England squad..

[Ebeneezer Goode]

There's got to be something wrong with the way the players are prepared. This happens far too often.

 

[G.B]

tuned in with 2 minutes gone. henderson didn't play a forward pass until 17.5 mins in.

 

[DarkSithLord]

After England 0 Germany 0 and England 0 Brazil 0 I'm currently enduring Holland 0 England 0 (HT)

Look forward to England 0-0 Italy on Tuesday..

It will be the same bland shite while Southgate is still in charge.

 

[Carver]

After England 0 Germany 0 and England 0 Brazil 0 I'm currently enduring Holland 0 England 0 (HT)

Look forward to England 0-0 Italy on Tuesday..

It will be the same bland shite while Southgate is still in charge.

This is good because it means we can hold teams to a 0-0 and beat them on penalties which we are so good at!

 

[G.B]

linGOD

 

[Super_horns]

linGOD

Comes up with the goods when it matters quite a bit tbf.

Probably be rubbish in the World Cup though like the rest of them.

 

[Pickleman1967]

I don't think I can remember a worse Netherlands side than this, pleased to see Koeman keep up the Everton ethic he fostered. In fairness England would be 3-0 with their best players on the park, this is an unbalanced side in my view, but it is up against a punch bag. Here we go though, Deli and Vardy on, interested to see what they can do...

 

[G.B]

not a lot koeman can do with that pool of players tbf

Comes up with the goods when it matters quite a bit tbf.

Probably be rubbish in the World Cup though like the rest of them.

yeah, scores a lot of important goals and his general play is good too.

 

[Pickleman1967]

This game now has a real "friendly feel" about it, players in acres of space not being properly closed down, players walking about, whatever the result it means practically nothing. Still, it burned some time (while telling us bugger all about England or the Netherlands), and there was one or two interesting moments... hurrah for football!

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Wow is that Dutch side poor.

Still its a reasonable result. Rather rusty in the final third maybe. Italy will be a harder test.

 

[St. Juste]

Wow is that Dutch side poor.

Still its a reasonable result. Rather rusty in the final third maybe. Italy will be a harder test.

Wouldn't have thought so, Italy have never demonstrated any interest in friendlies (indeed they seem to glorify in not doing so).

They drew with Haiti a few years ago.

 

[Leewilson]

I have a confession.

After slating Southgate for a while, I really like this 3-4-3 he seems to be settling on. I think it's the best way for us to set up defensively with the extra CB. Plus wing back is one of the strongest areas in our squad and it allows a roaming front 3 that doesn't need to be rigid.

The big problems he will have is finding a quality CM partner for Dier/Henderson, which is why I fear he may play both together. He's trying Ox there which may work but I'm not sure he's played there enough to be effective against a top team. We also need to settle on a 3rd CB to go with Stones and Walker (if this RCB thing is actually a thing). I think it could possibly be Jones but I'd be tempted to go Maguire.

I like the options up front though. Kane, Vardy or Rashford as the focal point with 2 from Lingard, Sterling, Welbeck or even Rashford himself roaming and interchanging.

The best thing is that there's no place for Alli. I like him but he's been below the standards he set for himself this season for club. His performances for country have always fallen a bit below par for me bar 1-2 friendlies in the lead up to the last Euroes. For him to get back in now, he's either going to have to play CM with Dier/Henderson (which doesn't work for me) or be one of the romaing 3 (although there are better options than him). If it gives him the kick up the arse he needs though, tremendous.

I still don't have much faith in Southgate navigating us very far in the World Cup but the recent tactical decisions have improved his approval ratings in my eyes a bit as it's well thought out and not just the usual 4-2-3-1 that has us rigid us fuck.

 

[Super_horns]

1-0 up but our defence has been rather shaky.

Vardy will be pleased to score after not getting a touch on Friday .

 

[91SPP]

The squad is certainly much of muchness. It seems now Southgate is set on a system that he should be looking to fill the right types of players in to it, just like any club manager would sign the 'right types'.

I actually think this could be a decent world cup for us, I'm not saying we're going to win the thing but I believe it will be somewhat longer than previous efforts.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

I like the fact that Southgate has now seemingly picked and sticking with a system and a way of playing. I'm not 100% convinced 3-4-3 with an emphasis on bell retention above all else gest the best from us - but at least he's got a plan in his mind. More than a few previous managers.

Whether we've got the quality of players to make that 3-4-3 work against decent opposition, maybe not, time will tell. Whilst Italy and The Netherlands are not exactly at their vintage, neither are total mugs (Holland beat Euro champs Portugal 3-0 the other night after looking so poor against us).

It's just unfortunate we have such a decent record in friendlies only to fall apart in tournaments, that's the next step for Southgate to tackle. Maybe it's come a year too early than he'd like, but it is what it is.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

Our CM options are dire. That's my biggest concern. Well, that and a penchant for mental disintegration whenever we manage to progress past the groups. It's not an awful side by any means, but there are obvious weaknesses that you feel top level sides will easily exploit.

 

[Leewilson]

Joe Gomez out of the World Cup now. I'm actually not too unhappy with that as I don't think he's ready yet. I imagine Smalling will get a call up now.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

I will be very surprised if Southgate picks Smalling after all but saying he's not a good enough passer.

 

[Kenneth E End]

This is the squad I'd go for...

23 man squad on the plane:
Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Gary Cahill, Danny Rose, Harry Maguire, Ashley Young, Eric Dier, Joe Gomez, Raheem Sterling, Jesse Lingard, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Dele Alli, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Jack Wilshire, Fabian Delph,Trent Alexander-Arnold

12 others in "preliminary squad":
Joe Hart, Jake Livermore, Lewis Cook, Danny Welbeck, Chris Smalling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ryan Sessegnon, Harry Winks, Dominic Solanke, Jonjo Shelvey, Jadon Sancho, Ryan Bertrand

 

[DarkSithLord]

This is the squad I'd go for...

23 man squad on the plane:
Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Gary Cahill, Danny Rose, Harry Maguire, Ashley Young, Eric Dier, Joe Gomez, Raheem Sterling, Jesse Lingard, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Dele Alli, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Jack Wilshire, Fabian Delph,Trent Alexander-Arnold

12 others in "preliminary squad":
Joe Hart, Jake Livermore, Lewis Cook, Danny Welbeck, Chris Smalling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ryan Sessegnon, Harry Winks, Dominic Solanke, Jonjo Shelvey, Jadon Sancho, Ryan Bertrand

Joe Gomez is injured and will miss the WC.

 

[Benji]

Big Jonj should go because he's box office.

 

[JimJams]

Harry Potter is old hat now though.

 

[Leewilson]

They'll be outcries tomorrow if 1-2 get in who really aren't popular amongst the masses.

23 man squads for England rarely get acclaim. In truth though, it's only 14-15 of them that actually matter.

I do think our 14-15 ones likely to features are stronger than what we've had for the last 2-3 tournaments. Ashame Ox is injured as he was developing into a good CM for Liverpool.

 

[mistermagic]

Squad announcement's tomorrow then?

 

[Jockney]

Hart and Wilshere have been binned, apparently.

 

[Luke Imp]

Seems that Cahill and Trent-Arnold are in.

 

[Flustercuck]

Leon Bailey is in too

 

[silkyman]

Official announcement:

https://twitter.com/x/status/996737073418784770

 

[SF_]

Gary Cahill is such a lump of shit, go away.

Tarkowski over him all day long.

 

[Jamie_SFC]

Glad Bertrand missed out. Serves him right for only turning up for the final 3 games of the season.