England - the future....

[WestYorksRoyal]

I don't know if anyone watched the FA Cup semi finals, but Wharton absolutely bossed the midfield against an excellent Villa side. We've seen a lot of top English talent emerge over the place decade, but Wharton is the biggest game changer of all for me. A natural defensive midfielder who can make progressive passes, control possession and set the tempo, which top international teams seem to need and which England have never had. Also stops Rice being misused as a holding midfielder when he has elevated himself to another level in a box to box role.

I get last year's Euros were a bit soon for him, and in Tuchel's first squad he was barely back from 4 months out. But if he's not playing at the base of England's midfield in the post season internationals,just sack Tuchel already and bring in someone who can see what is obvious.

[BRO_BOT]

I don't know if anyone watched the FA Cup semi finals, but Wharton absolutely bossed the midfield against an excellent Villa side. We've seen a lot of top English talent emerge over the place decade, but Wharton is the biggest game changer of all for me. A natural defensive midfielder who can make progressive passes, control possession and set the tempo, which top international teams seem to need and which England have never had. Also stops Rice being misused as a holding midfielder when he has elevated himself to another level in a box to box role.

I get last year's Euros were a bit soon for him, and in Tuchel's first squad he was barely back from 4 months out. But if he's not playing at the base of England's midfield in the post season internationals,just sack Tuchel already and bring in someone who can see what is obvious.

Carrick

[Snowflake Royal]

I don't know if anyone watched the FA Cup semi finals, but Wharton absolutely bossed the midfield against an excellent Villa side. We've seen a lot of top English talent emerge over the place decade, but Wharton is the biggest game changer of all for me. A natural defensive midfielder who can make progressive passes, control possession and set the tempo, which top international teams seem to need and which England have never had. Also stops Rice being misused as a holding midfielder when he has elevated himself to another level in a box to box role.

I get last year's Euros were a bit soon for him, and in Tuchel's first squad he was barely back from 4 months out. But if he's not playing at the base of England's midfield in the post season internationals,just sack Tuchel already and bring in someone who can see what is obvious.

Carrick

You're funny

[BRO_BOT]

I don't know if anyone watched the FA Cup semi finals, but Wharton absolutely bossed the midfield against an excellent Villa side. We've seen a lot of top English talent emerge over the place decade, but Wharton is the biggest game changer of all for me. A natural defensive midfielder who can make progressive passes, control possession and set the tempo, which top international teams seem to need and which England have never had. Also stops Rice being misused as a holding midfielder when he has elevated himself to another level in a box to box role.

I get last year's Euros were a bit soon for him, and in Tuchel's first squad he was barely back from 4 months out. But if he's not playing at the base of England's midfield in the post season internationals,just sack Tuchel already and bring in someone who can see what is obvious.

Carrick

You're funny

The tempo setter of a team that made 3 CL Final appearances in 4 years

The English midfielders in the 2008 final were Carrick, Scholes, and Hargreaves (& Lampard). It always baffles me that in the Elite Club Cup tournament final England was represented by

Brown, Rio, Terry, Cole
Carrick, Scholes, Hargreaves
J.Cole, Rooney, Lampard

but they couldn't even qualify for the 2008 Euros

[stealthpapes]

... because they didn't play those players, in that system.

2008 was the final whimper of the golden generation but even then, this is the starting XI that lost to Croatia

Carson
Richards Campbell Lescott Bridge
Wright-Phillips Gerrard Barry Lampard J.Cole
Crouch

Rooney was injured, Scholes long retired, it was Beckham coming on as sub that helped England back into game, a lot of the rest of it screams B-team.

[stealthpapes]

As ever, you can have all the headline players but international football is often about the systems, the strength in depth and players being intelligent enough to adapt.

Southgate got much of that correct and that's why England did so much better under his management.