For me we need a more creative player as one of the 2 midfielders

Or at least let Rice or Phillips be more creative.

I’d be tempted to drop Grealish back in that role. We desperately need a passer in there who can get their foot on the ball and dictate the tempo. The midfield has always been the problem under Southgate and he’s never quite got it right. I actually thought the Rice/Phillips combination could be the answer (and against stronger teams it might still be) but not playing conservatively like they did last night as there was just a huge gap between them and the front 4. Taking Foden off was also weird. We also need the full backs to get forward more.

I think in hindsight last night we played with a “do not lose” attitude rather than going for the win.

It was a disappointing performance but having said that we kept a clean sheet, hit the post and probably should have had a penalty as well. Not quite sure how it’s been reinvented today into Scotland being all over us and deserving to win. They weren’t and they didn’t. It was an even game and a fair result but they still only got a 0-0 draw when playing pretty much at their best.

Posted By: Jim on June 19th 2021 at 10:02:11

Message Thread

I hope lessons are learned after last night. But I'm not sure how you resolve lethargy. (n/m) (Other Football) - norwaay, Jun 19, 09:30:57
- Amyl nitrate (n/m) (Other Football) - KevinBond, Jun 19, 12:14:14
- Agree 100%. I think lessons will be learnt, but I’m not sure they’re (Other Football) - DH Yellow, Jun 19, 11:15:09
- Red Bull (n/m) (Other Football) - seminated_woolly, Jun 19, 11:03:20
- was crying out for someone to get in between the two lines of scot players (Other Football) - Tony Martin, Jun 19, 10:03:52
- For me we need a more creative player as one of the 2 midfielders (Other Football) - Jim, Jun 19, 10:02:11
  - Yep. Thought White looked standout in the warm up game (Other Football) - Cardiff Canary, Jun 19, 11:15:27
  - It feels like we're only ever going to play one way (Other Football) - norwaay, Jun 19, 10:05:16
    - That's the point (Other Football) - paulg, Jun 19, 10:09:38
    - I’d go with (Other Football) - Jim, Jun 19, 10:06:45
      - Maybe sancho for sterling (n/m) (Other Football) - Kangol Canary, Jun 19, 10:11:52
        
        Could do. I don’t really rate Sancho but I know others do (n/m) (Other Football) - Jim, Jun 19, 10:22:31
- Southgate is constitutionally cautious (Other Football) - paulg, Jun 19, 09:49:56
- Wasn’t a match for 2 x DCM for starters (n/m) (Other Football) - loz, Jun 19, 09:32:22
  - I defend Southgate because it's looked like he is building a squad to deal with some nous (Other Football) - norwaay, Jun 19, 09:37:34
  - To be fair, in neither game so far has Phillips really played as an out-and-out DCM (Other Football) - NxNW, Jun 19, 09:34:55
    - First game more so. Was totally ineffective last night (Other Football) - jamesward, Jun 19, 10:09:30
      - Yes, having been undroppable after Croatia I'd now not be surprised if he's on the bench v (Other Football) - NxNW, Jun 19, 10:21:33

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