"Basically they are in the best 26 footballers and that is why they are in the squad. If I could have picked five or six right-backs I would have done.
It’s this kind of mentality that has dogged England managers over the years. Scared to upset the apple cart by making big calls. The continuation of the Gerrard / Lampard combo that couldn’t work as an example.
I like Southgate but I fear he is too governed by ‘loyalty to the group’. If he is able to, he will hang his hat on the likes of Henderson, Maguire, Sterling even if they are not fully fit or in form. None of them are ‘that’ world class level (Ronaldo, Messi, Mbappe etc) that is worth risking. Only Kane and possibly Foden out of our whole squad are worth taking an inclusion punt on if not fully fit imo.
"Basically they are in the best 26 footballers and that is why they are in the squad. If I could have picked five or six right-backs I would have done.
It’s this kind of mentality that has dogged England managers over the years. Scared to upset the apple cart by making big calls. The continuation of the Gerrard / Lampard combo that couldn’t work as an example.
I like Southgate but I fear he is too governed by ‘loyalty to the group’. If he is able to, he will hang his hat on the likes of Henderson, Maguire, Sterling even if they are not fully fit or in form. None of them are ‘that’ world class level (Ronaldo, Messi, Mbappe etc) that is worth risking. Only Kane and possibly Foden out of our whole squad are worth taking an inclusion punt on if not fully fit imo.
Largely agree but would add Maguire to the list as near enough irreplaceable. We have such poor cover regarding centre backs, the thought of Mings and Coady just makes me shudder. Look how bad United have been without him in their last 4/5 games. I think it was Gnev that said he would be England's biggest loss if he got injured and I am inclined to agree.
Hopefully he will only miss the Croatia game and be back for the rest of the tournament. With the threat of Soucek we definitely will need him.
"Basically they are in the best 26 footballers and that is why they are in the squad. If I could have picked five or six right-backs I would have done.
It’s this kind of mentality that has dogged England managers over the years. Scared to upset the apple cart by making big calls. The continuation of the Gerrard / Lampard combo that couldn’t work as an example.
I like Southgate but I fear he is too governed by ‘loyalty to the group’. If he is able to, he will hang his hat on the likes of Henderson, Maguire, Sterling even if they are not fully fit or in form. None of them are ‘that’ world class level (Ronaldo, Messi, Mbappe etc) that is worth risking. Only Kane and possibly Foden out of our whole squad are worth taking an inclusion punt on if not fully fit imo.
I agree with this. I believe that loyalty in an international manager and indeed football is a weakness. It was interesting to hear Curbs fault himself in club management for being too loyal in the beginning in the Premier League during a Charlton TV discussion. It is a honour and achievement to represent your country and the job of the manager to pick a team that will have the most chance of winning in the moment not based of a year or two ago. You may also have a wealth of talent in one position but it simply means a tougher choice needs to be made.
It’s a 26 man squad. We have 2 players for each position. At right back, we have 3 plus Walker who can play both right back and right centre back.
It’s hardly huge news, or that big a call, especially as all 4 would get in any other squad in the tournament.
If he wants to pick the best 26 players to keep the level of football constantly at its highest, whether that’s in a match or just daily training, then he gets my support.
It’s not like we are short on other positions at the expense of an additional right back.
Southgates biggest test is his ability to make changes at crucial times during games. He tends to sit and wait for things to happen before reacting, especially with substitutions. Time to be proactive rather than reactive Gareth.
It’s a 26 man squad. We have 2 players for each position. At right back, we have 3 plus Walker who can play both right back and right centre back.
It’s hardly huge news, or that big a call, especially as all 4 would get in any other squad in the tournament.
If he wants to pick the best 26 players to keep the level of football constantly at its highest, whether that’s in a match or just daily training, then he gets my support.
It’s not like we are short on other positions at the expense of an additional right back.
What about up front? Watkins, Bamford, Ings all excluded?
It’s a 26 man squad. We have 2 players for each position. At right back, we have 3 plus Walker who can play both right back and right centre back.
It’s hardly huge news, or that big a call, especially as all 4 would get in any other squad in the tournament.
If he wants to pick the best 26 players to keep the level of football constantly at its highest, whether that’s in a match or just daily training, then he gets my support.
It’s not like we are short on other positions at the expense of an additional right back.
What about up front? Watkins, Bamford, Ings all excluded?
And arguably none are international tournament level. We also have Kane, DCL, Rashford, Sterling who have all played through the middle for their clubs this season.
It’s a 26 man squad. We have 2 players for each position. At right back, we have 3 plus Walker who can play both right back and right centre back.
It’s hardly huge news, or that big a call, especially as all 4 would get in any other squad in the tournament.
If he wants to pick the best 26 players to keep the level of football constantly at its highest, whether that’s in a match or just daily training, then he gets my support.
It’s not like we are short on other positions at the expense of an additional right back.
What about up front? Watkins, Bamford, Ings all excluded?
And arguably none are international tournament level. We also have Kane, DCL, Rashford, Sterling who have all played through the middle for their clubs this season.
Fair points, although personally I'd still like a third out and out striker, especially as Sterling is pretty poor through the middle, Rashford can certainly play there. You made the point about a 26 man squad being 2 players for every position plus 4 extra. One is always a goalkeeper so seems mental that two of the other three are right-backs. I think it's the wrong call but I also agree it's not the end of the world given the squad is larger than normal.
It’s a 26 man squad. We have 2 players for each position. At right back, we have 3 plus Walker who can play both right back and right centre back.
It’s hardly huge news, or that big a call, especially as all 4 would get in any other squad in the tournament.
If he wants to pick the best 26 players to keep the level of football constantly at its highest, whether that’s in a match or just daily training, then he gets my support.
It’s not like we are short on other positions at the expense of an additional right back.
Southgates biggest test is his ability to make changes at crucial times during games. He tends to sit and wait for things to happen before reacting, especially with substitutions. Time to be proactive rather than reactive Gareth.
4 centre backs including an injured Maguire.
5 midfielders for potentially 3 positions including an injured Henderson.
We don't need all 4 right backs, even if we play Walker as a 3rd centre back, 2 of Tripper, TAA & James would have covered RWB fine.
It’s a 26 man squad. We have 2 players for each position. At right back, we have 3 plus Walker who can play both right back and right centre back.
It’s hardly huge news, or that big a call, especially as all 4 would get in any other squad in the tournament.
If he wants to pick the best 26 players to keep the level of football constantly at its highest, whether that’s in a match or just daily training, then he gets my support.
It’s not like we are short on other positions at the expense of an additional right back.
Southgates biggest test is his ability to make changes at crucial times during games. He tends to sit and wait for things to happen before reacting, especially with substitutions. Time to be proactive rather than reactive Gareth.
4 centre backs including an injured Maguire.
5 midfielders for potentially 3 positions including an injured Henderson.
We don't need all 4 right backs, even if we play Walker as a 3rd centre back, 2 of Tripper, TAA & James would have covered RWB fine.
Henderson, Philips, Rice, Mount, Bellingham, Foden, Grealish can all play in the middle of the park. So if we have 3, that’s two for each position.
What’s your starting 11 for the opening game @ValleyGary ?
Apologies if already posted
My personal choice would be;
Pickford James Maguire Stones Shaw Belligham Rice Mount Sancho Kane Foden
Exact XI I would pick too
Chilwell over Shaw for me. I thought Shaw was outstanding earlier in the season, but think Chilwell's end of season form books his spot in the team. Not sure I'd go Bellingham either (admittedly haven't seen much of him) but think it's a tournament too early for him to start regularly. Having said that, with Henderson unfit it might give him the spot, but I'd go:
Pickford James Stones Maguire Chilwell Rice Mount Sancho Foden Grealish Kane
What’s your starting 11 for the opening game @ValleyGary ?
Apologies if already posted
My personal choice would be;
Pickford James Maguire Stones Shaw Belligham Rice Mount Sancho Kane Foden
This would also be mine, bar Walker for James but splitting hairs really, both are great.
I feel if Maguire is fit for Croatia we will play 433 and it will look like this:
Pickford Walker Stones Maguire Shaw Phillips Rice Mount Sterling Kane Foden
I don't think that is our strongest line up and agree with @ValleyGary but just what I see Southgate doing and probably the best we can hope for.
I know there is little choice but do you think I can get odds anywhere on how many goals England will concede by losing the ball whilst our CB's are trying to show how great they are on the ball lol
Would be perfect coming on with 30 minutes to go against tired players with us needing a goal.
Foden/Bellingham/Sancho/Mount/Kane are the players that over 90 minutes are England's best attacking players.
Sterling and Rashford's forms this season have been poor, they can't be trusted to be thrown in and expect to suddenly find their form again. 4 poor games 'finding their form' and we're out already.
Centre back is definitely the weakest part of our squad, and I do hope Maguire and Stones can stay fit. Mings and Coady arent the greatest depth wise, but Walker can play in a 3 and I’m pretty sure Declan Rice is a decent centre back in an absolute emergency.
Just shows you how much bollocks the press run with, Southgate said he told TAA 3 weeks ago that he'd be in the finals squad, yet all we've heard over the past few days is how he would be axed.
It’s a 26 man squad. We have 2 players for each position. At right back, we have 3 plus Walker who can play both right back and right centre back.
It’s hardly huge news, or that big a call, especially as all 4 would get in any other squad in the tournament.
If he wants to pick the best 26 players to keep the level of football constantly at its highest, whether that’s in a match or just daily training, then he gets my support.
It’s not like we are short on other positions at the expense of an additional right back.
Southgates biggest test is his ability to make changes at crucial times during games. He tends to sit and wait for things to happen before reacting, especially with substitutions. Time to be proactive rather than reactive Gareth.
4 centre backs including an injured Maguire.
5 midfielders for potentially 3 positions including an injured Henderson.
We don't need all 4 right backs, even if we play Walker as a 3rd centre back, 2 of Tripper, TAA & James would have covered RWB fine.
Henderson, Philips, Rice, Mount, Bellingham, Foden, Grealish can all play in the middle of the park. So if we have 3, that’s two for each position.
I tend to agree, but the fact they named Grealish as part of the forwards makes me think Southgate considers him part of the top 3 not the middle 3.
I'd love us to play Grealish on the left of the middle 3 and Foden further forward, think they could play some really good football.
It’s a 26 man squad. We have 2 players for each position. At right back, we have 3 plus Walker who can play both right back and right centre back.
It’s hardly huge news, or that big a call, especially as all 4 would get in any other squad in the tournament.
If he wants to pick the best 26 players to keep the level of football constantly at its highest, whether that’s in a match or just daily training, then he gets my support.
It’s not like we are short on other positions at the expense of an additional right back.
Southgates biggest test is his ability to make changes at crucial times during games. He tends to sit and wait for things to happen before reacting, especially with substitutions. Time to be proactive rather than reactive Gareth.
4 centre backs including an injured Maguire.
5 midfielders for potentially 3 positions including an injured Henderson.
We don't need all 4 right backs, even if we play Walker as a 3rd centre back, 2 of Tripper, TAA & James would have covered RWB fine.
If Maguire is fit then it's not an issue. If Maguire isn't fit then I don't think there's much chance of us playing four at the back, so Walker and James become centre back options in a three and that takes us up to 5 available CBs. Coady only ever really plays in a 3 so he's there to provide some depth in those circumstances as well, otherwise it's Stones and Maguire together as long as we're playing a 4
Just shows you how much bollocks the press run with, Southgate said he told TAA 3 weeks ago that he'd be in the finals squad, yet all we've heard over the past few days is how he would be axed.
Hopefully its a good sign of how little is getting leaked to the press within the current setup meaning there is less chance of more important information being in the papers when we get towards the games themselves.
Just shows you how much bollocks the press run with, Southgate said he told TAA 3 weeks ago that he'd be in the finals squad, yet all we've heard over the past few days is how he would be axed.
Hopefully its a good sign of how little is getting leaked to the press within the current setup meaning there is less chance of more important information being in the papers when we get towards the games themselves.
What’s your starting 11 for the opening game @ValleyGary ?
Apologies if already posted
My personal choice would be;
Pickford James Maguire Stones Shaw Belligham Rice Mount Sancho Kane Foden
Exact XI I would pick too
Grealish for Bellingham for me.
Every day of the week.
Can’t play Grealish in midfield alongside Mount and Rice, it would leave us too exposed. Bellingham is excellent defensively and has got the ability to pick the ball up deep and get us going.
Comments
Hopefully he will only miss the Croatia game and be back for the rest of the tournament. With the threat of Soucek we definitely will need him.
It’s not like we are short on other positions at the expense of an additional right back.
Apologies if already posted
Pickford
James Maguire Stones Shaw
Belligham Rice Mount
Sancho Kane Foden
5 midfielders for potentially 3 positions including an injured Henderson.
We don't need all 4 right backs, even if we play Walker as a 3rd centre back, 2 of Tripper, TAA & James would have covered RWB fine.
Pickford
James Stones Maguire Chilwell
Rice
Mount
Sancho Foden Grealish
Kane
17 and he’s already one our Top 3 or 4 midfielders.
I feel if Maguire is fit for Croatia we will play 433 and it will look like this:
Pickford
Walker Stones Maguire Shaw
Phillips Rice Mount
Sterling Kane Foden
I don't think that is our strongest line up and agree with @ValleyGary but just what I see Southgate doing and probably the best we can hope for.
Would be perfect coming on with 30 minutes to go against tired players with us needing a goal.
Foden/Bellingham/Sancho/Mount/Kane are the players that over 90 minutes are England's best attacking players.
Sterling and Rashford's forms this season have been poor, they can't be trusted to be thrown in and expect to suddenly find their form again. 4 poor games 'finding their form' and we're out already.
I'd love us to play Grealish on the left of the middle 3 and Foden further forward, think they could play some really good football.
I’d love to see Bellingham play. Unbelievable player and more than ready.