KB1862

I'm still undecided whether I like the new kit or not. I'm leaning more to liking it but I just can't make my mind up tbf

We can feel fortunate not to be on the other side of the draw because if we play like we did yesterday, we'd get picked apart by the likes of Spain, Germany, Portugal and France. I said before the tournament, and I do hope I'm wrong, that we'll be out by the quarter final. We were fortunate to make it to the quarters but against Switzerland it's gonna be a tough ask. It's concerning that we went into this tournament as one of the favourites and now pundits are all saying "I think England can beat Switzerland". Before the tournament we would have gone into this game thinking we're gonna beat them but how the tournament has gone for us and the performances, we'll have to massively up our game as it's gonna be a tough game. This tournament after watching all 4 England games, I've come away from all of them feeling deflated.

England's tactical issues were on full display yesterday against Slovakia. Gareth Southgate once again did himself no favours when speaking to the media or his squad selection and shown his lack of tactical knowledge. Before the game he was asked about why he's sticking with the front 4 that hasn't exactly been brilliant this tournament to which he said they were capable of breaking this Slovakia team down but then after the match he said that they just couldn't break the team down and it's been a feature throughout this tournament being unable to break teams down. He then mentioned the game needed wingers for England to advance which is strange considering he made just the ONE change in exactly the same position he has done all through this tournament in midfield yet failed to include a winger like Gordon who should have started despite claiming the game needed wingers. Whether it be on a podcast, social media or radio, everyone is the same thing there doesn't seem to be an idea when England are moving the ball around and substitutions are too late. I was surprised not to see any changes at half time. When England went 2-1 up, Gareth Southgate decided it was time to bring on Gallagher and Konsa to which then once again they sat back soaked up pressure and defended a 1 goal lead. The 2 goals came from England playing attacking football. It's a strength in our game that is being so under utilised. When England attack they're threatening, it's exciting to watch but Southgate would much rather have them sit back and defend a 1 goal lead. Slovakia can feel unfortunate to not have won the game as they were the better team if i'm being honest.

I do believe that heading the football, especially back in the days when the ball was made of pure leather and became really heavy when it was soaking wet, does have an impact on ex-footballers later on in life especially leading to issues like Dementia. Football's of today are nothing like they were but even despite this, there is still a danger that it could have an impact on the brain. It just depends on how long before it takes effect, especially if you're continually heading the ball. Irrelevant of how lightweight the ball is, it's about the impact. In the images of Jeff Astle from a post above you can see how much impact there is. The only thing that can really be done is something they've slowly started integrating and that is to limit heading in training. Matchday scenarios can't be helped as it is part and parcel of the game, unless they want to do something drastic like go 5-a-side rules and stop the ball going above head height. Though I do agree in doing as much as possibly to stop children heading the ball. I don't think it's right to sue anyone no matter how much you believe in it being the root cause. Even if it was proven to be the case, in those days there wasn't much in terms of assessing the dangers of heading the football as much as there is in today's world. Medical science has come a long way.

Given that we've strengthened an area which was our weak link last season and had an impact on our downfall, 14/1 may well be worth a punt.

Been announced on TalkSport that Phil Foden is heading back to Germany to rejoin the squad.

So far it's been a good tournament. VAR has proven during this tournament so far that it does have a place in the game. It's been quick and efficient and fans have been kept in the loop as to what's going on. The only exception with this was, shockingly, when English referees were involved in the game between France and Netherlands. The only time in which VAR took an age to come to a decision, a decision that I still feel was wrong, and disallow Xavi Simons goal. Shock of the group stage has got to be Georgia beating Portugal. The only 2 teams that have impressed me throughout the group stage has been Spain and Austria. Spain have got to be deemed favourites now and Austria the dark horses. France and England, both the favourites going in to the tournament, haven't backed up that favourites tag. I still feel like they need to abolish the whole best 3rd place teams go through. A few of the final group games were a bit of a bore because teams didn't want to risk anything, sat back and played for the draw as that was all that's needed to finish 3rd. It takes away the jeopardy. UEFA should have either kept it at 16 teams or made it 32 like the World Cup.

This is something I've been calling for for a while for this reason exactly. Harry Kane is so set on the idea of dropping really deep and on many occasions full backs and midfielders are usually ahead of him and balls get played in to areas in which Kane should be. Kane can be effective at dropping deep and playing passes we know he's got a strength in his game when it comes to pinging the ball and playing passes. However, if Southgate is happy for Kane to continually drop this deep then why doesn't he partner Kane with another striker like Watkins who likes to spin defenders and make runs in behind defenders? For me, it seems illogical to have a lone striker and allow him to drop as deep as Kane does.

I can't see Macca leaving. He looks comfortable at Notts and having been given the captaincy this could be a way to keep him. Although, if the right fee comes along and it's a fee that could be used wisely and is a price above valuation then as gutting as it would be would have no choice but to accept.

Unfortunately, I agree with this. Dismal group. None of the teams have shown as much as teams in other groups.

With the players England have and the favourable draw in which England have fallen in avoiding the big guns, England should be able to make the final. However, performances need to improve massively and players like Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon and Kobbie Mainoo need to be included and be given time on the pitch. As well as that play to the strengths of our players with quick free flowing high pressing game. If we continue with the type of performances we have shown in the 3 group games, I can't see England making the final. If we come up against Italy, Netherlands or Austria it will be a struggle. We always seem to get the favourable draws, particularly in Southgates tenure, but never do much and stumble at the first real challenge of playing against a top team. If England fail in this Euros, I believe it is a bigger failure than the so called "Golden Generation". I really hope I'm wrong and England goes all the way.

100% agree. Hopeful that this is his last tournament. Club managers get the best out of their players week in week out during the season yet Southgate makes them look like mediocre players playing for a mediocre team. This is quite possibly the most talented bunch of players we've had for many years. Players that should be playing MILES better than what they have been. It's clear to see where the issues lie but it's a question asked by so many as you've mentioned pundits and fans alike everyone can see it why can't Southgate? Rather than claiming he's oblivious to it maybe it's time he listened to the criticism and do something about it. Silence the critics. Instead, he's been stubborn stuck by his own way of doing things and done nothing to silence the critics. The criticism is justified.

Not if he continues to play him out of position he won't ????

On paper, Belgium should have walked this group but it turned out to be a tighter group than many anticipated. At the start of the tournament would never have expected Belgium to finish second or Ukraine to finish bottom. Football ay!

I forget what podcast it was on, either The Rest is Football or Footballs greatest, but they mention that in the 1986 World Cup England were struggling and key senior members of the squad went in to see Bobby Robson to explain that things aren't working tactically and maybe it would be better to go 3 at the back. Bobby Robson listened, he changed his ways and went 3 at the back. From then on England looked a better squad they got stronger, unfortunately due to 2 Maradona goals that should have both been disallowed they went out in the Quarter Final. This is what I believe needs to happen. Pundits and fans are all calling for the same thing and saying exactly the same thing. They can see the tactics are wrong, they can see where things need to change but unfortunately the only man that can change that is the man that doesn't seem to realise it. The performances are only as bad as they have been purely because of the tactics. I strongly believe that with a tactical tweak, we'll see an exciting England squad. A squad that plays the fast free flowing attacking football that we know they're capable of doing.

@Wheelbarrow repair man I think Pep would get this team working, maybe not to the level many believe he would but he'd definitely get them playing some exciting football. A type of football we're crying out for, a type of football that plays to the strengths of the players we have at our disposal. We have individual talents in this crop that all have a form of unity, bonding and togetherness about them, which is down to Southgate harmonising them from the cliques that hampered the England squad for years. The only thing missing is the tactical side of things. While Southgate has done some good in getting the togetherness and regaining that sense of believe that has been missing for years, he lets himself down when it comes to the tactical side of things. He hasn't got the capabilities to take England to the next step tactically as has been seen in recent performances. As for the captain side of things, I said from the moment Harry Kane was given the captains armband it was the wrong choice. Harry Kane is not a captain, especially not for England. It showed during the last World Cup when Southgate's reason for taking Jordan Henderson, who was captain of Liverpool at the time, was for his leadership. Harry Kane hasn't got it in him to lead England on the pitch. It's the modern game, captains are selected on popularity rather than leadership qualities. Tony Adams, Bryan Robson, Alan Shearer, David Beckham. They were all captains who could lead by example. Captains who wouldn't be afraid to go to manager and vent their frustrations or give insights as to what they believe needed to change.

It can depend on the manager but not always the case in having brilliant individual players to make the team better. Sir Alf Ramsay won the World Cup with England in 1966, not because he had the best players in the land but because the players he selected suited the way he wanted to play. I could be wrong but I believe Geoff Hurst was one of those players who questioned Alf Ramsay about being selected to play for England as he didn't think he was good enough to which Alf Ramsay told him it wasn't about him being good enough it was that he's a player that fits in his style of play. I think the crop of players England have at their disposal is good enough to consistently challenge but unfortunately I don't think Southgate has the capabilities to get the best out of them.

I think the squad is developing nicely. It's good to see that the recruitment process has been aimed at bringing in defenders which as we all know was an area that needed to be addressed last season.

Not a fan of parachute payments, it should absolutely be abolished. As it has been mentioned, it gives teams an unfair advantage when getting relegated which is why we see so many teams become Yo-Yo clubs. They're too good for the Championship but not good enough for the Premier League. Parachute payments also mean that clubs spend outside of their means which then results in them going into administration. Now more than ever clubs are being more cautious about what they spend due to implications of over spending due to their being a crack down on losses, ffp etc. Parachute payments don't last forever so if clubs spend outside their means but don't get promoted and stay where they are or even get relegated, finances become a real issue.

The game was a free hit. Qualification was already secured so I don't get why Southgate didn't try out some of the players who haven't had any game time yet. It's going to be hard to bring them in for a pure knockout game now. Wharton has been outstanding for Palace this season, could have had him next to Rice or even Mainoo who was impressive when coming on. Watkins could have been given a chance to show what he can do. Gordon should have got a start on the left with Palmer on the right, he showed how good he is when he came on. Konsa was good in the friendlies could have been given game time. It was a chance to rest the likes of Kane and Bellingham who both look knackered and a bit off their game. Trippier could have been rested to recover his calf. Walker could have been given a rest.

England have both a performance and tactical issue. Both of which stem from Gareth Southgate. It's frightening to hear comments from Kane like "we don't know how to press". We have one of the, if not the, best attacking players in the Euros but how can we have all that ability in attacking options and capabilities yet we're the most defensive minded team in the tournament. Go 1-0 up against both Serbia and Denmark then we sit back and soak up all the pressure with very little going forward. We should be a team, especially with the attacking threat we've got, continually going at teams and not dropping back defending a 1-0 lead. We should be a high pressing team and not a counter attacking team. The criticism aimed at Gareth Southgate is justified. Things aren't working but Southgate isn't capable of making tactical changes to change the course of the game in England's favour, never has been. It's hard to criticise the players too much because they're being instructed to play a certain way and unfortunately this is why the performances aren't up to scratch. Phil Foden isn't a left winger, he's a 10. He's shown little glimpses when he's moved more centrally of what he can do. Jude Bellingham needs to be put alongside Declan Rice. The past 2 games he's not looked comfortable in the 10 role, England would get the best out of him if he was played in the 8 role. Before the tournament started, I had very little expectations for England. I predict a Quarter Final exit even despite the tag of being one of the favourites. The performances in the 3 group games haven't filled me with confidence and we'd be lucky to get to the Quarter Finals. Harry Kane also needs to stop dropping so deep but game after game we see it. If Southgate is happy for him to drop that deep then he should really have him playing off someone like Watkins who likes to run in behind. Another tweak needs to be make the substitutes earlier. Anthony Gordon deserved more than 4 minutes on that pitch and even then he created more chances than anyone else. Yesterday was a free hit and even despite qualification secured, there was only one change to the side that started the previous 2 and even that was a defensive change. The game yesterday changed when the likes of Palmer and Mainoo came on, 2 players that pushed forward. Pickford Walker Stones Guehi Trippier Bellingham Rice Palmer Foden(if he's back) Gordon Kane That's the team for next game on Sunday.

Man City are gonna get away with it. Politics shouldn't be a factor in football. Would it have been possible to achieve without the things they're being charged with? Maybe not but even with the charges they still have to go out there week in week out and perform. What Pep and this group of players have done is a great achievement.

@DonnyNotts everyone has an opinion. No opinion can be wrong but in my opinion, I find it strange to see fans wanting their team to lose to stop a rival even when they have chance at gaining something from a win. Look how the results played out afterwards, had they won they'd be looking forward to champions league football next season.

All season long League Two had no VAR but the play off final between Crewe and Crawley, it was in place. But had it not been for VAR Crawley might not have won with the penalty incident that the VAR overturned. VAR have come out and said that they won't intervene next season only for clear errors, I'm sure we've heard that before. Surely time to scrap it.

Finally a team with a backbone. I doubt it will go through though according to reports pretty much all of the "big 6" clubs all are in favour of keeping it so no doubt they'll bow to that. Also factor in the owners of the clubs, they see the PL as a project rather than a football league so if they have their way, it will remain next season onwards. I really hope though that clubs listen to their fans and realise that VAR needs to be scrapped. The only downside to scrapping VAR that I can see is that with the situation with Mike Dean not calling a decision to protect his mate could happen more often and be deemed as missed by the naked eye in real time thus meaning human error and it'll be accepted.