WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE... AND THE BIGGEST DILEMMAS
DEFENCE CENTRE-HALVES have become arguably the biggest issue for England. Harry Maguire (left) is out of form, Conor Coady did not start against Hungary at t Molineux M li and d even John Stones was exposed. They have the likes of Marc Guehi (did little wrong v Hungary) and Fikayo Tomori (played well v Italy) coming through with Ben White not far behind either. Is there time for a complete revolution?
FORMATION
ENGLAND have played regularly with a back three during Gareth Southgate’s reign. The chopping and changing of formations smacks of a manager not quite sure on his best line-up or players.
They must establish a direction and formula. Southgate and his assistant Steve Holland settled on a back three a year before the 2018 World Cup and honed it to perfection. They must get a clearer idea in place for September – and the World Cup.
WIN BACK THE FANS
TV PUNDITS, radio bigmouths and social media is one thing... but when you lose the match-going fan, that is quite another. They turned on Southgate for the first time during and after the 4-0 defeat to Hungary.
Once the fans turn, can you ever win them back? It’s hard to think of an example of a manager at club or international level who has. That is the challenge facing Southgate now. The mood of the nation is all important and has previously lifted the team. Now it could weigh them down.
GOALS
IT IS unthinkable that England have not managed a goal from open play in these four games. That’s six hours in atttheir total. If you consider the attacking talent disposal, it is unforgivable.
England rely too heavily on Harry Kane (above) and Raheem Sterling. Phil Foden is such a talent, such an incredible player that he must become a mainstay of this team.
THE TRENT DILEMMA
ENGLAND’S best crosser of the ball, best set-piece taker and best deliveryman is Trent Alexander-Arnold. But dyou watch him play for Liverpool Li l and dh he does not play as a conventional right-back. He’s almost in midfield running the game. That is a puzzle to be solved. How can you get him in? Reece James and Kyle Walker are two of England’s best players. Can you leave them out? At the moment, it almost feels like AlexanderArnold (above) is a waste of a squad place... unless you use him properly.