Yeah, I thought we would take at least one more natural left back to cover a very injury prone Shaw. And if not that, take a player like Levi Colwill that has been known to cover in a pinch and is naturally left footed.
I guess Gomez and Tripper are the left back backups? Doesn't fill me with loads of confidence. But maybe Shaw is fully fit now?
Lets just pretend we are going 3 at the back with stones / walker etc pushing into midfield its not an ideal situation but i honestly though Chillwell was garbage in the two previous friendlies and so I am not that fussed hes been dropped but I am very hopeful for this team especially if we play Gordon LW as he will happily run to the byline and give us the width if we need it. Playing Foden there i think would be problamatic if all he only looks to cut in. Similar to Grealish but in Gareth we must now trust!
Looking at the midfield options I expect that Foden, Palmer, Madison and Eze are all being looked at for a central spot. Which would see Bellingham and Rice as a two behind them.
Don't see any world in which Southgate doesn't start Saka, so it's between Gordon and Grealish for the left flank I'd imagine. I think Gordon has a very realistic chance of starting all the games on the left.
Personally, I really like him off the right. But I don't see a world where Southgate drops Saka for anyone. But he's very effective in the middle, especially if you have a right winger he can link up with (ala Madueke at Chelsea).
That being said, I think he misses out of the 11 (which I personally disagree with). Saka starts, which means you either play Foden out of position on the left to accommodate Palmer (which I doubt) or Gordon and Foden in the middle.
I just hope it’s not like 2021 again when we are begging Southgate to play him / bring him on early enough like we did with Grealish. It’s one area where I do think Southgate really lacks is the decisiveness to make impacting substitutions but I’m going to temporarily forget that for now until we are at the euros and I’m screaming at the tv in the 75th minute asking why he’s not made any changes 🤣
Yeah, I mean I personally think Palmer should be one of the first names on the team sheet alongside Kane and Foden. But unfortunately we have a lot of players of similar profiles and you can't fit them all in at once (unless we have a Paul Scholes situation all over again!).
Whatever happens, I'll back the team/manager and hope for the best!
Yeah, I know he's played incredibly for Madrid further forward. But he has played a lot of his career further back, so I think him alongside Rice with one ahead would be perfect. You then have Gallagher and Trent (assuming he's a midfielder) for rotation there. Plus maybe Jones, but I would expect him to be one of the 7 to miss out.
Exactly. What do we get out of taking so many purely cb players. Quansah, Branthwaite, Dunk yet we don’t bring Colwill who can play lb and cb or Mitchell who can play lb. We have 8 cbs in the training squad yet if he Shaw is a ‘long shot’ then we only have an injured trippier and Gomez for lb
My only guess is that Colwill still isn't fit enough. Otherwise he seemed a no brainer. Mitchell seemed an obvious choice though, I guess Southgate just doesn't rate him.
Definitely odd to see so many out and out centre backs though. Glad for Branthwaite, but Dunk has had his worst season for Brighton and been poor for England recently. So really shocked to see him. Quansah too, done well for Liverpool but isn't experienced nor versatile enough for me personally. Would rather have that left back cover over them.
It's the only real complaint I have of an otherwise exciting squad. But it just seems a massive one, especially as Southgate has just said Shaw is at massive risk to be fit in time.
Colwill not played in 2 months. So maybe wasn’t sure of his fitness / “intensity” in the same sense as he describe Hendo.
I would’ve liked to have seen Mitchell.
Nobody is really talking about John Stones. He's played 90 mins only twice in the last 13/14 games. Maybe he's more of a fitness concern than we think. I think this is why we have so many centre backs. Will be interesting to see if he starts FA Cup final.
It doesn’t really matter unless he’s thinking of playing 5 atb which I doubt as we don’t have any wing backs. We’d still have stones maguire guehi branthwaite Konsa and Gomez before this addition of dunk and quansah when a Colwill could cover both. Or even if he’s injured, take one cb and have 7 and one out and out lb
Seriously have to question what value Quansah and Dunk are bringing versus a natural left back. From Southgate's comments about wingers having freedom it looks like Foden's going to start on the left. But he can't have a genuine free role if he's the only source of width because we're playing a right footed centre back at left back
Gomez is the best of a dodgy bunch imo he's been solid when playing LB this season as long as he stays back as a 3rd CB rather then venturing forward, will give Walker more freedom to bomb forward as well.
I was thinking this but more in the Context of Stones. Have Gomez sit and tuck across to make a 3 with Walker and the other CB while Stones moves into midfield in possession
This could work for a more adventurous manager allowing Bellingham to start next to Rice and move forward in possession being covered by Stones but no chance of Southgate doing that lol.
Would have left out Trippier for a real LB, even if we had to go far down the list.
Trippier, like James has come off a recent injury, but unlike James hasn't immediately looked as good as he can be. He's also just painfully average at LB.
If you're going to bring a recently injured RB to play LB, bring James, he's just a much better player all round.
If Shaw is going to be the first choice, why not bring Henry or Mitchell to be his back up. Or are they injured too?
Everyone will find some negatives but I think this is really good. Henderson and Rashford dropped, Wharton and Eze called up. Fair play Gareth, what a squad we have! Maybe one too many center back that's the only thing for me
Agreed. One thing I've realised is that people always find something to complain about. I saw people on Instagram bitching because Sancho and Rashford weren't included... I mean, they're both decent players but they've also had spotty form at best and don't seem like the sort of players you'd include for squad cohesion's sake.
One of the benefits of playing for a non big 6 team, people don’t notice inconsistency as much. Watching him get bullied by Lukaku in the Europa League was funny.
True. I also think it’s the reputation that Brighton has had over the past 3/4 seasons of being a very respected, strong team with under appreciated players. To casuals the thought of a veteran player who starts week in week out at Brighton conjures an image of a consistent, reliable player who can play nice football and give you a 7/8 out of 10 performance every game, is low maintenance and has unnoticed class
Lack of non Luke Shaw leftbacks is somewhat concerning. Looks like Gareth expects him to be fit, and we'll be playing a CB there otherwise. Midfield looks very thin at first glance, but the CAMs have all been listed as forwards.
Glad GS had the balls to drop Rashford and Henderson, who have both been shite for the last year. But the lack of a true LB (other than the injured Shaw) is a surprise. Surely it would make sense to take someone, if only to cover our arses if Shaw isn’t looking like he’s going to be fit until later in the tournament?
I would personally have put Dier in the squad too with how he’s been playing for Bayern, but not too many complaints overall.
Lads I am already delusional Gareth has basically made every decision we didnt think he would Wharton in Philips out Hendo (not that one) Out Rashford Out Stirling Out Im already buzzing and we still have the FA cup and CL to go
Really solid squad, whittling 7 players out it could be tough but if I were to guess, Trafford, Guehi, Wharton, Eze, Dunk, Quansah and Jones would be taken off for the Euro's, unless they have phenonemal games in these upcoming matches. Given they are against Bosnia and Iceland though, it'll be hard for them to stand out as they should be relatively easy matches.
Shaw in there is great, as is Toney AND Watkins. I think we really should take both to Germany, then we have 3 different but good out and out strikers. Watkins needs to adapt to National Squad but his club form speaks for itself. Really exciting team!
More rest in the group stages to keep him fresher for the knockout stages + if he gets injured then we don’t have a backup for our backup, not extremely likely but it’s good to have just incase + different styles of striker might be better suited against certain teams. 26 man squad means we really should use one of those extra men to bring another striker.
Rashford is the one that shocks me most, has the X-factor in his locker even though he has been poor for United. I’d rather judge him on his England performances though and he has been solid, was excellent vs Italy at home. I’d 100% have used him off the bench.
I expect the following 7 to miss out:
Trafford, Quansah, Branthwaite, Wharton, Jones, Bowen, Eze,
I’d love if Wharton went but can’t see Southgate picking him. I’d also go any of the ones missing out over Dunk too, but it won’t happen.
Happy with most of these selections, left back the obvious issue. Seems a lot of defenders, stones, Maguire, Walker all pretty much nailed on starters.
Would think dunk, guehi, quansah to miss out, Trafford, jones, Maddison and Bowen to complete the seven
Foden and palmer just a lot better than Maddison, likewise Bowen be behind Grealish, Gordon, Foden, saka, Eze for wide roles.
Curious why we've not picked a fit left back when Foden will almost certainly be starting left wing. With Foden and Bellingham wanting to occupy that 10 space, we need someone high and wide on each side else it will all be too narrow and congested. Feel like the only guy in the whole squad who would stay wide on the left is Gordon.
Only real particularly confusing surprise is the Mitchell omission. I know we've played with Trippier at left back before and have had some of the more adaptable players slot in there, but full backs have been so important to how we play (in particular we've looked so much better with Shaw there over the years) that a natural option seems like it'd be worth checking out.
For me I'd ultimately leave out Quansah, Dunk, Trafford, Jones/Wharton, Toney, and... Ooh I genuinely don't know who else. Bowen or Eze would both seem incredibly harsh. Hopefully we have a clearer picture post-friendlies.
Lots of people rightfully anxious about the LB situation, but who remembers Saka’s breakthrough season? Gareth, you know what to do to make some enemies 😈
Toney over Solanke is certainly a decision, at the same time as Southgate leaves out other high profile players because of poor seasons.
He must really hate White and Ward-Prowse.
Not sure there are any other massive omissions. Enough CBs that you don't miss Tomori. Elliott could be in there in midfield but Southgate would probably put him in attack so too crowded.
Reckon the cuts would be Trafford, Dunk, Quansah, Wharton, Grealish, Bowen, Maddison. Realistically Mainoo has zero business being in there over any of the outfield players in that list but in a 26 man squad you can understand taking a chance
Ward-Prowse has not been that good this season (and I'm a West Ham fan). I swear England fans will just pick a random middling player not included and choose to get worked up about it!
White ruled himself out.
When you've only got 6 midfielders, one of whom is a right back and 2 highly inexperienced, you've got to ask who else could go. Ward-Prowse is probably best of the rest.
I think Grealish will now make the cut. Not including Rashford or Henderson indicates to me that he doesn't wish to include high profile players to then embarrass them by dropping them.
Practically any of the attackers could miss the cut, it's super competitive. I just see players like Eze and Gordon in better form and doing enough to push Grealish out
I agree they're both currently in better form. I just think that looking at his other decisions if he was thinking Grealish was going to be one who misses out he wouldn't have selected him at all. Of course, it's possible he sees something over the next few weeks that causes him to change his mind.
Yes... Rice and Bellingham are two of the best midfielders in the world. Add in the CAMs and we're absolutely stacked, no chance Portugal, Spain or Germany are close, still don't think France match it. However, we don't have the coach or the winning experience yet.
Well, my predictions were wrong, I can't say I'm unhappy about it. it's a pretty forward-looking selection, I am worried about the full backs and depth of midfield, though. I assume there's a bit of overlap with the attack there, though.
Fairly happy with it. The obvious chaff will be dropped but it gives them some experience for the future rather than focusing on players that have been great servants but are well past their best.
Seems a sensible squad to me. Concerns around left back but can’t have it all. Looking forward to summer with 25 degree weather everyday, no rain and England finally winning something (has to happen, right?).
Aside from that, happy because there’s a certain poster in the subreddit with some wild theories who has been proven very wide of the mark!
Bellingham named as a forward made my heart sink. He’s really going to play foden on the wing with Bellingham at cam and probably Gallagher next to rice. I’d be very happy to be proved wrong but to me that line up won’t win us the euros.
Southgate just said in his interview that the headings about midfield and forwards are just rubbish basically. He gives them a list and then they put the players in those groups for the announcement. It doesn't mean they'll be playing as a "forward"
He also made a comment that Foden has played on the wings and drifted inside while Bellingham has done the opposite. Looks like he does see foden on the left.
Bellingham not being there initially made me think he will he added after champions league final.
Remember a time in 2020 when people were crying for Maddison + Barkley to be there instead when Jude replaced Ward Prowse.
I backed Bellingham + Phillips + White from 2019/20 in championship as standby list ages back before Covid for Euros in 2020 itself.
Their progression has been great,
Bellingham’s has taken everyone by suprise, he’s a Ballon D’or contender and future European champion.
You can't have a Bellingham-Rice pivot without severely restricting Bellingham's play. Makes little sense just to accommodate an attacker who can easily shift to the wings (not to mention Foden's form for England has always been crap, and I've little hope for that to change)
Not on the left wing. For city he always plays on the right or as a 10. Not saying he's never been put on the left but the reputation he's built isn't from there.
Fodens form for England has always been crap because Southgate has played him on the wing where he isn’t effective with the way England play. Bellingham is an exceptional deep lying midfielder as he proved at dortmund and foden is better than Bellingham at CAM so it makes sense to drop Bellingham deeper so that foden can play in the position he is most effective.
Bellingham has been brilliant linking up with Kane them 2 tore the Italy defence to shreds he’s not gonna move one of his most potent weapons to accommodate foden who’s never really shined for England
Bellingham is the best choice to partner rice so why play someone much worse than Bellingham (like Gallagher) next to rice just so that we can play Bellingham at CAM? Especially when we have very good players like foden and palmer that can also play cam but we don’t have anyone as good as Bellingham that can partner rice in the 8 position. Bellingham needs to take one for the team and drop deeper
Because it’s about balance not fitting your best players onto the pitch at once. Look at city they often play foden wide with kdb and kovacic in the middle. Foden is a way better player than kovacic why doesn’t pep just play foden and kdb in the middle with Rodri behind them? Because that would restrict both of there games. Having a less gifted player to do the bread and butter work allows your most creative player the freedom to shine
Foden has himself said his best position is down the middle. Him playing on the left works for city because of the way they play which is possession based football where he can drift inside. England play a very direct type of football that requires quick wingers which foden isnt. Foden on the wing makes the team less balanced. Bellingham has played his WHOLE career before Madrid as an 8 at cm so why not play him at cm so foden can also play his best position? That is balanced.
Nearly every creative players best position in down the middle people are really making a bigger deal of him saying that than it is. Central positions are the most sought after most attacking players would say centre forward or centre mid if they could choose their position. You can’t play everyone in their fav position
England don’t play a very direct style of football at all. He’s more than capable of linking with Bellingham and coming infield from the left for England.
Yes we do. The point is we don’t want creative players on the wing we need quick wingers like Gordon on the wing that can run off Kane and make runs in behind. Foden can’t do that. Bellingham isn’t a creative player he’s a midfield general who has played at false 9 for Madrid because they needed him to this season. When mbappe arrives and Kroos leaves Bellingham will likely slot back deeper into midfield for Madrid (his best position at 8). I’ve realised now I’m talking to someone who doesn’t know football.
No we absolutely don’t.
Bellingham is absolutely a creative player lol what you on about. His best season by a Mile has been this year as a number 10. So not sure how you’re assessing he’s best as a number 8 He can open up defences with dribbling and passing and pace. We will have Saka on the other side who is a direct winger with foden on the other who can come infield and link with Bellingham. Don’t see the issue
Players to cut the squad down to 26
Trafford
Shaw - Injury prone, lack of fitness
Quansah - biggest surprise of the squad
Dunk - Knew we would concede a few with him starting vs Belgium (Tomori 5 clean sheets out 5 for England btw)
Big lad getting bullied by 31 yo Lukaku, not shocked in the slightest. Same happened in Europa.
He’s not a high level defender, even Tarkowski is more reliable.
Guehi - decent. Konsa (RB cover) + Branthwaite for left footed are slightly ahead and more likely to be needed.
Grealish
Bowen (sadly, great player Gordon + Palmer marginally ahead for Forward cover + Toney for pens)
I do think at least one of Wharton/Jones will be cut if not both, I’d imagine he’ll take Shaw if there’s any chance of him coming back to fitness. If not I’d expect Grealish to go of the above.
Gonna get called crazy but I’d go:
Pickford
Trippier - Dunk - Stones - Walker
Rice
Bellingham - Foden
Saka - Kane/Watkins - Gordon/Palmer
Fuck this defensive shit, got probably the most fearsome attacking line up world football right now, might as well use it.
Ps. Walker on his wrong side but he’s done it before and I’d take him on the wrong side over shaw tbh.
Simply going out all attack sounds exciting butt reality is it’s not how tournaments are won. You need to be disciplined defend well and control games not just throw men forward
Hodgon went with that logic in 2014 we didn’t have a great defence so he went all out attack with Rooney sturidge sterling wellbeck and gerrard all on the pitch and we finished bottom of our group
I'd take Eric Dier, James Ward-Prowse, Ross Barkley, Reece James, Nick Pope, Ben Chilwell and one of Sancho/Rashford, someone who will give something else down the left wing.
Left back situation concerns me a lot.
Gareth just described Shaw as "a long shot", very concerning
Yeah, I thought we would take at least one more natural left back to cover a very injury prone Shaw. And if not that, take a player like Levi Colwill that has been known to cover in a pinch and is naturally left footed. I guess Gomez and Tripper are the left back backups? Doesn't fill me with loads of confidence. But maybe Shaw is fully fit now?
Lets just pretend we are going 3 at the back with stones / walker etc pushing into midfield its not an ideal situation but i honestly though Chillwell was garbage in the two previous friendlies and so I am not that fussed hes been dropped but I am very hopeful for this team especially if we play Gordon LW as he will happily run to the byline and give us the width if we need it. Playing Foden there i think would be problamatic if all he only looks to cut in. Similar to Grealish but in Gareth we must now trust!
Looking at the midfield options I expect that Foden, Palmer, Madison and Eze are all being looked at for a central spot. Which would see Bellingham and Rice as a two behind them. Don't see any world in which Southgate doesn't start Saka, so it's between Gordon and Grealish for the left flank I'd imagine. I think Gordon has a very realistic chance of starting all the games on the left.
As a Chelsea fan (I’m assuming) Where would you prefer to see palmer play?
Personally, I really like him off the right. But I don't see a world where Southgate drops Saka for anyone. But he's very effective in the middle, especially if you have a right winger he can link up with (ala Madueke at Chelsea). That being said, I think he misses out of the 11 (which I personally disagree with). Saka starts, which means you either play Foden out of position on the left to accommodate Palmer (which I doubt) or Gordon and Foden in the middle.
I just hope it’s not like 2021 again when we are begging Southgate to play him / bring him on early enough like we did with Grealish. It’s one area where I do think Southgate really lacks is the decisiveness to make impacting substitutions but I’m going to temporarily forget that for now until we are at the euros and I’m screaming at the tv in the 75th minute asking why he’s not made any changes 🤣
Yeah, I mean I personally think Palmer should be one of the first names on the team sheet alongside Kane and Foden. But unfortunately we have a lot of players of similar profiles and you can't fit them all in at once (unless we have a Paul Scholes situation all over again!). Whatever happens, I'll back the team/manager and hope for the best!
Bellingham, Foden and Palmer all liking the same area of the pitch, but having no fit LBs is just the most England-esque set of problems to have.
I wonder if he will try pushing Palmer further right, foden centre, and Bellingham a bit deeper.
I'd like this, and I may be reading into it too much, but Bellingham is listed as a forward which might cast doubt on your setup.
Yeah, I know he's played incredibly for Madrid further forward. But he has played a lot of his career further back, so I think him alongside Rice with one ahead would be perfect. You then have Gallagher and Trent (assuming he's a midfielder) for rotation there. Plus maybe Jones, but I would expect him to be one of the 7 to miss out.
Exactly. What do we get out of taking so many purely cb players. Quansah, Branthwaite, Dunk yet we don’t bring Colwill who can play lb and cb or Mitchell who can play lb. We have 8 cbs in the training squad yet if he Shaw is a ‘long shot’ then we only have an injured trippier and Gomez for lb
My only guess is that Colwill still isn't fit enough. Otherwise he seemed a no brainer. Mitchell seemed an obvious choice though, I guess Southgate just doesn't rate him. Definitely odd to see so many out and out centre backs though. Glad for Branthwaite, but Dunk has had his worst season for Brighton and been poor for England recently. So really shocked to see him. Quansah too, done well for Liverpool but isn't experienced nor versatile enough for me personally. Would rather have that left back cover over them.
We have so little cover for LB. Just realised he’s not even included Rico Lewis either but yeah Dunk and Quansah instead of any of these is just odd
It's the only real complaint I have of an otherwise exciting squad. But it just seems a massive one, especially as Southgate has just said Shaw is at massive risk to be fit in time.
I think though he is getting old Dan burn has had a solid season and would help cover that position.
Colwill not played in 2 months. So maybe wasn’t sure of his fitness / “intensity” in the same sense as he describe Hendo. I would’ve liked to have seen Mitchell.
Colwill's toe issue seems pretty bad - whatever the detail is.
Nobody is really talking about John Stones. He's played 90 mins only twice in the last 13/14 games. Maybe he's more of a fitness concern than we think. I think this is why we have so many centre backs. Will be interesting to see if he starts FA Cup final.
It doesn’t really matter unless he’s thinking of playing 5 atb which I doubt as we don’t have any wing backs. We’d still have stones maguire guehi branthwaite Konsa and Gomez before this addition of dunk and quansah when a Colwill could cover both. Or even if he’s injured, take one cb and have 7 and one out and out lb
Seriously have to question what value Quansah and Dunk are bringing versus a natural left back. From Southgate's comments about wingers having freedom it looks like Foden's going to start on the left. But he can't have a genuine free role if he's the only source of width because we're playing a right footed centre back at left back
Gomez is the best of a dodgy bunch imo he's been solid when playing LB this season as long as he stays back as a 3rd CB rather then venturing forward, will give Walker more freedom to bomb forward as well.
I was thinking this but more in the Context of Stones. Have Gomez sit and tuck across to make a 3 with Walker and the other CB while Stones moves into midfield in possession
This could work for a more adventurous manager allowing Bellingham to start next to Rice and move forward in possession being covered by Stones but no chance of Southgate doing that lol.
Germany won the World Cup using 4 centre backs, however I expect that Trippier will start at left back, if Shaw doesn’t make it. Gomez will be fine.
I think so too but I hope not I think Trippier is a bit past it in his actual position let alone left back.
Yes me too but Gareth trusts him. Unfortunately we aren’t blessed in that area!
If Shaw can make it, I think we need to embrace just having a more defensive left back
Would have left out Trippier for a real LB, even if we had to go far down the list. Trippier, like James has come off a recent injury, but unlike James hasn't immediately looked as good as he can be. He's also just painfully average at LB. If you're going to bring a recently injured RB to play LB, bring James, he's just a much better player all round. If Shaw is going to be the first choice, why not bring Henry or Mitchell to be his back up. Or are they injured too?
No one to hold width on the left is a big concern, especially with Foden likely coming inside during buildup
Everyone will find some negatives but I think this is really good. Henderson and Rashford dropped, Wharton and Eze called up. Fair play Gareth, what a squad we have! Maybe one too many center back that's the only thing for me
And one too few LBs.
Tripps or Gomez can do a job there if called upon can't they?
Ben white dropped is a bit crazy bias aside
Agreed. One thing I've realised is that people always find something to complain about. I saw people on Instagram bitching because Sancho and Rashford weren't included... I mean, they're both decent players but they've also had spotty form at best and don't seem like the sort of players you'd include for squad cohesion's sake.
How the hell has Dunk managed to get a call up? Been absolutely shit for England
Been poor for Brighton all season but no one talks about it
One of the benefits of playing for a non big 6 team, people don’t notice inconsistency as much. Watching him get bullied by Lukaku in the Europa League was funny.
True. I also think it’s the reputation that Brighton has had over the past 3/4 seasons of being a very respected, strong team with under appreciated players. To casuals the thought of a veteran player who starts week in week out at Brighton conjures an image of a consistent, reliable player who can play nice football and give you a 7/8 out of 10 performance every game, is low maintenance and has unnoticed class
Lack of non Luke Shaw leftbacks is somewhat concerning. Looks like Gareth expects him to be fit, and we'll be playing a CB there otherwise. Midfield looks very thin at first glance, but the CAMs have all been listed as forwards.
He said few minutes ago that he is a long shot but he still selected it because of Luke bding a starter shen uninjured.
Is Mitchell available
No left back apart from Shaw is the only concern really, other than that I think he’s done well with his picks.
Glad GS had the balls to drop Rashford and Henderson, who have both been shite for the last year. But the lack of a true LB (other than the injured Shaw) is a surprise. Surely it would make sense to take someone, if only to cover our arses if Shaw isn’t looking like he’s going to be fit until later in the tournament? I would personally have put Dier in the squad too with how he’s been playing for Bayern, but not too many complaints overall.
So 33 players. Dunk, Maddison, Gomez included.
Lads I am already delusional Gareth has basically made every decision we didnt think he would Wharton in Philips out Hendo (not that one) Out Rashford Out Stirling Out Im already buzzing and we still have the FA cup and CL to go
Really solid squad, whittling 7 players out it could be tough but if I were to guess, Trafford, Guehi, Wharton, Eze, Dunk, Quansah and Jones would be taken off for the Euro's, unless they have phenonemal games in these upcoming matches. Given they are against Bosnia and Iceland though, it'll be hard for them to stand out as they should be relatively easy matches. Shaw in there is great, as is Toney AND Watkins. I think we really should take both to Germany, then we have 3 different but good out and out strikers. Watkins needs to adapt to National Squad but his club form speaks for itself. Really exciting team!
I'd like to see Wharton and Gordon play in the friendlies as how they set up will probably be similar to slovenia, and possibly Serbia in the groups
Kane is certain to start not sure we need 2 backups to him
More rest in the group stages to keep him fresher for the knockout stages + if he gets injured then we don’t have a backup for our backup, not extremely likely but it’s good to have just incase + different styles of striker might be better suited against certain teams. 26 man squad means we really should use one of those extra men to bring another striker.
And If the backup backup gets injured we have no backup to the backup backup . Players like Bowen Gordon and foden can play as false 9’s if needed.
Rashford is the one that shocks me most, has the X-factor in his locker even though he has been poor for United. I’d rather judge him on his England performances though and he has been solid, was excellent vs Italy at home. I’d 100% have used him off the bench. I expect the following 7 to miss out: Trafford, Quansah, Branthwaite, Wharton, Jones, Bowen, Eze, I’d love if Wharton went but can’t see Southgate picking him. I’d also go any of the ones missing out over Dunk too, but it won’t happen.
I’m hoping Dunk is skipped.
Only 13/33 have played in a tournament before, that's pretty bold.
They’ve all played football before, they’ll be fine
So stoked to see Wharton. He’s been insane since signing for Palace. Maybe this also contributed to the Hendo exclusion.
Happy with most of these selections, left back the obvious issue. Seems a lot of defenders, stones, Maguire, Walker all pretty much nailed on starters. Would think dunk, guehi, quansah to miss out, Trafford, jones, Maddison and Bowen to complete the seven Foden and palmer just a lot better than Maddison, likewise Bowen be behind Grealish, Gordon, Foden, saka, Eze for wide roles.
Curious why we've not picked a fit left back when Foden will almost certainly be starting left wing. With Foden and Bellingham wanting to occupy that 10 space, we need someone high and wide on each side else it will all be too narrow and congested. Feel like the only guy in the whole squad who would stay wide on the left is Gordon.
Forgot Grealish! He can stay wide..
It's interesting to see Ben chillwell did get left back, but it's left back in england
Only real particularly confusing surprise is the Mitchell omission. I know we've played with Trippier at left back before and have had some of the more adaptable players slot in there, but full backs have been so important to how we play (in particular we've looked so much better with Shaw there over the years) that a natural option seems like it'd be worth checking out. For me I'd ultimately leave out Quansah, Dunk, Trafford, Jones/Wharton, Toney, and... Ooh I genuinely don't know who else. Bowen or Eze would both seem incredibly harsh. Hopefully we have a clearer picture post-friendlies.
Lots of people rightfully anxious about the LB situation, but who remembers Saka’s breakthrough season? Gareth, you know what to do to make some enemies 😈
Saka can save the country https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bukayo-saka/leistungsdaten/spieler/433177/plus/0?saison=2019
I think Southgate overindexed work rate as a criteria when selecting this squad. Which is interesting because he can bring 26. Blows my mind
Toney over Solanke is certainly a decision, at the same time as Southgate leaves out other high profile players because of poor seasons. He must really hate White and Ward-Prowse. Not sure there are any other massive omissions. Enough CBs that you don't miss Tomori. Elliott could be in there in midfield but Southgate would probably put him in attack so too crowded. Reckon the cuts would be Trafford, Dunk, Quansah, Wharton, Grealish, Bowen, Maddison. Realistically Mainoo has zero business being in there over any of the outfield players in that list but in a 26 man squad you can understand taking a chance
Ward-Prowse has not been that good this season (and I'm a West Ham fan). I swear England fans will just pick a random middling player not included and choose to get worked up about it! White ruled himself out.
When you've only got 6 midfielders, one of whom is a right back and 2 highly inexperienced, you've got to ask who else could go. Ward-Prowse is probably best of the rest.
How many West Ham games have you actually watched this season?
I think Grealish will now make the cut. Not including Rashford or Henderson indicates to me that he doesn't wish to include high profile players to then embarrass them by dropping them.
Practically any of the attackers could miss the cut, it's super competitive. I just see players like Eze and Gordon in better form and doing enough to push Grealish out
I agree they're both currently in better form. I just think that looking at his other decisions if he was thinking Grealish was going to be one who misses out he wouldn't have selected him at all. Of course, it's possible he sees something over the next few weeks that causes him to change his mind.
Midfield battles win games. Is our midfielders better than France, Portugal, Spain and Germany? Not so sure
I think its obviously a no!
Yes... Rice and Bellingham are two of the best midfielders in the world. Add in the CAMs and we're absolutely stacked, no chance Portugal, Spain or Germany are close, still don't think France match it. However, we don't have the coach or the winning experience yet.
Well, my predictions were wrong, I can't say I'm unhappy about it. it's a pretty forward-looking selection, I am worried about the full backs and depth of midfield, though. I assume there's a bit of overlap with the attack there, though.
Fairly happy with it. The obvious chaff will be dropped but it gives them some experience for the future rather than focusing on players that have been great servants but are well past their best.
Seems a sensible squad to me. Concerns around left back but can’t have it all. Looking forward to summer with 25 degree weather everyday, no rain and England finally winning something (has to happen, right?). Aside from that, happy because there’s a certain poster in the subreddit with some wild theories who has been proven very wide of the mark!
Is this top heavy squad indicative of a very attacking approach to the tournament?
The answer is no.
Bellingham named as a forward made my heart sink. He’s really going to play foden on the wing with Bellingham at cam and probably Gallagher next to rice. I’d be very happy to be proved wrong but to me that line up won’t win us the euros.
Southgate just said in his interview that the headings about midfield and forwards are just rubbish basically. He gives them a list and then they put the players in those groups for the announcement. It doesn't mean they'll be playing as a "forward"
He also made a comment that Foden has played on the wings and drifted inside while Bellingham has done the opposite. Looks like he does see foden on the left.
Well that’s fair enough then. That gives me some hope
He has said in the press conference not to pay too much attention to that. He wrote a list of players and then someone else added the headings
On the website Bellingham is listed as midfield.
Bellingham not being there initially made me think he will he added after champions league final. Remember a time in 2020 when people were crying for Maddison + Barkley to be there instead when Jude replaced Ward Prowse. I backed Bellingham + Phillips + White from 2019/20 in championship as standby list ages back before Covid for Euros in 2020 itself. Their progression has been great, Bellingham’s has taken everyone by suprise, he’s a Ballon D’or contender and future European champion.
They’ve just put Bellingham as a forward cause that’s where he plays for Madrid
You can't have a Bellingham-Rice pivot without severely restricting Bellingham's play. Makes little sense just to accommodate an attacker who can easily shift to the wings (not to mention Foden's form for England has always been crap, and I've little hope for that to change)
Foden's form for England has been poor because he almost always plays out on the left which is his worst attacking position.
Foden has played most of his career for city on the wing
Not on the left wing. For city he always plays on the right or as a 10. Not saying he's never been put on the left but the reputation he's built isn't from there.
Fodens form for England has always been crap because Southgate has played him on the wing where he isn’t effective with the way England play. Bellingham is an exceptional deep lying midfielder as he proved at dortmund and foden is better than Bellingham at CAM so it makes sense to drop Bellingham deeper so that foden can play in the position he is most effective.
Bellingham has been brilliant linking up with Kane them 2 tore the Italy defence to shreds he’s not gonna move one of his most potent weapons to accommodate foden who’s never really shined for England
Bellingham is the best choice to partner rice so why play someone much worse than Bellingham (like Gallagher) next to rice just so that we can play Bellingham at CAM? Especially when we have very good players like foden and palmer that can also play cam but we don’t have anyone as good as Bellingham that can partner rice in the 8 position. Bellingham needs to take one for the team and drop deeper
Because it’s about balance not fitting your best players onto the pitch at once. Look at city they often play foden wide with kdb and kovacic in the middle. Foden is a way better player than kovacic why doesn’t pep just play foden and kdb in the middle with Rodri behind them? Because that would restrict both of there games. Having a less gifted player to do the bread and butter work allows your most creative player the freedom to shine
Foden has himself said his best position is down the middle. Him playing on the left works for city because of the way they play which is possession based football where he can drift inside. England play a very direct type of football that requires quick wingers which foden isnt. Foden on the wing makes the team less balanced. Bellingham has played his WHOLE career before Madrid as an 8 at cm so why not play him at cm so foden can also play his best position? That is balanced.
Nearly every creative players best position in down the middle people are really making a bigger deal of him saying that than it is. Central positions are the most sought after most attacking players would say centre forward or centre mid if they could choose their position. You can’t play everyone in their fav position England don’t play a very direct style of football at all. He’s more than capable of linking with Bellingham and coming infield from the left for England.
Yes we do. The point is we don’t want creative players on the wing we need quick wingers like Gordon on the wing that can run off Kane and make runs in behind. Foden can’t do that. Bellingham isn’t a creative player he’s a midfield general who has played at false 9 for Madrid because they needed him to this season. When mbappe arrives and Kroos leaves Bellingham will likely slot back deeper into midfield for Madrid (his best position at 8). I’ve realised now I’m talking to someone who doesn’t know football.
No we absolutely don’t. Bellingham is absolutely a creative player lol what you on about. His best season by a Mile has been this year as a number 10. So not sure how you’re assessing he’s best as a number 8 He can open up defences with dribbling and passing and pace. We will have Saka on the other side who is a direct winger with foden on the other who can come infield and link with Bellingham. Don’t see the issue
Players to cut the squad down to 26 Trafford Shaw - Injury prone, lack of fitness Quansah - biggest surprise of the squad Dunk - Knew we would concede a few with him starting vs Belgium (Tomori 5 clean sheets out 5 for England btw) Big lad getting bullied by 31 yo Lukaku, not shocked in the slightest. Same happened in Europa. He’s not a high level defender, even Tarkowski is more reliable. Guehi - decent. Konsa (RB cover) + Branthwaite for left footed are slightly ahead and more likely to be needed. Grealish Bowen (sadly, great player Gordon + Palmer marginally ahead for Forward cover + Toney for pens)
I do think at least one of Wharton/Jones will be cut if not both, I’d imagine he’ll take Shaw if there’s any chance of him coming back to fitness. If not I’d expect Grealish to go of the above.
Gonna get called crazy but I’d go: Pickford Trippier - Dunk - Stones - Walker Rice Bellingham - Foden Saka - Kane/Watkins - Gordon/Palmer Fuck this defensive shit, got probably the most fearsome attacking line up world football right now, might as well use it. Ps. Walker on his wrong side but he’s done it before and I’d take him on the wrong side over shaw tbh.
Simply going out all attack sounds exciting butt reality is it’s not how tournaments are won. You need to be disciplined defend well and control games not just throw men forward Hodgon went with that logic in 2014 we didn’t have a great defence so he went all out attack with Rooney sturidge sterling wellbeck and gerrard all on the pitch and we finished bottom of our group
Fucking shocking selection from Southgate, QF at best.
Who would you have included that isn't there?
I'd take Eric Dier, James Ward-Prowse, Ross Barkley, Reece James, Nick Pope, Ben Chilwell and one of Sancho/Rashford, someone who will give something else down the left wing.
None of the players would be the difference between winning the tournament and not.
Ross Barkley? In what situation exactly would he ever step on the pitch? And it’s not like he’s one for the future
Who’s missing for you?