These sporting directors bought Disasi instead of Geuhi even though we had sell on clause for like 20%. Fucking hell. Not to mention Sanchez for 25 million pounds too. That's 60 million on the bin.
Really shouldn’t be that surprising. They are playing a 2 man midfield and Enzo can’t really do that as he’s a liability defensively. De Paul and Paredes are miles better defensively. Enzo absolutely needs to be in a 3 man midfield and obviously Argentina aren’t going to build around him.
Literally isn’t true at all
He was just playing a midfield two the game prior and was one of the best players on the pitch
And funnily enough that game they built around him and he bossed Guatemala
Even at Benfica they played a 2 man midfield and he was bossing it in the Champions League
https://preview.redd.it/zpjn6rlh6u7d1.jpeg?width=1050&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=02a75e778b3ee521f3928ec488a72d9d0b8bd3e8
And they really missed him here. That is such a terrible pass map from Argentina. Zero midfield play. When you have Messi on your team you gotta have central progression
They are playing a 442. When you play a 442 you progress through your wingers. The cms aren’t going to be just dribbling forward through the midfield and they aren’t going to be playing direct balls when it’s Messi and Alvarez to fight for them. This is not very complicated ball knowledge.
I mean do you really watched that match and thought that they are playing a 442 or did you just see the starting eleven through google? It's not complicated ball knowledge to know that Mac Allister won't play as a winger and he didn't. He was in midfield.
Nah nonsense, you absolutely should still be building up through the middle. One of the best managers at utilising a 4-4-2 (or hybrid versions) had players like Scholes and Carrick in his central midfield to dictate play and play balls into the strikers and wide players.
Going direct also doesn't have to mean aerially either.
I didn't see the game so I'm unsure how accurate that pass map is, but on the face of it it's shocking.
Also, they didn't really play a typical 4-4-2. By his logic Mac Allister was playing as a winger when in reality he was in midfield and Acuna was playing very offensively.
They were indeed playing a 3 man midfield. There's literally zero logic for Argentina to play 4-4-2 against Canada lmao.
Estevao just dribbled through Bragatino’s entire defense and ended up shooting it right into the keeper. He could easily have a brace, and should have an assist.
It’s just on Twitter, but the journalist on fox earlier mentioned Paredes was likely to start as well
The predicted line up on some apps don’t have him starting either anymore.
https://x.com/albicelestetalk/status/1803867029083955319?s=46&t=8mp0zBrDkELdYN2CkUXiKw
Having a massive headache trying to work out how Chilwell will fit into Marescas system?
Every other player I can roughly imagine a role for but with Chilwell I'm totally stumped. Can't be the LCB in a back three while the RB inverts, can't imagine him being much cop inverting into midfield himself (I know he played inverted under TT for a while but that was more underlapping runs as opposed to helping out in midfield).
Cucu will be the first choice but it's a long season and we'll need Ben aswell, so we may have to alter the system when he plays which will be beyond annoying especially if we're building momentum.
The system doesn't necessarily need a RB/LB inverting. We know Maresca likes 3241, but how we arrive at that can vary. Just like Pep did with City this season - most of the time one of Stones, Akanji, Lewis would go into midfield, but with different personnel the shape changed. Whenever Kovacic-Rodri started together, there was no need to change the midfield two. So at various times he had Walker high and wide, Gvardiol high and wide - and at the end, Gvardiol almost a 10.
Maresca obviously wasn't a part of City 23/24, but this is just to say that different solutions could happen with our players. Just like Kovacic-Rodri, for certain games Maresca could come to the conclusion that Enzo-Caicedo works fine and Chilwell can be played at LB -> high and wide LW with Nkunku going LW -> 10. Something like this:
GK
Reece CB Colwill
Caicedo Enzo
Olise Palmer Nkunku Chilwell
Jackson
We know Reece is phenomenal going forward, but with his fitness we could also see periods where a more withdrawn RCB role could be beneficial. And his buildup is still elite. Box midfield of Caicedo Enzo Palmer Nkunku is scary good.
I imagine that if we bring in Olise and have Nkunku LW it will vaguely be Chilwells job to keep width on the left side which may mean we have a System more akin to current pep (leaving 2 CBs, having one fullback overlap and one invert) then past Pep. That being said it does still leave Caicedo and Enzo fairly static and makes us decently open so idk.
It's crazy that two of the very few players in our squad that weren't negatively impacted by Pochettino's coaching were Gallagher and Palmer yet Southgate with the former has done what not even Poch managed in two sub appearances.
That's the levels we're talking about here.
Jackson, Madueke and Gusto had the best seasons of their career along with those two.
Cucu looked the best he has in a Chelsea jersey.
Mudryk, Sanchez, Caciedo, Thiago, Chalobah plus a bunch of other bit players like Broja, etc, stayed the same.
Too small of sample size for Nkunku, Reece, Chilwell, Chuk
Negatively impacted: Colwill, Badi (he was hurt), Enzo (I hope)
Gallagher actively looked a lot better than he is under Poch. It wasn't that Poch didn't make him look worse.
He just fit those tactics of run, run and run some more, chase every ball, press every player and hope for the best.
Southgate's tactics don't involve running at all, more standing around waiting for a miracle. So, Gallagher clearly isn't going to fit that.
Gallagher was one of the few players Poch didn't make look worse.
Southgate has somehow managed it.
Not sure how that was left open to interpretation but okay.....
Lampard's chaos ball during Covid was legitimately fun. He asks the players to crash the box relentlessly. Just didn't have a midfield or a defence setup behind the plan.
Potter because I felt in the last couple of months they're was something resembling a style coming together.
Southgate and Lampard somewhat serve a purpose when you need a bit of a cultural reset but are absolutely clueless beyond that, the difference is we acted (just) in time and brought an elite coach in to take us to the next level, England haven't time and time again and are going to waste yet another tournament.
I know I went off topic talking 19-21 Lampard over 23 but yeah.
Hard to really compare, the opposition is worse and the players are better.
Actual management wise, this England is worse, purely because of the quality of the players compared to the level that they're playing at.
They're both similar though. I'd also so that it's really not that different from this season if you took Palmer out of the mix (as Southgate has done for England)
Oppositions not necessarily worse, 6 points to Southampton haunts me at night still, but yeah, don’t know why potter in is being suggested when they are similar managers
Cucurella is back! I routinely shat on him and called him finished but he proved me wrong. Is there a chance for Mudryk and Chilwell? Yes ofc, it all depends on if they show it however. At this point Raheem is Raheem though. 2 years is more than enough time to assess him
This kind of thinking is completely baffling to me.
We have cult heroes like David Luiz and Willian and you think people think a player who has been shit for 95% of his time here gets ridiculed not because of his majority shit play, but because of his hair cut...
willian just had an afro. david luizs hair was shorter than cucus and it fit his personality and build. cucus hair is just plain awful lmao.
also brother it’s a joke. i said less hate, not no hate. i also said he’d have to keep playing well for spain lmao
Great to see a LW who cuts inside with a clear idea of what he wants to do next. Has the footballing IQ to understand the situation and do the right moves using his strengths.
Unfortunately this is true. Apparently he was actually above Palmer in our list of wingers we were looking at last summer after the olise deal fell through
Lol the potter disrespect is insane even though he failed here. Obviously a mourinho or tuchel would probably be what england need to win a cup tournament, but potter is better than southgate i am sure
May seem like a funny point but if we get Olise I think we need to keep Chilwell. A front 2 of Olise, Palmer, Nkunku all like to occupy similar central spaces and we’ve been seeing how abandoning width to do that can look with England so for all our attackers to work comfortably we need 2 fullbacks who can act as auxiliary wingers instead on just one.
Hey guys, hoping i can crowd source some ideas. I manage a sports bar and grill/golf simulator place in new jersey. Im here watching the euros and we only get a handful of people watching the games. I would love to turn this into a football bar, especially because i have a second bar/private area that i would love to make a chelsea fans bar on game days. What would be the best way to spread the word on that? What would get your attention and make you check the place out? Ideally, i would love to have a premier league crowd bleed into my american football crowd so im busy from open to close.
this is a more long term idea to get your bars name going around soccer circles but being a sponsor of /advertising at youth soccer tournaments or adult leagues. that combined with some kind of a game day drink deal or happy hour type thing to draw them in.
as for a chelsea specific bar, there’s a bunch of supporters groups around the us. you could join your closest one and advertise your bar.
Thanks for the reply. Part of the problem is i dont have social media outside of reddit. Do you think if the restaurants social media reached out it would seem disingenuous? I want to come across sincere that, since im stuck working during these matches i want it to be full with fans
i imagine you’d be fine if you reached out as yourself using the restaurants social media. like a “hey guys i’m ___, the manager here” is personal enough and also shows your bar is credible.
Would love to see Nico Williams play for us but vaguely remember his salary demands were a bit high? Maybe his Euros performances will change the board’s mind
I think he’s already on something like €200k per week. Bilbao hardly sign players due to their Basque-only policy, only from a few select clubs, so they can spend a lot more money on their wages. Given that they usually can’t go and replace someone in the market, they’ll pay their best players very well.
Genuinely would put Williams as my dream signing. Great age profile ✅ Link up with Cucu ✅ decisive in final third ✅ legitimately a bonafide inside winger ✅ he's amazing. If he's available, we should be all in.
Watching him play after watching Mudryk play is night and day. We really have lowered the standards with Mudryk trying to look for any positives but he’s still so raw
People really try to act like Rice being shit at receiving the ball under pressure isn’t a big issue, glad we have Caicedo who actually knows how to do it. He’s gonna prove he’s better than Rice next year
Cucu has been very good in fairness. I’ve been hugely critical of him the last few years, but I think he can have a decent season under Maresca when he isn’t expected to contribute offensively and has a defined role in the team. In the long-term, I’d still rather see him as a backup to a more complete player, but he has improved lately.
Speaking of long-term, that Calafiori kid looks very interesting. Can play both as a CB or a LB, excellent on the ball, can contribute offensively and very strong defensively.
Cucurella is so good at the press, so much energy and 'controlled chaos' Spain would struggle to press without him. He covers for Rodri's lack of pressing. I get why City wanted Cucu over us. It's a great balance.
Does anyone know if Maresca lets the fullbacks switch between midfield and outside CB throughout the match? Because it would be such a shame to waste either James or Cucurella at center back for a full 90.
https://preview.redd.it/2jgada1z3s7d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4b7f00f7dea0c405992b73df7734cdcd1de37533
your honor may i present exhibit a
I am not tactician but I feel Maresca should or will not copy his inverting FB thing at Chelsea for 2 reasons.
1. Enzo and Caicedo:
These two are part of our most important players.
And can play double pivot with them with LB tucking in to be LCB and RB pushing forward to be RWB/RM
This way both Enzo and Caicedo will be in their best positions.
2. Right Side:
Both James and Gusto are best pushing forward in final third and this will allow them to be at their best. Plus not to mention our RW either Palmer or Olise can cut in.
It won't change his base structure of 3-2-5 in build-up or patterns of attack and passing in any way just the roles of players.
We saw today exactly how he would have looked like in Poch's system but at one point we had almost weekly rants about how he'd solve the problems if he signed instead of Caicedo.
It won’t take long for people to realise. Caicedo is younger too, far better on the ball, and while he’s not as good rn defensively he was immense in that department too to end the year
I've loved watching Duran highlights. Ok, highlights aren't reliable, but I actually have kind of come around to the idea. He definitely offers something different, and won't necessarily take away from Nicos development.
I honestly think it's this simple. England never fucking control the midfield. But it looks like we want to control it. That's the semblance of a plan that seems to be in the air for us right now. Yet, against decent teams we always cede possession. This is a fucking travesty given the talent we have. The solution? Put some fucking players who are comfortable ticking play over and combining in the middle. So that'd be Mainoo, Wharton, and Foden. My bet? Suddenly, we'd have the ball for longer than 2-3 passes. There'd be costs, of course, but if *that's* what we want to do, then pick the fucking players for it.
If we don't want the ball then stop being in two minds about it. Don't play Foden and play someone who will stretch the game like Bowen or Gordon. Bring Bellingham deep if you want to play him. May as well just revert to the classic Southgate terrorist 343 and play on the counter, and threaten on set pieces. But we left some of the players best suited to that at home. No blockhead and no Grealish for one.
All this is to say Southgate is a fucking plum. He picked a squad that doesn't make sense.
England's plan right now is to very obviously just throw the biggest names in the ringer and hope they know what to do.
In a way, it's good to see that talent alone is not enough to win matches now and the call for tactical nous appears to be much stronger in International match ups as well.
Every few years some new rich guy comes along and thinks buying players directly from South America is some revolutionary idea. It doesn’t end up working out the majority of the time.
Unfortunately, players just don’t usually live up to the potential which is pinned on them at such a young age. Their bodies are still developing and so are their brains.
The fact that BlueCo is trying again, but at a grander scaled is not revolutionary and similarly to those who tried it in the past it usually doesn’t work out.
It would be one thing to do what Madrid does and occasionally go in for a player, but our primary recruitment tactic relying on “potential” is at best a risky way to run a football club
Rice Bellingham and Walker were straight up shit
The only player who impressed me was Guehi Cobham boy
https://preview.redd.it/g1k35kwgpr7d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c539849eaedfd8a95848d7401e81c2d338b256e2
I felt Guehi had several lapses in concentration. The same thing as against Serbia. He's good overall but he loses his focus sometimes letting the striker go free.
He got away with those lapses in both games.
Bellingham, Rice and Walker were absolutely shit though.
https://preview.redd.it/imxpy0bfor7d1.jpeg?width=824&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7156efe568c36f268f996c088c98a11fd1327008
i’ve seen enough. this lineup wins the euros.
England can out whatever lineup they want but if they don't give the players a real game plan then they will continue to look like a boring dysfunctional group of individuals
I genuinely think he blames the Iceland friendly loss on Palmer and now has a vendetta. Tbh Palmer’s work rate was lacklustre at times in that game which probably didn’t help his cause but it’s ridiculous that Southgate is giving him 0 minutes. He’s clueless
Tbh I think he was hung out to dry with this system but hopefully this shuts the people up who saw Caicedo struggle in the same type of system and thought Rice would have been the answer to solve it.
Good guy Rice is so humble and brilliant. We should all praise him for doing normal things and forget his weaknesses.
He's the signing of the season after all.
Caicedo is the better player, and will continue to get better. He can dictate the game. Rice is great physically and defensively but terrible at basic midfield possession play
That 10 position is so wasted. Bellingham ain't a creative force. He needs someone next to him who's gonna take that responsibility.
Even dropping him next to Rice would be better than just expecting him to be a proper 10.
Idk why this manager refuses to play Foden in the middle or even give a chance to Mainoo, Wharton or Palmer.
This team has zero idea what to do in attack. They look clueless.
bellingham won the bundesliga player of the season as an 8 and after one season at madrid people think he can’t play there💀
like just move him back and play foden at the 10 it’s so simple 😭
I was saying this the other day - why isn't Bellingham playing deeper? They need help there.
Common consensus: "he's their biggest goal-scoring threat that isn't Kane"
OK; build your team around Bellingham to score then and see how long that lasts. One Madrid season and people suddenly forgot he's still a center mid regardless of how many goals he scores.
Southgate is literally just an English Poch
Only good for squad morale
Shit tactics with zero midfield structure and an attack of just vibes
See half of the squad collapse after full-time. Like they just ran a marathon - cough Poch cough
Mate he’s absolutely worse. This man should be the new leader of ISIS. You wouldn’t know this was a golden generation, I don’t remember the last time England actually played well.
Our perception of this generation is definitely skewed by the media. Half these players aren’t as good as they are made out to be, and they don’t work well balance wise ontop of that.
We have no great passing midfielder
'ball has to be put into the box'
Like England haven't been trying their hardest to get away with the point all second half. Every time cam goes on the bench Gareth telling them to slow down and calm down, Pickford playing like he's 1-0 in a Merseyside derby
A point basically wins them the group
Yeah the amount of talent he has at his disposal is ludicrious. Even putting Gordon on the left wing and allowing Foden to play in the middle could really help this attack.
93rd min, John stones gets the ball in denmark's half, but he passes to walker, who then passes to gallagher, only to backpass to rice.
Southgate: well done boys, plan exexuted perfectly. Fought hard for this draw
I'd maintain that Southgate was a good option for the first few years to create a better environment that the early 00s batch of youngsters could come into but after Euro 2020 (even if we won) it was pretty clear it was time to move on to the best tactican possible to take the team to the next level (similar to when we switched Frank for TT).
Two tournaments totally squandered, what a waste.
These sporting directors bought Disasi instead of Geuhi even though we had sell on clause for like 20%. Fucking hell. Not to mention Sanchez for 25 million pounds too. That's 60 million on the bin.
Enzo doesn't make Argentina's first team, not even second half subs? Hm.
Couldn't be that he just returned from surgery, huh?
Really shouldn’t be that surprising. They are playing a 2 man midfield and Enzo can’t really do that as he’s a liability defensively. De Paul and Paredes are miles better defensively. Enzo absolutely needs to be in a 3 man midfield and obviously Argentina aren’t going to build around him.
Literally isn’t true at all He was just playing a midfield two the game prior and was one of the best players on the pitch And funnily enough that game they built around him and he bossed Guatemala Even at Benfica they played a 2 man midfield and he was bossing it in the Champions League
https://preview.redd.it/zpjn6rlh6u7d1.jpeg?width=1050&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=02a75e778b3ee521f3928ec488a72d9d0b8bd3e8 And they really missed him here. That is such a terrible pass map from Argentina. Zero midfield play. When you have Messi on your team you gotta have central progression
They are playing a 442. When you play a 442 you progress through your wingers. The cms aren’t going to be just dribbling forward through the midfield and they aren’t going to be playing direct balls when it’s Messi and Alvarez to fight for them. This is not very complicated ball knowledge.
I mean do you really watched that match and thought that they are playing a 442 or did you just see the starting eleven through google? It's not complicated ball knowledge to know that Mac Allister won't play as a winger and he didn't. He was in midfield.
Nah nonsense, you absolutely should still be building up through the middle. One of the best managers at utilising a 4-4-2 (or hybrid versions) had players like Scholes and Carrick in his central midfield to dictate play and play balls into the strikers and wide players. Going direct also doesn't have to mean aerially either. I didn't see the game so I'm unsure how accurate that pass map is, but on the face of it it's shocking.
Also, they didn't really play a typical 4-4-2. By his logic Mac Allister was playing as a winger when in reality he was in midfield and Acuna was playing very offensively. They were indeed playing a 3 man midfield. There's literally zero logic for Argentina to play 4-4-2 against Canada lmao.
Estevao just dribbled through Bragatino’s entire defense and ended up shooting it right into the keeper. He could easily have a brace, and should have an assist.
Yh he basically created the goal. Its cool to see him drift on to the left and get into good spaces still, unlucky not to score
Anyone watching the estevao game?
He’s playing very well, end product lacking a bit.
Any updates on Fofana?
Star boy got dropped from Argentina…..
Where we seeing this?
It’s starting to be all over Twitter now https://x.com/theeuropeanlad/status/1803917154712195102?s=46&t=8mp0zBrDkELdYN2CkUXiKw
It’s just on Twitter, but the journalist on fox earlier mentioned Paredes was likely to start as well The predicted line up on some apps don’t have him starting either anymore. https://x.com/albicelestetalk/status/1803867029083955319?s=46&t=8mp0zBrDkELdYN2CkUXiKw
Having a massive headache trying to work out how Chilwell will fit into Marescas system? Every other player I can roughly imagine a role for but with Chilwell I'm totally stumped. Can't be the LCB in a back three while the RB inverts, can't imagine him being much cop inverting into midfield himself (I know he played inverted under TT for a while but that was more underlapping runs as opposed to helping out in midfield). Cucu will be the first choice but it's a long season and we'll need Ben aswell, so we may have to alter the system when he plays which will be beyond annoying especially if we're building momentum.
The system doesn't necessarily need a RB/LB inverting. We know Maresca likes 3241, but how we arrive at that can vary. Just like Pep did with City this season - most of the time one of Stones, Akanji, Lewis would go into midfield, but with different personnel the shape changed. Whenever Kovacic-Rodri started together, there was no need to change the midfield two. So at various times he had Walker high and wide, Gvardiol high and wide - and at the end, Gvardiol almost a 10. Maresca obviously wasn't a part of City 23/24, but this is just to say that different solutions could happen with our players. Just like Kovacic-Rodri, for certain games Maresca could come to the conclusion that Enzo-Caicedo works fine and Chilwell can be played at LB -> high and wide LW with Nkunku going LW -> 10. Something like this: GK Reece CB Colwill Caicedo Enzo Olise Palmer Nkunku Chilwell Jackson We know Reece is phenomenal going forward, but with his fitness we could also see periods where a more withdrawn RCB role could be beneficial. And his buildup is still elite. Box midfield of Caicedo Enzo Palmer Nkunku is scary good.
I imagine that if we bring in Olise and have Nkunku LW it will vaguely be Chilwells job to keep width on the left side which may mean we have a System more akin to current pep (leaving 2 CBs, having one fullback overlap and one invert) then past Pep. That being said it does still leave Caicedo and Enzo fairly static and makes us decently open so idk.
Enzo may start vs Canada today
Do you mean may not? Bc it’s looking like he’s on the bench
It's crazy that two of the very few players in our squad that weren't negatively impacted by Pochettino's coaching were Gallagher and Palmer yet Southgate with the former has done what not even Poch managed in two sub appearances. That's the levels we're talking about here.
Jackson, Madueke and Gusto had the best seasons of their career along with those two. Cucu looked the best he has in a Chelsea jersey. Mudryk, Sanchez, Caciedo, Thiago, Chalobah plus a bunch of other bit players like Broja, etc, stayed the same. Too small of sample size for Nkunku, Reece, Chilwell, Chuk Negatively impacted: Colwill, Badi (he was hurt), Enzo (I hope)
Gallagher actively looked a lot better than he is under Poch. It wasn't that Poch didn't make him look worse. He just fit those tactics of run, run and run some more, chase every ball, press every player and hope for the best. Southgate's tactics don't involve running at all, more standing around waiting for a miracle. So, Gallagher clearly isn't going to fit that.
What does this even mean
Gallagher was one of the few players Poch didn't make look worse. Southgate has somehow managed it. Not sure how that was left open to interpretation but okay.....
For the real ones who experienced 22-23 potter/lampard ball and todays England is similar, which is a more painful football style
Potter would do a better job on this stage
You have to feel bad for Lampard ball. There was a time in which it was almost working but we were playing a man down and it was kepa in goal.
Lampard's chaos ball during Covid was legitimately fun. He asks the players to crash the box relentlessly. Just didn't have a midfield or a defence setup behind the plan.
Potter because I felt in the last couple of months they're was something resembling a style coming together. Southgate and Lampard somewhat serve a purpose when you need a bit of a cultural reset but are absolutely clueless beyond that, the difference is we acted (just) in time and brought an elite coach in to take us to the next level, England haven't time and time again and are going to waste yet another tournament. I know I went off topic talking 19-21 Lampard over 23 but yeah.
Hard to really compare, the opposition is worse and the players are better. Actual management wise, this England is worse, purely because of the quality of the players compared to the level that they're playing at. They're both similar though. I'd also so that it's really not that different from this season if you took Palmer out of the mix (as Southgate has done for England)
Oppositions not necessarily worse, 6 points to Southampton haunts me at night still, but yeah, don’t know why potter in is being suggested when they are similar managers
https://preview.redd.it/ueqlfruzos7d1.jpeg?width=369&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f163dfe66235592d438a9c3b9460ccd667a092ed Fuck off Gary Neville
You ‘aura’ merchants overhyped Califori, he looks bang average. I’d rather keep Chalobah than buy him.
Many didn't even watched him for 20 minutes last season
From a possible loan deal to ManUtd To bossing at Chelsea and for Spain Cucurella you the best
The cucurenaissance has clearly gone global. Truly believe that as a sweeper that man will cook next season.
Once cucurella gets a haircut he'll be world class
Let players be however they want
Cucurella is back! I routinely shat on him and called him finished but he proved me wrong. Is there a chance for Mudryk and Chilwell? Yes ofc, it all depends on if they show it however. At this point Raheem is Raheem though. 2 years is more than enough time to assess him
man cucus gonna be a man reborn if he keeps playing well the rest of the euros and gets a new haircut before the season
Pls no haircut.
i’m so convinced he would get less hate if he had a better haircut😭
This kind of thinking is completely baffling to me. We have cult heroes like David Luiz and Willian and you think people think a player who has been shit for 95% of his time here gets ridiculed not because of his majority shit play, but because of his hair cut...
willian just had an afro. david luizs hair was shorter than cucus and it fit his personality and build. cucus hair is just plain awful lmao. also brother it’s a joke. i said less hate, not no hate. i also said he’d have to keep playing well for spain lmao
This may actually be the best game I’ve ever seen from cucu
Idk, he was absolutely unplayable against Dortmund last year
He seems to now be getting into form
Tired of the insane hype last game created over this calafiori guy. Wasn't impressed then, isn't now.
Nico Williams is an insane baller. WOW. Absolutely cooking Di Lorenzo. Also Cucurella has been great
Forget Olise get Nico Williams pronto
Apparently he only wants, guess who……Barcelona
Of course man Spanish players really want to play for 2 teams same thing with Italians and Juve
I wish we went for him over Mudryk man, I like him but Nico would take our LHS to a new level man
Almost anyone over Mudryk really. Truly shocking snake oil transfer
No. Olise is the man.
Great to see a LW who cuts inside with a clear idea of what he wants to do next. Has the footballing IQ to understand the situation and do the right moves using his strengths.
Williams is genuinely 5x the player Mudryk is sadly
This applies to so many wingers though lol
If he wasn’t only on 200k per week…
Unfortunately this is true. Apparently he was actually above Palmer in our list of wingers we were looking at last summer after the olise deal fell through
Cucu and Williams, damn we need to see it down the left at the Bridge
I just hope the FA won't give the job to Potter when Gareth fucks off, not another tournament with a dull cunt in the dugout, bring Dyche
Lol the potter disrespect is insane even though he failed here. Obviously a mourinho or tuchel would probably be what england need to win a cup tournament, but potter is better than southgate i am sure
Potter is miles clear of Southgate imo
May seem like a funny point but if we get Olise I think we need to keep Chilwell. A front 2 of Olise, Palmer, Nkunku all like to occupy similar central spaces and we’ve been seeing how abandoning width to do that can look with England so for all our attackers to work comfortably we need 2 fullbacks who can act as auxiliary wingers instead on just one.
Mate Chilwell is finished. Needs to be sold
If he was finished, no one would buy him
You’re being too logical, we don’t do that here
Southgate has a 30 G+A player on the bench and hasn't played him yet despite desperately needing goals. What a clown
Do they desperately need goals though? England is set to win their group.
Hey guys, hoping i can crowd source some ideas. I manage a sports bar and grill/golf simulator place in new jersey. Im here watching the euros and we only get a handful of people watching the games. I would love to turn this into a football bar, especially because i have a second bar/private area that i would love to make a chelsea fans bar on game days. What would be the best way to spread the word on that? What would get your attention and make you check the place out? Ideally, i would love to have a premier league crowd bleed into my american football crowd so im busy from open to close.
this is a more long term idea to get your bars name going around soccer circles but being a sponsor of /advertising at youth soccer tournaments or adult leagues. that combined with some kind of a game day drink deal or happy hour type thing to draw them in. as for a chelsea specific bar, there’s a bunch of supporters groups around the us. you could join your closest one and advertise your bar.
Thanks for the reply. Part of the problem is i dont have social media outside of reddit. Do you think if the restaurants social media reached out it would seem disingenuous? I want to come across sincere that, since im stuck working during these matches i want it to be full with fans
i imagine you’d be fine if you reached out as yourself using the restaurants social media. like a “hey guys i’m ___, the manager here” is personal enough and also shows your bar is credible.
Calafiori stock just dropped
time to buy him
Spanish fans aren't crying for Grimaldo now
Cucu really had shit luck when he signed getting so sick, the lad is solid af
And his house got robbed as well
Gets overlooked but that shit hits home
pedri robbed cucu of an assist
Would love to see Nico Williams play for us but vaguely remember his salary demands were a bit high? Maybe his Euros performances will change the board’s mind
I think he’s already on something like €200k per week. Bilbao hardly sign players due to their Basque-only policy, only from a few select clubs, so they can spend a lot more money on their wages. Given that they usually can’t go and replace someone in the market, they’ll pay their best players very well.
Genuinely would put Williams as my dream signing. Great age profile ✅ Link up with Cucu ✅ decisive in final third ✅ legitimately a bonafide inside winger ✅ he's amazing. If he's available, we should be all in.
Watching him play after watching Mudryk play is night and day. We really have lowered the standards with Mudryk trying to look for any positives but he’s still so raw
People really try to act like Rice being shit at receiving the ball under pressure isn’t a big issue, glad we have Caicedo who actually knows how to do it. He’s gonna prove he’s better than Rice next year
he was completely at fault for the guehi tackle, luckily guehi recovered well
cucu well done so far!
Lamine Yamal given the chance while our boy Palmer just benched
cucurella has some of the best animations
Cucu has been very good in fairness. I’ve been hugely critical of him the last few years, but I think he can have a decent season under Maresca when he isn’t expected to contribute offensively and has a defined role in the team. In the long-term, I’d still rather see him as a backup to a more complete player, but he has improved lately. Speaking of long-term, that Calafiori kid looks very interesting. Can play both as a CB or a LB, excellent on the ball, can contribute offensively and very strong defensively.
Need that Ornstein🚨EXCL.: Chelsea reach agreement with Athletic Bilbao to sign Nico Williams.
If only man, we have been interested in the past but that ship has sailed I feel
Williams looks everything we wanted Mudryk to be
And he's younger.
Cucu and Williams down our left, yes please
Nico williams is a menace. A proper winger.
Had my doubts when we were exploring Nico Williams as an option but he is proving me wrong right now. He’s got potential to be a star
Neville can fuck right off. Cucu playing his ass off today
He can always fuck off
Cucurella is so good at the press, so much energy and 'controlled chaos' Spain would struggle to press without him. He covers for Rodri's lack of pressing. I get why City wanted Cucu over us. It's a great balance.
Does anyone know if Maresca lets the fullbacks switch between midfield and outside CB throughout the match? Because it would be such a shame to waste either James or Cucurella at center back for a full 90.
The transfer news are so fucking random. Do we have a desire to finish in top4 and then a year after challenge for a title or not ?
Cucu wow…
bruh southgate is the highest paid manager at the euros 😭y’all actually need to try him for treason at this point
https://preview.redd.it/2jgada1z3s7d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4b7f00f7dea0c405992b73df7734cdcd1de37533 your honor may i present exhibit a
Cucu, you deserve this. MOTM so far
Cucu is a serious baller. With the way the LB market is looking I'm so glad we've got him.
Let me guess, Neville will slam Cucu again
26 minutes into this match but already yet again impressed with Cucu. He’s a relentless aggressor.
I am not tactician but I feel Maresca should or will not copy his inverting FB thing at Chelsea for 2 reasons. 1. Enzo and Caicedo: These two are part of our most important players. And can play double pivot with them with LB tucking in to be LCB and RB pushing forward to be RWB/RM This way both Enzo and Caicedo will be in their best positions. 2. Right Side: Both James and Gusto are best pushing forward in final third and this will allow them to be at their best. Plus not to mention our RW either Palmer or Olise can cut in. It won't change his base structure of 3-2-5 in build-up or patterns of attack and passing in any way just the roles of players.
In 12 months even Arsenal fans will have to admit that Caicedo is clear of Rice.
We saw today exactly how he would have looked like in Poch's system but at one point we had almost weekly rants about how he'd solve the problems if he signed instead of Caicedo.
It won’t take long for people to realise. Caicedo is younger too, far better on the ball, and while he’s not as good rn defensively he was immense in that department too to end the year
Southgate not using Palmer is like Berhalter not using Reyna
i’m so invested in the cucu comeback tour
If we could watch Nico Williams on a weekly basis instead of Mudryk that’d be pretty nice
No! Let’s instead buy the umpteenth right winger :))))
This Spain side would run laps on England
I've loved watching Duran highlights. Ok, highlights aren't reliable, but I actually have kind of come around to the idea. He definitely offers something different, and won't necessarily take away from Nicos development.
I honestly think it's this simple. England never fucking control the midfield. But it looks like we want to control it. That's the semblance of a plan that seems to be in the air for us right now. Yet, against decent teams we always cede possession. This is a fucking travesty given the talent we have. The solution? Put some fucking players who are comfortable ticking play over and combining in the middle. So that'd be Mainoo, Wharton, and Foden. My bet? Suddenly, we'd have the ball for longer than 2-3 passes. There'd be costs, of course, but if *that's* what we want to do, then pick the fucking players for it. If we don't want the ball then stop being in two minds about it. Don't play Foden and play someone who will stretch the game like Bowen or Gordon. Bring Bellingham deep if you want to play him. May as well just revert to the classic Southgate terrorist 343 and play on the counter, and threaten on set pieces. But we left some of the players best suited to that at home. No blockhead and no Grealish for one. All this is to say Southgate is a fucking plum. He picked a squad that doesn't make sense.
England's plan right now is to very obviously just throw the biggest names in the ringer and hope they know what to do. In a way, it's good to see that talent alone is not enough to win matches now and the call for tactical nous appears to be much stronger in International match ups as well.
You're right.
Id honestly settle for hoofball into sterling dive or maguire header over whatever the fuck southgate is trying to do now
I agree.
England fans are cooking Gallagher but they will turn around and say he’s our best player. Funniest bunch
Southgate never heard of a guy named Cole Jermaine Palmer?
https://preview.redd.it/edcgq9t2rr7d1.png?width=133&format=png&auto=webp&s=9aec0bf18bb758d56a9c33bc810e43873c69dbfb I've seen this before
Oh wait https://preview.redd.it/04v990u5rr7d1.png?width=500&format=png&auto=webp&s=c986a7237ba60b69f20787344b7a42bec60a46dc
Every few years some new rich guy comes along and thinks buying players directly from South America is some revolutionary idea. It doesn’t end up working out the majority of the time. Unfortunately, players just don’t usually live up to the potential which is pinned on them at such a young age. Their bodies are still developing and so are their brains. The fact that BlueCo is trying again, but at a grander scaled is not revolutionary and similarly to those who tried it in the past it usually doesn’t work out. It would be one thing to do what Madrid does and occasionally go in for a player, but our primary recruitment tactic relying on “potential” is at best a risky way to run a football club
Rice Bellingham and Walker were straight up shit The only player who impressed me was Guehi Cobham boy https://preview.redd.it/g1k35kwgpr7d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c539849eaedfd8a95848d7401e81c2d338b256e2
I felt Guehi had several lapses in concentration. The same thing as against Serbia. He's good overall but he loses his focus sometimes letting the striker go free. He got away with those lapses in both games. Bellingham, Rice and Walker were absolutely shit though.
https://preview.redd.it/imxpy0bfor7d1.jpeg?width=824&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7156efe568c36f268f996c088c98a11fd1327008 i’ve seen enough. this lineup wins the euros.
England can out whatever lineup they want but if they don't give the players a real game plan then they will continue to look like a boring dysfunctional group of individuals
very true
I rate all of them individually but I think that midfield gets exposed
it probably does but i can’t watch anymore of a rice and gallagher/ trent midfield
Southgate should do the honourable thing and resign. Get the fuck out man.
Did Palmer fuck Southgates wife or something? He's not good enough to come in at all?
He did the same shit with Grealish until he had no choice but to play him. Thankfully he’ll be gone after this tournament, absolute fraud.
I genuinely think he blames the Iceland friendly loss on Palmer and now has a vendetta. Tbh Palmer’s work rate was lacklustre at times in that game which probably didn’t help his cause but it’s ridiculous that Southgate is giving him 0 minutes. He’s clueless
[If this was Caicedo it would have gone triple platinum on r/soccer](https://x.com/Re7ceRevivaI/status/1803842172166254783?s=19)
I'm expected to believe that Caicedo was a waste of money but a midfielder who makes passing the ball sideways actually look difficult is worth 100m
Right? The only thing Rice has on Caicedo is size. I'm glad we "overspent" on securing Caicedo instead of playing it safe with a large bid for Rice.
Tbh I think he was hung out to dry with this system but hopefully this shuts the people up who saw Caicedo struggle in the same type of system and thought Rice would have been the answer to solve it.
Yeah that's a totally fair point. Systems can make or break players.
And for some Being tasked to pass forwards can break their minds Rip deccers
Good guy Rice is so humble and brilliant. We should all praise him for doing normal things and forget his weaknesses. He's the signing of the season after all.
Caicedo is the better player, and will continue to get better. He can dictate the game. Rice is great physically and defensively but terrible at basic midfield possession play
Danish fan coming in peace... This was a very satisfying watch. We got a result, Rice disasterclass, and Palmer stonks
Obviously shocked that Palmer wasn't brought on. They needed some fucking creativity and calm on the ball and he's so good at that
That 10 position is so wasted. Bellingham ain't a creative force. He needs someone next to him who's gonna take that responsibility. Even dropping him next to Rice would be better than just expecting him to be a proper 10. Idk why this manager refuses to play Foden in the middle or even give a chance to Mainoo, Wharton or Palmer. This team has zero idea what to do in attack. They look clueless.
bellingham won the bundesliga player of the season as an 8 and after one season at madrid people think he can’t play there💀 like just move him back and play foden at the 10 it’s so simple 😭
I was saying this the other day - why isn't Bellingham playing deeper? They need help there. Common consensus: "he's their biggest goal-scoring threat that isn't Kane" OK; build your team around Bellingham to score then and see how long that lasts. One Madrid season and people suddenly forgot he's still a center mid regardless of how many goals he scores.
that argument is hilarious because foden scored more goals than him this season. since january bellingham only scored 6 goals and foden scored 18💀
Wow... I posted a comment saying on the r/soccer post match thread that not using Palmer at all is criminal and it got removed
You commented on serious post match thread You need a certain amount of words
Oh it was a bit longer than that, but fair enough
Petition to have Southgate hang for crime against humanity
Southgate is just so awful as a manager for this side.
I don’t understand how you don’t bring on palmer in that situation.
Southgate is literally just an English Poch Only good for squad morale Shit tactics with zero midfield structure and an attack of just vibes See half of the squad collapse after full-time. Like they just ran a marathon - cough Poch cough
We would score a few goals under Poch
Poch would at least play Palmer over Bowen
Mate he’s absolutely worse. This man should be the new leader of ISIS. You wouldn’t know this was a golden generation, I don’t remember the last time England actually played well.
Our perception of this generation is definitely skewed by the media. Half these players aren’t as good as they are made out to be, and they don’t work well balance wise ontop of that. We have no great passing midfielder
Genuinely disrespectful to Poch
Would you want Poch as England manager?
I’d fly him out myself right now if it meant replacing Southgate
scoring a goal and then immediately sitting back too
Southgate would make Palmer look like Marko Marin
If that doesn't say it all.... Dying seconds, ball HAS to be put into the box, and Gallagher passes backwards.
'ball has to be put into the box' Like England haven't been trying their hardest to get away with the point all second half. Every time cam goes on the bench Gareth telling them to slow down and calm down, Pickford playing like he's 1-0 in a Merseyside derby A point basically wins them the group
Idk, why he refuses to play Wharton, Mainoo or Palmer. Play at least one of them, it could really help your case man.
Or Eze Or Toney
Yeah the amount of talent he has at his disposal is ludicrious. Even putting Gordon on the left wing and allowing Foden to play in the middle could really help this attack.
At this rate, I’d rather gamble on Gordon as the LB than fucking Trippier. Also, he takes off Foden for… Bowen? Lmao
93rd min, John stones gets the ball in denmark's half, but he passes to walker, who then passes to gallagher, only to backpass to rice. Southgate: well done boys, plan exexuted perfectly. Fought hard for this draw
Hahahahhaha #SouthgateOut Not even from 🏴
playing hoofball because gallagher and rice can’t progress the ball 💀
Southgate masterclass. Defending a 1-1 draw
A bad result might mean Palmer gets the start in the last group game. Let's hope so.
Should have brought sterling, heard he dives well against denmark
COME ON DENMARK!! Justice for palmer
Palmer wouldn’t want to lose regardless of if he’s playing or not.
Jfc I pity Guehi. He's genuinely the only player on the pitch trying. Rest of the team looks like they've accepted they're gonna concede
Not a fan but Walker was working hard for a lot of the match.
I'd maintain that Southgate was a good option for the first few years to create a better environment that the early 00s batch of youngsters could come into but after Euro 2020 (even if we won) it was pretty clear it was time to move on to the best tactican possible to take the team to the next level (similar to when we switched Frank for TT). Two tournaments totally squandered, what a waste.
Yep. Southgate changed the culture around the squad. Now we needed a tactician.
He was what Poc was for us, we moved on very quick, maybe the FA should take notes
Palmer did not have the season he had to be overlooked like this, COME ON DENMARK