We didn't concede two early goals because we were playing a back 4, it was an unnecessary penalty giveaway for the first and a dead ball penalty box pinball incident for the second. We never recovered after that, and that's understandable, but you hope some lessons were learned by coaches and players. The team probably needed to be singularly focused about keeping things really tight and giving nothing away to start given the tournament context at that moment, and perhaps they weren't, perhaps they were given instructions to try and go out and be ambitious and impose themselves instead. And when things went wrong, the team probably needed more characters like Rufer, we lack a bit of vocal leadership.
I hope we don't switch to a back 5 now, there's no point, it is highly likely we need a win and maybe even a big one to progress, and that just isn't likely against France, so we may as well use it as a second chance to try our preferred game against a high quality opposition. Maybe you'd have a good argument for that if a point would definitely be enough, but that's not the case here. I think if we learn the lessons from this game there is no reason we can't come away with a respectable loss. Would be cool to see Bindon/Surman have a go as a CB pairing against a really top team. I'd like to see Sheridan get a start at RB or even try Boxall there, he's played there before. I want to see Randall & OVH get starts too. And give Conchie some decent minutes at some point. It'll be so disappointing if Bazeley starts the same team again.
I hope we don't switch to a back 5 now, there's no point, it is highly likely we need a win and maybe even a big one to progress, and that just isn't likely against France, so we may as well use it as a second chance to try our preferred game against a high quality opposition. Maybe you'd have a good argument for that if a point would definitely be enough, but that's not the case here. I think if we learn the lessons from this game there is no reason we can't come away with a respectable loss. Would be cool to see Bindon/Surman have a go as a CB pairing against a really top team. I'd like to see Sheridan get a start at RB or even try Boxall there, he's played there before. I want to see Randall & OVH get starts too. And give Conchie some decent minutes at some point. It'll be so disappointing if Bazeley starts the same team again.
Boxall is 36, and hasn't played RB for at least 5 years, likely longer. Even though he still looks to keep himself in top physical shape, you can't ask him to play that gruelling up & down role in 30 degree heat. It's a job for much younger legs.
Guinea somehow kept France scoreless for 75 mins. Whatever they did Bazeley should be looking at closely. They had 3 CBs (same 3 who started against us). Not saying a back 3/5 is automatically the setup against the French, but I feel if the plan is to give Sheridan a start then yes it is 3 CBs.
Marseille will be an intimidating cauldron, with a very different atmosphere to our first 2 games. The 60,000 home crowd will get right behind the French, and I'm guessing they will rotate their team with 3-4 youngsters totally pumped to get their first start at their home Olympics. We will just be road kill in the eyes of the locals. The first 15-20 mins I'm guessing will be super tough. It would not surprise if we are totally under the pump to commence the game. You start Sheridan who is basically coming from the Central League, in that situation, you should help him out with an extra CB. As Austin above says, if we don't defend well we give ourselves no chance, and it could be ugly
But I'm just keen to see what Sheridan can do at this level. RB remains the problem child position, and he does look a good prospect. I have very low expectations for this game, so why not use it to see how young Matt goes, for the first half at least.
Edit - and yeah I've only seen the goal highlights of the US game, so have no context of how the match was unfolding, but the first 2 goals were soft. I love Garbett's attitude but man that was such a dumb pen to concede. So many team mates around him, why stick out a leg like that. Not sure you can blame Bazeley for that blunder or Zimmerman's 2nd goal. But again I don't know the match context, if the team were totally under the pump, then yeah higher chance of panic decisions being made
Oh and a minor thing perhaps but Boxall is also playing as the centre CB with Minnesota this MLS season as part of a back 3/5.