This is the 4th tournament England have played with a back three, and the other three are the tournaments I look back at most fondly:
Italia 90
Euro 96
France 98
90 took off once we went with the back three, with Mark Wright allowed a bit of freedom. England's good attacking players - Linkeker, Gazza, Beardsley, Waddle and Platt- seemed to thrive out of their 442 straightjacket
Although we alternated with a 3 and 4 in Euro 96, the versatility of the defenders allowed us to do so. Fullbacks in Pearce and Neville who are adept at tucking in. A centreback in Southgate who started his career in midfield. It allowed us to mix and match, even when a part was missing, and it was probably the only time I saw McManaman hit the heights with his country
Hoddle loved his 352, and v Colombia it took off when he moved Beckham inside and put Anderton at RWB. The former's sending off in the next game put the kibosh on the tournament, which was a shame, as it looked like it had the makings of a pretty formidable side.
It seems like a weird juxtaposition; The much-discussed inflexibility of the English player. That he struggles playing in his comforting 442. Yet given a bit of freedom to express himself in an unfamiliar formation, he thrives.
Now at this tournament. Without getting carried away we have had a good start, and I would argue against going with a back four now. A week back I would have argued the opposite.
What is the answer?
Have our players been better than we thought all along?
Is a back three a superior system?
Has the back three a more natural fit for the English player all along? Has he been wearing the wrong clothes all these years?
England and a back three
posted on 20/6/18
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 2 hours, 33 minutes ago
I hate this type of "intelligent" comment ^
Players getting used to a completely new ball
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Thats one thing the fa need to change next time they reach a sponsorship deal, we need to be practising with the tournament ball in the games prior to the finals or w/e (no im not blaming the ball, just most other nations use the ball that will be at the tournament in prior friendlies)
posted on 20/6/18
Maybe not be sponsored by a German supermarket either!
posted on 20/6/18
It's absolutely the formation which suits the squad the best
What's also pleasing is that, despite Southgate initially playing a double-pivot of Henderson, Dier or Livermore, he's learnt from the lack of creativity and been brave to field only one of them alongside two more offensive players, Dele, Lingard, RLC, etc
I actually wanted England to a back 3 a year or 2 ago
posted on 20/6/18
There was no desperation in the performance. They didn’t freeze nor did they totally abandon the gameplan by hitting aimless crosses and hoofs into the box hoping that something would come of it. Southgate saw they had no interest in attacking or even countering, so he pushed the defensive line up and pushed Walker or Maguire further and wider up the pitch when the ball was on their side to try and create a 2 vs 2. Should have been out of sight in the first half and whilst the second half lacked chances created, it’s worr noting that Tunisia are no mugs.
The presence of the spurs players made me watch the game, but I have to admit that I actually enjoyed it.
posted on 20/6/18
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 7 hours, 56 minutes ago
I hate this type of "intelligent" comment ^
Players getting used to a completely new ball, playing their first extremely nerve-wracking game of the WC (also on a pitch in bizarre conditions), who were unlucky to get at least one penalty - relied on the vast quantity of chances created.
We were never set up to play a possession game, just as this years Liverpool weren't in the PL this season. There is more than one game-plan that can lead to winning a game.
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Bit of a dramatic reaction there. I'm not intending to be overly critical - England look far better than they have in years, no doubt about it - but I simply don't see us progressing massively when we rely so heavily on set pieces against a weak side.
If England prove me wrong, no-one will be happier than I
posted on 21/6/18
comment by HaaK (U11574)
posted 9 hours, 34 minutes ago
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Bit of a dramatic reaction there. I'm not intending to be overly critical - England look far better than they have in years, no doubt about it - but I simply don't see us progressing massively when we rely so heavily on set pieces against a weak side.
If England prove me wrong, no-one will be happier than I
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I am not sure you can definitively say we are heavily reliant on set pieces after one game.
posted on 21/6/18
Maybe not. It's a trend I can see developing, though, with the current set of available players. Look at the Tunisia game. Alli and Sterling, our supposed creative hub, criticised for poor performances. Kane having a mediocre day (goals apart) because of lack of service. Trippier praised across the media for his set piece delivery.
I dunno, I could be wrong. I just don't see us having the players to pass our way through a top team and create proper chances. If I'm wrong I'm wrong.
posted on 21/6/18
comment by HaaK (U11574)
posted 12 hours, 45 minutes ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 7 hours, 56 minutes ago
I hate this type of "intelligent" comment ^
Players getting used to a completely new ball, playing their first extremely nerve-wracking game of the WC (also on a pitch in bizarre conditions), who were unlucky to get at least one penalty - relied on the vast quantity of chances created.
We were never set up to play a possession game, just as this years Liverpool weren't in the PL this season. There is more than one game-plan that can lead to winning a game.
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Bit of a dramatic reaction there. I'm not intending to be overly critical - England look far better than they have in years, no doubt about it - but I simply don't see us progressing massively when we rely so heavily on set pieces against a weak side.
If England prove me wrong, no-one will be happier than I
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How many clear-cut chances did we create from open play? And how many penalties should we have been awarded?
posted on 5/7/18
posted on 6/7/18
We have played 3 sides (with our first team) whose instinct was to defend and disrupt, and another imminent