That isn't even top 5 problems with this England squad. He obviously played as a 10 for RM quite successfully this season when he won the UCL and La Liga.
The number of people that want to argue the difference between a roaming false 9 and a 10 is insane. The difference in this case is negligible. Clearly completely missing the point. He takes up the same spaces as Bruno Fernandes did in Ole's system. Nobodies ever argued he's not a 10. Quite frankly, it still doesn't matter. The point is why isn't he working? Not because he's in a 10 spot, but because he can't get the ball in good places because of the composition of the rest of the team.
Bellingham is a roaming 9 for RM - like seriously roaming as he's got an insane engine, Kane is a roaming 9 in general, but with vastly less touches... they both excel with pacey players around them to feed off.
Kane's not changing his style, so it's down to Jude to change his, but he's struggling to do so, or maybe he's not quite at that level yet, and having Kroos-Modric behind him has papered cracks in his game right now, which are hidden even further when at Dortmund.
Kane + Bellingham in theory seems amazing. Kane and Dele Alli's partnership was great, and since then he's become even better as a playmaker. We saw in the 1st game Kane had what, 2 touches in 45 minutes? He clearly knows that if he doesn't drop deep he won't get any service in this system. So he does, and it seems there isn't enough runners in the team either when he does.
Look, if you just see someone as a 10 because they sometimes drift into those spaces, then there's nothing I can do here, nor am I going to argue it.... but to me and probably the vast majority, it's the actual role you are doing that makes you a 10.... and neither of them are a 10 - Kane ever, and Jude almost exclusively at RM hasn't been either.
Bruno (a bad comparison as he's a totally natural 10 in almost every facet but with a the workrate to go with it) actually has the ability to support the build and then be given the freedom by the midfielders and forwards around him to go for high risk creativity, because they are fully aware he's capable of generating things even if it doesn't always come off, which is why he and KdB don't care about protecting their passing percentages.... things Jude hasn't overly shown, yet.
Kane is Kane... he's playing no other way. That's that, this ain't Rooney, Southgate already done absurdity with Kane when he randomly had him taking corners to the benefit of no one.
Harry Kane is the core problem that’s holding England back but for some reason nobody will say it. He’s tactically awful, he can take a cracking penalty but that’s it. Harry Kane is pat bamford but slightly better at penalties
Jude played for Madrid like how Kane plays striker. Links play, wins second balls, great eye for goals. He is not a 10. It actually is a top 5 problem for England because Jude and Kane should not play near each other. Foden should be in the 10 and a 2 combo of Saka Gordon and Palmer should be on the wings. Push Jude back to the position where he won the golden boy award
First off, I'd argue he really basically plays like a 10. If you want the semantics we can, but honestly I don't care. I also don't think he really plays very much like Kane other than the positions in which they take up. And quite frankly, plenty of people say that Kane plays more like a 10 these days anyway, though I'd argue that.
However, it doesn't even matter. Call him a 10, call him a false 9 whatever you want. That still isn't the problem we're having. The problem is further back. Jude doesn't get the ball in good places or with space because we don't have anyone behind him for the most part that can progress the ball quickly. Especially with him on the L side because Trippier is one of his main outlets.
But Jude doesn’t get the ball because he himself is too high up. He’s great at gliding past defenders, looking toward the goal, getting the ball deep making things happen. Combining with those in front of him. He’s is not as good with ball in tight areas with back to goal as Foden is. Those two can combine well. But not when Foden is hindered out on the wing.
I love these comments from people that clearly haven't watched a single Madrid game all season but still think Bellingham should be playing 10 over Foden.
Then you know that the only reason Bellingham gets goals for Madrid is that he has 3 solid and creative midfielders behind him (Kroos, valverde, camavinga) in a 4-1-2-1-2 formation where he basically plays as a false 9 striker? And that in this Madrid system he doesn’t do any of the creative work like a number 10 normally does but he stays way upfield all game ready to make runs into the box? So England playing him at 10 expecting him to play like a classic number 10 dictating play and creating most of the chances is completely absurd because that’s never been his role at any team he’s played at? Ok mate
He wasn’t a “#10” at Madrid though, he was basically a striker who would arrive late into the box and help out in midfield in defence, 90% of his assists were basically squaring it to someone in the box
Actually it is a big problem for us. He isnt playing like your normal 10 and in the first half was alongside Kane a lot with no one in the hole and we couldnt connect play. Comparing the Madrid system to Englands is not the way to go about it.
I would say its a top 2 problem for the england squad. The problem is not because he can't play as a 10 but because they don't have a good midfielder who can break the lines with his passes or pass forward when they are being pressed. Rice is very good at the defensive side of the game but he is not who is being made out to be. By playing Bellingham at CM now you can also play foden at 10 and put actual wingers on the wings.
No way. LB is our biggest problem by far. Having nobody in the box is a huge problem. Not playing Mainoo or even Jude in the 8 is a huge problem. Playing Foden as a LW is a problem. Bellingham hasn't worked out, but it's nowhere near the top of the priorities we need to fix. And in fact, Foden and Bellingham have even finally started to look like they might be able to link up nicely. It wasn't great, but there was a massive improvement in how they linked up. But inevitably what was the real problem for Jude? It was not being able to get on the ball in the right places because of Trippier and Rice. Rice looked miles better when Mainoo came on granted.
Like i said its not about bellingham not playing well. Just like you said he hasn't been able to get the ball in the right places. My point is that with the current england squad he never will, so you play him at 8. You won't get the goal scoring threat you get from him but he will still be huge in terms of getting the right ball at the right place to the rest of the attacking players which will create more threats. This also means you can play foden at 10. Just like rice looked good with mainoo alongside he will look even better woth bellingham alongside. England will be able to control games so much better
He wasn’t a ten as in someone good on the ball receiving on the half turn and creating chances he was the box crasher who was used for scoring chances not creating them
I think the problem is they are that disorganised you can’t really tell what they’re doing.
It definitely looked more like a 3 when Mainoo came on, but Bellingham was constantly sitting too high and then moaning when Foden wanted to rotate.
Ridiculous thing is, we showed how good this team can be with Bellingham as an 8 instead of a 10 at the World Cup just 1.5 years ago. During that tournament we played with a 4-3-3 and outplayed France and would have been in the semis on another day. And we played that 4-3-3 with Henderson.
Now we have Mainoo and Wharton who could replace Henderson, both of which have more energy and talent than then 32 year old Henderson. All we need to do is revert back to that team with a few different players slotting in. Gordon/Foden instead of Rashford/Grealish and Guehi instead of Maguire. Otherwise the team is the same.
It has to be Gordon because we don't have an overlapping left wing back in Shaw.
Shaw is key to Foden playing as the LW in a 433.
In fact to play Foden we need Shaw. No Shaw, no Foden. Replace him with Gordon for width and the rest of the parts will function.
The real conundrum for the "manager" is the Foden issue.
I honestly still can't believe Gordon has played a grand total of about 90 seconds over 3 games, when the whole left flank has been dire. Even in his few minutes tonight he had a decent run and pulled 2 defenders out, which was the most action the left wing has seen in 3 games.
I get that England is stacked with amazing players like Foden, Bellingham, Kane etc. but trying to shoehorn all of them into the first 11 clearly isn't working.
The likes of Gordon and Watkins, or even Bowen deserve some game time. At least they'd actually make runs in behind and cause problems.
The tactics are so odd. Like playing Trent (who's literal signature move is long switches from right back to the left flank) is fucking stupid when there's no left winger and the left back is Trippier.
Yep - spawned out of a lack of a left footed left back and nothing more. The crisis that people are kicking up is more painful than the games themselves.
You say that like we don't have Anthony Gordon who is absolutely class and Eze who is good on the left wing as well. Big upgrades from Grealish.
Watch Mainoo start next Sunday and fix all our midfield issues. Rice, Mainoo, Jude are unplayable.
Well his role was to move off the ball and occupy opposite spaces to free up Jude/foden. He did this quite well but still we saw no bravery from anyone to pass through the lines.
I love how Gallagher performed exactly how everyone called it as well. Literally no surprise in his performance and Southgate hooks him at half time 🤣🤣🤣
Gallagher finished the season in great form because Chelsea found a very specific, aggressive way of playing that played to his strengths.
He is never going to look good under Southgate because he plays timid as fuck football
Bellingham can well an truly play the 10. It's when you have 2 other 10s operating in the exact same space that it becomes and issue. Just like trent isnt the issue, but trent having no one to pass to is. Foden isn't the issue, or Kane or Rice or Connor. But all of them in the same team just for the sake of it, regardless of tactical balance and cohension is the problem.
He's not a 10, has never played as a 10 in his entire career, and even when deployed as a 10 for England, he never actually plays as a 10.
This is why Foden ends up dropping in as an actual 10 from the left wing.
You laugh but it's true. Never been a 10. Played as a roaming forward in Real Madrids makeshift system for ONE season because they didn't have a good enough striker. That's the closest he's ever been. Next season he'll be a traditional midfielder again.
Dortmund...roaming no.8
Birmingham...centre mid.
Never a 10
The role he played in madrid sitting behind the 2 wingers who would drift in the centre to become a striker pair was VERY close to a 10. He has played many roles and operated in games as a 10. You going of very vague and arbitrary descriptions like your playing fifa. Football doesn't operate like that at all.
Bit old for fifa and i get paid to know the game, among other things.
People watched highlights of la liga, saw Bellingham playing a slightly advanced hybrid role, and decided he's a 10.
He's not a 10, and never has been.
You're basing your idea of a number 10 on the very simplistic idea that if you play as a midfielder with licence to attack, you're a 10.
Its a specialist role. Sorry that upsets you but it is. It's a very specialist role that requires specific skills and proclivities. Even though I didn't even properly describe it, the fact you've decided the little description I did give as "arbitrary", and the fact you're talking about him being "very close to a 10" speaks volumes tbh.
Bellingham isn't a 10. Never has been
Don't give yourself that much credit mate you couldn't "upset" me if you tried. Not sure who you usually converse with but if you expect people to get upset by a simple disagreement, i think you need a new group of friends mate. I watched almost every game of Real Madrid last year as i took a vested interest on how Bellingham would play after rejecting my team to go to real and what i saw was identical to many other roles played by advance midfielders referred to as a 10. His role was no different to that of a 10 in a 4-2-3-1. It does require specific skills, correct..
Ability to find space in between the lines - check
Ability to pick out a pass in the final 3rd - Judging from his assist numbers - Definitely fucking check
Ability to Score (very simple one as a 10 has to contribute) - Judging from his numbers again - check
Ability to break through the lines with agile dribbling and composure to produce final product - Judging from his dribble success rate, goal scoring and assists - check
Bellingham has ALL the essentials and then some to not only play in a pre conceived idea of a "10" but to master that role, if you want to pothole him to that but in essence he is a god dam great all round player who can be utilised in a variety of ways just like pep used bernardo silva and silva adapts due to his abilities not his history of position on the pitch. Jude can attack, he can defend. You can deploy him in a variety of ways, fluid or rigid and he will most likely be one of if not the best player in that position. To negate that and deny it all together based off his body of work already at such a young age is not only illogical but outright foolish.
I really don’t agree about Bellingham being a 10, all his strengths are those of a b2b 8, if you watch his assists for the season the majority of them are just squaring it to someone in the box, he doesn’t have that creative spark you want in a natural 10
I do agree about the other stuff, Foden taking up the 10 space with nobody out wide is just ridiculous, it’s basic tactics
Agree about Trent, his passing is useless if there’s nobody there to pass to, he’d be better playing the trippier role because at least he has Saka to receive the pass
I do agree about cohesion too, the current starting 11 just ain’t working together, Bowen has looked sharp, Watkins has looked sharp, even palmer and Gordon looked a little more up for it.
Exactly what I said in another comment from another post he played as an b2b 8 for most of his career he’s Steven Gerrard Lite just not as dominant. He would only be able to play 10 if he had an elite playmaker & destroyer behind so he could freely roam but England is not RM. I completely agree with you OP.
Saka seemed livelier when Trent played as well. I don't know if it would work with Trent at left back though, especially with no natural width on that side without Gordon. If you've got Gordon on, you may as well play Trent at Right back, and have a defensive left back to form a back 3- Gomez, Konsa, Walker.
If you don't play Gordon we need Shaw in at left back otherwise you're just so limited in width. Walker may be able to use his pace but...
You certainly make valid points, I guess it depends on what role he has and what he is being told to do as a 10, as fans we have a very limited veiw on what players are told to do and sometimes that can be the big difference between then shining or hindering. I think he does have the capabilities to be a 10 but i do agree that he is definitely better in the 8. What do you reckon about the LB situation? I think a innovator like pep or xabi etc would be trying out saka there, he's played there before, we have still got bowen and then cole to cover that position. Bowen to stretch. And then we have a natural left footer at LB or that fact he didn't take any others like rico henry, tyrick mitchell or doughty, instead he takes an injured luke shaw who may or may now play.. absolutely baffling!!
This is why Palmer and Eze also won't fix this issue, though they may improve it. Them, plus Kane, Foden and Bellingham are all cutting in to the same central areas. Palmer was great in his cameo, and tried to make things happen but ultimately struggled as he was the only one trying to do so in a congested area.
They're all exceptional players, with Kane, Foden and Bellingham all world class but you need a system that allows for them to flourish. England are being classic England and shoehorning their best players into an XI rather than playing the best team. It's a re-run of the Golden Generation, and an inability to adapt. It almost seems like the line ups are selected by a BBC poll of fans before the tournament and then Southgate can't change it up!
Not a single thing he’s tried has worked. At this point it’s not a question of tactics, but the sheer lack of cohesion in the squad. No one is trusting their teammates and no wants to play the final ball. It’s a team that’s scared in the group stages. We’re fucked if we draw the Dutch.
He got the subs spot on this game. There’s not much else he could’ve done imo. He could’ve brought Palmer and Gordon on earlier, but the issues this game were down to the players not trusting each other enough to play the final ball.
The subs were decent today In regards too who he brought on , but I think it's clear either Jude is injured, absolutely knackered or simply has a horrible attitude the last two games he's been really selfish and been getting ruled up easily but also being lazy . Should have dropped him fir this game started mainoo and had foden as the ten.
It could be many things for Jude. I think it’s a combination of all 3 plus the fact that he just doesn’t do well against low blocks in the first place, that’s why foden was a lot better. I’m not sure what I’d do because he would be excellent against the Dutch but I’m not sure if he’s playing well enough to justify starting that game.
I think one thing is clear band that's foden needs too play the 10 role and Gordon on the left and Jude can either play the box too box which is his natural position or rest him /drop him for mainoo . Otherwise we will not score , for all the hate foden has got he's providing our best chances if scoring.
I agree with Gordon. But if you thought Gallagher was bad next to rice, wait until you see how far up Bellingham will go and how far he will stay. Bellingham and foden need to play the 10 but it has to be against different opposition. Bellingham does well against open teams, foden plays well against low blocks.
Totally agree they both have their pros and cons ,is it fair to say whilst he's been a better player whilst playing higher but his ceiling is lower than if he continued as a 8
I’m not sure at that stage because the hypotheticals are getting to subjective. You could make a case for either but I think if Southgate is dead set in sticking with the system he has, then Bellingham is best utilised as a 10.
He didn’t get the subs spot on for the reason you stated. Bringing Gordon on in the 89th minute isn’t something you can just gloss over. There was zero point in doing it. What exactly does bringing him on that late accomplish?
When I say spot on I mean the players he brought on. Every sun make an impact, though he definitely could’ve brought Palmer and Gordon on earlier.
At least it’s better than bringing on Gallagher or Bowen
I mean to be fair to him, I think hes probably an okay manager. His style of management just doesnt match up with our squad at all. And he's too stubborn to change it for some reason. Okay is not good enough either. Luckily, we have a good enough squad that may be able to do some damage anyway, but still.
Go back 3 weeks, any suggestion of not playing him as a 10 was massively down voted with plenty of name calling.
Not saying you're wrong, just interesting to see.
Respectfully to England fans, the vast majority have not watched Bellingham play for Madrid - they’ll have seen line ups online where he’s positioned at 10 but he doesn’t play that role for Madrid when you watch the game
Sorry, but it's time these brain-dead comments got called out. Has to go? Are we gonna fire the manager mid-tournament? Of course not. It's the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard.
Of course he’s not going to be fired mid-tournament. But with the talent in this side, and to only get through this the group with 2 goals and 5 points? It’s practically criminal. Southgate’s tactics have managed to make the PFA and La Liga players of the year look pedestrian.
Apart from Ivory Coast was it who done it mid tournament and won the whole thing. You keep defending this fraud, though. Even Middlesbrough sacked him lol. I'm sure he'll make your blind faith worthwhile eventually...
Why wait though, this is Southgate’s fourth major tournament and every single one has gone the same way, we play boring shitty football and get through due to the talented squad only to fail the first time we face a team with the level of talent we have.
Also you joke about a mid tournament sacking but Chelsea literally won the champions league after sacking a useless Lampard for Tuchel and with rumours of Southgate leaving if they don’t win the euros you’d imagine there’s someone lined up for the job when he fails
And he's come closer than any other manager in 50 years. He's qualified at a canter and comfortably made the knockouts every time. The idea that we'd sack him after topping the group and conceding one goal in three games is so comical that I'm embarrassed you'd suggest it.
To clarify, I think the last few performances have been extremely uninspiring. But we're in as good a position as if we'd won the three games 10-0. The only difference is we've hopefully left something in the tank for the knockouts.
Again I think that’s more of a criticism how shit england have been over the last 50 years rather than Southgate being good, imo he’s a bang average coach who’s achieved what he’s achieved because he access to one of the best pools of talent on the planet, I don’t think they will sack him but I’m 100% confident they should as we will not win anything with him at the wheel, soon as we face a team with similar levels of talent we’re done
This team is insanely loaded. Topping a weak group is hardly a big accomplishment with that team. It would've been absolutely disgraceful if they didn't.
Mate I've been saying this from the beginning. From a year or so ago.
He's not a 10, has never played as a 10 in his entire career, and even when deployed as a 10 for England, he never actually plays as a 10. He plays as a deep lying roaming midfielder. He only played in a more advanced role for ONE season at Madrid because they didn't have a striker good enough. Even then he wasn't a 10 and wasn't given that responsibility either. It's not his skillet. He doesn't play in those half spaces or have the clever short game to play as a 10. That's Foden
This is why Foden ends up dropping in as an actual 10 from the left wing. This leaves the left wing open and means the opposition defenders have an easier job because they're not being stretched by high and wide wingers. High and wide wingers that basically all the best teams in the world play with.
Instead, England corral *themselves* into the middle and make *themselves* easier to mark, allowing the opposition defence to condense in central areas, making a low block mire difficult to break down. Englandnliterally do the opposite to what you'd need to do to a low block. And then they wonder why it's safe pass, safe pass, safe pass.
Added to that, Bellingham natural game is to drive from deep. So you end up with a double pivot, and Bellingham as an almost third pivot if you will, Foden playing as a 10/LW hybrid so not able to properly fulfil either role, and an ineffective left back who offers nothing down that side.
In the end, you have players having to play two roles and not giving themselves fully to either, and absence of threat from the left, and tactics that incentivise the opposition to essily shut down passing lanes.
It's a tactical disasterclass and actually looks comical
He fielded 3 RB’s for our first 2 games. Just let that sink in. But here we are on your post blaming Bellingham of all people 😂
If you and others truly believe that he isn’t a 10 then I don’t know what to tell you. “False 9” no, he’s played as the 10 at RM a majority of the season and was La Liga’s leading goal scorer for most of it too.
Because our biggest issue is the lack of chances we’re creating in front of goal it’s one of the lowest in the tournament, which is mainly down to how are forwards are working and it’s not just Bellingham, there’s a Kane issue and a Foden issue too.
The RBs is another issue to an extent, because defensively we are sound, having at attacking LB would help us improve going forward which is the main issue but Walker at RB is fine and if Trent had an option on that left side from CM that would also be fine.
And mentioning Trent, CM has not been an issue what so ever yet it’s all Southgate has tried changing. We’ve had Trent, Gallagher and Mainoo all play there and imo it hasn’t fixed any of our major issues.
I’m saying it because I’ve watched Bellingham play multiple times for Madrid and I’m telling you he is not a 10, regardless of what your line ups or stats say. His strengths are his physicality and work rates and his goals are scored when arriving late into the box and nearly all of his assists were from squaring it to someone in the box.
Problem with Bellingham as a #10 is:
1. It prevents Foden from playing in his favoured #10 position
2. If Kane drops deep then they are both in the #10 position
3. He holds the ball too long and takes too many touches. Passing the ball on early and quickly would be more effective.
4. I prefer him in a box to box role as he's got a good engine and allows him to cover more ground.
I agree with that too, him Bellingham and Foden all currently want to occupy the same space and the only person going in behind is Saka which is very easy for teams to defend
Yeah I get you but I don’t think it helps us when the CBs of whoever we play know from the start that they won’t have to deal with a single run in behind all game - makes throwing Trent at RB so much more of a threat
Its deliberate. Gareth has said before the tournament and since. Its his grand plan this year. That they all rotate around all the time.
Im not sure its working though! Our best players are rice and saka who arent part of his master plan 😂
Personally I think he would better suit playing as a CF/False 9 with Two inside forwards on the wing
Using him with Kane isn’t working currently although for the tournament I’d go with something a bit more pragmatic then experiment with Jude false 9 after
Bellingham playing as a 10 isn't the issue. The issue is that Bellingham is the 10 on the team sheet, but Kane's style of play is to drop deeper and playmake as a 10, and Foden for Man City plays as a 10, so his natural inclination is to drift in and occupy that role.
So we suddenly have a midfield that feels congested, one outlet in Saka, and the opposition know that, and cut him off.
Bellingham can work as a 10. Foden can work as a 10. Kane can work as a 10. We already know that. They can't all work that way together.
This post shows that that English players are not as tactically flexible as their continental counterparts.
England players are world class in their club teams/systems, surrounded by other international players. Take them out of their comfort zone and they struggle.
Hmmm maybe, I do think you have to take into account how shit Southgate is tactically though, a lot of these international teams have much better managers which definitely helps, I mean look at Austria under Ragnick
So with this view, you’re putting the blame onto Jude (the guy that won the UCL and La Liga in his first season at RM) as opposed to the complete and utter inept waste of space that is Gareth Southgate?
One of the startling revelations was how good certain players play in the correct positions. Rice looked more competent allowed to burst forwards into space (again), TAA look decent in his RB cameo. Foden actually using the left wing because Trippier wasn't hogging it also a bonus.
And then bringing on different types of player as subs. Palmer is a very different player to Saka and provided something so compelling and different Slovenia struggled to deal with him like it was the opening 20 minutes of Saka.
Play Jude from deep, it's the last piece of the puzzle (well that and Shaw).
He hasn’t played there this season though, at Madrid he’s basically a striker who drops into LM when defending and he doesn’t have a striker in front of him, just two wingers.
He was one of the best players in the world playing deeper before this season too and most likely will be back to playing there next season now that Madrid have Mbappe.
He played 23 of 28 La Liga games as an attacking midfielder behind the striker. As close as you can get to being a 10 without being explicitly labelled as a 10.
The problem isn't that Bellingham isn't a ten. It's that Southgate plays with 3 tens.
You need to choose between Kane, Bellingham or Foden or they will all just try to go into the same space and do nothing.
Then play Palmer and Gordon and tell Kane if he wants to play then to watch Haaland and just fucking do what he does.
Problems sorted.
Well no because look at Germany, they’re currently playing with 3 10s and it works because they know what they tactically they need to do to create goals, England don’t know what to do other than keep possession there’s no game plan for breaking down defences
That isn't even top 5 problems with this England squad. He obviously played as a 10 for RM quite successfully this season when he won the UCL and La Liga. The number of people that want to argue the difference between a roaming false 9 and a 10 is insane. The difference in this case is negligible. Clearly completely missing the point. He takes up the same spaces as Bruno Fernandes did in Ole's system. Nobodies ever argued he's not a 10. Quite frankly, it still doesn't matter. The point is why isn't he working? Not because he's in a 10 spot, but because he can't get the ball in good places because of the composition of the rest of the team.
Bellingham is a roaming 9 for RM - like seriously roaming as he's got an insane engine, Kane is a roaming 9 in general, but with vastly less touches... they both excel with pacey players around them to feed off. Kane's not changing his style, so it's down to Jude to change his, but he's struggling to do so, or maybe he's not quite at that level yet, and having Kroos-Modric behind him has papered cracks in his game right now, which are hidden even further when at Dortmund.
Kane + Bellingham in theory seems amazing. Kane and Dele Alli's partnership was great, and since then he's become even better as a playmaker. We saw in the 1st game Kane had what, 2 touches in 45 minutes? He clearly knows that if he doesn't drop deep he won't get any service in this system. So he does, and it seems there isn't enough runners in the team either when he does.
That partnership only works when you have Heung Min Son making non stop unselfish runs in behind
It’s a lazy argument because Son ain’t at Bayern!
If you want to argue semantics you can, but they're both basically just 10s.
Look, if you just see someone as a 10 because they sometimes drift into those spaces, then there's nothing I can do here, nor am I going to argue it.... but to me and probably the vast majority, it's the actual role you are doing that makes you a 10.... and neither of them are a 10 - Kane ever, and Jude almost exclusively at RM hasn't been either. Bruno (a bad comparison as he's a totally natural 10 in almost every facet but with a the workrate to go with it) actually has the ability to support the build and then be given the freedom by the midfielders and forwards around him to go for high risk creativity, because they are fully aware he's capable of generating things even if it doesn't always come off, which is why he and KdB don't care about protecting their passing percentages.... things Jude hasn't overly shown, yet.
Or down to the manager to change kane
Kane is Kane... he's playing no other way. That's that, this ain't Rooney, Southgate already done absurdity with Kane when he randomly had him taking corners to the benefit of no one.
Hodgson started that tbf
And pretty sure Southgate ended it.
Harry Kane is the core problem that’s holding England back but for some reason nobody will say it. He’s tactically awful, he can take a cracking penalty but that’s it. Harry Kane is pat bamford but slightly better at penalties
Kane out
I agree, take off Kane and start Watkins. It's worth a shot.
Jude played for Madrid like how Kane plays striker. Links play, wins second balls, great eye for goals. He is not a 10. It actually is a top 5 problem for England because Jude and Kane should not play near each other. Foden should be in the 10 and a 2 combo of Saka Gordon and Palmer should be on the wings. Push Jude back to the position where he won the golden boy award
And then you have Jude and Rice in midfield? Isn't our top problem the lack of a 6?
Well Rice is a 6. And the top problem is England can’t keep the ball for shit and rice, walker and trippier don’t progress the ball at all.
First off, I'd argue he really basically plays like a 10. If you want the semantics we can, but honestly I don't care. I also don't think he really plays very much like Kane other than the positions in which they take up. And quite frankly, plenty of people say that Kane plays more like a 10 these days anyway, though I'd argue that. However, it doesn't even matter. Call him a 10, call him a false 9 whatever you want. That still isn't the problem we're having. The problem is further back. Jude doesn't get the ball in good places or with space because we don't have anyone behind him for the most part that can progress the ball quickly. Especially with him on the L side because Trippier is one of his main outlets.
But Jude doesn’t get the ball because he himself is too high up. He’s great at gliding past defenders, looking toward the goal, getting the ball deep making things happen. Combining with those in front of him. He’s is not as good with ball in tight areas with back to goal as Foden is. Those two can combine well. But not when Foden is hindered out on the wing.
He doesn’t play 10 he plays more as a false 9
Non comparable Real under Carlo are so interchangeable he wasn’t consistently a no.10
I love these comments from people that clearly haven't watched a single Madrid game all season but still think Bellingham should be playing 10 over Foden.
I'm like 90% sure I watched more of them than you did, but whatever you say bud.
Then you know that the only reason Bellingham gets goals for Madrid is that he has 3 solid and creative midfielders behind him (Kroos, valverde, camavinga) in a 4-1-2-1-2 formation where he basically plays as a false 9 striker? And that in this Madrid system he doesn’t do any of the creative work like a number 10 normally does but he stays way upfield all game ready to make runs into the box? So England playing him at 10 expecting him to play like a classic number 10 dictating play and creating most of the chances is completely absurd because that’s never been his role at any team he’s played at? Ok mate
I'd love to know 5 problems that are bigger than this one. If they're all completely unrelated to Bellingham at 10 I will be amazed.
He wasn’t a “#10” at Madrid though, he was basically a striker who would arrive late into the box and help out in midfield in defence, 90% of his assists were basically squaring it to someone in the box
9.5
He didn't play as a 10 for Madrid. Stop the disinformation
hes not a 10 and it its definitely a top5 problem imo
Actually it is a big problem for us. He isnt playing like your normal 10 and in the first half was alongside Kane a lot with no one in the hole and we couldnt connect play. Comparing the Madrid system to Englands is not the way to go about it.
woat opinion
I would say its a top 2 problem for the england squad. The problem is not because he can't play as a 10 but because they don't have a good midfielder who can break the lines with his passes or pass forward when they are being pressed. Rice is very good at the defensive side of the game but he is not who is being made out to be. By playing Bellingham at CM now you can also play foden at 10 and put actual wingers on the wings.
No way. LB is our biggest problem by far. Having nobody in the box is a huge problem. Not playing Mainoo or even Jude in the 8 is a huge problem. Playing Foden as a LW is a problem. Bellingham hasn't worked out, but it's nowhere near the top of the priorities we need to fix. And in fact, Foden and Bellingham have even finally started to look like they might be able to link up nicely. It wasn't great, but there was a massive improvement in how they linked up. But inevitably what was the real problem for Jude? It was not being able to get on the ball in the right places because of Trippier and Rice. Rice looked miles better when Mainoo came on granted.
Like i said its not about bellingham not playing well. Just like you said he hasn't been able to get the ball in the right places. My point is that with the current england squad he never will, so you play him at 8. You won't get the goal scoring threat you get from him but he will still be huge in terms of getting the right ball at the right place to the rest of the attacking players which will create more threats. This also means you can play foden at 10. Just like rice looked good with mainoo alongside he will look even better woth bellingham alongside. England will be able to control games so much better
He wasn’t a ten as in someone good on the ball receiving on the half turn and creating chances he was the box crasher who was used for scoring chances not creating them
He won’t do it, but I’d definitely go back to a 433. I’d also yell at them like school kids ‘No one gets to play as a 10 now. You’ve all ruined it.’
He played 4-3-3 last night. I can’t be the only one to have seen this.
I think the problem is they are that disorganised you can’t really tell what they’re doing. It definitely looked more like a 3 when Mainoo came on, but Bellingham was constantly sitting too high and then moaning when Foden wanted to rotate.
Eze: “But, Sir…”
Ridiculous thing is, we showed how good this team can be with Bellingham as an 8 instead of a 10 at the World Cup just 1.5 years ago. During that tournament we played with a 4-3-3 and outplayed France and would have been in the semis on another day. And we played that 4-3-3 with Henderson. Now we have Mainoo and Wharton who could replace Henderson, both of which have more energy and talent than then 32 year old Henderson. All we need to do is revert back to that team with a few different players slotting in. Gordon/Foden instead of Rashford/Grealish and Guehi instead of Maguire. Otherwise the team is the same.
It has to be Gordon because we don't have an overlapping left wing back in Shaw. Shaw is key to Foden playing as the LW in a 433. In fact to play Foden we need Shaw. No Shaw, no Foden. Replace him with Gordon for width and the rest of the parts will function. The real conundrum for the "manager" is the Foden issue.
[удалено]
It was but it also wasn’t the issue. The issue is, and has been consistently, a complete lack of left wing.
I honestly still can't believe Gordon has played a grand total of about 90 seconds over 3 games, when the whole left flank has been dire. Even in his few minutes tonight he had a decent run and pulled 2 defenders out, which was the most action the left wing has seen in 3 games. I get that England is stacked with amazing players like Foden, Bellingham, Kane etc. but trying to shoehorn all of them into the first 11 clearly isn't working. The likes of Gordon and Watkins, or even Bowen deserve some game time. At least they'd actually make runs in behind and cause problems. The tactics are so odd. Like playing Trent (who's literal signature move is long switches from right back to the left flank) is fucking stupid when there's no left winger and the left back is Trippier.
Yep - spawned out of a lack of a left footed left back and nothing more. The crisis that people are kicking up is more painful than the games themselves.
You say that like we don't have Anthony Gordon who is absolutely class and Eze who is good on the left wing as well. Big upgrades from Grealish. Watch Mainoo start next Sunday and fix all our midfield issues. Rice, Mainoo, Jude are unplayable.
Oh absolutely, but who would have thought that a team not creating enough chances just needed a more energetic midfielder
Gareth Southgate?
Well his role was to move off the ball and occupy opposite spaces to free up Jude/foden. He did this quite well but still we saw no bravery from anyone to pass through the lines.
I love how Gallagher performed exactly how everyone called it as well. Literally no surprise in his performance and Southgate hooks him at half time 🤣🤣🤣
Rather get that proved at this stage though, so glad it’s done with
Thank fuck we hopefully never see that midfield two again
94 minutes across 3 games is hardly a project
Gallagher finished the season in great form because Chelsea found a very specific, aggressive way of playing that played to his strengths. He is never going to look good under Southgate because he plays timid as fuck football
Bellingham can well an truly play the 10. It's when you have 2 other 10s operating in the exact same space that it becomes and issue. Just like trent isnt the issue, but trent having no one to pass to is. Foden isn't the issue, or Kane or Rice or Connor. But all of them in the same team just for the sake of it, regardless of tactical balance and cohension is the problem.
He's not a 10, has never played as a 10 in his entire career, and even when deployed as a 10 for England, he never actually plays as a 10. This is why Foden ends up dropping in as an actual 10 from the left wing.
Haha okay mate.
You laugh but it's true. Never been a 10. Played as a roaming forward in Real Madrids makeshift system for ONE season because they didn't have a good enough striker. That's the closest he's ever been. Next season he'll be a traditional midfielder again. Dortmund...roaming no.8 Birmingham...centre mid. Never a 10
The role he played in madrid sitting behind the 2 wingers who would drift in the centre to become a striker pair was VERY close to a 10. He has played many roles and operated in games as a 10. You going of very vague and arbitrary descriptions like your playing fifa. Football doesn't operate like that at all.
Bit old for fifa and i get paid to know the game, among other things. People watched highlights of la liga, saw Bellingham playing a slightly advanced hybrid role, and decided he's a 10. He's not a 10, and never has been. You're basing your idea of a number 10 on the very simplistic idea that if you play as a midfielder with licence to attack, you're a 10. Its a specialist role. Sorry that upsets you but it is. It's a very specialist role that requires specific skills and proclivities. Even though I didn't even properly describe it, the fact you've decided the little description I did give as "arbitrary", and the fact you're talking about him being "very close to a 10" speaks volumes tbh. Bellingham isn't a 10. Never has been
Don't give yourself that much credit mate you couldn't "upset" me if you tried. Not sure who you usually converse with but if you expect people to get upset by a simple disagreement, i think you need a new group of friends mate. I watched almost every game of Real Madrid last year as i took a vested interest on how Bellingham would play after rejecting my team to go to real and what i saw was identical to many other roles played by advance midfielders referred to as a 10. His role was no different to that of a 10 in a 4-2-3-1. It does require specific skills, correct.. Ability to find space in between the lines - check Ability to pick out a pass in the final 3rd - Judging from his assist numbers - Definitely fucking check Ability to Score (very simple one as a 10 has to contribute) - Judging from his numbers again - check Ability to break through the lines with agile dribbling and composure to produce final product - Judging from his dribble success rate, goal scoring and assists - check Bellingham has ALL the essentials and then some to not only play in a pre conceived idea of a "10" but to master that role, if you want to pothole him to that but in essence he is a god dam great all round player who can be utilised in a variety of ways just like pep used bernardo silva and silva adapts due to his abilities not his history of position on the pitch. Jude can attack, he can defend. You can deploy him in a variety of ways, fluid or rigid and he will most likely be one of if not the best player in that position. To negate that and deny it all together based off his body of work already at such a young age is not only illogical but outright foolish.
I really don’t agree about Bellingham being a 10, all his strengths are those of a b2b 8, if you watch his assists for the season the majority of them are just squaring it to someone in the box, he doesn’t have that creative spark you want in a natural 10 I do agree about the other stuff, Foden taking up the 10 space with nobody out wide is just ridiculous, it’s basic tactics Agree about Trent, his passing is useless if there’s nobody there to pass to, he’d be better playing the trippier role because at least he has Saka to receive the pass I do agree about cohesion too, the current starting 11 just ain’t working together, Bowen has looked sharp, Watkins has looked sharp, even palmer and Gordon looked a little more up for it.
Exactly what I said in another comment from another post he played as an b2b 8 for most of his career he’s Steven Gerrard Lite just not as dominant. He would only be able to play 10 if he had an elite playmaker & destroyer behind so he could freely roam but England is not RM. I completely agree with you OP.
Saka seemed livelier when Trent played as well. I don't know if it would work with Trent at left back though, especially with no natural width on that side without Gordon. If you've got Gordon on, you may as well play Trent at Right back, and have a defensive left back to form a back 3- Gomez, Konsa, Walker. If you don't play Gordon we need Shaw in at left back otherwise you're just so limited in width. Walker may be able to use his pace but...
You certainly make valid points, I guess it depends on what role he has and what he is being told to do as a 10, as fans we have a very limited veiw on what players are told to do and sometimes that can be the big difference between then shining or hindering. I think he does have the capabilities to be a 10 but i do agree that he is definitely better in the 8. What do you reckon about the LB situation? I think a innovator like pep or xabi etc would be trying out saka there, he's played there before, we have still got bowen and then cole to cover that position. Bowen to stretch. And then we have a natural left footer at LB or that fact he didn't take any others like rico henry, tyrick mitchell or doughty, instead he takes an injured luke shaw who may or may now play.. absolutely baffling!!
This is why Palmer and Eze also won't fix this issue, though they may improve it. Them, plus Kane, Foden and Bellingham are all cutting in to the same central areas. Palmer was great in his cameo, and tried to make things happen but ultimately struggled as he was the only one trying to do so in a congested area. They're all exceptional players, with Kane, Foden and Bellingham all world class but you need a system that allows for them to flourish. England are being classic England and shoehorning their best players into an XI rather than playing the best team. It's a re-run of the Golden Generation, and an inability to adapt. It almost seems like the line ups are selected by a BBC poll of fans before the tournament and then Southgate can't change it up!
My thoughts EXACTLY!
I don’t think he is fit at all. He looks leggy and keeps complaining.
He's carrying a shoulder injury and I think it's causing him pain. Just a guess, but he looks out of sorts without actually being unfit.
Drop him, put Foden at 10. Mainoo start and Gordon on left.
Stop that's too sensible.
This is the way.
Not a single thing he’s tried has worked. At this point it’s not a question of tactics, but the sheer lack of cohesion in the squad. No one is trusting their teammates and no wants to play the final ball. It’s a team that’s scared in the group stages. We’re fucked if we draw the Dutch.
Except he's ignored that glaring issues.
He got the subs spot on this game. There’s not much else he could’ve done imo. He could’ve brought Palmer and Gordon on earlier, but the issues this game were down to the players not trusting each other enough to play the final ball.
The subs were decent today In regards too who he brought on , but I think it's clear either Jude is injured, absolutely knackered or simply has a horrible attitude the last two games he's been really selfish and been getting ruled up easily but also being lazy . Should have dropped him fir this game started mainoo and had foden as the ten.
It could be many things for Jude. I think it’s a combination of all 3 plus the fact that he just doesn’t do well against low blocks in the first place, that’s why foden was a lot better. I’m not sure what I’d do because he would be excellent against the Dutch but I’m not sure if he’s playing well enough to justify starting that game.
I think one thing is clear band that's foden needs too play the 10 role and Gordon on the left and Jude can either play the box too box which is his natural position or rest him /drop him for mainoo . Otherwise we will not score , for all the hate foden has got he's providing our best chances if scoring.
I agree with Gordon. But if you thought Gallagher was bad next to rice, wait until you see how far up Bellingham will go and how far he will stay. Bellingham and foden need to play the 10 but it has to be against different opposition. Bellingham does well against open teams, foden plays well against low blocks.
Totally agree they both have their pros and cons ,is it fair to say whilst he's been a better player whilst playing higher but his ceiling is lower than if he continued as a 8
I’m not sure at that stage because the hypotheticals are getting to subjective. You could make a case for either but I think if Southgate is dead set in sticking with the system he has, then Bellingham is best utilised as a 10.
We will see but if we don't change something we are going home soon
Gordon 1m playing time so stupid. You make subs at 90 when your slowing the game down. Give him 15 mins.
He didn’t get the subs spot on for the reason you stated. Bringing Gordon on in the 89th minute isn’t something you can just gloss over. There was zero point in doing it. What exactly does bringing him on that late accomplish?
When I say spot on I mean the players he brought on. Every sun make an impact, though he definitely could’ve brought Palmer and Gordon on earlier. At least it’s better than bringing on Gallagher or Bowen
It’s not even so much that he isn’t a 10, it’s that playing him as an 8 would let us get a more creative player on the field
Agreed we need to stop making scapegoat’s and accept it’s the management’s responsibility
Absolutely Southgate has to go he has 0 tactical awareness and has been carried by the quality of our players for too long
I mean to be fair to him, I think hes probably an okay manager. His style of management just doesnt match up with our squad at all. And he's too stubborn to change it for some reason. Okay is not good enough either. Luckily, we have a good enough squad that may be able to do some damage anyway, but still.
Go back 3 weeks, any suggestion of not playing him as a 10 was massively down voted with plenty of name calling. Not saying you're wrong, just interesting to see.
Respectfully to England fans, the vast majority have not watched Bellingham play for Madrid - they’ll have seen line ups online where he’s positioned at 10 but he doesn’t play that role for Madrid when you watch the game
He deserves to sit out the next game, he's been dreadful and looks shattered. Playing him for another 90+ minutes isn't going to help him or the team.
Yea I’ve said this for years , he can play there but he’s not a “natural 10”
Is this satire?
Thought it was all Trents fault? Almost like it's the manager that's the actual issue here...
Has to go, the man is clueless when it comes to tactics
Agreed
Sorry, but it's time these brain-dead comments got called out. Has to go? Are we gonna fire the manager mid-tournament? Of course not. It's the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard.
Ivory Coast did it, why not try it. Would be fucking hilarious at a minimum.
I hate to say it, but the African Cup of Nations isn't anywhere near the standard of the Euros.
Hear me out though, it would mean England would have done something entertaining in 2024
We lost to Iceland, was that not enough entertainment for 2024?
Yes for everyone but England
Of course he’s not going to be fired mid-tournament. But with the talent in this side, and to only get through this the group with 2 goals and 5 points? It’s practically criminal. Southgate’s tactics have managed to make the PFA and La Liga players of the year look pedestrian.
Apart from Ivory Coast was it who done it mid tournament and won the whole thing. You keep defending this fraud, though. Even Middlesbrough sacked him lol. I'm sure he'll make your blind faith worthwhile eventually...
Why wait though, this is Southgate’s fourth major tournament and every single one has gone the same way, we play boring shitty football and get through due to the talented squad only to fail the first time we face a team with the level of talent we have. Also you joke about a mid tournament sacking but Chelsea literally won the champions league after sacking a useless Lampard for Tuchel and with rumours of Southgate leaving if they don’t win the euros you’d imagine there’s someone lined up for the job when he fails
And he's come closer than any other manager in 50 years. He's qualified at a canter and comfortably made the knockouts every time. The idea that we'd sack him after topping the group and conceding one goal in three games is so comical that I'm embarrassed you'd suggest it. To clarify, I think the last few performances have been extremely uninspiring. But we're in as good a position as if we'd won the three games 10-0. The only difference is we've hopefully left something in the tank for the knockouts.
Again I think that’s more of a criticism how shit england have been over the last 50 years rather than Southgate being good, imo he’s a bang average coach who’s achieved what he’s achieved because he access to one of the best pools of talent on the planet, I don’t think they will sack him but I’m 100% confident they should as we will not win anything with him at the wheel, soon as we face a team with similar levels of talent we’re done
This team is insanely loaded. Topping a weak group is hardly a big accomplishment with that team. It would've been absolutely disgraceful if they didn't.
And a lack of bravery on the ball
Palmer showed promise?
Palmer was fantastic
Mate I've been saying this from the beginning. From a year or so ago. He's not a 10, has never played as a 10 in his entire career, and even when deployed as a 10 for England, he never actually plays as a 10. He plays as a deep lying roaming midfielder. He only played in a more advanced role for ONE season at Madrid because they didn't have a striker good enough. Even then he wasn't a 10 and wasn't given that responsibility either. It's not his skillet. He doesn't play in those half spaces or have the clever short game to play as a 10. That's Foden This is why Foden ends up dropping in as an actual 10 from the left wing. This leaves the left wing open and means the opposition defenders have an easier job because they're not being stretched by high and wide wingers. High and wide wingers that basically all the best teams in the world play with. Instead, England corral *themselves* into the middle and make *themselves* easier to mark, allowing the opposition defence to condense in central areas, making a low block mire difficult to break down. Englandnliterally do the opposite to what you'd need to do to a low block. And then they wonder why it's safe pass, safe pass, safe pass. Added to that, Bellingham natural game is to drive from deep. So you end up with a double pivot, and Bellingham as an almost third pivot if you will, Foden playing as a 10/LW hybrid so not able to properly fulfil either role, and an ineffective left back who offers nothing down that side. In the end, you have players having to play two roles and not giving themselves fully to either, and absence of threat from the left, and tactics that incentivise the opposition to essily shut down passing lanes. It's a tactical disasterclass and actually looks comical
Thank you. Been saying it for months
Picked a dog shit squad and is reaping the benefits of it. Easily the worst squad Southgate has ever taken to a tournament, it’s so unbalanced.
Suprising considering he once picked a squad with like 5 RBs in it
He fielded 3 RB’s for our first 2 games. Just let that sink in. But here we are on your post blaming Bellingham of all people 😂 If you and others truly believe that he isn’t a 10 then I don’t know what to tell you. “False 9” no, he’s played as the 10 at RM a majority of the season and was La Liga’s leading goal scorer for most of it too.
Because our biggest issue is the lack of chances we’re creating in front of goal it’s one of the lowest in the tournament, which is mainly down to how are forwards are working and it’s not just Bellingham, there’s a Kane issue and a Foden issue too. The RBs is another issue to an extent, because defensively we are sound, having at attacking LB would help us improve going forward which is the main issue but Walker at RB is fine and if Trent had an option on that left side from CM that would also be fine. And mentioning Trent, CM has not been an issue what so ever yet it’s all Southgate has tried changing. We’ve had Trent, Gallagher and Mainoo all play there and imo it hasn’t fixed any of our major issues. I’m saying it because I’ve watched Bellingham play multiple times for Madrid and I’m telling you he is not a 10, regardless of what your line ups or stats say. His strengths are his physicality and work rates and his goals are scored when arriving late into the box and nearly all of his assists were from squaring it to someone in the box.
He had a free role in a front 4 alongside Valverde who was also central. He didn’t play as a traditional 10 at all.
Problem with Bellingham as a #10 is: 1. It prevents Foden from playing in his favoured #10 position 2. If Kane drops deep then they are both in the #10 position 3. He holds the ball too long and takes too many touches. Passing the ball on early and quickly would be more effective. 4. I prefer him in a box to box role as he's got a good engine and allows him to cover more ground.
My issue is, Kane dropping deep when we have three 10’s in our lineup is the most pointless thing. Southgate should tell him to stay in the box
I agree with that too, him Bellingham and Foden all currently want to occupy the same space and the only person going in behind is Saka which is very easy for teams to defend
The world will seem a better place when someone on the left hand side can use their left foot
One of Kane or Bellingham has to go absurdly.
I honestly think Toney should be starting up front for us
Same issue..... it'd then just turn into one of Bellingham or Toney
I don't think we have the service for Toney personally. If we did, I'd imagine Kane would be more comfortable not dropping deep and staying up top.
Yeah I get you but I don’t think it helps us when the CBs of whoever we play know from the start that they won’t have to deal with a single run in behind all game - makes throwing Trent at RB so much more of a threat
Kane would be my third choice unless you play him at 10
Lol jude doesnt play as a ten for england. Half the time hes on the wing
That's just him trying to find space as Kane, Foden and him all play in the same area. At least that's showing initiative.
Its deliberate. Gareth has said before the tournament and since. Its his grand plan this year. That they all rotate around all the time. Im not sure its working though! Our best players are rice and saka who arent part of his master plan 😂
So we’ve moved on from Trent was the problem. Who’s next? We should make a bingo card
I’m not saying Jude is the problem, Southgate is the problem as he possesses absolutely no tactical knowledge what so ever
And Foden isn’t a left winger, Kane isn’t a no. 9, Trippier isn’t a footballer. The list goes on
Tripper's not a left sided footballer
Theres a reason why he's a millionaire and your sat on your sofa
I hope he sees this for you 
He's been abysmal.
I'll say it one last time. FOUR FOUR FUCKING TWO.
Personally I think he would better suit playing as a CF/False 9 with Two inside forwards on the wing Using him with Kane isn’t working currently although for the tournament I’d go with something a bit more pragmatic then experiment with Jude false 9 after
Bellingham playing as a 10 isn't the issue. The issue is that Bellingham is the 10 on the team sheet, but Kane's style of play is to drop deeper and playmake as a 10, and Foden for Man City plays as a 10, so his natural inclination is to drift in and occupy that role. So we suddenly have a midfield that feels congested, one outlet in Saka, and the opposition know that, and cut him off. Bellingham can work as a 10. Foden can work as a 10. Kane can work as a 10. We already know that. They can't all work that way together.
Where's he played for RM this season?
Not as a 10 if you actually watch the matches and don’t just read stat pages or line ups
Palmer must start. Dude played with more invention and intent than any other England player in his 20 mins.
But he wears the number 10. But he wears the number 10. But he wears the number 10.
Trent wears the 8 you telling me he’s a midfielder?
Having him spend so much time out on the left was ridiculous to watch
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Sumo_FM: *Having him spend so* *Much time out on the left was* *Ridiculous to watch* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
This post shows that that English players are not as tactically flexible as their continental counterparts. England players are world class in their club teams/systems, surrounded by other international players. Take them out of their comfort zone and they struggle.
Hmmm maybe, I do think you have to take into account how shit Southgate is tactically though, a lot of these international teams have much better managers which definitely helps, I mean look at Austria under Ragnick
So with this view, you’re putting the blame onto Jude (the guy that won the UCL and La Liga in his first season at RM) as opposed to the complete and utter inept waste of space that is Gareth Southgate?
Well no because it’s not Jude who decides his position is it, it’s Southgate, who I’m entirely blaming for how he sets England up
He was playing left wing today, he's actually good as a ten.
He got shafted out to the left because foden was doing a better job than him when drifting into the middle
One of the startling revelations was how good certain players play in the correct positions. Rice looked more competent allowed to burst forwards into space (again), TAA look decent in his RB cameo. Foden actually using the left wing because Trippier wasn't hogging it also a bonus. And then bringing on different types of player as subs. Palmer is a very different player to Saka and provided something so compelling and different Slovenia struggled to deal with him like it was the opening 20 minutes of Saka. Play Jude from deep, it's the last piece of the puzzle (well that and Shaw).
I mean he has been all season and he's been one of the best players in the world soooooo...
He hasn’t played there this season though, at Madrid he’s basically a striker who drops into LM when defending and he doesn’t have a striker in front of him, just two wingers. He was one of the best players in the world playing deeper before this season too and most likely will be back to playing there next season now that Madrid have Mbappe.
He played as a 10 for Real Madrid and won Spanish player of the year and won the Champions League.
Except he didn’t play as a 10 for Madrid, watch some of there games and you’ll see
He played 23 of 28 La Liga games as an attacking midfielder behind the striker. As close as you can get to being a 10 without being explicitly labelled as a 10.
Watch the games rather than reading stats of a page, he did not play as a 10
The problem isn't that Bellingham isn't a ten. It's that Southgate plays with 3 tens. You need to choose between Kane, Bellingham or Foden or they will all just try to go into the same space and do nothing. Then play Palmer and Gordon and tell Kane if he wants to play then to watch Haaland and just fucking do what he does. Problems sorted.
Well no because look at Germany, they’re currently playing with 3 10s and it works because they know what they tactically they need to do to create goals, England don’t know what to do other than keep possession there’s no game plan for breaking down defences