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Match The ENGLAND thread

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Not sure about Mainoo. He's a talent but still has a lot to learn, and only plays so much because United are so shit. He needs to be much better off the ball otherwise he won't be a Tuchel sort of player.

Would swap Palmer and Bellingham around too. Branthwaite for Guehi.
6 is a huge weakness for you. Who do you put there? Obviously not rice
 
6 is a huge weakness for you. Who do you put there? Obviously not rice
Wharton is the profile they need but he's not there yet. Unlike Rice, he actually looks for the ball and you can build up through him. He's the 6 they need. Mainoo is not a 6. Rice should be a 6 but his build up play isn't up to standard hence why Arteta always plays Jorginho or Partey beside him. Also why Moyes always deployed Soucek beside him and Southgate always wanted Phillips beside him. Rice just can't play the lone 6 role. He needs a ball playing midfielder beside him who can do the build up play for him while he charges around the pitch.

I'd like to think Archie Gray can grow into this role and be an England starter in a few years. Ironically Harry Winks is exactly the type of player England need but he just never kicked on after 2019
 
6 is a huge weakness for you. Who do you put there? Obviously not rice

Gomes for me, although he needs to move to the PL this season. Not that he's world-class or anything. But it's his position and he keeps the ball moving nicely. Also did well in his previous England games. Stones could be really good there but not sure I'd want to move him from the back two, when he's actually fit that is. I thought he was City's best player by a mile in that role last night if you forget about Haaland's two goals.

A year ago I would have said Adam Wharton but after injuries he needs to get back playing every week for his club first.
 
————————Pickford
Trent— - Stones - Guehi - Skelly
—————Rice ———Mainoo
Saka—————-Bells—————Gordon
————————Palmer

That’s the team. Very suspect in central defensive areas but you have the best counter attacking team in the world.

The central defence isn't actually bad but highly dependent on Stones staying fit. Both Guehi/Branthwaite is too young. Stones not in form but crucial to playing out and very experienced. At his best one of the best centre backs in the league.

The issue is definitely 6. Mainoo is going through a difficult phase (i think he's hugely talented but very raw) and so is Wharton. We straight up have a void here. We are far from the only international side to not have a traditional playmaking 6 but its a big gap.

Bellingham & Palmer could be the new Gerrard and Lampard - both best at 10, both going to be shifted out of position to get them on the pitch, both considered too good not to be in there.

Kane has 28 g/a in 19 league games and 7 CL goals. As much as he's a bit of a conundrum style wise these days, there isn't an objectively better centre forward in the world ... he will be picked.
 
Could also drop Kane deeper to play in the 10 role also. I wouldn't choose him there over Bellingham or Palmer, but is also an option and should have been in the past.
Yeah maybes it' could be an option, never say never .... But think to be effective right at the elite end of footie to play that 10 role..might you need some pace and acceleration your often called to bust into the box or keep up and feed of the real wide pace . Bellingham and Palmer still have it.. wheres the days of kane busting into the box,sadly, have gone.. but him at 9 he's double clever and brings plenty of footie intelligence to the table.. but pace v unfortunately not
 
Not sure about Mainoo. He's a talent but still has a lot to learn, and only plays so much because United are so shit. He needs to be much better off the ball otherwise he won't be a Tuchel sort of player.

Would swap Palmer and Bellingham around too. Branthwaite for Guehi.
Unfortunately Mainoo is SO one footed, it's a glaring weakness s. Spain absolutely worked it/him out and made him
Totally ineffective,if they can do it I'm sure other top end teams/countries can and will and others will follow.
 
The central defence isn't actually bad but highly dependent on Stones staying fit. Both Guehi/Branthwaite is too young. Stones not in form but crucial to playing out and very experienced. At his best one of the best centre backs in the league.

The issue is definitely 6. Mainoo is going through a difficult phase (i think he's hugely talented but very raw) and so is Wharton. We straight up have a void here. We are far from the only international side to not have a traditional playmaking 6 but its a big gap.

Bellingham & Palmer could be the new Gerrard and Lampard - both best at 10, both going to be shifted out of position to get them on the pitch, both considered too good not to be in there.

Kane has 28 g/a in 19 league games and 7 CL goals. As much as he's a bit of a conundrum style wise these days, there isn't an objectively better centre forward in the world ... he will be picked.
Agree with a lot of this. Kane will obviously start.

Good job stones won’t have to face Bellingham in an England shirt. He looked slow and weak for the Real winner.

Stones has been an integral part of City’s poor season
 
Stones has been an integral part of City’s poor season

He's been injured some of it, and the games he has played he's obviously been searching for form and fitness. Unlike De Bruyne, Gundogan and Walker, I still think he has lots to give for club and country. Just needs to stay fit and playing. He was excellent for large parts of last night.
 
Unfortunately Mainoo is SO one footed, it's a glaring weakness s. Spain absolutely worked it/him out and made him
Totally ineffective,if they can do it I'm sure other top end teams/countries can and will and others will follow.

He's very much a work in progress.

I think Elliot Anderson needs mentioning. Does a great job in the middle of the park for Forest. Technically sound and has great awareness. I think he has more potential than Gibbs-White, a player I also like.
 
The attacking options we have out wide and in the number 10 role are ridiculous. I don't think even the likes of Spain or France can match it for depth.

Saka
Bowen
Madueke
Rashford
Nwaneri

Gordon
Grealish
Rogers
Sancho
Gittens

Bellingham
Palmer
Foden
Eze
Maddison
 
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I'm going to both matches at Wembley in March - I will reserve my comments till I see what they field for Albania & Latvia.

I find players act very differently when they put on an England Shirt.
Never the easiest of things adapting , some players are playing together for the first time and others are gonna train and play together for maybe a dozen? days every six? months..never forget Keith curle, Att he was arguably THE stand out CB in England earned a call up and they played him at right bac! He was ok but he never got the England career he arguably deserved. Playing for England has always been difficult.
 
A year ago he seemed the obvious choice, but seems to have barely played for his club since then. There are some good options, they're just not top class ones. Mainoo, Wharton, Gomes, Jones, Anderson...

Jones is as good as nailed on atm imo. His ball progression is crucial. Games he played during last break were excellent.

Rice/Jones with one of Palmer or Bellingham is the way. You have to choose between one of those last two.
 
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