England v Belgium

Mush improved second half but very lucky to be level at half time.

Had we played Coady over Dier and Phillips over Rice, I think we’d have had much better control of the game throughout. Conor Coady would not have made that slow motion tackle Dier did, Phillips has all the defensive awareness of Rice but can play a pass first time and is much less limited generally. Henderson wasn’t fully fit, you could tell. But we needed his leadership.

Good result, and we just about shaded it. Both sides were short of being full strength though.

 

Comments on here are way too harsh in my opinion.

The only place we’re properly short on is central midfielders other than Henderson but the depth we’ve got at the minute is the best it’s been since probably about 2008. Lads who starred in the World Cup just 2 years ago aren’t near the side like Stones, Alli & Lingard.

Just look at some of the squads in the last decade since the golden generation finished their England careers.

I don’t agree with how Southgate set them up. He’s falling into the trap of trying to fit all the best players in regardless of whether it gives the team any balance (3 right backs for example).

Just go with a proper 3-5-2 with a sweeper in the middle like Coady & a left wing back who has a left foot like Chilwell or Saka or go with a Liverpool style 4-3-3 & use the pacey wide forwards.

Today’s system just suits no one.

Reminds me of the Sven & Capello days when they’d try & play 4-4-2 to suit Beckham & Owen but then also try & pick all 3 of Gerrard, Scholes & Lampard in the same team even though that would only work in a 3 man central midfield & wonder why we’d play like strangers.