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apparently Gallagher is going to start, if Gallagher is the answer I don't know what the question is. From what I've seen of both Serbia and Denmark, it feels like a draw, Kind Regards.
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Southgate pretending he hasn't heard a word of any criticism of the teams performance
 W4nker |
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If we are winning by a couple of goals I hope he gives Wharton some time. Also I wouldn't give Gordon much more than the first half if he starts. Bring Palmer on.
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Taken from The Guardian
"Nerveless Wharton could be the answer to England’s midfield conundrum" Adam Wharton has grown used to the extraordinary over the course of this season as he has bolted from Blackburn in the Championship to Crystal Palace in the Premier League to England at Euro 2024. But the scene on Thursday night, as England took stock in their dressing room after the 1-1 draw against Denmark, had to have been an eye-opener. “He was just trying to keep us all positive,” Wharton says. “He was saying: ‘It’s not the end of the world.’” The 20-year-old midfielder is not talking about the manager, Gareth Southgate, or a senior member of the squad. He is talking about Prince William, who had swept in to see the players in his role as the Football Association president, the corridors having been cleared, connecting doors locked, bodyguards prominent. The heir to England’s midfield throne betrays no emotion. It is Wharton’s default setting. And as the fires rage at home, the country fretting over the poverty of the Denmark performance, the pundits fuming, the problems everywhere, it does not take long in Wharton’s company to see him as an antidote. Or maybe the answer. Southgate needs a deep-lying midfielder to play with Declan Rice. It is probably fair to say that his “Declan with who?” soundbite has been flogged to death and he updated it after the Denmark game. “We have been trying to find a solution in midfield for seven or eight years,” Southgate said. “If we hadn’t had Declan for the last few years, I don’t know where we’d have been. Unfortunately Kalvin Phillips wasn’t a possible for us for this tournament and Jordan Henderson the same, so we’re trying to find something different.” As Southgate looks forward to Tuesday’s final group game against Slovenia, fighting to remind everyone that England have four points and are well set to qualify, it has felt as though his most likely change will be in midfield because it has not really happened for Trent Alexander-Arnold. England need someone alongside Rice who is cool on the ball, who can move it quickly and incisively; who knows how to position himself out of possession, to cut off the spaces for the opposition. Could it be Wharton? The more he spoke on Saturday, the detail so rich, the more it seemed to make sense. Southgate’s other options are Conor Gallagher and Kobbie Mainoo. “I don’t really look at those comments [from Southgate],” Wharton says. “I just play how I play and I know that if I do that then I can help the team get forward, move the ball down the pitch, beat the press. “If I was to describe my game I would just say: ‘It’s pretty simple but effective.’ I’ve been playing a lot deeper in the midfield in the Premier League. If you’ve got great players in attack, the Bellinghams, the Fodens, then you have to get them in the pockets. All I want to do if you’ve got players like that is give them the ball because that’s when they come alive to produce bits of magic.” It is impossible not to be assaulted by Wharton’s nervelessness. He made his debut for the England under-21s only in March – as a substitute against Luxembourg – and he has one senior cap, having come off the bench in the friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the beginning of the month. Wharton acknowledges the pressure that is bearing down on the squad. “It’s a lot different to what I’ve experienced and rightly so because this is a big event,” he says. “You feel it, especially at the games – the atmosphere is different, a lot louder, the fans are all up for it. There is just more riding on it. The whole nation is watching.” But there is a difference between awareness and being inhibited. When Wharton explains why he knows he can handle it, there is a chance that his words could be read as sounding arrogant. His real-time delivery is nothing of the sort. It is simply measured, matter-of-fact. “I have got belief that no matter who, where, when I play football, I can affect a game,” Wharton says. “You have to think like that. If I think I can’t handle this, then what am I doing here? I haven’t really had any nerves. I am just playing football and I have done it all my life. If I do it every day, why can’t I do it for the next three weeks? “I have always been confident in my ability because I try and live a game in my head as much as with my feet. Whether that is making a movement to move the opposition so someone else can get the ball or trying to think a couple of passes ahead so when I do get the ball, I already know where I am going to play. If people think that is special then maybe it is but for me it is normal.” Wharton cites Rodri as the best in the world in his position while Toni Kroos and Luka Modric also come up, mainly because Southgate has said on more than one occasion that he would love to have a tempo-setter in that mould. Wharton says he takes tips from watching both. When was the last time that he spotted something to absorb from a rival? “Probably on Friday night from [N’Golo] Kanté for France against the Netherlands,” Wharton says. “There were a few movements from him off the ball – nothing much but just short, sharp off players to receive it.” Wharton is ready to show what he has got. |
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A comfortable win for England? No such thing in a tournament under Southgate but surely even he cant mess this one up? 2-0 England.
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I reckon England have around 70-72% of possession in the game. The question will be , will Southgate take the game on? With their side , they should be.
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The only time I've liked the look of England in the last 6 games was when Wharton and Grealish were playing in the last 30 minutes v Bosnia
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Based on performances in the 2 opening games this is a close match. Football doesn't work like that and I don't think Slovenia have the quality to territorially take advantage of England's tactical ineptitude the way Serbia and Denmark did. England still have good individual players and are defensively strong even if they can. Their EXGA was still only about 1 over the 2 games combined.
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All he has to do is keep it simple and play a 4-4-2 Same back 4 but bring in Dunk for Guehi who has looked a little nervous at times. Rice and Bellingham in the middle, Saka right, Gordon left, Kane and Bowen up top. This team should outclass a limited Slovenia team. Minimum scoreline 2-0 but should be more like 3-0/4-0. But Southgate will play the same formation and the same negative tactics as per usual.
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Stones should be bringing the ball out of defence to allow Rice to push on. And from goal kicks and when Pickford has possession they should be starting attacks down the left side as much as possible. There should be NO EXCUSE for kicking it long none at all!
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Clement Turpin referee for the English v Slovenia game, French ref also for Serbia v Denmark in Francois Letexier
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if he's just taking taa out and putting gallagher in (as he has when subbing in the previous 2 matches) then we've got to assume that the rest are unchanged, in which case i'm struggling to see what will be different
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If England cannot beat Slovenia tonight it's best they come home to save their supporters more expense and undue stress. I also would like to see Mr Southgate resign or sack immediately. The present England team is amongst the best in history, and could have won at least one tournament in the last 4/5 years, yet they have won nothing and only reached one final.
I expect a 3-0 win for England. |
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Pigs FLY?
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Gallagher will at least look like he's trying.
I've seen him a few times, he's OK. Should be able to play in a three with 2 of the best midfielders in Europe. Wharton might just link up Foden rice and Bellingham a bit better but, who knows. |
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if he does stick with pretty much the same formation & tactics and they don't deliver i can't see him getting much respite even if they progress as group winners, pretty sure they'll have to win 3 or 4 today to give him some space from the media
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If that's the case and well soon know, then he will deserve all he gets in my opinion. It's ok stating that he's obviously oblivious to criticism and that he's his own worst critic, but some of these tactics are baffling and its the same old story. Think he's lost the plot in all honesty, playing for him must be hideous. Find watching him and listening to him tedious in all honesty. sooner he's gone the better..
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the only angle you can take is that he's loyal to the team he's put out there & so he keeps banging away and hopes that it will come good, if it does he's a hero and if it doesn't then we're looking at a swift exit come knockout stages
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"he's his own worst critic"
If he's clueless on what he's done wrong (or beyond his depth) how'd he know what critique to deploy? That was garbage talk on the similar path to "we do not have Shaw". |
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England top of group after 2 games & getting pelters from the dog at the pub to Lineker abc
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I said the other day I succesful tournament for me would be England getting free of Captain Cardboard. Never in a million years did he have the resume for a job of this magnitude.
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'xmoney', this is a very poor group with Slovenia and Serbia; Denmark is only rated mediocre in Europe.
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hennes the German goat predicting a England win
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A touch over EVS England HT/FT SHOULD be an absolute gift. But urgh Southgate and his f'ing safe boring tactics!
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I remember Gallagher when he was on loan at West Brom. Used to run about a lot, limited quality. Nothing much appears to have changed, amazed that he's considered international quality.
Basically, they look like yet another overrated bunch in a very weak tournament. The obvious change should be Watkins for Harry 'let's not criticise anyone' Kane. Two rubbish performances against two poor sides, surely it won't be a hat trick? |
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What a clumsy challenge that was.
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I saw Gallagher for an entire season at close quarters and that bloke has got a huge engine, no doubt about that. I wouldn't have him as a top class player either.
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i have no problem with a team that comprises workman and flair so long as they compliment each other.....
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he's got b@lls or he's very daft
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Draw opened up for Ingerland
to the final All the big guns in the top half of the draw Staggering Ingerland a bye to the final if they top the group  |
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they are nearer to being fodder than favourites
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England now clear favourites in the outright
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prob turn the corner tonight, i hope so
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Fortune favours the brave.... unfortunately we have a manager who doesn't subscribe to this theory.
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Gallagher red card nap…..hothead….
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One yellow from being banned!!!
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England / Slovenia... 0-0...1-0...0-1
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I like Rice but saying so what about what pundits and fans say is a bit arrogant. I would suggest they take the advice on board because Denmark should have beat England.
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Can't believe Southgate's luck, yet another easy path to the final.
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but will he take it?
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