England squad

[Vegas Claret]

Pope out as he's having a hand operation

[claretonthecoast1882]

Good to see he has finally decided to give Dunk a call up although I expect him to get the Toney treatment and be told he should just be happy to be there rather than play.

Mings being picked as amusing as Eze being picked is pleasing

[Big Vinny K]

6 of those defenders are able to play centre back and then there’s Harry Maguire to provide a 7th option in case of emergencies…..really desperate emergencies

[wilks_bfc]

How has Kalvin Phillips got selected based on 195mins of football

[claretonthecoast1882]

How has Kalvin Phillips got selected based on 195mins of football

Never let England down

Isn't that the normal defence of weird picks

[bumba]

Phillips, mings and Maguire.......just HOW??

[SalisburyClaret]

Dunk - about time. Has been outstanding for a long time

[RVclaret]

Phillips was brilliant the other day for City and also excellent for England in the last games. Granted he’s not playing regularly for City but he’s still our strongest option in that role.

Excited to see Eze in the team, he’s a real fun player to watch.

[Pickles]

The Phillips thing has come up a few times this season. He's by far and away England's best option in that role and when he has played for Man City he's been very good.

Eze's selection is pleasing. Not too much to get wound up about though for some straightforward fixtures.

[Spijed]

In the next few seasons how are England going to replace Harry Kane, as there's currently no English striker that has anywhere near a similar level of ability. Whether that be a player in the Prem or one that's seen as having potential.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Think Watkins is a bit unlucky to miss out

[warksclaret]

Some of those inclusions tell you everything about Southgate. English football is in a fantastic position, and some of our younger players are as good as I can remember, but under this manager we will win sweet FA. We have had our chances to pick up major trophies under him but fluffed it. Must say though he is the best hugger in terms of international managers. Saw Henderson at Leicester 10 days ago-this guy is well past it, blowing after 30 minutes and generally did not look an international footballing athlete.Take a close look at him next time Liverpool play

[warksclaret]

Think Watkins is a bit unlucky to miss out

YES-particularly with Toney banned

[bumba]

In the next few seasons how are England going to replace Harry Kane, as there's currently no English striker that has anywhere near a similar level of ability. Whether that be a player in the Prem or one that's seen as having potential.

Only solution now would be for Rashford to play central we have that many options out wide

[Newcastleclaret93]

In the next few seasons how are England going to replace Harry Kane, as there's currently no English striker that has anywhere near a similar level of ability. Whether that be a player in the Prem or one that's seen as having potential.

Depends if they decide to play a striker or not.

Perhaps they go down the route of a false 9. They have plenty of decent ones around.

[ClaretsPadiham]

If Cullen keeps playing the way he has been he could be in future squads

[bobinho]

Maybe the Irish one eh?

[Targetman]

If Cullen keeps playing the way he has been he could be in future squads

[Guller Bull]

Surely Benson must have been close!

[TheFamilyCat]

6 of those defenders are able to play centre back and then there’s Harry Maguire to provide a 7th option in case of emergencies…..really desperate emergencies

I'd be trying Saka there first.

[Roosterbooster]

Depends if they decide to play a striker or not.

Perhaps they go down the route of a false 9. They have plenty of decent ones around.

Foden has played the false 9 very effectively for City numerous times. But I can't see Southgate trying it

[Bigvince]

No Nick Pope
My apologies just seen why

[Big Vinny K]

I'd be trying Saka there first.

Steve McLaren ?

[bobinho]

6 of those defenders are able to play centre back and then there’s Harry Maguire who isn’t…

There. Fixed it.

You’re welcome.

[CoolClaret]

I don’t really understand the Dunk pick if honest -

He’s a fine player but he is 31 (32 in November) and is he really the answer going forwards?

Delighted for Eze - well deserved and offers something different than the rest, think he’s a brilliant player

[Boss Hogg]

Phillips, mings and Maguire.......just HOW??

Exactly what I was thinking.

[warksclaret]

I don’t really understand the Dunk pick if honest -

He’s a fine player but he is 31 (32 in November) and is he really the answer going forwards?

Delighted for Eze - well deserved and offers something different than the rest, think he’s a brilliant player

Really good to see Eze in for a chance. If Southgate had been doing his job we would have seen Gibbs White (who has been sensational for Forest) for the arthritic Henderson

[Rileybobs]

Some of those inclusions tell you everything about Southgate. English football is in a fantastic position, and some of our younger players are as good as I can remember, but under this manager we will win sweet FA. We have had our chances to pick up major trophies under him but fluffed it. Must say though he is the best hugger in terms of international managers. Saw Henderson at Leicester 10 days ago-this guy is well past it, blowing after 30 minutes and generally did not look an international footballing athlete.Take a close look at him next time Liverpool play

Out of interest which inclusions would you have made and for who?

[CoolClaret]

Really good to see Eze in for a chance. If Southgate had been doing his job we would have seen Gibbs White (who has been sensational for Forest) for the arthritic Henderson

Yeah and if honest I don’t really understand what Gallagher offers, if at all anything.

Chelsea want shut and he looks bang average.

Think Tomori has been overlooked a tad unfairly - he had a poor game in the UCL against Inter but did win a Scudetto last season as a starting centre half.

The Henderson pick makes 0 sense - I’m hoping we start with Bellingham and Eze, with probably Rice behind them…

Bellingham & Eze will rip teams apart imo

[warksclaret]

Out of interest which inclusions would you have made and for who?

Southgate in the early days as England manager said he would only pick in form players, which was very re-assuring. However I fail to see how you are in form when you rarely get picked for your club

For me

OUT
Maguire
Henderson-not capable of a 90 minute performance and coming to the end of his carear
Rashford-happy to go riding on his bike round New York during the last England games, supposedly injured but straight back in the Man Utd team after the friendlies

IN
White-he has been an ever present at Arsenal, can play RB or CH , and no way would Maguire start regularly at Arsenal
Gibbs White sensational in the Forest side since February
Watkins -a genuine No 9 and regular goal scorer with real pace

I have give Phillips the benefit of the doubt owing to competition for places at Man VCity

[CoolClaret]

Disagree about Rashford

He’s a genuine sort of run in behind goal threat and can really asset himself and bully fullbacks

Agree that Watkins & Ben White unlucky to miss out

[Rileybobs]

Southgate in the early days as England manager said he would only pick in form players, which was very re-assuring. However I fail to see how you are in form when you rarely get picked for your club

For me

OUT
Maguire
Henderson-not capable of a 90 minute performance and coming to the end of his carear
Rashford-happy to go riding on his bike round New York during the last England games, supposedly injured but straight back in the Man Utd team after the friendlies

IN
White-he has been an ever present at Arsenal, can play RB or CH , and no way would Maguire start regularly at Arsenal
Gibbs White sensational in the Forest side since February
Watkins -a genuine No 9 and regular goal scorer with real pace

I have give Phillips the benefit of the doubt owing to competition for places at Man VCity

Did Southgate ever say he would only pick players on form? The only quote I can find from early in his tenure is
’I never pick on reputation – form has to come into it’. That’s not the same as saying he would only pick players on form. And he’s acknowledged quite recently that it’s impossible to pick a squad of players who are on form and he has to find a mix of his best players and his most on-form players.

But even if he did say he would only pick players on form, which he didn’t, he would be a weaker manager for sticking by this arbitrary rule despite it being the incorrect thing to do just to appease the public. Yet he gets criticised for this manufactured quote at every opportunity.

As for your suggestions, Southgate obviously sees more in Maguire than the rest of us, but he’s hardly been proven wrong when selected for England. Henderson may well be there just to add more of a blend of experience. We know how important the culture of this group has been to their relative success so there has to be an element of continuity along with introductions of new players.

It’s pretty clear that there’s something amiss with Ben White, surely that’s obvious to see. So whilst we don’t know why he isn’t being selected I’m pretty certain it isn’t for pure football reasons.

MGB fair enough, Watkins fair enough - but there will always be a few borderline inclusions and no doubt people would criticise Southgate for the exclusions who have to make way for them such as Wilson. And do you really think that be selecting these players England would no longer win sweet FA? The argument just doesn’t stack up.

[Rileybobs]

I should just add, none of us know what personality, professionalism or general decency any of these players have. And when they are asked to spend weeks together in a competitive environment every major tournament it’s fair to say that factors other than raw ability need to be taken into account. This probably makes someone like Henderson a key member of the group.

As an example, the general mood on this forum is that we shouldn’t take Weghorst back, and whilst he’s not exactly lit the world up with his footballing ability, the consensus is more due to a perception of his personality and attitude.

[warksclaret]

Did Southgate ever say he would only pick players on form? The only quote I can find from early in his tenure is
’I never pick on reputation – form has to come into it’. That’s not the same as saying he would only pick players on form. And he’s acknowledged quite recently that it’s impossible to pick a squad of players who are on form and he has to find a mix of his best players and his most on-form players.

But even if he did say he would only pick players on form, which he didn’t, he would be a weaker manager for sticking by this arbitrary rule despite it being the incorrect thing to do just to appease the public. Yet he gets criticised for this manufactured quote at every opportunity.

As for your suggestions, Southgate obviously sees more in Maguire than the rest of us, but he’s hardly been proven wrong when selected for England. Henderson may well be there just to add more of a blend of experience. We know how important the culture of this group has been to their relative success so there has to be an element of continuity along with introductions of new players.

It’s pretty clear that there’s something amiss with Ben White, surely that’s obvious to see. So whilst we don’t know why he isn’t being selected I’m pretty certain it isn’t for pure football reasons.

MGB fair enough, Watkins fair enough - but there will always be a few borderline inclusions and no doubt people would criticise Southgate for the exclusions who have to make way for them such as Wilson. And do you really think that be selecting these players England would no longer win sweet FA? The argument just doesn’t stack up.

Riley-this Board is all about opinions. I respect yours and your positivity about Southgate-sorry but he does not give me the same confidence. Two of the stand out players in the last few months have been Gibbs White and Watkins -neither are included. There is a reason Maguire does not start for Man Utd and why clubs have not tried to capture him. As for Henderson adding a blend of experience ??-surely thats happening already with Pickford, Kane, Walker, Sones, Rice,Shaw , Trippier to mention just a few being in that squad. How many more do you need

Just so pleased VK is a different animal to Southgate ie looking at the future with bringing and developing new players , rather than relying on the "has-beens"

[Rileybobs]

Riley-this Board is all about opinions. I respect yours and your positivity about Southgate-sorry but he does not give me the same confidence. Two of the stand out players in the last few months have been Gibbs White and Watkins -neither are included. There is a reason Maguire does not start for Man Utd and why clubs have not tried to capture him. As for Henderson adding a blend of experience ??-surely thats happening already with Pickford, Kane, Walker, Sones, Rice,Shaw , Trippier to mention just a few being in that squad. How many more do you need

Just so pleased VK is a different animal to Southgate ie looking at the future with bringing and developing new players , rather than relying on the "has-beens"

VK relied on his senior players as much as Southgate. Cork and Barnes are both older than Henderson. In fact, I suspect the average age of our squad this season wouldn’t differ hugely from the average age of the England squad.

[northeastclaret]

Am I missing something? Why no Pope?

[Joe14]

England are dull.

Give me Burnley over England any day of the week.

[bumba]

We should be creaming over the talent.in this England squad but Southgate is draining it of any excitement and taking all the attacking flair out of it.
Teams would fear us if we went at them, we have good enough defenders to lose the more experienced players not good enough anymore but he's scared of change and he is the reason we wont win a major tournament with him in charge.
We should of won the a euros and world cup by now but he blew it massively

[wilks_bfc]

Am I missing something? Why no Pope?

He’s had an operation on his hand

[warksclaret]

We should be creaming over the talent.in this England squad but Southgate is draining it of any excitement and taking all the attacking flair out of it.
Teams would fear us if we went at them, we have good enough defenders to lose the more experienced players not good enough anymore but he's scared of change and he is the reason we wont win a major tournament with him in charge.
We should of won the a euros and world cup by now but he blew it massively

I agree with what you say Bumba. A top level manager (and we now have some of the best English players I have known in my lifetime) would have won us either the Euros or the World Cup. We can now boast two great players for every position. The Argentina side that won the WC included three players who would not get in our England team ie Romero, Martinez (Man Utd) , Alvarez, and maybe even McAllister, yet the tactics were brilliant to beat France.

[Spijed]

VK relied on his senior players as much as Southgate. Cork and Barnes are both older than Henderson. In fact, I suspect the average age of our squad this season wouldn’t differ hugely from the average age of the England squad.

That's very true. And Alan Hansen was correct when he said you don't win anything with kids. United's team was full of experience and like this England side, if you play too many inexperienced and young players it would lose more often than not.

[claretonthecoast1882]

That's very true. And Alan Hansen was correct when he said you don't win anything with kids. United's team was full of experience and like this England side, if you play too many inexperienced and young players it would lose more often than not.

Germany won the under 21s Euro's with kids recently

[KRBFC]

Southgate in the early days as England manager said he would only pick in form players, which was very re-assuring. However I fail to see how you are in form when you rarely get picked for your club

For me

OUT
Maguire
Henderson-not capable of a 90 minute performance and coming to the end of his carear
Rashford-happy to go riding on his bike round New York during the last England games, supposedly injured but straight back in the Man Utd team after the friendlies

IN
White-he has been an ever present at Arsenal, can play RB or CH , and no way would Maguire start regularly at Arsenal
Gibbs White sensational in the Forest side since February
Watkins -a genuine No 9 and regular goal scorer with real pace

I have give Phillips the benefit of the doubt owing to competition for places at Man VCity

Henderson is clearly back up to Bellingham and Rice, good experienced pro and has lifted major trophies.

White was sent home from the World Cup squad, he wasn’t injured and no family issue. Make your own guesses up but it’s obviously not footballing reasons why he hasn’t been selected.

Watkins has been in fine form recently but if you’re slagging off Southgate for choosing Rashford over him, you’re completely off your head. Rashford has quietened a little but has been one of the best attacking players in Europe this season.

[KRBFC]

Chelsea want shut and he looks bang average....

Think Tomori has been overlooked a tad unfairly - he had a poor game in the UCL against Inter but did win a Scudetto last season as a starting centre half.

The same Tomori who Chelsea got shut of? Lol

I was a fan of Tomori when he first went to AC, he’s been dreadful for the last year and hardly been fit.

[warksclaret]

Watkins has been in fine form recently but if you’re slagging off Southgate for choosing Rashford over him, you’re completely off your head. Rashford has quietened a little but has been one of the best attacking players in Europe this season.

Not questioning Rashfords undoubted speed and qualities and his form January-March, just questioning his desire to play for his country. In the last international qualifications he declared himself unfit, so you would have assumed he would be on the United treatment table for part or all of that period. Instead he disappeared to the States where he spent the time cycling round New York. He was fit to play for United in the very first game after these internationals.

[KRBFC]

Not questioning Rashfords undoubted speed and qualities and his form January-March, just questioning his desire to play for his country. In the last international qualifications he declared himself unfit, so you would have assumed he would be on the United treatment table for part or all of that period. Instead he disappeared to the States where he spent the time cycling round New York. He was fit to play for United in the very first game after these internationals.

Is cycling not an activity to get fit?

You expected him to be nailed to the treatment table and photographed when he declared himself unfit? I’d expect him to be working on getting back fit.

Maybe he was fit for United because during the international break he cycled and worked to get fit and fully recover in time.

[Caballo]

We should of won the a euros and world cup by now but he blew it massively

100% this! Couldn't have had easier runs to the point at which we lost out in both tournaments. Too conservative and passive to win anything meaningful.

[warksclaret]

100% this! Couldn't have had easier runs to the point at which we lost out in both tournaments. Too conservative and passive to win anything meaningful.

I agree-he is passive. Like turning a blind eye to Rashford who declared himself unfit for the recent qualifying internationals, then promptly booking a cycling holiday in New York with his girlfriend. What does he do-he picks him again this week, yet leaves Watkins out (one of the most in form No 9's), at a time when Toney is banned for 8 months. Cant see truly great managers like Pep, Ferguson standing for that sort of lack of desire from one of their players

[CoolClaret]

The same Tomori who Chelsea got shut of? Lol

I was a fan of Tomori when he first went to AC, he’s been dreadful for the last year and hardly been fit.

He’s still only 25 and can play as a two or a three on the left hand side - surely better giving him another shot than going with Maguire/Dunk?

Also - on Ben White omission

I recall him returning early from the World Cup & now omitted…

Fall out with Gareth/back room staff?!

[davideyresleftear]

I really don’t get the Maguire hate, you’d think he’s an absolute donkey from the way people talk. In reality he’s a really good CB, just not elite level. He’s been good for England