Yes, Mainoo and Wharton. Young and experienced but confident and talented, both take the ball from the back and play through. The back four has some major weaknesses though, I agree
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100%. No-one ever talks about the heat in summer tournaments and how it limits all action PL midfielders, someone like him can control the pace more and just play
If it's one thing England don't do under Southgate it's play "hoof ball". We keep possession better than ever. Probably too much at times as it can make us be a bit "safe" and play at too slow a tempo. But we recently played Brazil and Belgium and had a bit more possession than both.
And thinking England won't get out of that group is utter codswallop. As is saying a back four that will hopefully include Stones, Walker (both world-class) and Shaw (made the last Euro team of the tournament) is hopeless.
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For me there's a few question marks here. Firstly right cb guehi I'm OK with dunk definitely not an injury to guehi causes us a huge problem. Secondly gomes may have done a good job but there's no substitute for balance especially in the biggest games so we're imo unbalanced there until a left back who hasn't played since February returns which in itself again is a monumental risk again. Thirdly I think putting foden left wing instead of where he won player of the season in his creative central role is another Scholes scenario all over again,this also means that potentially Gallagher starts and I don't think he's part of our strongest 11.
Our best midfield 3 is Bellingham (who can play box to box) Rice and Foden. They may not seem big issues upon first viewing but for me it tells me alot about how we're going to set up and I don't think that is the best way to get the best out of one our potentially best squads we've had in a long time.
Lewis Hall couldn't get a start for an injury ravaged Newcastle for most of last season. I share the concerns about left back but needing Lewis Hall to step up is as risky as trippier imo.
Dunk hopefully won't see any minutes so im calm about that.
Which of the others can play left back?
Hall has a lot to learn but he's a natural left-back. It makes a big difference having someone able to comfortably bomb up and down at left-back rather than cut back inside every time, which is exactly what either Trippier or Gomez will do.
We'll get away with it in the group stages though. Southgate's hope will be that Shaw can perhaps play the last group stage game with us as good as qualified already and then he'll be good to go for the knockouts games.
You have good CB but for some reason play Upamecano.
We are favorites with the bookies due to the money being spent not due to expert opinion
Saliba doesn't get a game for France
All this talk about the French being so much better than us, is that actually the case? I mean we played them in the World Cup last summer and there was next to nothing in the game. Both teams had injuries, not just the French. While I would say they are stronger in defence in regards to depth, and probably edge midfield, I certainly don't think it's by any great distance. Starting 11's there's nothing in it.
Pickford vs Maignan
Pretty much the same level. Both good keepers, neither world-class. To show I'm not biased I'll got with Maignan, just.
Walker vs Pavard
Pavard is a great right-back, but I'm taking Kyle every time. He's the best right-back we've produced.
Stones vs Upamecano
Totally different style of defenders, but Stones is a much better footballer. Easy pick.
Konate vs Konsa
Would give the edge to Konate. But he was very average for Liverpool at the back end of last season and can definitely be got at. Saliba should be starting for France.
Shaw vs Hernandez
The Luke Shaw that plays for England, when fit, is generally much better than the one at United. Similar level but I'll give it to the Frenchman.
Rice vs Kante
Kante has been an amazing player and is probably still very good. But the back end of his Chelsea career was blighted with injuries, and he's 33 now. So I'm taking Rice here.
Mainoo vs Camavinga
Hard to call this one as one is generally much more defensive than the other. Both top talents. Draw. If I had to pick one it would be Camavinga, but they are really different.
Bellingham vs Greizmann
One is the future, one is at the back end of his career. But as Greizmann is still brilliant and probably the French player I always worry most about, even more so than Mbappe, I'll call this a draw.
Foden vs Mbappe
Foden was at Mbappe's level last season, but will give this to Mbappe who is arguably the best player in world football. Walker will have him in his back pocket though, should we meet.
Saka vs Coman
I'd say this is close but would genuinely edge it to Saka, despite who he plays for. I think he just has a more consistent end product and better stats.
Kane vs Giroud/Muani
Giroud has been an under-rated and under appreciated footballer, but he's not Kane. Neither is Muani. Clear win for Kane.
So I make that 4 for England, 4 for France and 3 equal. And yes, I'm bored on my break at work.
Pickford vs Maignan
Pretty much the same level. Both good keepers, neither world-class. To show I'm not biased I'll got with Maignan, just.
Walker vs Pavard
Pavard is a great right-back, but I'm taking Kyle every time. He's the best right-back we've produced.
Stones vs Upamecano
Totally different style of defenders, but Stones is a much better footballer. Easy pick.
Konate vs Konsa
Would give the edge to Konate. But he was very average for Liverpool at the back end of last season and can definitely be got at. Saliba should be starting for France.
Shaw vs Hernandez
The Luke Shaw that plays for England, when fit, is generally much better than the one at United. Similar level but I'll give it to the Frenchman.
Rice vs Kante
Kante has been an amazing player and is probably still very good. But the back end of his Chelsea career was blighted with injuries, and he's 33 now. So I'm taking Rice here.
Mainoo vs Camavinga
Hard to call this one as one is generally much more defensive than the other. Both top talents. Draw. If I had to pick one it would be Camavinga, but they are really different.
Bellingham vs Greizmann
One is the future, one is at the back end of his career. But as Greizmann is still brilliant and probably the French player I always worry most about, even more so than Mbappe, I'll call this a draw.
Foden vs Mbappe
Foden was at Mbappe's level last season, but will give this to Mbappe who is arguably the best player in world football. Walker will have him in his back pocket though, should we meet.
Saka vs Coman
I'd say this is close but would genuinely edge it to Saka, despite who he plays for. I think he just has a more consistent end product and better stats.
Kane vs Giroud/Muani
Giroud has been an under-rated and under appreciated footballer, but he's not Kane. Neither is Muani. Clear win for Kane.
So I make that 4 for England, 4 for France and 3 equal. And yes, I'm bored on my break at work.
I don't disagree that a lb is needed, don't think there is one.
During their injury crisis Livramento was starting over Hall. Didn't pay much attention to Newcastle towards the end of the season but Hall would have needed to be real hot to get a call up.
Personally I don't know why that Mitchell lad at Palace wasn't called up. Had a good season and has also already been capped by Southgate. He just wants to find a way to get Trippier in the team but I don't understand why as he was quite poor at times for Newcastle last season and cost them a number of goals.
Trippier has been used there and Gomez
Maignan, Hernandez and Camavinga would walk into this England team. Blindfolded.
Just a load of outdated crap which would’ve been a decent point in the Roy era but makes zero sense now.
I will offer you any odds on us getting to the quarter final at least. Anything you want to accept. Any wager.
Not for me. I mean I'm not saying our counterparts are better, but I don't see any real difference in quality between the keepers and the left-backs. Both Pickford and Shaw are generally great for England in tournaments. Shaw was outstanding in the previous Euros.
You wouldn't buy a player off the back of a good tournament, nor should you really judge one.
Shaw is nowhere near Hernandez level. He's also held together with chewing gum and it's wrapper.
Hernandez is a good left back. He also can’t defend at all. He’s a Trent level defender, he’s basically a winger.
We probably wouldn’t even play him the same way we don’t give Tomori a sniff. Which doesn’t mean that is right but the bloke would be getting the same shit as Trent except Trent percentile wise is far more impressive in nearly every offensive area.
Theo is literally in the fourth percentile for tackles, the twentieth for interceptions etc. He leaves his CB high and fucking dry lads. Brilliant ball carrier, goalscorer and crosser of the ball from full-back, yes. But he’s a worse defender than Trent in EVERY category statistically.
We probably wouldn’t even play him the same way we don’t give Tomori a sniff. Which doesn’t mean that is right but the bloke would be getting the same shit as Trent except Trent percentile wise is far more impressive in nearly every offensive area.
Theo is literally in the fourth percentile for tackles, the twentieth for interceptions etc. He leaves his CB high and fucking dry lads. Brilliant ball carrier, goalscorer and crosser of the ball from full-back, yes. But he’s a worse defender than Trent in EVERY category statistically.
With the talent we have, we should be winning this tournament.....but guess what......
Shaw won't even play in the group stages........... Ignoring this fact won't make it go away.