Butland out of the squad as he broke a finger in training today. Pickford will now make his England debut against Germany.
Got to feel for Butland, was in line to be our number 1 going into the Euro’s and done his ankle in the friendly against Germany, now a chance to show what he can do, he is out again with another broken bone, just before the Germany game.
Not such a loss for England as we're strong in that position, indeed both Hart and Pickford have been making a lot more saves than either West Ham or Everton would have been expecting!
What I said was that if he was from another country he would probably be called world class because everyone seems to overhype foreign footballers.
Isco, Asensio, Dybala have been turning in performances that Shelvey could only dream of, and none of them are yet classed as World Class.
Dybala has to be close. Ditto Isco. His performance against Italy as a false 9 was a pleasure to watch. When he was taken off I stood up on my living room and gave him a standing ovation.
Just because you haven't heard of foreign players or haven't seen them play doesn't mean they're rubbish (not you VG, the original poster).
Ronaldo Messi Iniesta Kroos Isco Asensio Dybala Insigne Kante Fabregas Sanchez Verratti Neymar Cavani Kane (yes I think he is) Silva De Bruyne Aguero Shelvey
Butland out of the squad as he broke a finger in training today. Pickford will now make his England debut against Germany.
Got to feel for Butland, was in line to be our number 1 going into the Euro’s and done his ankle in the friendly against Germany, now a chance to show what he can do, he is out again with another broken bone, just before the Germany game.
I really don't think he was going to be the number 1 at the Euros. He was competing for the #2 spot.
I think his distribution isn't great, and it's not going to get any better at Stoke. Mark Hughes, with all of the Abu Dhabi money, bought Shay Given, one of the worst kickers of the ball I've seen in the top flight, and someone who never came for crosses.
Pickford still looks dodgy under a high ball, and he made some mistakes playing the ball out at the U-21 Euros. Listening to those who know far more than I do, it sounds like he has bags of potential, and his shot stopping ability is undeniable. But, despite having a lot of flaws, I think it's Joe Hart's to lose. Hart is used to playing in top teams where he's only called upon to make saves 2-3 times a game. Yes, he had a poor year by all accounts at Torino on top of a poor Euros, but he's not a terrible keeper. I think this is the case of grass is greener, which often seems to be the way with England goalkeepers.
Butland out of the squad as he broke a finger in training today. Pickford will now make his England debut against Germany.
Got to feel for Butland, was in line to be our number 1 going into the Euro’s and done his ankle in the friendly against Germany, now a chance to show what he can do, he is out again with another broken bone, just before the Germany game.
I really don't think he was going to be the number 1 at the Euros. He was competing for the #2 spot.
I think his distribution isn't great, and it's not going to get any better at Stoke. Mark Hughes, with all of the Abu Dhabi money, bought Shay Given, one of the worst kickers of the ball I've seen in the top flight, and someone who never came for crosses.
Pickford still looks dodgy under a high ball, and he made some mistakes playing the ball out at the U-21 Euros. Listening to those who know far more than I do, it sounds like he has bags of potential, and his shot stopping ability is undeniable. But, despite having a lot of flaws, I think it's Joe Hart's to lose. Hart is used to playing in top teams where he's only called upon to make saves 2-3 times a game. Yes, he had a poor year by all accounts at Torino on top of a poor Euros, but he's not a terrible keeper. I think this is the case of grass is greener, which often seems to be the way with England goalkeepers.
Not this season though!
Indeed none of the England candidates are in the type of team which will dominate opposition, and concede few chances
Don't know if this will show up but this is who I think Southgate will play tomorrow night. ......... Pickford Keane Stones Gomez Walker Dier (C) Loftus-Cheek Bertrand Lingard Abraham Rashford
Think Rashford and Lingard will have a lot of freedom, Lingard to tuck in and fill the 10 role and Rashford to play as an out-and-out striker at times.
Did read that Joe Hart will be the starter in Goal... Hope not though
Its not because of his form (I do think that when on form; Hart is a great Goalkeeper) yet we know what he can do
Pickford / Gunn on the other hand we dont, play them two in the friendly and especially in Pickford's case, lets see if the Germany performance was a one off
Hope we get to see Cook and Solanke at some point though, be great if Gomez starts!!
Don't know if this will show up but this is who I think Southgate will play tomorrow night. ......... Pickford Keane Stones Gomez Walker Dier (C) Loftus-Cheek Bertrand Lingard Abraham Rashford
Think Rashford and Lingard will have a lot of freedom, Lingard to tuck in and fill the 10 role and Rashford to play as an out-and-out striker at times.
Wouldn’t be surprised if that was the starting XI. Except I think Vardy will be in instead of Abraham. Think Solanke and Cook will get on.
Hart back in. Don't really get it might as well give Pickford more experience.
I think the argument is Southgate has, what 2-3 matches before he has to name a squad for the World Cup? I think he wants players to get used to playing together. And when you look at the three in front of Hart, they've played what, 75 minutes together? I don't think you can blame Southgate for wanting to get both his senior available Keepers used to playing with a back three and with Maguire and Gomez. The fact of the matter is, whether you agree or not, Joe Hart has a very good claim to be the number one and as such needs to get games to prepare himself.
I know we see these friendlies as largely meaningless, but if Southgate is doing his job properly he shouldn't.
I think Vardy and Rashford up front is... Interesting. It's clear Southgate expects them to play on the counter but my concern is the ball will go forward and not stick. And there is still the problem that, in central midfield, I don't know that England have players who can play a killer ball to break teams down. It's more of a problem when teams sit deep, but against Brazil, with their back four and midfield, I expect them to put a lot of pressure on the ball in midfield.
At the moment; Southgate is on a hiding to nothing and cant win whatever he does
I read the other day that he wanted to have mock penalty shootouts at Wembley after a few friendlies next year and people were moaning saying it wouldnt replicate the pressure of a genuine match yet at least he's doing something different to Hodgson / Capello / McClaren / Eriksson by trying something different
Same with the kids; for years people have been saying that the U21s should be given more of a chance and when the U20s / U17s won their respective World Cups there were calls for those players to be given an opportunity; Solanke (top scorer) and Cook (U20 Captain) have now been called up yet fans are now saying that he's handing caps out like sweets and they're not ready... I even like the fact I heard that Phil Foden is potentially being fast-tracked into the U21s which is a brilliant idea; see if he can handle the higher level. If so then maybe get him into the Seniors for a friendly and see again if he can cope with that level - Should he fail at any point then he simply can be put straight back into his natural age group and can progress as normal
I'm very pleased that the first time in my memory that every England player sang the national anthem before the game. If this is something that Southgate has introduced then he deserves full credit.
At the moment; Southgate is on a hiding to nothing and cant win whatever he does
I read the other day that he wanted to have mock penalty shootouts at Wembley after a few friendlies next year and people were moaning saying it wouldnt replicate the pressure of a genuine match yet at least he's doing something different to Hodgson / Capello / McClaren / Eriksson by trying something different
Same with the kids; for years people have been saying that the U21s should be given more of a chance and when the U20s / U17s won their respective World Cups there were calls for those players to be given an opportunity; Solanke (top scorer) and Cook (U20 Captain) have now been called up yet fans are now saying that he's handing caps out like sweets and they're not ready... I even like the fact I heard that Phil Foden is potentially being fast-tracked into the U21s which is a brilliant idea; see if he can handle the higher level. If so then maybe get him into the Seniors for a friendly and see again if he can cope with that level - Should he fail at any point then he simply can be put straight back into his natural age group and can progress as normal
I agree with all of this. I don't understand the hatred toward Southgate ans this notion that he's the worst ever England manager when you have many who have not qualified for tournaments. I know the football hasn't been sexy, but when have England ever played sexy football? And what more can he do now when half his squad pull out injured?
He is trying different formations and different players to try to mimic what will be needed over the course of the tournament. And he can't magically create a deep lying playmaker out of nothing. And he can't make his players go abroad so they learn to play in tight spaces and with their brains instead of the blood and thunder and run around a lot of the Premier League.
He's doing the best with the limited number of players he has, and he is giving caps and call ups to the most talented young players, even if they're not playing regularly or in the Prem. But Loftus-Cheek, Solanke, Gunn, and Cook are all stand out talents. Again, he can't conjure players out of thin air.
I’d like to see Southgate send them out and start really playing at Brazil rather than just letting them, even if we lose why not have a good go and see what we can do.
Comments
Got to feel for Butland, was in line to be our number 1 going into the Euro’s and done his ankle in the friendly against Germany, now a chance to show what he can do, he is out again with another broken bone, just before the Germany game.
Not such a loss for England as we're strong in that position, indeed both Hart and Pickford have been making a lot more saves than either West Ham or Everton would have been expecting!
Just because you haven't heard of foreign players or haven't seen them play doesn't mean they're rubbish (not you VG, the original poster).
I think his distribution isn't great, and it's not going to get any better at Stoke. Mark Hughes, with all of the Abu Dhabi money, bought Shay Given, one of the worst kickers of the ball I've seen in the top flight, and someone who never came for crosses.
Pickford still looks dodgy under a high ball, and he made some mistakes playing the ball out at the U-21 Euros. Listening to those who know far more than I do, it sounds like he has bags of potential, and his shot stopping ability is undeniable. But, despite having a lot of flaws, I think it's Joe Hart's to lose. Hart is used to playing in top teams where he's only called upon to make saves 2-3 times a game. Yes, he had a poor year by all accounts at Torino on top of a poor Euros, but he's not a terrible keeper. I think this is the case of grass is greener, which often seems to be the way with England goalkeepers.
Indeed none of the England candidates are in the type of team which will dominate opposition, and concede few chances
But not good enough for Chelsea.
So next season he gets loaned out to a championship side.
Charlton
Ch...Stoke City
Don't know if this will show up but this is who I think Southgate will play tomorrow night.
......... Pickford
Keane Stones Gomez
Walker Dier (C) Loftus-Cheek Bertrand
Lingard Abraham Rashford
Think Rashford and Lingard will have a lot of freedom, Lingard to tuck in and fill the 10 role and Rashford to play as an out-and-out striker at times.
Its not because of his form (I do think that when on form; Hart is a great Goalkeeper) yet we know what he can do
Pickford / Gunn on the other hand we dont, play them two in the friendly and especially in Pickford's case, lets see if the Germany performance was a one off
Hope we get to see Cook and Solanke at some point though, be great if Gomez starts!!
I know we see these friendlies as largely meaningless, but if Southgate is doing his job properly he shouldn't.
I read the other day that he wanted to have mock penalty shootouts at Wembley after a few friendlies next year and people were moaning saying it wouldnt replicate the pressure of a genuine match yet at least he's doing something different to Hodgson / Capello / McClaren / Eriksson by trying something different
Same with the kids; for years people have been saying that the U21s should be given more of a chance and when the U20s / U17s won their respective World Cups there were calls for those players to be given an opportunity; Solanke (top scorer) and Cook (U20 Captain) have now been called up yet fans are now saying that he's handing caps out like sweets and they're not ready... I even like the fact I heard that Phil Foden is potentially being fast-tracked into the U21s which is a brilliant idea; see if he can handle the higher level. If so then maybe get him into the Seniors for a friendly and see again if he can cope with that level - Should he fail at any point then he simply can be put straight back into his natural age group and can progress as normal
He is trying different formations and different players to try to mimic what will be needed over the course of the tournament. And he can't magically create a deep lying playmaker out of nothing. And he can't make his players go abroad so they learn to play in tight spaces and with their brains instead of the blood and thunder and run around a lot of the Premier League.
He's doing the best with the limited number of players he has, and he is giving caps and call ups to the most talented young players, even if they're not playing regularly or in the Prem. But Loftus-Cheek, Solanke, Gunn, and Cook are all stand out talents. Again, he can't conjure players out of thin air.
Gary Cahill might want to retire from International Football soon as may struggle to get past them and others coming through