Resting Bellingham

He's looked tired and out of sorts since half time in the first game.

Would it be so outlandish to bench him next match, play Foden CM and Gordon on the left?

The current system clearly isn't working, so persisting with it would seem like insanity on Southgate's part. Yesterday was a chance to really freshen things up, in a match that realistically there was little risk of losing.

As I've mentioned elsewhere, I've massively backed Southgate. However, my patience is beginning to wear a little bit thin. Bringing on Gordon with two minutes left against a team that had no interest in crossing the halfway line was beyond infuriating.

 

Totally agree, however, yesterdays match would have been the best time to rest him. The Slovenia match was effectively a good chance for England to involve the fringe players and try a couple of new things. If Southgate benches Bellingham for the first knock out game and it starts going pear shaped, he'll get pelters for not starting Englands best player, and rightly so.

 

Absolutely. But something has to change as by and large it's been painful viewing so far.

 

I'm putting a positive spin on things.

If he rests people yesterday and we end up in the wrong half of the draw he gets pelters. Bellingham is gonna be in that midfield for 15 years - he needs to learn how to play tournament football so you've gotta keep playing him for experience imho. He'll come good.

I'd like us to start Saturday with the XI that finished barring Gordon. Walker left wing to get past Foden and give him some space, Trent & Palmer down the right, Mainoo in the middle. That's been the best we've looked so far - be it only briefly.

Still genuinely believe we'll win it.

 

The lad clearly a talent and will hopefully be in the England midfield for many years to come but tournament football is about the hear and now. He's still very young been pivotal to Real success this season but he looks tired ,Southgate needs to forget reputations. Fodden in contrast is full of energy good teams evolve in tournaments we've got away with it and topped our group no second chances now he needs to get it right or another big prize will slip away.

 

This is true of course. But taking a few risks and ending up on the "wrong" side of the draw is immensely preferable to taking a few risks and ending up on the plane home. Which is effectively the chance Southgate will now be taking if he decides to shuffle his pack from here on. Essentially, he's backed himself into a rather uncomfortable corner.

 

Its outlandish but I'd sack him and appoint a coaching team for the knock outs. We're on plane home if he manages next game.

 

Sacking a manager who's just topped the group and is unbeaten in the tournament so far is beyond outlandish by a magnitude of 100. It's nearly as outlandish as sacking a manager just before the playoffs without having any sort of replacement lined up.

 

I think we got into right side of draw through good luck rather than good management myself

 

As much as I’m continually frustrated that Southgate always subs Sakafirst, despite him usually being one of the most attacking and exciting on the pitch, I’d seriously consider starting him at LB for the next game. Shaw’s not fit. Trippier carrying an injury and on a yellow. Palmer was great on the right, but leave Walker as RB.
No place for TAA as he really hasn’t looked either interested or capable in any of the 3 games so far.

Drop Bellingham, but keep Foden in behind Kane

 

I'm starting to think there's very little between the two.

 

We have an issue in that we've taken a poorly balanced squad. Southgate lacks a clear vision as to how we should play. Our approach is pedestrian and unfocused, exacerbated by our team not having had many games together, several players being out of position, and too many looking lacking urgency and energy.

 

Exactly how I see it…except for the last bit

 

Couldn't disagree more - he's got an incredibly firm vision of how we play. Narrow, tight, short & quick passing etc. The issue has been that we seem to have quite a lot of the same types of lads in there all looking to do similar things and none of them have played particularly well. The issue so far has been that we've been unable to change from that vision in any successful type of way - only when players that aren't the above have we started to look more dangerous. Palmer mainly.

We'll be right - but if we don't see a couple of changes - at least Mainoo & Palmer on Sunday then it's all bets are off.

 

Play Bellingham further back next to Rice. Play Goden as a 10. Play a proper winger. Bellingham is stifled because you have Kane drifting back and Foden drifting into the space he wants to operate into.

 

His stats last night were truly abysmal - any other player in that position would be dropped.

 

What will change is playing teams who won't park the bus and be so negative. We will see more open fluid Football from now.

 

Jude Bellingham is a 20 year old professional footballer who plays at Real Madrid. He shouldn't need resting. Croatia and Portugal don't rest 39 year old Modric and Ronaldo.

 

That's the hope!

 

Our pace of moving the ball around is ridiculously slow and sideways, and we often have both a wide forward and a fullback on each flank. Are we actually watching the same games?