'That midfield is the major concern' | Gary Neville reacts to England's win over Serbia

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Gary Neville shares his reflection on England's win over Serbia in their opening Euro 2024 match.
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[@fitzroy7054]

If Southgate can’t find a way to play Foden & Bellingham together in the centre as 10s the he has to drop Foden and play Gordon to get natural width

[@bealiee295]

The problem is his form for Madrid has masked the type of player Bellingham is. Hes an absolute specimen (a proper athlete) hes not a 10 imo but actually an 8 and foden is easily the more natural 10. ITs criminal from southgate not having natural width from a left footed left back or a natural winger on the left. We constantly lost 10yards of width last night. Its so uncomfortable watching Southgate manage this England team.

[@leeturton9254]

I agree...it's a big big decision unthinkable a few months ago but it's just not working out...he's offering very little

[@NeilLewis77]

it wont make any difference. gordon played lw against iceland with foden in the 10 and we couldnt create any chances then. the tactics suck. change the formation, change the players, it wont change anything if we keep playing southgates awful slow boring sofe negative pedestrian reactionary tactics. southgate is just so tactically bad. its painful.

[@omardevonlittle3817]

​@@bealiee295southgate didnt make Foden pass it to thebother team all night. 34 games now in the England shirt. Maybeeee 3 good performances. Maybeeee

[@leeturton9254]

@@NeilLewis77 so changing the tactics won't make any difference?.... but Southgates tactically bad?... how does that work?...

[@lordyrich]

All pundits before the game: "The attack is great, the defence is a concern" All pundits after the game: "The defence is great, the attack is a concern"

[@Reggie-se5nx]

That defence wasn’t tested last night. Serbia’s final ball was shocking.

[@ps5andstuffhere]

Foden is a big problem

[@SuntoryKick]

He said the midfield is a concern which is exactly what he said on The Overlap before this tournament started.

[@hamjones7425]

I was just about to say this, before the game “it’s the defence that’s a concern” said a Mr Gary Neville, now “it’s the midfield that’s a major concern” said a Mr Gary Neville. 🤦🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️

[@itzMVPete]

Midfield the concern

[@china100]

Didi Hamann called it correctly on RTE I think. Foden and Bellingham are both number 10s, and as good as Foden is, you would put him below Bellingham in the pecking order for that position, and Foden isn't very good on the wing. Southgate should bite the bullet and drop Foden to the bench and play someone who can play in that position, like Gorden, but Southgate is probably too timid to do it (which might not be true).

[@tayzk5929]

Yeah and to make matters worse, Kane is basically playing as a 10 too, three 10s doesn't really work.

[@zirbto5749]

​@@tayzk5929have you watched Germany they Play with 4

[@KevinSheedy10]

I know Bellingham is flavour of the month but I think Foden is actually the better player.

[@John858_]

@@KevinSheedy10he’s not even close to Bellingham in the game of football. If you had said freestyling I would have agreed

[@ronnyron4681]

​@@KevinSheedy10 On England shirt, to be honest Bellingham is miles above Foden. Last night Man of the match award was the 5th award Bellingham won on England shirt while Foden has yet won any MOTM award. Don't forget Bellingham is just 20 while Foden is 24.

[@FootballHolic-b2l]

What I don’t get with Southgate is that everyone and their mum saw Serbia pushing their wing backs high and the CB in the middle of the park because of England lack of pace . Yet players like Foden and Kane who don’t have any stayed on instead of bringing on players like Gordon and Watkins who would have pushed Serbia defence back into their half and take pressure of England .

[@adamgrimsley2900]

It is quite obvious isn't it. He seems to want to hold off and not change games, take it my scruff of neck. He doesn't even get out the dug out much. Foden was the worst player and not working yet stayed on.

[@adrodog17]

Yes he doesn't have the bravery or tactical acumen to know what to change. It's frustrating to watch as England have so many options and formations they could change to A top manager would be able to switch things up throughout the game

[@connorbranley5407]

Foden keeps cutting inside and clogging the middle of the pitch leaving trippier on his own if we just start Gordon you have a player who can link with trippier, runs a lot more than foden and is a lot more of a winger not centre attacking it helps us out with width & helps us out defending and also is there for the long ball unlike foden I don’t understand how Southgate kept him on shocking

[@Gehinomlezvuvim]

A this waaas the issue😂😂 Not TAA in the double pivot e😂 Come on man,TAA and joao cancello unfortunately can't play football. They aren't good defenders, they make good passes though BUT they lack something to play in the middle field

[@Gehinomlezvuvim]

Just play Palmer and see.

[@SuntoryKick]

None of you watch The Overlap and it shows. You keep parroting the same things but Gary said that midfield was a concern on The Overlap before the tournament started. This isn’t some 180 or inconsistency on his part.

[@CarlitoGio]

The overlap sucks because of the presenter.

[@jenifernaidoo7231]

​@@CarlitoGio Stop acting like a child.

[@sharkymoon422]

Grealish better than foden at LM , so this selection all makes sense! 🤣😂.. Play a 3-5-2 if a problem with foden up with Kane.. Or just keep same formation but play Gordon and play Bellingham, foden and rice together..

[@kingsamuelofficial]

How about just not play Bellingham. He ain’t as good as people are saying. If you want a midfielder to crash the box then yes he’s your guy. If you want a midfielder to control the game he’s not that guy. Good character not a great footballer.

[@Pokjhbvcf]

@@kingsamuelofficialhow have you come away from last night with that take , he was the best player on the pitch Mental

[@treble20]

There has to be an argument for having Bellingham as the captain. He is the heartbeat of the team. If Southgate had to choose a new captain out of Kane and Bellingham, I think he would choose Bellingham. But he is probably too scared to upset Kane.

[@schwarzmann1]

Can't change captains now unless Kane gets dropped even then I think Southgate would still hand the armband to Walker or Stones, but its clear Jude is the leader of this team now he's the one that brings the belief that they can actually win a tournament

[@connermahoney4514]

First half Bellingham was everywhere, Saka was electric causing mayhem, Guehi won every duel, Rice was mopping up all over through Trents incapabilities, but the attacking players didn't do nothing in the 2nd half. Foden & Kane may as well not of been on the pitch. Gordon for Foden against Denmark

[@andrewwright4195]

Trent has never played cdm in his life this is 1st time you think this is fifa ?

[@mikesweeney1827]

What utter crap 🤔🤡

[@connorbranley5407]

Has to start over foden for me like pace and is a proper winger like saka foden like to cut inside and clog the middle

[@freddie_connor9202]

@@andrewwright4195 if he’s never played there and there’s a better option, then he should be taken off lol

[@vicwiseman2340]

So, if the attacking players didn't do nothing, what did they do?

[@ps5andstuffhere]

The left side is messed up. Right back at left back and foden left wing. Stupid

[@UFRLF1Viva]

Foden has to be LW cos he does not start over Jude at CAM. Only other option is to drop Foden. As with Trippier, we're really lacking a natural LB in the squad bar Shaw

[@sirprintalot]

I mean left back has injury problems it's literally just Trippier or Gomez until Shaw is fit. But you knew that already.

[@jonathancampbell9133]

​@@UFRLF1VivaSo drop Foden - he might be the better player, but Gordon balances the team.

[@steveallen3434]

England has always it seem to me be short of left-footers good enough for the England time

[@John858_]

Trippier was ok. Just play Palmer for flips sake

[@TheStifled]

Jude and Rice in the middle is my shout, Foden at 10. Gordon/Eze on the left, Saka/Palmer on the right...

[@HdHd-hp6qz]

Rice is average

[@jasondewhurst7054]

personally it isnt such a bad idea having foden on the bench to come on later in the game, its obvious the system and talent in place isnt suiting him anyways.

[@John858_]

Jude’s probably our biggest goal threat if we don’t play Palmer.. he’s needed further up the pitch

[@markwillson2491]

Foden might need to be an impact player from the bench maybe starts second half when the game losens up 25 mins from the end when the gaps start to appear. You can see this tourament going to the wire when some big decisions need making by SG using his subs, not waiting 5 mins before the end. This is my concern with SG how he plays his hand with subs when the big teams are pressuring england

[@joshuadowding389]

Wharton is the answer. Born to play on the half turn, can receive the ball under pressure and always looks foward first.

[@DynamiteT]

Foden is a pep robot. He can’t play well for England…he never has! Bellingham is the talisman and should play 10. Saka and Eze wide with Mainoo/Wharton alongside Declan Rice. Foden should be benched. Yes he’s talented and great for Man City but he’s had 50 odd opportunities to shine for England and he’s not really grasped a single one

[@hamjones7425]

When Kalvin Phillips played with Rice, it was him that got forward more & Dec sat deeper. Rice is a box to box midfielder, simples. He can play in that number 6 role & pick his moments to drive forward. We don’t need to play Rice with another sitter/depper midfielder, that’s nonsense.

[@Vegan_Photographs]

TAA had a very good game Trent Alexander-Arnold’s game by numbers vs. Serbia: 91% pass accuracy 60 touches 5/7 long balls completed 3 shots 2 ground duels won 2 interceptions

[@KC-td8um]

@@Vegan_Photographs now do his defensive statistics

[@badabing8884]

But Rice isn’t a great progressive passer of the ball between the lines. He’s more of an 8 who is good at blocking and then carrying the ball forward. He’s not really a 6. Even Arsenal don’t play him there.

[@ronnyron4681]

​@@Vegan_Photographs He was very nervous on that game cos i saw his leg was shaking heavily

[@dantshaw]

Foden and Trippier are a bad mix because neither want to run down the line. Foden needs Shaw overlapping and without that he becomes completely predictable.

[@sunizzo]

friendlies should be used to bed in your favoured team to play in tournaments and not used for scouting missions. if we did this, we’d hit the ground running in tournaments and not have to ‘grow into’ them. this has been a problem for as long as i can remember and needs to change. saying they are not familiar playing with each other is a pathetic excuse

[@Sai_Saracen]

Foden Kane and Bellingham can't play together as Kane does not have the pace to force the opposition to sit back and create the space for Foden nd Bellingham... At City Haaland forces the opposition to defend deep which creates the space for Foden ... Plus it seems that both Foden and Bellingham were stepping over each other last night It's not about having the best players its about having the variety to have the best combination .. its no coincidence that Foden NEVER had a single good game for England... So if Kane gonna start Foden needs to be sacrificed

[@cheguevara5560]

There you go ,correct Halland creating space by stretching defensive line ,people who called him tap in merchant got no furken clue about football . So Foden can only play in that system where he can exploit that space . This is tactical idiocy by Southgate to play him on left wing ,that is where Grealish should be playing ,he is the best English player on the ball in last 20 years . Southgate should never get England job ,unable to pick right team and play cohesive football for 90 min. That friendly game against Iceland is a good indicator how good is this team .

[@jedsithor]

Either move Bellingham back into midfield and play Foden in the 10 with Gordon on the left or play Mainoo in midfield and drop Foden or play Mainoo in midfield and swap Saka and Foden. Those are the best options and all of them include dropping TAA, who's not a midfielder.

[@stevennesbitt243]

Maino 😂😂😂catch a grip

[@pm9268]

TAA is world class just needs to right role. I thought he ok yesterday and better than foden. Southgate is the issue.

[@fitzbarbel]

Mainoo was constantly caught out of position on his debut for h'ingerland

[@michaelairley2015]

@@pm9268 He isn't a MF player. Slow and very poor positionally. Rice was alone most of the time.

[@oscairconnolly4716]

United fan

[@markcopeland3011]

He's bang on. The successful nations have all found out the sum of the parts is more important than shoehorning in all your great players (teams like germany and italy in particular over the years). They always have players doing the dirty/unfashionable work to allow the more talented players to shine.

[@eagle_rb_mmoomin_418]

England have been doing stupid stuff like this for years🤦 Having seen the stats radars for the possible midfield combo Rice, Wharton, Bellingham is the most balanced. TAA has some defensive gaps that Wharton covers while Rice and Bellingham cover what TAA is good at. TAA is also incredible at RB🤦 Team is just unbalanced.

[@qianlihu1694]

Not just Foden, but also Kane. We’ve seen how Bellingham can operate as a false nine at the biggest club in the world, why need a striker at all?

[@mrdeafa25]

Educate me. I hear the term 'false nine' often and I am baffled.

[@TheSteadyeddieShow]

@@mrdeafa25 false 9 is where instead of a traditional 9 who hangs up the pitch and waits for balls to them, they drop to receive the ball deeper which overloads the midfield and creates space to run into. its what de bruyne did when he played as a striker in the season before haaland got to city and its also what messi did with barcelona for years

[@mrdeafa25]

@@TheSteadyeddieShow Well you live and learn! Thank you

[@mattjones3361]

Squares pegs in round holes! That's the imbalance and why we're less than the sum of our parts, trippier Lb, Trent Cm, foden Lw, all out of position and it'll never be cohesive. Trippier is because of injury so it's acceptable but the other 2 are on Southgate! Play rice and Bellingham as a double pivot, put foden at 10 and play a proper left winger who will hold width. It's really not that hard.

[@theshinyrocket]

Considering the caustic and judgemental criticism Trent gets from so pundits, he had 3 shots, 4 duels won and zero movement in front of him, and you still question him. This isn't punditry, it's bullying at it's finest.

[@Zero-Lucks-Given]

He also gave the ball away needlessly on the edge if his own area almost resulting in an equaliser. Trent is brilliant at playing balls no one is debating that, he just isn't a CDM. It will show before the end of this tournament.

[@theshinyrocket]

@Zero-Lucks-Given everyone gives the ball away noun again. Pickford gave it away about 10 times in the 2nd half by wellyng it up the pitch like a lower league team, cus the defenders are too nervous on the ball. All caused by players fearing getting dropped by Southgates uncompromising management skills if they make an error.

[@pairofpints]

Still don't understand why Arnold is being used, he's not good enough. Foden was anonymous too. Gordon should start on the left. Rice & Mainoo/Gallagher, Gordon, Saka, Bellingham behind Kane.

[@Vegan_Photographs]

“I will make up my own made up story and present it as fact” Here are the actual facts Trent Alexander-Arnold’s game by numbers vs. Serbia: 91% pass accuracy 60 touches 5/7 long balls completed 3 shots 2 ground duels won 2 interceptions His stats made him one of the better performers last night. Yet here you are, saying one of the better players should be dropped TAA actually made 2-3 chances last night But sure, ignore that and make out the 1-0 WIN was his fault… wait… shouldn’t that say LOSS with how you’re reacting????

[@Garybell09]

The time to get players playing together is before the tournament…

[@mirajtube9708]

the emotion that tied us to our premierleage club fun base mislead many pundit not to comment clearly from what they saw on the pitch. Really England problem is not only luck of manager but also the good pundit

[@coolguy12325]

Stones and Guehi were immense

[@John858_]

Stones a bit shaky at times

[@PT-po3de]

5,3,1,1 wing backs for width allowing your best 3 players Bellingham and Palmer more central in front of rice and 3/3 foden in number 10 role as he's best in tight spaces behind kane.

[@Jimmybringsit]

Get Wharton/mainoo in there alongside rice. Come on England

[@vkjfv]

? and drop bellingham lol

[@ChompzG]

@@vkjfv drop trent!

[@vkjfv]

@@ChompzG ok thought u were saying get mainoo and wharton on alongside rice

[@singalexsong]

I don’t t understand Neville’s Narrative about Rice not being a 6. He was exceptional playing there in the first half of the season and the only reason he played some games as an 8 was because there was no other option and Kai wasn’t working there. I think for Neville to say Rice is not a Busquets or Rodri is extremely disrespectful. Rice is elite at the defensive side of the game especially interceptions, blocks and tackling.

[@dannymurphy1779]

James Ward Prowse should be there, it's not always the most talented ones as GNEV says.

[@johnnyboy11000]

Takes a better free kick than Trent

[@djmattblack]

Neville is the first person to say we are missing that ball winner in midfield, its all very well having great passers of the ball but if you dont have the ball then theyre no good

[@goldboy150]

But he then goes on to say Southgate needs to pick someone on the basis of being able to play back to goal and pass out of defence… that isn’t a ball winner. It’s why he should play Gallagher - he’s the ball winner.

[@Vegan_Photographs]

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s game by numbers vs. Serbia: 91% pass accuracy 60 touches 5/7 long balls completed 3 shots 2 ground duels won 2 interceptions TAA played very well though, tackled, intercepts and passed well He also made a few of the attacks we had

[@jakhaughton1800]

Southgate is clueless. Never won a thing but had the badges that got the FA to give him a job. Kane had to go deep to get a touch.

[@Completeangler2]

Neville is correct something is not right. Just select a midfielder to play alongside Rice, one who has that role for his club.

[@eddyrourke5514]

Trent needs targets to hit and that is not what you get with an immobile center forward who spends most of his time in midfield. Kane will cost us with his lack of pace and winning mentality.

[@KevinSheedy10]

Agree. Despite all his goals for England (40 per cent of which are pens I think) I don't think he makes England play better as a team as his lack of pace and physicality up front really limits how we play. For a world class forward the influence he has on England, particularly in big games, is very negligible.

[@steveallen3434]

@@KevinSheedy10 I think Kane is a great player but you have to play to his strengths. I do find we play too many tactics and not enough players making things happen

[@KevinSheedy10]

@@steveallen3434 We need to pick a team that gets the best out of all of our talent as a unit. Italy had Del Piero, Baggio, Zola, Mancini and Totti more os less at the same time. I think they only ever picked one to start because they all play the same position. We need to decide which collection of midfielders and attackers works best together as a unit at this moment in time based on form and fitness. That may mean leaving Harry Kane, Foden or Saka out, or playing Bellingham in a more withdrawn role. Personally, I would probably play Wharton or Mainoo with Rice, Saka, right, Foden central and Bellingham on the left and Watkins up front.

[@John858_]

@@steveallen3434every team Kane plays for is built around him and they win zilch. The guys too leggy has been for years

[@Vegan_Photographs]

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s game by numbers vs. Serbia: 91% pass accuracy 60 touches 5/7 long balls completed 3 shots 2 ground duels won 2 interceptions

[@Jericho642]

We saw the exact same performance we always see with Southgates England; struggle to win, no observable tactics, no in game management, and questionable team selections. What i dont I understand is why people are always surprised; he serves up the same thing every time we play

[@Matt-ou7tu]

Wharton should be played. Gordon or Eze replacing Foden.

[@mattlord3660]

I'd like to see Bellingham play at left back as Tripps is injured. This would create an opening for Eze up top. Stones also goes for me with Declan slipping in at the back, providing a more cultured water-carrier in Gallagher. Finally, I'd replace Foden and Saka with Sancho and Rashford. This is why the latter 2 should never have been cut from the 26.

[@allanmckeown8417]

3 points is the most important thing, you don't want to go into the next game needing to win, that ups the pressure, a good result.

[@Dan-kz2we]

Arteta has not worked out that Declan Rice isn't a sweeper - he has just been fortunate enough to take charge of him in a team of players where it can be afforded to push him up the pitch - it really isn't rocket-science chaps 🙄

[@tpt2977]

With Trippier at LB I’d have swapped Saka and Foden around so saka can get crosses in

[@alanwayte432]

Jack Grealish would have been a perfect outlet, he would have held the ball and certainly drawn fouls.

[@RobertFitzgerald-ky7md]

I hope we get to see Wharton alongside Rice....could be real effective

[@pjduff7577]

Bellingham natural position is an 8 ,he can tackle and also drive forward with the ball it would also allow foden to play 10 ,they have a win under their belt so it has to be tried in 1 of the remaining group games

[@steveallen3434]

Call me old fashioned, but What happened to the box-to-box midfielder and what is the difference between a left midfielder and a left wing-back. What is a no 10 a forward or a midfielder

[@pjduff7577]

@@steveallen3434 I totally agree ,I hate all this 6 ,8 and 10 when it was teams played 442 central midfielders done all of those roles ,tackling ,driving forward, dictating play ,hardly anyone plays 442 anymore

[@johncorcoran8172]

I think the right back position just depends on who England is playing. If they're attacking and need to put lots of balls deep into the box then Trent is good for that and it would be a waste to have Walker. If you're defending the whole game then you'd have Walker and sacrifice Trent.

[@angusmacaskill9026]

imbalance is correctly highlighted as a concern. Just use your best players in a better structure. My suggestion in a 4231: Pickford: TAA, Walker, Stones, Saka; Rice, Bellingham; Palmer, Foden, Bowen; Kane

[@TheCAPTAINDESTROYER]

England have been better since 2016. Mysteriously also since Gary left the scene. What a coincidence

[@davidhopwood7491]

I can't take that bloke seriously when he comments on managing a football team.

[@NeilMalthus]

Luckily, we can take you seriously as you've posted comments on KZbin.

[@josephobrien3520]

He played at the top level for club and country for the best part of a decade. I think he'll have half an idea what he's talking about

[@davidhopwood7491]

That doesn't make him an authority on managing a football team. Roy hodgsons number 2.. valencia.. great player, but no management skill

[@user-dk6jb6hq9t]

Tell us about your experience as england assistant manager Gary?

[@GerryT.]

Iid say the major concern is playing Foden in a position where he contributes little and is no danger to the opposition. For me Southgate has a choice, he either plays Foden on the right and drops Saka, or he sticks with Saka on the right and drops Foden. And why not switch Foden to the right when subbing Saka? I think Southgate is pretty clueless. Im surprised the pundits havent mentioned Foden needing to be on the right, only Micah Richards mentioned Foden. He didnt have 1 effort on goal last night, he needs to be coming in from the right and hitting shots with his left. Also need to find a way to get Kane more involved, get forward and support him more.

[@geekylove3603]

Rodri is the only holder really for City and he still scores goals. Its about timing. Rice can get fwd if he wants. Fabinio scored goals. Kante. Even Rice himself got foward for Arsenal even in the 6.

[@jonathanhall7815]

If this midfield balance is such a problem, why wasn't it identified before the squad was selected? If Wharton is too inexperienced, in spite of being a very good player, then someone else should have been selected.

[@NeilMalthus]

You can't play 26 players all at once, you do realise?

[@jonathanhall7815]

@@NeilMalthus Yes I do understand that. If Alexander Arnold is not the solution and Wharton would complement Rice better, then Southgate should be brave enough to pick him.

[@Y0B0]

Play Bellingham as a false 9, drop Kane and add another holding midfielder. Play Rice as an 8. Gordon on the left and use Foden and Kane as impact subs.

[@ct71032]

Drop Harry Kane, play foden as a false 9 with gordon and saka on the wing, kobe holding with Rice and Jude either side. Gives you width and a powerful midfield.

[@braindonor8753]

He is bang on here. Carrick should have had hundred caps. Instead they picked a right winger or number 10 for Liverpool to play there.

[@TheTelblackwell]

England need to show more " passion"

[@thumper1747]

Nailed it as usual

[@stanleybuthelezi3065]

On point Garry..England needs some1 to do the dirty work,we can't have only fancy players in the Middlefield.

[@what594]

Southgate had plenty of time to decide his best starting 11. If he wants to play TAA in midfield, he should know if it will work or not. First game of a big tournament and yet we are questioning the best midfield.

[@avantgardesque]

As an aussie who shouldn't even care, to create 'balance' with the current squad can only see 3-5-2 doing it. Walker drops into right CB, TAA to RWB, Trippier dropped and Saka told to do job at LWB being a natural left footer. Then whoever suitable CDM to partner Rice, Foden partners Kane up top but has license to go where ever, even dropping deep when Bellingham can make his runs into the box.

[@TheTelblackwell]

Geddon big Ange

[@dodgysmum8340]

Excellent as always. Id love to c mainoo as a Man Utd fan but I’d be happy (if nervous) w Wharton. Its just the correct football decision. Gareth must know this. Perhaps he just wants to blood them?

[@ystz.]

If foden and bellingham can't play together well , I think it's better to bench bellingham. Both has a very good work rate but Foden is better in skills , vision , positioning , decision making , passing , so Foden is more efficient as number 10. Bellingham have bigger body which is better for a target man , but overall Foden is better.

[@UnboxRacing]

Resulting is not the way to analyse this game. Sitting back, the left side, the predictability, Foden, and Kane being pretty insignificant. GS should have addressed both the sit-back approach and the Foden/LHS issue. These issues don't change with a win and three points.

[@elthamo]

Balance is the essence of a good team, thats why the Gerrard/Lampard team didn't achieve what it should have.

[@realnewsoftheday2027]

Midfielders needs to create passes to Kane but Kane needs to run more and pressure defenders

[@lotuseater7247]

When the team is not balanced, it's easy to see the problem falling to a number of players. But I think Foden is the main focus here. It's infuriating, but I just don't know how he can be in the team currently as it stands. He can't do the left side for England, this is obvious, and has been for a couple of years now. And you don't need two players doing the same role; playing the number 10. The only other way I see it is if Foden plays behind Kane and Saka/Palmer as two strikers, while you ditch TAA for Gallagher so that Bellingham and Rice can do their thing of playing box to box. It would lack width but that's the only straightforward outcome I can see if you want both on the pitch. It really is becoming a Gerrard Lampard thing isn't it. Bloody England.

[@Verilyisayuntoyou]

The left hand side from LB to LM to LW was a concern.

[@davidmarrazzo774]

Have saka rashford and sancho gotten over crapping themselves in the last euro final?…

[@TonyMarinou82]

4231 isn't the right formation for this team, just as 442 wasn't the right formation throughout the 00's. We should be playing 433 and transitioning in to a 3-box-3 allowing Foden and Bellingham to play as attacking midfielders (with the freedom and contrast of their own preferences of movement) and allowing Trent to invert beside Rice only once play has moved ahead of him. This then allows Gordon to play LW who will be good for fast breaks/ counter attacks and will give us a bit more energy and bite in that area.

[@TonyMarinou82]

And yes I'd still play Walker but as the right centre back. Still playing alongside Stones (until he gets injured) and either Konsa or Gomez (as, like Walker, they can both play fullback and centre back). We're going to look frail defensively whatever formation we play, so we might as well lean into our actual strengths and overwhelm teams with our abundance of attacking talent.

[@pauldickson7217]

I’ve never seen England take a free kick, in an attacking position, where the ball ended up with our goalkeeper in just a few passes! I understand keeping possession but how often do we see back passes ending up in the net, see game one!

[@richmelvin2863]

Gary will use the word 'balance', A LOT over the course of his punditry for this tournament

[@Synysterjmz]

The midfield? Yeah, because Kane and Foden both played absolute blinders last night 🥴

[@Matty-fl2tu]

Kane wasn't even playing.

[@gertrudehumpadink1405]

I didn’t realise there were so many professional football managers with expert tactical knowledge in their locker. Makes you wonder why White Man Van, Keith from Wigan isn’t taking over from Pep next season.

[@darrenlally-ro2wl]

I love Trent but he doesn’t work because of the lack of runners. Bellingham should play alongside rice and foden as the 10 and bring Gordon in on the left. That’s where England will find joy. Then later in the game if u need a goal that’s where u bring Trent on.

[@Razormiller]

Southgate is a plonker. He has the perfect midfield 3 of Foden, Bellingham and Rice but nooooo he plays a right back in there and shifts Foden out to left wing. Its idiotic. Play Foden, Bellingham and Rice in midfield, play Gordon out on the left... If he wants TAA in the team then play him at right back and play Walker as CB instead of Guehi. But dont play TAA in central midfield. He isnt a central midfielder. England already have 3 of the best CMs in World football so why drop one for TAA?

[@Ghanaman15]

The right answer is Mainoo. Why are United fans scared to say it . He’s the best option to knit play between rice and Bellingham . Wharton a good option too but I’m taking the guy who was man of the match in the fa cup final

[@Sb900]

They brought TAA into the team to whip in crosses...I don't remember a decent cross from him all game.

[@Ghost-tx4ft]

why is Trent starting in Mid over Mainoo?

[@gregmeade5044]

The issue was the complete inability to hold the ball upfront. Was like playing with 10 men. If southgate wanted to play these tactics he needed to pull Kane on 60 and put someone who could creat channels and run in behind to push the defence back. Serbia realised there was 0 threat in behind so pushed right up. Saying that we played really well first half. could have been 2/3 up. The negative tactics killed the team momentum and when the subs came on absolutely nothing changed at all.

[@cheguevara5560]

If you want to hold the ball upfront,you need Grealish and he was left at home ,what a farken joke , by far the strongest English player on the ball technically as well

[@chadliberty8975]

Play Gordon on the left, Bowen/Saka on the right Mainoo/Palmer to support Rice Bellingham can just be him as usual There

[@moshknows8735]

Hope Leaving Sterling Grealish & Rashford at home doesn’t turn out to be a mistake. Big game players dropped for inexperienced ones.

[@jamiea1955]

That left hand side is the highest problem. Foden stunk up the place.

[@Ben-t1y]

Drop Trent, drop Foden, both decent players and not having a go, but the formation he’s going with Foden drifts in and there is no width on the left and we need that. In the middle Trent doesn’t cut it, needs to go with someone who is used to receiving the ball with their back to the centre of the park and facing the defenders. That’s such an alien concept to Trent, Wharton or Manioo can do that role and take turns going forward with Rice, Gordon or Eze on the left as they will run at people, Foden hardly made a forward movement

[@toonex5399]

I think Foden needs to not be played and favoured so much, we don't have a traditional setup anymore and Foden plays well with a more traditional tactic, we should have Gordon or Eze playing there instead

[@simonpeyton-n3h]

why cant anyone see the obvious solution,play trent at right back who steps inside along rice infront of the tightened up 3 at the back,this makes it easier to play foden and bellingham at 10s with ample cover behind in rice and trent,play gorden on the left for width and pace and to make space inside for the 10s,stop endlessly worrying about the opposition and let the handbreak off and let teams worry about englands ridiculous talent

[@givenright]

In spite of goal last night, Bellingham needs to play a more disciplined role beside rice, push Foden to no. 10 and put Gordon on left.

[@MarcusCharlie-jx5cb]

Great midfielders constantly show for the ball under pressure,take it on the turn under pressure,pass forward through the lines even under pressure .Do we have this kind of player? Not against Serbia that's for sure! Remember the words UNDER PRESSURE!!!

[@lardybaldinho3054]

Why not deploy the England team like Real Madrid play Adam Wharton interchanging left and right with Trent? Two up front Saka or Foden rather than both? Serbia would have been confused if England had played Toney & Watkins up front from the start. 1986 proved if England play a team the opposition have not prepared for. England can have some success....

[@lodersracing]

7:17 Neville is right about Carrick

[@Cadelin99]

It’s patently obvious. TAA is not a midfielder and Jude is just simply better than Foden.

[@georgef822]

It's the wrong game for players like Foden. We could all see Serbia's game plan we needed pace down both flanks, not players who held the ball up and played everything in front of the defence. Gordon should have been on at half-time. Trent also cannot be playing in midfield later in the tournament as we will get found out against any decent team.

[@simonb1996]

Phillips or Henderson wouldn't have made a single difference last night. They would've played more sideways passes, instead of forward. They'd have drawn more pressure

[@IWannatalkpodcast]

Foden and Kane were both bad, the midfield was shocking in the 2nd half and the defence looked wobbly. Apart from that we're great, lol. Most important thing is getting the points and avoiding Germany in the next round but if we play like we did last night again I doubt we'll even reach the quarter finals

[@bobofett3966]

Too many people criticising England players, it’s one game they won, anyone with a brain knows they are not winning this tournament, there at least 3 better teams in it but bloody hell talk about laying into people, yea TAA isn’t a midfielder but tried his best, Foden didn’t have his best game but so people think he was off form on purpose, Trippier is a right back playing left back, 2 CB’s that have hardly played together and a keeper that just keeps giving the ball away by hoofing it up front, but no doubt all done on the instructions of the manager. If Gary no it all Neville thinks he could do better than the guys playing in midfield then why didn’t he play there for England? Just give the guys a break they don’t fail on purpose.

[@Avalon_1991]

Imagine getting the opinion of a guy who was part of the management team when England lost to Iceland at the Euros. He has absolutely no idea what he's talking about.

[@RonaldDacres-bl2gb]

Foden Need's to Step it up..

[@eoghanbuckley390]

Gordon needs to start

[@MichaelBoogerd]

Let's be clear.. the midfield is picking itself - Rice, Bellingham and TAA. Foden is a midfielder trying to play in midfield, but is on paper supposed to be playing left wing. Southgate could put Gordon or Watkins on the left wing and create better balance. Continue with Foden and he will drift inside and get in the way of Kane/Bellingham (as happened in his invisible first half showing)... it improved a bitin second half, when Foden was dropping deeper/more inside as England sat back. It was laughable to see Foden jog into the back four line to receive the ball to get in the game, facing backwards, only being able to pass it straight back to Pickford. Happened multiple times in the second half.. when Rice / Bellingham picks up those balls, there's a half turn, a pass forwards and the direct play continues. Not when Foden gets it.

[@pokeme8347]

Rice has done a great job as DMF?? no need to change there, he’s the best man for that job with the attackers we have. It’s f’ing simple.,, stick Bellingham beside Rice (box to box) bringing the ball from deep, with Palmer (top english goal scorer) in the 10.. that’s braver & makes more sense than sticking a right back into midfield.? If you want to be extra brace stick TAA in ahead of Walker

[@Tes_1]

The issue isn't balance or personnel, if it was, why were we so good in the first 30 mins? The only issue was energy levels, they looked exhausted, they have got their preparation wrong.

[@andyinwards2119]

I think Southgate wanted to see England’s defence tested. That was the big thing that needed addressing after the Iceland game. I think he’ll be happy with what he saw although ideally would have wanted more possession and another goal in that second half. Attacking is not something he’s going to be worried about given how much firepower we have there.

[@london9842]

Stop being naive. Southgate does what he always does. Score a goal and revert back to playing park the bus football smh

[@andyinwards2119]

@@london9842 Yes. It’s an approach that has served him pretty well.

[@Thomas-zs5wt]

how is the midfield a concern jude and trent played amazing

[@bartman01021988]

We were playing flowing football right up until trent made his 1st mistake and we nearly conceded. Trent did not really offer us to much going forward and he showed several times what a defensive liability he is

[@tesleemhussein5217]

@@bartman01021988 Trent had 3 shots 1 a free kick he one from a dribble made 5 successful long balls gave jude a pass in the box intercepted Serbia which gave walker a chance to score made solid free kick pass to rice gave saka 1 or 2 good passes and had 91 percent passing but yeah Trent was bad and invisible going forward

[@Thomas-zs5wt]

@@bartman01021988 oh right so a bad mistake means he didnt play well, no he wasnt bad

[@bartman01021988]

@@tesleemhussein5217 did he affect the game???no Did he make defensive mistakes that almost cost us???yes. Plain facts dude

[@tesleemhussein5217]

@@bartman01021988 I JUST GAVE YOU LIKE 12 EXAMPLES OF HIM AFFECTING THE GAME just say u don't like him flipping hell it's like talking to a brick wall