If but for the COVID-19 pandemic, club football would be all but over and all attention would be turning to Euro 2020. Final preperations and friendlies would be going on, but Gareth Southgate would have much of his final 23 determined.
The one year postponement could open the door for players not in the picture, it could see some who looked certain to represent England miss out. 12 months is a long time in football.
Dean Henderson is currently uncapped, but his debut Premier League season has been impressive. Hendersons main issue could be game time over the next year. If he goes back to Manchester then he has to fight long term number 1, de Gea, for a place. Another season on loan at Sheffield United promises European football as it stands, and could be enough to have him fighting Pickford for the #1 shirt.
Tammy Abraham would have been looking forward to this summer. He has been Chelsea's first choice all season, and Harry Kane was facing a fight to be fully fit while Marcus Rashford may have missed the tournament. It is expected, though, that Chelsea will sign a striker in the summer, and Abraham could find his position under threat. It has to be said his form has dipped in the second half of the season.
For Joe Gomez it may be a case of staying fit. His second challenge will be the undisputed first choice partner for van Dijk at Liverpool. Then he will surely be an England starter? Only 8 caps so far, the extra year could see him move ahead of John Stones as Harry Maguires partner for Euro 2020.
Jadon Sancho would have gone into the tournament with a lot of hype, and a lot of transfer speculation, around him. While he stars at Dortmund, any transfer will prove a challenge and he will have to re-adapt to English football. In 12 months he may be Englands best hope of glory or seen as an expensive flop.
Bukayo Saka is another who is getting talked a lot about. His performances as an attacking left back have been praised, although he is happier further forward. Left back isn't Englands strongest position, and the versatility of Saka could make him an option next June if he can maintain a first team place for England.
Harry Kane, as mentioned, was facing a fight to be fully fit for Euro 20. Many times in the past England have gambled on the fitness of a talisman, only for it to backfire. Of course, no-one can predict injuries 12 months in the future, but a delay of 12 months could allow Kane to perform to his best at Euro 20 in 2021.
Marcus Rashford was all but ruled out of Euro 20, suffering a season ending injury in February. The 12 month delay will reignite his chances of once again representing his country at a major tournament.
Ross Barkley has been to the last two world cups, and Euro 16. But with his young club mate Mason Mount and Leicesters James Maddison as well as Dele Alli all in the fight for a similar role, plus strong competition at Chelsea, Barkley has a real fight for his squad position.
Declan Rice is one who is already in the squad regularly, but 12 months could see him force his way into the XI for Euro 20.
Jordan Henderson is approaching his 30th birthday, but also had a strong season. It could be argued that this summer would have been his best chance to impress at an international tournament. He is likely to face strong competition for his place at club level in the next 12 months. He could be one to suffer from the delay.
Mason Greenwood is yet to play for England, in fact he only made his under 21 debut this season. But 25 first team appearances this season, and a promise for more next season, and Greenwood could find himself representing England at Euro 20.
There are a few in the last England squad who perhaps fear the extra 12 months will count against them. Tom Heaton, Tyrone Mings, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Delph, Callum Wilson, Harry Winks all have a fight to retain their place in the squad.
Who do you think will benefit most from the postponement, and who will probably miss out on a place that would have been theirs this summer?
Euro 2020 Squad.
posted on 28/5/20
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posted on 28/5/20
Worth considering our winger situation is much improved since the world cup. Rashford and Sancho have really emerged as top players since then. And as a result we’ve become much better on the counter with less reliance on the full backs for width and creativity.
I think a back four best utilises the squad. Maybe he’ll change it around depending on opposition, and maybe more so in game if we need to sit on a lead and go more defensive.
posted on 28/5/20
I would say that is more a problem with personnel and/or tactical instruction from the manager than the formation or system itself.
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Of course no system is without its flaws but I've seen a back three/five exposed too many times at the highest level by teams that are strong in wide areas for it not to be a factor.
posted on 28/5/20
Maybe he goes with a back five with AWB playing inside of Trent?
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That is an idea though I've suggested on numerous occasions that United do when playing that way. I think it would be worthwhile for both teams to try that at some point when they don't play a back four.
posted on 28/5/20
I think the problem with it is having to sacrifice the attackers. Southgate wants three midfielders in there all the time, which is fair enough, but if you then move to a back five it means leaving out two of Sancho, Sterling, Kane and Rashford. For the first time in god knows how long England’s attackers are easily their biggest strength - and arguably on a par, or not far off, any other team in international football. I’d be surprised if he’d be brave enough to do that given the criticism he’d face for not getting our best attackers in the game.
posted on 28/5/20
Worth considering our winger situation is much improved since the world cup. Rashford and Sancho have really emerged as top players since then. And as a result we’ve become much better on the counter with less reliance on the full backs for width and creativity.
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Fair point about Rashford and Sancho but against Croatia, from what I can remember, when it came to the latter stages, the wing-backs were barely getting forward anyway because we were getting completely overrun and penned in by Croatia and because of the system we were playing, we couldn't defend effectively in the wide areas because nobody was covering the wing-backs and the midfield was too dead on its feet to keep shuffling across the entire width of the pitch by itself and provide sufficient protection.
posted on 28/5/20
I don't think he'll move away from a back four again and for that reason, our attack is far too strong for us to sacrifice two of those players and three of those players are better playing from wide positions anyway.
posted on 28/5/20
But that’s why I think he’s moved away from it, rather than what happened against Croatia. And that the back five in the world cup was due to the lack of trust in the wingers we had at the time.
I guess he could sacrifice the attacking mid and go 343, and it’d be easier to leave out the like of Maddison, Alli, Mount, Grealish and Barkley, but he seems to like the attacking mid to lead the press - which is why Lingard and Alli were playing so much despite offering fackall in attack.
I think it’s why we may see Mount starting in the Euros, even if he lacks creativity.
posted on 28/5/20
I think the Croatia game is the reason he moved away from it initially.
I'm sure I remember him hinting at it and certain mistakes we made in one of his pre-match interviews at one of the games after Russia.
posted on 28/5/20
Maybe it had some influence, but we did use that formation a couple of times after the world cup, the defeat to Spain in nations league was the main one I remember. I think Sterling was out, so again we were left with really weak options out wide.
As soon as we had good options there he ditched it. Which makes sense as they’re very good wide players.