Of course...but my position is more nuanced than 'it's all kane's fault'. Yes Rice was shit, yes there was little point trippier being on the pitch...but the point is that starting positions and passing options are radically changed by the failure to start from the front....and while it will be fine against moldova, because the other nine can dominate a team like that, it wont be okay against spain or germany or portugal (or italy or croatia in the recent past).
The BBC were, for the first time amongst commentators on the games, highlighting the things that I (and others) have been saying for a number of years last night. While they were pointing out the bloody obvious for once, Thomas Frank said "But isn't that how he's been playing for four or five years?". Yes Thomas, it is.
Southgate sets up for a certain game plan...and he hasn't trialled any substantive options to that...notably hardly giving any strikers any minutes at all and giving the team no chance to learn to play in a different way. Now he's picked a squad that can't play that way....stupidly gambled on a player that's played almost no football this year and isn't fit, and seemingly has little idea how to set up a team that isn't structured for straight line, set piece, and second phase.
You could say that it's an unfortunate set of events that leaves us here.....were it not for the evidence of those of us who have been saying that we would for quite a substantial period of time.
First problem: You don't want to start from here. Yet here we are.
Harry Kane is completely gash in open play, crowds the areas where we have better players trying to find space and rhythm to play, and does not stretch the attack. He does not make himself available with strikery runs, and he seems unwilling or unable to make a meaningful press.
If you want to play high and control possession and games that's your starting point. A failure to put pressure on the first out ball, and the ease with which the opposition can pick an option in midfield is exactly why the banks behind that forward press have to drop goal side. If you can't press from the front you will drop deep...or you will be carved open. That's just a football fact.
