England midfield and attack are not the only problems for Gormless Gareth | OneFootball

Joe Dixon was spot-on this Friday morning on The Mag, when he highlighted Gormless Gareth Southgate and his priceless ability to reduce top level players to a bunch of dross (Gareth Southgate has done it again – This is laughable).

The midfield/attacking performance is by no means the only worry.

England’s defence has looked far from assured against two less-fancied teams. Walker did contribute massively to the early goal last night (though not as much as the Danish defender who was trying to shield the ball from another opponent and never saw the Man City full-back until it was too late) but I wouldn’t fancy Walker against several teams Southgate’s lot would need to beat to become champions, specifically Spain, Germany and France.

Lower-ranked nations, such as Slovakia against Belgium, are also showing a lot more teamwork and attacking intent than Ingurrlunt. Walker has won loads of medals since moving from Spurs to Man City, yet still his ability to cross the ball is second-rate at best. Trippier is ahead of him on that count.

Our man has done his best as a makeshift left-back, though even his lack of pace is likely to be exposed sooner rather than later. Walker, too, is not as quick as he was, or likes to think he still is.

Guehi and Stones are looking useful as a new central defensive partnership. If Gormless had ditched Maguire a year ago, those two (or Branthwaite) could have been bedded in long before the Euros. What are friendly fixtures for, if not to give other players a chance to prove they can hack it at international level?

If Guehi or Stones is injured in the next week, who will step in? The same with Pickford monopolising the keeper’s jersey; where is the readymade alternative?

Looking at the midfield, who apart from the usual cheerleaders and bandwagon jumpers thought a right-back who cannot defend, but has a penchant for spectacular goals and Hollywood passes, should be selected in the middle of midfield? The group stage of a continental championship is NOT the time or the place to experiment. For Gormless Gareth Southgate to say England are trying to find a replacement for Kalvin Phillips is beyond a joke. The bloke has barely played for two seasons. WTF?

If Foden, a multiple footballer-of-the-year winner, is not worthy of a berth ahead of Alexander-Arnold, the coach is living in a parallel universe. Yes, as a teenager the Stockport Iniesta was played wide on the left, while he was still learning his craft. Guardiola realised, perhaps belatedly, the best position for Foden was where he could influence the game most and most often, just behind a central striker. Why cannot Gormless see that?

Kane dropping deep mucks up the rest of the midfield and attack. His blind pass from the left flank less than 30 yards from Pickford’s net last night was one of the best assists I’ve seen in Germany; shame it fell straight to a Dane while two or three England teammates stood and looked, presumably utterly bemused by Cap’n Harry’s wayward pass. And shame Dino Arms couldn’t stretch far enough to deflect the long-distance shot. At least the draw and second sub-par display will (if there is any common sense in the management) provoke a few changes.

Unless there is a suitable alternative at left-back, Trippier will have to fill in for the still-not-ready Shaw. There is almost no prospect of defensive tweaks in the foreseeable.

However, the midfield must be redrawn. Rice as the anchor, just behind Bellingham and Foden, with Saka and Gordon on the flanks. Gormless will not have the balls to drop his skipper, even though dropping the ball is one skill the head coach has in abundance.

Wharton, Bowen and Watkins should be primed to take over on the hour, with Palmer as a wildcard. The fortunate four points England have accrued will almost certainly be enough to “progress” to the round of 16. Germany look the most likely opponents unless Slovenia are beaten on Tuesday.

If England suddenly go rogue and start playing aggressive, full-press football rather than imitating a seasick crab, all bets are off. Otherwise, there is little prospect of reaching the business end of the tournament.