. We'll flatter to deceive before coming up against someone in the Semis or final with anything about them; too much desire, too much know-how and we'll get beat. repeat ad-infinitum. I really hope this time is different.




 


"It was a Team effort, I guess it took all players working together to lose this one"

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sprites Flag Auckland 27 Mar 24 8.13pm Send a Private Message to sprites Add sprites as a friend

Foden HAS to start centrally for me. The build the team around that.

Pickford

Walker - Macguire - Stones - Shaw

Rice

Bellingham - Foden

Saka - Kane - Rashford.

 

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