Ultimately we were bang average on the night against a side that came with a game plan and a lot of determination. But it happens, even to the best sides. We didn't get beat, we didn't deserve to get beat, and I have no doubt we'll be better next month against Albania and we'll finish top of the group, which is all you can ask.
A lot of punditry taking last nights game in isolation, but:
Iceland 0 - England 1 NL
Denmark 0 - England 0 NL
England 0 - Denmark 1 NL
Belgium 2 - England 0 NL
England 2 - Poland 1 WCQ
England 1 - Austria 0 F
England 1 - Romania 0 F
England 0 - Scotland 0 EC
Italy 1 - England 1 EC (*)
Poland 1 - England 1 WCQ
England 1 - Hungary 1 WCF
Poor results and/or performances since Sept 2020.
(*Included the Euro's final cos Gary had a fucking 'mare!)
The midfield is still a problem though, finding the right balance. We seem to look a better and more balanced team with Phillips in it, even if it does make us look a bit on the defensive side. But for the love of God, please drop Mason Mount until he starts to find some of his old form. Tuchel has done it recently, Southgate needs to follow suite.
This.
Hear a lot last night about how #8 isn't his position... Fair enough, but he's not creative enough as a #10 in this set-up.... Not when you've got 2 x DMs behind him as it put a large percentage of the creative reponsibility on him.
Play Rice and Phillips as defensive midfield players and just allow Foden to roam as he pleases, and to be the one we look to make the difference in games. I don't want to see him in our own half.
Well that's one option...... He has many.
Worryingly Gary also said last night that Grealish can ONLY play LW...... He has some really worrying takes on things..... TAA as a DM or #8 (whichever the intention was... completely neuters his main strength - his crossing - either way!)..... 5RBs ("I'd take more if I could")..... Completely inconsistent attitude when it comes to form vs reputation.... Playing players that weren't in the EC squad in the pre-tourney warm-ups.