Sam Allardyce has already admitted that he’s jealous of Gareth Southgate.
Allardyce wishes he was in charge of the Three Lions in Russia but he’s been forced to watch Southgate lead the England squad to the quarter-finals from the comfort of his home. A dramatic victory over Colombia on penalties secured England a meeting with Sweden in the last eight of the World Cup.
Southgate has impressed with his management of the side in the past three weeks, resting plenty of first-team regulars for the defeat to Belgium which ended up earning England a place in the more straightforward side of the draw.
The England manager has been largely lauded for how he’s organised and motivated his team but his predecessor has some advice for Southgate moving forward.
“If I was in Gareth’s shoes, and I know I’m not, I would seriously consider changing the system,” Allardyce said on talkSPORT.
“Defensively we look extremely sound, but I think we need more attacking prowess going forward to try and score more goals from open play.
“I don’t think they need to play with three at the back against Sweden. They could cope comfortably with two defenders, I don’t think they’ve got anything to concern us going forward.”
Allardyce was then pressed on who Southgate should leave out to allow for the extra man in midfield and it was then that the former England boss insisted that there was no point in having both Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker in the same starting XI.
“For me, it would have to be Trippier or Kyle Walker,” Allardyce responded.
“If you left Trippier out, you put Walker at right-back and if you left Walker out you’d leave Trippier at right-back.”
The idea of leaving out Trippier, who has been one of England’s most reliable players in Russia, resulted in the kind of reaction you’d expect.
https://twitter.com/BenMatthews16/status/1014406108688080896
https://twitter.com/IanTaylor1501/status/1014406171300651010
Allardyce on talk sport… drop Trippier for the Sweden game.. bloke is a joke..
— Ben Stirrup (@ben_stirrup) July 4, 2018
Sam Allardyce on @talkSPORT is absolutely hilarious 😂 “I we need more goals so I would drop Trippier or Walker and play a midfield two of Henderson and Dier” 🤦🏻♂️ and that’s why your unemployed Sam tit
— Adam M (@adzy_90) July 4, 2018
Sam Allardyce talking rubbish @SportsBreakfast saying Southgate should change the system and leave out Trippier. The guy has been one of our best players in the tournament. #ThreeLions
— TJR (@Tiswas_Tony) July 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/DickWarden/status/1014407917867544576
Is Sam Allardyce really telling Southgate to drop Trippier? God help us! 🙄
— Woody (@stumpyspurs) July 4, 2018
Sam Allardyce talking absolute pony on @talkSPORT – 2 at the back? Drop trippier? Media did us a massive favour exposing him. #clueless #eng
— Simon (@sijslack) July 4, 2018
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