England Squad

[Super]

[glynriley]

3 minutes ago, Super said:

No Nick Pope? Good to see Eze given a chance, been playing well. Ollie Watkins can consider himself unlucky though.

 

Edited May 24, 2023 by glynriley

[wayne allisons tongues]

Nice to see our ex loan player Lewis Dunk get a call up.

[Super]

1 minute ago, glynriley said:

No Nick Pope? Good to see Eze given a chance, been playing well. Ollie Watkins can consider himself unlucky though.

 

I guess it came down to Wilson or Watkins must of been close though. Agree on Eze and Pope.

[Ian M]

Still think it’s harsh that Tomori seemingly can’t get a look in.

[Super]

Just now, Ian M said:

Still think it’s harsh that Tomori seemingly can’t get a look in.

His audition was the CL semi final. Sadly he was shocking.

[Betty Swallocks]

7 minutes ago, Super said:

His audition was the CL semi final. Sadly he was shocking.

Yep, completely fluffed his lines.

[The Coach]

Maguire still in….

Glad to see Dunk however. 

[Ecko]

Conor Gallagher too...should be no where near the squad. 

I would had chosen Gibbs-White over him.

[hinsleburg]

I think Eze is quality and glad to see him in.

Sadly though, all I can think about every time I hear or see his name is Adam Nagy tracking him half the length of the pitch and making an unbelievable challenge on his home debut, thought we had a star. Sadly he did his ankle doing it and the rest is history... 

[!james]

46 minutes ago, glynriley said:

No Nick Pope? Good to see Eze given a chance, been playing well. Ollie Watkins can consider himself unlucky though.

 

Nick Pope having surgery on his finger apparently so not available 

[TonyTonyTony]

Christ. Imagine being flogged to death all season, and then have to play Malta and North Macedonia. 

[Numero Uno]

Pickford has never let England down. The other two keepers are not as good as Nick Pope imo. Look at him on Tuesday, literally NOTHING to do for 90 minutes then makes a top class save in injury time. Isn't that what top keepers are supposed to do? On current form I would probably have left Ramsdale out, comes across as a bit fur coat and no knickers at the present time compared to three keepers actively earning their clubs points recently.

Eze was a good pick. Can someone tell me what trees Conor Gallagher has pulled up to earn a call-up in the last three months? As somebody said earlier there is a lad at Forest who has been making a difference for months and has made a huge impact in keeping his side up (Gibbs-White). Similarly Maddison, from what limited amount I've seen. all he's contributed recently is to go missing in massive games that have mattered to his club?

Otherwise it's bog standard selection.

Edited May 24, 2023 by Numero Uno

[Numero Uno]

7 minutes ago, !james said:

Nick Pope having surgery on his finger apparently so not available 

I thought him being left out was a strange selection....................................in that case, no other keepers you can pick tbf.

[Super]

[Numero Uno]

3 minutes ago, TonyTonyTony said:

Christ. Imagine being flogged to death all season, and then have to play Malta and North Macedonia. 

Italy found out that if you don't take them seriously enough North Macedonia can cause you some right problems..........

[Open End Numb Legs]

12 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

Italy found out that if you don't take them seriously enough North Macedonia can cause you some right problems..........

You are right of course but perhaps the post you replied to was more about the 'being flogged all season' bit than the opposition. Yes, I know it is your country etc, but I think everyone deserves a proper break.

[Numero Uno]

10 minutes ago, Percy Pig said:

He's not very good. 

Have you seen enough of him to know he's not very good or seen him have a bad game and decided he's no good? Big difference........I could make a case for every single player in the world being shite if it's the latter criteria being applied!!

[Numero Uno]

3 minutes ago, Open End Numb Legs said:

You are right of course but perhaps the post you replied to was more about the 'being flogged all season' bit than the opposition. Yes, I know it is your country etc, but I think everyone deserves a proper break.

Couldn't agree more. These lads should be sat round a pool for weeks on end doing sod all (that said they would still be in a gym somewhere making sure they hit pre-season at their target weight) but whilst there is International Football it will never happen.

[The Coach]

30 minutes ago, Jimbo123 said:

When has Maguire ever performed poorly for England?

Why would he not be in?

But he has? Also has one of the best centre backs in the world covering his arse in John Stones.

What message does this send out to other hopefuls who are having a good season? Sorry lads, Maguire will still be getting picked even though he’s shite and doesn’t even play for United.

[grifty]

46 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

Pickford has never let England down. The other two keepers are not as good as Nick Pope imo. Look at him on Tuesday, literally NOTHING to do for 90 minutes then makes a top class save in injury time. Isn't that what top keepers are supposed to do? On current form I would probably have left Ramsdale out, comes across as a bit fur coat and no knickers at the present time compared to three keepers actively earning their clubs points recently.

Eze was a good pick. Can someone tell me what trees Conor Gallagher has pulled up to earn a call-up in the last three months? As somebody said earlier there is a lad at Forest who has been making a difference for months and has made a huge impact in keeping his side up (Gibbs-White). Similarly Maddison, from what limited amount I've seen. all he's contributed recently is to go missing in massive games that have mattered to his club?

Otherwise it's bog standard selection.

So you would put in Pope (who is having surgery) and Morgan Gibbs White (who is in the u21 squad)?

[TonyTonyTony]

41 minutes ago, Percy Pig said:

He's not very good. 

He is at one of the biggest clubs in the world, got to the CL Champions league SF and has been given huge praise by Paulo Maldini and he is not very good?

You sure about that?

[supercidered]

1 hour ago, Ecko said:

Conor Gallagher too...should be no where near the squad. 

I would had chosen Gibbs-White over him.

Gibbs-White seems to be a bit of penis though (you can choose your own bit).

Plus, I think U21's is about his level at present.

[Numero Uno]

1 minute ago, grifty said:

So you would put in Pope (who is having surgery) and Morgan Gibbs White (who is in the u21 squad)?

It might surprise you to know that I didn't realise Pope was having surgery although my next response one or two replies further down would have made that fairly clear. But to answer your question, Nah, if I knew Pope was having surgery on his finger I wouldn't put him in. If you think about it for a second, the pain he might be in and the recovery time required just wouldn't allow him to train and play properly. It would be very dangerous to train and play whilst having surgery in my opinion and hopefully that alleviates any worries you might have had. However, I'd definitely pick Gibbs White over Maddison for the full squad on both current form and where his head is likely to be at all day long right now, 100%, not even a discussion for me.

[Numero Uno]

1 minute ago, supercidered said:

Gibbs-White seems to be a bit of penis though (you can choose your own bit).

Plus, I think U21's is about his level at present.

I don't know how much of a cock the kid is but if he is then he's a "cock bang in form" and a game like Malta might have been a good place to have a little look at him. Both Gallagher and Maddison for me are not playing close to the level of Morgan Gibbs-White over the last three months. One thing he very much seems to be, and I'm looking at Maddison in comparison here, is a team player.

[Betty Swallocks]

4 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

It might surprise you to know that I didn't realise Pope was having surgery although my next response one or two replies further down would have made that fairly clear. But to answer your question, Nah, if I knew Pope was having surgery on his finger I wouldn't put him in. If you think about it for a second, the pain he might be in and the recovery time required just wouldn't allow him to train and play properly. It would be very dangerous to train and play whilst having surgery in my opinion and hopefully that alleviates any worries you might have had. However, I'd definitely pick Gibbs White over Maddison for the full squad on both current form and where his head is likely to be at all day long right now, 100%, not even a discussion for me.

Surely you’d allow the under 21’s captain the honour of being able to captain his side at a tournament? 
 

We have enough strength in that area to allow MGW to experience tournament football rather than getting minimal minutes for the senior team. 

[supercidered]

2 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

I don't know how much of a cock the kid is but if he is then he's a "cock bang in form" and a game like Malta might have been a good place to have a little look at him. Both Gallagher and Maddison for me are not playing close to the level of Morgan Gibbs-White over the last three months. One thing he very much seems to be, and I'm looking at Maddison in comparison here, is a team player.

After I posted my comment I thought, hang on a minute. If one of the measures of picking a player was how much of a cock a player is then the squad would be very depleted. I have seen him play quite a bit but regardless of his cockness he just doesn't seem to be at the right level yet. I'd be very happy to be proved wrong though.

[Numero Uno]

Just now, Betty Swallocks said:

Surely you’d allow the under 21’s captain the honour of being able to captain his side at a tournament? 
 

We have enough strength in that area to allow MGW to experience tournament football rather than getting minimal minutes for the senior team. 

Perhaps it's one where you ask the lad what he wants to do. I'm not raging about it but on current form he's definitely the best of the three lads in question imo. However, very fair point about captaining the side in tournament football, we do seem to have a number of lads coming through the young age groups who have experienced and won tournaments, let's see if it translates into the Senior team over the next 10 years.

[Numero Uno]

Just now, supercidered said:

After I posted my comment I thought, hang on a minute. If one of the measures of picking a player was how much of a cock a player is then the squad would be very depleted. I have seen him play quite a bit but regardless of his cockness he just doesn't seem to be at the right level yet. I'd be very happy to be proved wrong though.

Very true!! I think he's been in very good form for a good few months now. He was immense against Arsenal. Like I said it's not something to get too emotional about, I just think Gallagher and Maddison are very lucky to be there.

[LondonBristolian]

I think the major argument for his inclusion in the U-21s for me is that I don't reckon he gets in the team ahead of Bellingham and Rice and so might not be included much. Malta and North Macedonia may not be the two greatest teams in the world but these are competitive international fixtures early in a qualifying team and so you'd hope we'd pick our best of teams. White-Gibbs is certainly a prospect but - almost irrespective of what he wants - it has to be better for his development to play a key role in a tournament level competition than cameo off the pitch in a couple of games at a point in the season when everyone's going to be a bit knackered and jaded going into the training sessions. Hopefully he can have a great swansong for the U-21s during the Euros and come into contention for the senior squad from the beginning of next season. 

[grifty]

25 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

It might surprise you to know that I didn't realise Pope was having surgery although my next response one or two replies further down would have made that fairly clear. But to answer your question, Nah, if I knew Pope was having surgery on his finger I wouldn't put him in. If you think about it for a second, the pain he might be in and the recovery time required just wouldn't allow him to train and play properly. It would be very dangerous to train and play whilst having surgery in my opinion and hopefully that alleviates any worries you might have had. However, I'd definitely pick Gibbs White over Maddison for the full squad on both current form and where his head is likely to be at all day long right now, 100%, not even a discussion for me.

I do feel better now

I agree about Gallagher but I think Maddison is the sort of player who plays better with better players around him.

Ive watched quite a few Leicester games this season and his general ball skills (oo err) is as good as anyone but playing in an under performing (relegation threatened) team means his output hasn’t been as high as it should be.

If MGW is captain of the under 21s, leave him there to play that rather than be on the bench for these two games. That may happen to Maddison anyway!

[Guest]

No re-call for Ben White then 

[LondonBristolian]

3 minutes ago, Jimbo123 said:

When? What games has Maguire let England down in?

What message would it send out to the squad if Southgate was to make 10 changes to the squad every 3 months and just picked it on that stretch of games, like some people seem to suggest should be happening?

It's ridiculous, we're having this period where we're so strong internationally because of continuity of team selection and players continuing to perform at a high level in an England shirt.

I think that's a bit of a straw man argument. That's not what most people who are questioning Maguire's selection are saying. The reality is that he's barely featured at club level this season and hasn't had a good spell at club level for 2 or 3 years. You're absolutely right that he hasn't let England down at international level and that has to be a serious consideration but there is a valid question about how long someone who is not playing or not playing well for a sustained period of time at club level should remain in contention. Ultimately Dele Alli never let England down either but was ultimately dropped for poor club form and is now nowhere near consideration. 

I really hope Maguire moves over the summer to somewhere where he can play regularly and play well and that solves the problem. But, if he stays at Utd and stays 5th choice, would we all be comfortable with someone frozen out of their first team at club level for two years being a first choice defender at a major tournament. And what options will we have unless we test some? 

[Numero Uno]

9 minutes ago, Jimbo123 said:

When? What games has Maguire let England down in?

What message would it send out to the squad if Southgate was to make 10 changes to the squad every 3 months and just picked it on that stretch of games, like some people seem to suggest should be happening?

It's ridiculous, we're having this period where we're so strong internationally because of continuity of team selection and players continuing to perform at a high level in an England shirt.

No, that isn't what is being suggested. That's a massive exaggeration to say the least. The bulk of the squad picks itself simply because they are the best players and/or they have not let England down in the past (think Pickford and Maguire). However there are always spots up for grabs in every squad and there are two players who are very lucky to be there in my view, Gallagher and Maddison, who are fringe players anyway when everyone is fit. That is the discussion some of us are having rather than suggesting the WHOLE SQUAD gets picked on 12 weekly form charts...........

[Numero Uno]

4 minutes ago, LoyalRed said:

No re-call for Ben White then 

Would be interesting to know what his spat with Phil Foden was about...................

[Red Skin]

1 hour ago, Numero Uno said:

Would be interesting to know what his spat with Phil Foden was about...................

Wasn't it with one of the coaches?  

[chinapig]

28 minutes ago, Red Skin said:

Wasn't it with one of the coaches?  

It was alleged that he refused to study the videos he was given as part of the squad's match preparation so he was sent home.

[Numero Uno]

55 minutes ago, Red Skin said:

Wasn't it with one of the coaches?  

He had a spat with Foden after Man City gubbed Arsenal the other week........

[redkev]

3 hours ago, Jimbo123 said:

When has Maguire ever performed poorly for England?

Why would he not be in?

It is a wired one , awful for Man U when he does play , but put him in an England shirt and he’s a different player , do think in these games though time to experiment, I would play Dunk alongside stones myself

[redkev]

2 hours ago, LoyalRed said:

No re-call for Ben White then 

Didn’t realise there was some friction in the camp between him and ? ( I don’t know ) thought he came home for so called family problems 

[Guest]

18 minutes ago, redkev said:

Didn’t realise there was some friction in the camp between him and ? ( I don’t know ) thought he came home for so called family problems 

Do you buy that ? He’s not been picked.  

[E.G.Red]

5 hours ago, Super said:

I guess it came down to Wilson or Watkins must of been close though. Agree on Eze and Pope.

Don't know what Ollie Watkins has done , not to get in the team. Thought it would have been the ideal suite of games. Gareth is always saying he picks players on form but obviously not in Watkins case.

[redkev]

30 minutes ago, LoyalRed said:

Do you buy that ? He’s not been picked.  

Don’t know just seemed all a bit strange at the time . Then when Man City beat Arsenal white & foden kicked off with each other at the end of the game , 

[The Bard]

3 hours ago, LoyalRed said:

No re-call for Ben White then 

No.  He's not good enough when you compare him to the other right backs 

[The Bard]

2 minutes ago, E.G.Red said:

Don't know what Ollie Watkins has done , not to get in the team. Thought it would have been the ideal suite of games. Gareth is always saying he picks players on form but obviously not in Watkins case.

He hasn't scored for 6 games  and Wilson has scored 7 in the last 6.

More utter rubbish aimed at Southgate.  

6 hours ago, Ian M said:

Still think it’s harsh that Tomori seemingly can’t get a look in.

Didn't watch him play for Milan in Europe then?  

[Super]

36 minutes ago, E.G.Red said:

Don't know what Ollie Watkins has done , not to get in the team. Thought it would have been the ideal suite of games. Gareth is always saying he picks players on form but obviously not in Watkins case.

Wilson isn't in bad form either.

[E.G.Red]

36 minutes ago, The Bard said:

He hasn't scored for 6 games  and Wilson has scored 7 in the last 6.

More utter rubbish aimed at Southgate.  

Didn't watch him play for Milan in Europe then?  

I'm not giving a pop at Southgate  just saying I think he could have given others such as,Watkins a chance rather than playing the tried and tested. We know what the vast majority of the team can do so let's see some of the others. 

Edited May 24, 2023 by E.G.Red

[OutstandingMixer]

19 minutes ago, Percy Pig said:

It's this kind of nonsense that Southgate has put an end to. Caps given to "see" someone. David Nugent, Michael Ricketts, Joey Barton and Jimmy Bullard all got call ups in previous years and it was a joke.

Consistent selections that build a cohesive team and unit. That has been our strength and one of the key reasons we have experienced our best results in tournaments for generations under him. 

[Lrrr]

47 minutes ago, Percy Pig said:

It's this kind of nonsense that Southgate has put an end to. Caps given to "see" someone. David Nugent, Michael Ricketts, Joey Barton and Jimmy Bullard all got call ups in previous years and it was a joke.

Consistent selections that build a cohesive team and unit. That has been our strength and one of the key reasons we have experienced our best results in tournaments for generations under him. 

Consistency is one thing however for me you still need to earn your place, how does Kalvin Phillips earn a place based off 519 minutes for Man City in all competitions?

[Ian M]

1 hour ago, The Bard said:

He hasn't scored for 6 games  and Wilson has scored 7 in the last 6.

More utter rubbish aimed at Southgate.  

Didn't watch him play for Milan in Europe then?  

Fair play to the other 10 Milan players then, carrying Tomori to last year’s Scudetto and this year’s CL semi final whilst none of his rivals for a place in the squad have ever made a mistake or had a bad game. I am now fully converted to him never being selected for an England squad and retract my earlier comment.

[Davefevs]

14 minutes ago, Lrrr said:

Consistency is one thing however for me you still need to earn your place, how does Kalvin Phillips earn a place based off 519 minutes for Man City in all competitions?

I think he’s tried to create a “club squad” at international level, so he knows who is good enough imho, and in the main promotes from u21s.

[Lrrr]

5 minutes ago, Percy Pig said:

Because he's been excellent for England for several years? 

Anyway, the midfielders being selected now are merely keeping the seat warm for Alex when he breaks into the team. Him, Bellingham and Rice are bringing football home. 

'Excellent' ..... Really? Wouldn't agree there

 

4 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I think he’s tried to create a “club squad” at international level, so he knows who is good enough imho, and in the main promotes from u21s.

I think you've got multiple players in that squad already who can do the role that Phillips is there for when he actually gets on the pitch so personally see little point in him being there when he's not justifying his spot at club level.

[Harry]

7 hours ago, Super said:

Oliver Skipp. 
Under 21’s!! 
Jeez - I didn’t realise he still qualified. He looks like he’s about 35! 

[RUSSEL85]

19 minutes ago, Harry said:

Oliver Skipp. 
Under 21’s!! 
Jeez - I didn’t realise he still qualified. He looks like he’s about 35! 

Playing for Spurs at present can’t blame the lad  

[Numero Uno]

14 hours ago, Harry said:

Oliver Skipp. 
Under 21’s!! 
Jeez - I didn’t realise he still qualified. He looks like he’s about 35! 

It's no wonder the lad has aged though!! Young lad stuck in Tottenham's midfield and left to get on with it pretty much by himself by "Senior Pro's" who are then also happy to step aside when the kid to takes most of the flak from fans.

[LondonBristolian]

4 hours ago, Jimbo123 said:

Alli's a completely different situation as we have a number of international class players in that position, Maguire's one is different as it's quite comfortably our weakest position.

I think Colwill will come through and make the position his own to be honest, but as of now he has 11 PL starts in his career so it's not realistic to be trying to get him ready for a European Championships that we're favourites to win in 12 months time.

 

But I think that's the exact problem. We're potentially going to be at a point where we go to the European Championships with a central defender who has not played for two years and we've not developed or tested the alternatives. Favourites or not, that's a massively risky position.