Oof no matter how much you lower your expectations with England they always seem to come in under the bar somehow. A dire performance and while not fatal leaves a lot more questions than answers at the moment, absolutely nothing worked with what we tried, Kane, Sterling, Foden, Grealish, Rashford none of them were really able to produce anything of note and the biggest worry is Kane who looked well off it tonight. I dont think our negative tactics help any of these players but even then just basic passing and moving seemed beyond them which isnt exactly reliant on formation or tactics. I think some of these players have been a little overhyped too early in their careers (A common problem with us anyway) but Southgate is a lesser manager than who they usually work with anyway, it was set up far too negative against much lower level opponents in Scotland who just took heart in our lack of ambition and after an initial 10/15 minute spurt looked more likely to nick a goal themselves without looking overly dangerous, decent result for them as they can go into the final game as a straight knockout with Croatia at Hamden now boyed by this result.
For England we need to make some hard decision's with where this is going and perhaps try a different combination up top which isnt relly clicking yet, perhaps Grealish/Rashford/Sancho or throw a Calvert Lewin in there for the Czech game, or drop a holding midfielder to generate a more attack minded approach and stop being so damn negative against weaker opposition. At the moment if it is coming home, its going to via Greece circa 2004.
Its not a fatal result but needs to serve as a massive wake up call otherwise this is ending like every other attempt of the past 50 years and Southgate will find himself in a hell much worse than the England job, yes, thats right he will find himself managing Spurs. Think on Gareth, think on.
