Not for a couple of years. By then UEFA will probably have made it so the top 16 in each league gets a place anyway

Thats probably true but Bielsabub will have gone by then.

Thought Philipps was a clear MoM yesterday and don`t particularly agree he makes rash tackles.

What might catch him out is the over reactive European ref who will book him cos he goes in too hard.

Mings was very good and I would say Kane was the only player off the pace and Walker in the first half.

KP even made Sterling look good!

And whilst Sterling got the goal I do think he loses the ball alot and fails to find the man as much as I would like.

Told you he`s a slightly better version of Harrison

Yeah, Walker and Kane were the ones off form, Walker certainly was going forward. Long tournament though, but a good solid start. I actually think we could play a lot better than we did yesterday which is good for us imo.

Totally agree and we will have to play better should we reach the quarters.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... ch-3273791 Exciting timesicon_smile.gif

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/ ... ch-3273791 Exciting timesicon_smile.gif

Great news.

So, Manchester United away first up. Hopefully we give a better account of ourselves than last season.



December's run of games look tough. The annual Christmas slump is almost guaranteed againicon_biggrin.gif

Very tough start. Man U, Everton, Liverpool 3 out of first 4 games





I see Brighton have turned down £40m for Ben White ! Show's how much money all the premier league clubs earn these days if they can turn down that amount of money !!

Very lacklustre from England last night. I actually thought Phillips was the better of the 3 mids but that’s not saying much. Couldn’t believe Foden came off he was by far our best threat. Very negative tactics from Southgate too, that midfield needed shaking up. Kane was poor he looks half a yard off the pace for some reason but he’s also not getting any service.



I thought James looked scared to get forwards.. very bizarre all round from the team, no pressing and looked clueless in attack.

It's all part of the master plan to finish 2nd in the group and play Slovakia, Sweden or Poland. The Czech game will be the worst game of the tournament, nobody will want to win and top the groupicon_biggrin.gif

Trouble is with that Czech game people will want to see a reaction and much better performance from England but I’d snap their hands off for a draw.

Had England selected Harrison and Bamford for Kane and Sterling we would have walked it



Very poor performance all round.

Thought maybe Henderson could have come on for one of the midfielders, Foden had to stay on and Kane must be tormenting which club he wants to play at next season.

Calvert Lewin in for the next game along with Grealish for Sterling and Henderson for Rice.

Joking apart Bamford would have really helped us against Scotland with his shear work rate and brilliant press. Exactly what we needed in the game imo

It doesn't really matter who England pick, as the intensity is nonexistent. For example, our full backs never provide an overlap, and when you have 2 inverted wingers, it makes it very easy to defend against. Also, if Kane is going to drop deep to get the ball, he needs to then be sprinting back up the pitch to provide an option.

I think Southgate is a leader and the kind of person you want to be manager, and he got it right against Croatia, but against teams we should be beating he's not ruthless enough in his approach.

I`d like to say the jury is still out with Southgate but I think he has had enough time to prove himself.

Wasn`t his biggest success in club football to take Middlesbrough down or have I got that wrong?

Yes he did reasonably well in a major tournament last time against some very average teams.

I agree with Jack he has the players in the squad to attack but plays a defensive game far too often.

Me personally I would go with the following for Tuesday.

Pickford

Walker, Stones, Mings, Shaw

Foden, Philipps, Henderson, Mount, Grealish

Calvert Lewin.



I would look to bring on Saka and possibly Kane at some point in the second half.

You still have Maguire and Rice and Sterling if needs be.

Yeah Phillips, Henderson and Mount that should really bring the razzle dazzle football back to Wembley. You will see more forward passes from Rhinos at Salford than with those 3.

I'd play Bellingham

Agree. Phillips as holding. With Mount (if available).

Marty you do know teams also have to defend or stop the opposition attacking?

You can`t have 5 attacking midfielders in other words.

As an aside who would you play in that England 5?

Do we really need 2 holding midfielders at home against teams like Scotland and Czechs? We are defending with 6 and attacking with 4. The play is way too slow and Phillips and Rice rarely pass the ball forward.



We are too negative and too defensive in our set up and play. Rice is our best holding midfielder so play him in front of the back 4 bring in Grealish. Mount is obviously out now so i bet we have a midfield of Rice, Phillips and Henderson and none of them will pass the bloody halfway line.

Haha your not wrong with some of your assumptions.

Henderson and Philipps are both capable of playing the ball forward certainly at club level.

But for some reason this doesn`t happen as often as it should.

Not sure if that`s Southgate or just a reluctance to be more expressive.

With Rice, Philipps and Henderson in midfield you are right it`s too defensive hence why I would leave Rice out (Leeds bias I know) and play Henderson and Philipps.

The other 3 would be Foden, Grealish and maybe Saka/Sancho

The team is:

Pickford, Walker, Trippier, Maguire, Stones, Rice, Phillips, Grealish, Sterling, Saka, Kane according to the Telegraph.

100% agree.

If he’s bringing Grealish in that midfield I’m not surprised Rice and Phillips are there. Good to see Saka playing, he’s quality but I’m surprised Sancho not in front of him given his exploits in Dortmund, he’s a bit in front of Saka Imo.