Another blunder from Southgate

[KRBFC]

The squad pretty much picked itself.

There’s no one in form that has missed out. No idea what people are complaining about

Agreed the only player who's unlucky not to go is probably Ivan Toney but it was either him or Wilson. Difficult call.

The OP is mad as a box of frogs, doesn't have a scooby on anything football related, Tarkowski the best CB in the PL he went to cash strapped relegation fodder Everton, it's a surprise Barcelona weren't knocking for him with the way some talk on here.

[timshorts]

I think the tournament will be better for being mid season. Players always look knackered to me when it’s played 4 weeks after the seasons finished.

Well according to conte, Harry kane is already overworked and tired.

Given that his only real job in an England shirt is to get into the box and then fling himself to the floor, does that matter.

Oh, forgot. He has to take the penalties afterwards too'

[Newcastleclaret93]

Agreed the only player who's unlucky not to go is probably Ivan Toney but it was either him or Wilson. Difficult call.

The OP is mad as a box of frogs, doesn't have a scooby on anything football related, Tarkowski the best CB in the PL he went to cash strapped relegation fodder Everton, it's a surprise Barcelona weren't knocking for him with the way some talk on here.

Yes I think the only player that could feel slightly aggrieved is Toney, but even then Wilson has the 4th best minutes per goals stats in the Prem. He’s bang in form.

Tarks is a good player we all know that. But I understand why he’s not been included. He’s not featured in a squad in forever, then you have the likes of Geuhi and Tomori as next in line.

I am happy with the squad, but the most important selection is the starting eleven.

[RVclaret]

Yes I think the only player that could feel slightly aggrieved is Toney, but even then Wilson has the 4th best minutes per goals stats in the Prem. He’s bang in form.

Tarks is a good player we all know that. But I understand why he’s not been included. He’s not featured in a squad in forever, then you have the likes of Geuhi and Tomori as next in line.

I am happy with the squad, but the most important selection is the starting eleven.

What’s the 11 then?

Pickford
White Stones Maguire
Trippier Bellingham Rice Shaw
Saka Sterling/Foden
Kane

[fidelcastro]

Didn't work well the last time we tried it

I'm not sure who you're referring to, but Toney is regarded as one of the best penalty takers in the game and we all know Ward-Prowse's ability with a dead ball.

[Nori1958]

I'm not sure who you're referring to, but Toney is regarded as one of the best penalty takers in the game and we all know Ward-Prowse's ability with a dead ball.

Euro final??!!

[Newcastleclaret93]

What’s the 11 then?

Pickford
White Stones Maguire
Trippier Bellingham Rice Shaw
Saka Sterling/Foden
Kane

I personally think this is the starting eleven he will go for against Iran.

Pickford
Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw
Bellingham, Rice, Foden
Sterling, Kane, Saka

[expoultryboy]

I think/hope Southgate's only taking Phillips as back up . I presume he'll go 4-2-3-1 using Rice and Bellingham as his holding midfielders.

[DCWat]

Well according to conte, Harry kane is already overworked and tired.

Given that his only real job in an England shirt is to get into the box and then fling himself to the floor, does that matter.

Oh, forgot. He has to take the penalties afterwards too'

If anything, Kane doesn’t do enough of getting into the box for England. He spends a lot of his time dropping into midfield.

[Winstonswhite]

What’s the 11 then?

Pickford
White Stones Maguire
Trippier Bellingham Rice Shaw
Saka Sterling/Foden
Kane

That would be my team too

[Devils_Advocate]

I personally think this is the starting eleven he will go for against Iran.

Pickford
Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw
Bellingham, Rice, Foden
Sterling, Kane, Saka

I think against weeker teams it will be this but Mount in midfield with Saka, Sterling and Foden fighting for the two attacking spots alongside Kane. Also might see White RB and Trippier LB

RV 's team is what we'll play in tougher games with mount dropping out

[CrosspoolClarets]

Thinking of the players missing out - not sure there is a better missing out uninjured XI in world football

——————————Henderson——————————-
Gomez———Tarkowski——Tomori————Mitchell
Sancho——-Ward Prowse——-Loftus Cheek——-Bowen
————————Toney————-Watkins————————-


Makes me think no player should be in when bang out of form with these in the wings. At least half are in blinding form.

[Pickles]

Thinking of the players missing out - not sure there is a better missing out uninjured XI in world football

——————————Henderson——————————-
Gomez———Tarkowski——Tomori————Mitchell
Sancho——-Ward Prowse——-Loftus Cheek——-Bowen
————————Toney————-Watkins————————-


Makes me think no player should be in when bang out of form with these in the wings. At least half are in blinding form.

Fair point. Reckon France's could maybe better it though.

[Elizabeth]

I think that’s as good a squad as Southgate could pick.
Yes 2 or 3 fitness issues and one or two of the regulars
favoured but hardly any serious omissions.
I think this England team has peaked some time ago and the odd exciting inclusions like Maddison are hardly likely to feature. I’m expecting the same old dreary performances seen over the last 12 months.

[fidelcastro]

Euro final??!!

Were Sakha, Sancho and Rashford brought on in ET with penalties in mind? I honestly can't remember.

My point is the players I mentioned are specialists with spot kicks.

[Nori1958]

Were Sakha, Sancho and Rashford brought on in ET with penalties in mind? I honestly can't remember.

My point is the players I mentioned are specialists with spot kicks.

Yes they were

[Swizzlestick]

Were Sakha, Sancho and Rashford brought on in ET with penalties in mind? I honestly can't remember.

My point is the players I mentioned are specialists with spot kicks.

Oddly yes even though I don't think any of them were the designated penalty taker at their respective clubs (maybe Rashford though I think Bruno had overtaken him in the pecking order). I'd have taken Ward-Prowse ahead of Gallagher - provides something different in terms of quality set piece delivery and, yes, penalties.

Squad is pretty much on the money aside from that - you could perhaps argue Toney, but Wilson is the better all-round player at the moment imo. In defence, Tarkowski and Tomori are certainly candidates. I think Coady is in in there ahead of them as he's probably a good head to have in the dressing room. Correct decision to take Maddison and he was always going to take Phillips - the only other proper DM and one of our best players last time out.

[tiger76]

GS will be judged by results, and for me last 4 should be the minimum requirement.

A few selections that I could question, but not taking Tarks isn't one of them.

The biggest issue for me is 2 key members of the Euro squad, namely Maguire and Phillips are totally out of form in the case of the former, and just recovering from a long term injury in the case of the latter.

[Dyched]

Thinking of the players missing out - not sure there is a better missing out uninjured XI in world football

——————————Henderson——————————-
Gomez———Tarkowski——Tomori————Mitchell
Sancho——-Ward Prowse——-Loftus Cheek——-Bowen
————————Toney————-Watkins————————-


Makes me think no player should be in when bang out of form with these in the wings. At least half are in blinding form.

Most of those have been around for quite a while and Gomez/Tomori/Loftus Cheek aside have never played in the Champions League or played for a club even challenging to play in it. You can’t ask 90% of your team to win a World Cup with hardly no experience.

[bobinho]

Thinking of the players missing out - not sure there is a better missing out uninjured XI in world football

——————————Henderson——————————-
Gomez———Tarkowski——Tomori————Mitchell
Sancho——-Ward Prowse——-Loftus Cheek——-Bowen
————————Toney————-Watkins————————-


Makes me think no player should be in when bang out of form with these in the wings. At least half are in blinding form.

Depending on how this lot set up, I reckon they’d give a GS managed England side a real game - maybe even beat em.

[Swizzlestick]

That weak as **** midfield wouldn't last five mins.

[daveisaclaret]

I suppose it's instructive to think that if England do win this World Cup there's a decent chunk of English people who won't enjoy it and will trip over themselves to explain why it doesn't really count.

[Lancasterclaret]

Depending on how this lot set up, I reckon they’d give a GS managed England side a real game - maybe even beat em.

That centre midfield is a joke mate

I mean, you are being serious here I take it?

[1882Clarets1882]

Ivan Toney , according to his boss is currently the best penalty taker in the world. He's good enough to play anyway. How many times have we needed a quality pen taker? School boy error Southgate.

[Winstonswhite]

Ivan Toney , according to his boss is currently the best penalty taker in the world. He's good enough to play anyway. How many times have we needed a quality pen taker? School boy error Southgate.

Genius.

Why stop there? With 5 subs we could have a penalty taking special team. Just park the bus for 120 minutes. Surely Southgate can manage that?!

[1882Clarets1882]

Genius.

Why stop there? With 5 subs we could have a penalty taking special team. Just park the bus for 120 minutes. Surely Southgate can manage that?!

I did say "he's good enough to play anyway"

[bobinho]

That centre midfield is a joke mate

I mean, you are being serious here I take it?

Not entirely, my tongue was firmly in my loftus-cheek when I wrote it…. But there’s a game in it for sure.
If scotlands midfield can nullify GS tactics, I’m sure the midfield mentioned could manage to trouble southgates first choice midfield, given the negative instructions he will issue.

[Terry Cochrane]

Exactly....and if you enjoy watching that I feel for you.

Sounds like you have fallen out of love with football entirely because thats exactly what it is these days.

[Lancasterclaret]

Not entirely, my tongue was firmly in my loftus-cheek when I wrote it…. But there’s a game in it for sure.
If scotlands midfield can nullify GS tactics, I’m sure the midfield mentioned could manage to trouble southgates first choice midfield, given the negative instructions he will issue.

Thank god for that, I thought you'd lost the plot there!

I think he's picked the best of what he's got available and its up to him whether he can get it fire like he has managed in the previous two tournaments

I think with the timing, the conditions and the general lack of form will result in us struggling past the group stage sadly

[Steve1956]

Sounds like you have fallen out of love with football entirely because thats exactly what it is these days.

Greed & VAR buddy...absolutely killed the game...Championship is ok for now we don't have much of that shite in this division just yet,but it will eventually come and shlt all over that as well...so your probably right I'm falling out of love with the beautiful game,I really can't help myself.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Depending on how this lot set up, I reckon they’d give a GS managed England side a real game - maybe even beat em.

Haha, yes indeed.

Now the point of me suggesting that XI wasn’t to say they should all play ahead of the chosen XI (whoever they prove to be), just that we have huge depth and shouldn’t be picking bang out of form players. Even in that “stand by” XI we have a lack of depth at left back and holding midfield, so I can see why Phillips has gone.

But most successful managers have young understudies in all positions, Southgate has some good youngsters with the glaring exception of central defence, White at 25 the youngest and he is very limited in terms of world class potential. If (when) Southgate is to be exposed, not just in this World Cup but going forward, it is there. I would have picked Tarky because I see him as better than at least three of the picked players, but he is getting on a bit so I would say Tomori should have gone for the future (as should Fofana with France).

[Clive 1960]

He won't be the England manager after the world cup and most of that squad will be gone as well . I'm surprised there is no place in the squad for Deli Ali the form he's not In as being a buddy of Southgate like Maguire, Shaw etc .

[BennyD]

What’s the 11 then?

Pickford
White Stones Maguire
Trippier Bellingham Rice Shaw
Saka Sterling/Foden
Kane

Maguire and Shaw says it all. Even Ten Hag can see the limitations of those two but, it seems, Southgate can't. Perhaps he's trying to block out the left hand side but, if so, 2 wheelybins full of broken bricks would be more effective.

[RVclaret]

Maguire and Shaw says it all. Even Ten Hag can see the limitations of those two but, it seems, Southgate can't. Perhaps he's trying to block out the left hand side but, if so, 2 wheelybins full of broken bricks would be more effective.

Who would you play there, Benny?

[Top Claret]

Who would you play there, Benny?

Charles Taylor and James Tarkowski. I will even slam a Saturday night mojo just fort crack

[BennyD]

Charles Taylor and James Tarkowski. I will even slam a Saturday night mojo just fort crack

Tbf, they would be better than Maguire and Shaw. I mean Maguire was run-down and arrested by a fat Greek copper.