I have been advocating for years for England to go with one sitting player in midfield and let the creative players get on with it.
Those creative players did not create against Greece on Thursday night - and, worse than that, they didn't do the hard yards, in terms of pressing the ball as a unit. It was a night to forget because Jude Bellingham was asked to operate as a centre forward – completely out position and something he would not have enjoyed – which seemed to throw the rest of the midfield. Very rarely in the 90 minutes did they operate as a unit when not in possession.
Several times in the first half, you could see Bellingham getting isolated when trying to close down the Greek goalkeeper, with no-one joining him in that press. When you press as a collective, it's like having a rope tied round each of your waists. When one goes, it pulls you in behind them.
There's a reaction from the one at either side of you. But when Bellingham went to close down, the keeper was able to pass the ball around him because there was no one else in an England jersey joining in. The absence of anyone following him in told me that England did not know what they were doing.
As a midfield player you are, by definition, in the centre of the pitch, so you have to be a bit of everything: a creator and a defender. But England showed zero creativity and were too easy to play against when out of possession. They seemed so confused as to who was supposed to be where – lacking any understanding of each other's roles – that Greece played through them.
England tried a new system against Greece at Wembley on Thursday but the risk didn't pay off
It was a night to forget because Jude Bellingham (right) was asked to operate as a centre forward
Greece scored a memorable stoppage time winner to cause a huge upset at Wembley
I note that Lee Carsley said in an interview after the match that they had worked on the system for 20 minutes. That was clearly not enough. I think the system threw them.
In saying all that, we have to acknowledge that Greece played without any fear and showed zero inferiority complex, unlike many teams going to Wembley.
Some of that motivation was clearly taken from the death of the player George Baldock, a young man they clearly held in huge affection. They were fabulous, bold, tried to get on the front foot and extremely positive. They didn't just try to sit in and nick things. So, very, very impressive play from them.
But with all due respect to Greece, their record tells you they are an average team at international level. As always in football it's a question of 'were they that good?' or, 'were England that bad?' The latter, I would suggest.
I have to say I felt sorry for Bellingham. The central striking role he was playing is obviously not his position. He scores the vast majority of his goals arriving late in and around the box.
You only need to have looked closely at his goals for Real Madrid and England last season – and his goal on Thursday night - to know that. Ollie Watkins took up that role after an hour, though the system was so clearly not working that I think changes should have been made earlier.
If Harry Kane isn't available, as he wasn't last night, you start with a different type of centre forward. In this case, Watkins, who should have scored with his second touch after arriving on the hour mark, when Cole Palmer played him in. Asking a talented midfield player to play as a centre forward made no sense. England should start with Watkins up front against Finland on Sunday, with Kane not fit.
In fairness to Lee Carsley, he has shown the ambition that Gareth Southgate lacked as England manager. I hope he remains bold and plays that host of midfield players again on Sunday. They owe him a performance against Finland
England showed zero attacking creativity and were too easy for Greece to play against
Lee Carsley (left) decided to make changes to his England team against Greece, while Bellingham struggled in his false nine role
I would like to see a midfield which, with Bukayo Saka out, should include Declan Rice sitting, with Bellingham and Phil Foden either side of him, and the wide areas taken up by Jack Grealish and Cole Palmer. All, except for Rice, with a license to go and make mischief.
What they must do is work on the collective pressing when they don't have the ball. Thursday night was a setback but we know these boys are far better than that.
Liverpool trio's contract dilemma
One of the most fascinating football prospects just up ahead is the challenging run of fixtures that my old club Liverpool are about to face. Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton, Aston Villa and Manchester City in the space of six weeks.
In Arne Slot, they have a manager who for me has been a 10 out of 10, in the way he is building relationships with the players and handles the press.
The concern for Liverpool's fans is that three players who really have proven themselves over time – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk - are out of contract this summer. It's barely two months until Christmas and in January they can talk to other clubs.
I can assure you Liverpool will have been talking to their representatives and by now will know what those guys are going to do, going forward. I imagine the three of them will have made their minds up on what their plans are after this season.
Trent seems to have a relationship with Bellingham at Real Madrid. Would it surprise me if he ends up going there? No.
Would it surprise me if Virgil stayed? No. He is the one of the three I think is most likely to remain because at this moment in time, where is he going to go to get more money and a bigger football club? He is an absolute Rolls Royce who looks like he is playing without even getting into fourth gear.
Would it surprise me if Salah stayed? Slightly. Because I think there would be huge appeal to him, as an Egyptian and a Muslim, in earning astronomical money for the next three or four years in Saudi Arabia, the cradle of Islam and a country which has a maritime border with his own.
The team are now going to get tested, mentally and physically. So, let's see how they cope. Let's see how Arne deals with a few losses and how his demeanour will change – because I guarantee it will change. All of that lies ahead of them. Yes. What a prospect.
Liverpool have concerns as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah's contracts run out at the end of the season
Reds captain Virgil van Dijk (pictured) is also int the final year of his contract at Anfield
In Arne Slot (middle), Liverpool have a manager who for me has been a ten out of ten, in the way he is building relationships with the players
Arne Postecoglou is now not sure about some of his Spurs players after a torrid defeat against Brighton
Tottenham have some thinking to do
When you're 2-0 up at half-time, as Tottenham were at Brighton last weekend, the only dressing room chat is, 'More of the same. Imagine it's 0-0. We can't allow them to score the first goal. We put this to bed by scoring again.' That's bog-standard coach/manager speak.
But the players went out and looked like a different team. It's disturbing, because Arne Postecoglou is now not sure about some of those players. How the ones he thought had a bit about them can go out and throw away a 2-0 lead like that away.
I would suggest that even the very, very best football teams have to adapt the game plan when it's not working. You've got to be able to change the way you play. To think you can out-football and out-score everyone when you don't have the best players, which Tottenham don't, is a tad naive of them.
I'm not putting any blame on the performance at the manager's door. The defeat was totally down to the guys on the pitch. But Spurs have some thinking to do.