As you say teams change and evolve during competitions. But Gareth is very resolute. For the four games so far he’s picked 10 out of 11 to begin a game. To his immense credit Gareth has managed to get his players on his wavelength and ideas ——which they have subscribed to wholeheartedly. It’s Declan Rice’s partner who has had to suffer the most. Poor Trent Alexander Arnold, Conor Gallagher and Kobi Mainoo have almost been sacrificial victims for what is presumably the missing Kalvin Phillips place. It seems Gareth will change and try new tactics but, my, at what a glacial pace.
Behind him is a bureaucracy of men in track suits poring over a compendium of iPads, folders, charts, lap-tops, possibly even a Panini album of foreign players for all I know. It must feel stifling working in this environment
I’m not sure what style England play. Once a player has possession it’s like which statue should I pass to? The other players lack movement. The nearest I can get to describing their style is as an intermittent measured freneticism. The players in the squad are admirable in that they will stick with Gareth through thick and thin. Jude Bellingham is a case in point. He’s been mostly invisible throughout the various games. If he was playing elsewhere he’d be more improvisational. That wondrous goal of his would not have been attempted in the first half or for that matter the second. Until then he’d slavishly followed instructions. Only in the 95th minute did he think he could try something out of the ordinary. Perhaps he didn’t feel he would be held accountable for any misdemeanour of not following orders.
Most tellingly of Gareth’s tactics is that Kane and Bellingham were subbed after scoring. Then on with the subs. What would have happened if it had gone to penalties without the two best penalty takers? Is it timidity, caution or sheer fear of the spontaneous.
Maybe the spark has been ignited and future performances will improve on what we’ve seen so far. Winning cautiously is all very good. It might satisfy the mind but it doesn’t stir the heart.
I want to enjoy the England matches, not endure them.
I have always been of the view that Southgate has riches at his disposal. Arguably, an embarrassment. For me Henry your key sentence is, “At least Southgate does have options. He has to get them right.” I am old enough to know that one can insert “Ramsey” for “Southgate” and there you have it.
I like your 3 - 5 - 2 suggestion very much. May make Switzerland readjust/rethink, with little time to do it in. Really need the Swiss to be the favourites for the tie. Hopefully ‘gee’ us up. No chance of the Swiss getting too careless though.
Squad selection will be Southgate’s undoing though. Unless, of course, we win the thing! He can go with his head held very high in that case. Which, for 2018 and 2020(2021?) is earned. Probably controversial that!
I think Toney playing as a 9 with Kane as a 10 has a lot to recommend it.
I worry about what sort of fitness work the squad is doing. Should Bellingham and Kane have been so tired so early? Or was it caused by the humidity created by playing indoors?
Anyway, I got the clear sense that after 10 days away with England and only 15 minutes on the pitch against Bosnia, Maddison returned to Spurs decidedly undercooked. So perhaps fitness levels are dropping.
I think we have to realise now that Southgate will not change his ways. Hands up, I was willing Bellingham’s withdrawal after about an hour. His body language, lazy passing were running throughout the team. Apart from the one enforced change (CB) it’ll be the same team and no matter how hard they impress in training, Palmer, Gordon and Toney must wonder why they are here when they could be enjoying switching off mentally and physically.
As you say teams change and evolve during competitions. But Gareth is very resolute. For the four games so far he’s picked 10 out of 11 to begin a game. To his immense credit Gareth has managed to get his players on his wavelength and ideas ——which they have subscribed to wholeheartedly. It’s Declan Rice’s partner who has had to suffer the most. Poor Trent Alexander Arnold, Conor Gallagher and Kobi Mainoo have almost been sacrificial victims for what is presumably the missing Kalvin Phillips place. It seems Gareth will change and try new tactics but, my, at what a glacial pace.
Behind him is a bureaucracy of men in track suits poring over a compendium of iPads, folders, charts, lap-tops, possibly even a Panini album of foreign players for all I know. It must feel stifling working in this environment
I’m not sure what style England play. Once a player has possession it’s like which statue should I pass to? The other players lack movement. The nearest I can get to describing their style is as an intermittent measured freneticism. The players in the squad are admirable in that they will stick with Gareth through thick and thin. Jude Bellingham is a case in point. He’s been mostly invisible throughout the various games. If he was playing elsewhere he’d be more improvisational. That wondrous goal of his would not have been attempted in the first half or for that matter the second. Until then he’d slavishly followed instructions. Only in the 95th minute did he think he could try something out of the ordinary. Perhaps he didn’t feel he would be held accountable for any misdemeanour of not following orders.
Most tellingly of Gareth’s tactics is that Kane and Bellingham were subbed after scoring. Then on with the subs. What would have happened if it had gone to penalties without the two best penalty takers? Is it timidity, caution or sheer fear of the spontaneous.
Maybe the spark has been ignited and future performances will improve on what we’ve seen so far. Winning cautiously is all very good. It might satisfy the mind but it doesn’t stir the heart.
I want to enjoy the England matches, not endure them.
I have always been of the view that Southgate has riches at his disposal. Arguably, an embarrassment. For me Henry your key sentence is, “At least Southgate does have options. He has to get them right.” I am old enough to know that one can insert “Ramsey” for “Southgate” and there you have it.
I like your 3 - 5 - 2 suggestion very much. May make Switzerland readjust/rethink, with little time to do it in. Really need the Swiss to be the favourites for the tie. Hopefully ‘gee’ us up. No chance of the Swiss getting too careless though.
Squad selection will be Southgate’s undoing though. Unless, of course, we win the thing! He can go with his head held very high in that case. Which, for 2018 and 2020(2021?) is earned. Probably controversial that!
Henry, good afternoon.
I think Toney playing as a 9 with Kane as a 10 has a lot to recommend it.
I worry about what sort of fitness work the squad is doing. Should Bellingham and Kane have been so tired so early? Or was it caused by the humidity created by playing indoors?
Anyway, I got the clear sense that after 10 days away with England and only 15 minutes on the pitch against Bosnia, Maddison returned to Spurs decidedly undercooked. So perhaps fitness levels are dropping.
I think we have to realise now that Southgate will not change his ways. Hands up, I was willing Bellingham’s withdrawal after about an hour. His body language, lazy passing were running throughout the team. Apart from the one enforced change (CB) it’ll be the same team and no matter how hard they impress in training, Palmer, Gordon and Toney must wonder why they are here when they could be enjoying switching off mentally and physically.