England Squad

[claretonthecoast1882]

Don't ever change Gareth

Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Al-Ettifaq), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (Arsenal)

Forwards: Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur), Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Callum Wilson (Newcastle United)

[Rileybobs]

What’s so controversial this time?

[ClaretTony]

Pope out of the squad I see

[Burnley1989]

Half of them hardly even play for their clubs, I don’t really watch international football anymore tbh, I’m only taking a general interest because we will be coming up against most of these players this year.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Henderson shouldn't be anywhere near it.

I'd normally say the same about Maguire, for different reasons, but we aren't overly endowed with fit, in-form English CBs

[ŽižkovClaret]

Pope out of the squad I see

Surely must be on request for some reason. Maybe a small medical procedure? Didn't he have some hand injury last international break?

[ArmchairDetective]

No Sterling? - has been fantastic for England.

Still choosing Henderson - surely one of the last times he gets called up after his move. You'd think he will only go downhill as a player playing in Saudi.

Nketiah over Abraham and Watkins?

Is Stones injured?

[ŽižkovClaret]

Is Stones injured?

Yeah, didn't he go off against us?

[Woodleyclaret]

Southgate really takes the pxx
Henderson and Maguire ffs

[ArmchairDetective]

Yeah, didn't he go off against us?

Googled: he didn't play against us. He has been out injured at the start of this season.

[claretonthecoast1882]

What’s so controversial this time?

Oh maybe Pope out for Johnstone, says there is a lack of options at left options but won't even consider looking at Rico Henry. Picks Trent as a midfielder because it is the current trend. Picking Kalvin Phillips and defending doing so as he is a pivot. Sticking by Sterling when he was struggling claiming he hadn't let England down, now he is fit again and playing well not picking him. Not picking Ollie Watkins.

[RVclaret]

Pretty embarrassing that we have a 32 year old player from the Saudi league in the team.

[Falcon]

If their clubs keep splashing the cash we might end up with half the squad playing in Saudi this time next year.

More concerning is players who haven't played a minute for their club still getting picked.

[Rileybobs]

Oh maybe Pope out for Johnstone, says there is a lack of options at left options but won't even consider looking at Rico Henry. Picks Trent as a midfielder because it is the current trend. Picking Kalvin Phillips and defending doing so as he is a pivot. Sticking by Sterling when he was struggling claiming he hadn't let England down, now he is fit again and playing well not picking him. Not picking Ollie Watkins.

Seems like the usual what can we find about Southgate’s squad selection to complain about which we see on here every single time, literally without fail, that an England squad is announced.

[tarkys_ears]

Ain't watched this set of bottlers since the Euros final.

I never will until Southgate is gone.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Seems like the usual what can we find about Southgate’s squad selection to complain about which we see on here every single time, literally without fail, that an England squad is announced.

Does it ? If that's what you take from that then fair do's I could say yours is the usual defence of anything Southgate does when a squad is announced but I am just going to accept that you ap[prove of his thought process and his selections.

[Sleeping Cat]

Given the lack of English CMs available I can understand Henderson being available but he probably isn't the future for the next tournament. Philips has barely played in a full year. You shouldn't be selected based on performances from almost 2 seasons ago. Would have rather seen Ward-Prowse given a go, who has had a good start to his career at West Ham.

[Sleeping Cat]

Pretty embarrassing that we have a 32 year old player from the Saudi league in the team.

I don't think we will be the only international team to have this, given some of the players they have signed.

[Spijed]

The likes of Ollie Watkins may be good in the Prem but the gap in ability compared to the top strikers is immense and will be difficult to bridge. Kane aside, we've little else in striking ability.

[claretonthecoast1882]

"Hi Ollie, it is Gareth here just letting you know I am leaving you out as you aren't as good as the very best in the world in your position"

"No worries Gareth thanks for your call"

"Oh and I have picked Callum Wilson"

[ClaretsPadiham]

What about Ben Mee & Tarky ?

[Rileybobs]

Does it ? If that's what you take from that then fair do's I could say yours is the usual defence of anything Southgate does when a squad is announced but I am just going to accept that you ap[prove of his thought process and his selections.

Yes it does. Every single time an England squad is announced there is a thread on here with people criticising the selections. I can guarantee that would have been the case even if he’d picked the alternative players you suggested in your post.

I’m not particularly defensive of Southgate, I just read some utter tripe about him on here - most of it based on a pre-conceived dislike of him - so I feel fit to call it out. Seeing as your MO on here appears to be making snide comments at anyone who says anything slightly less than complimentary about BFC I find the juxtaposition unusual.

No doubt there will be reasons why certain players aren’t selected just as there will be perfectly justifiable reasons why some are.

As ever England will win the qualifying game and the friendly despite his squad selection, and undoubtedly there will be the same posts on here whilst those matches are taking place complaining about his style of play and how ‘it’s only Ukraine’ and by those who can’t help but tell people that they have no interest in the game. Never change…

[Spijed]

"Hi Ollie, it is Gareth here just letting you know I am leaving you out as you aren't as good as the very best in the world in your position"

"No worries Gareth thanks for your call"

"Oh and I have picked Callum Wilson"

That's the phone call he should be making

[burnleymik]

Southgate 2017 after taking up the England manager role: "never pick on reputation, form has to come into it".

https://www.skysports.com/football/news ... reputation

[Rileybobs]

"Hi Ollie, it is Gareth here just letting you know I am leaving you out as you aren't as good as the very best in the world in your position"

"No worries Gareth thanks for your call"

"Oh and I have picked Callum Wilson"

Which of the two is the most like-for-like replacement for Kane should he be injured?

[claretonthecoast1882]

Yes it does. Every single time an England squad is announced there is a thread on here with people criticising the selections. I can guarantee that would have been the case even if he’d picked the alternative players you suggested in your post.

I’m not particularly defensive of Southgate, I just read some utter tripe about him on here - most of it based on a pre-conceived dislike of him - so I feel fit to call it out. Seeing as your MO on here appears to be making snide comments at anyone who says anything slightly less than complimentary about BFC I find the juxtaposition unusual.

No doubt there will be reasons why certain players aren’t selected just as there will be perfectly justifiable reasons why some are.

As ever England will win the qualifying game and the friendly despite his squad selection, and undoubtedly there will be the same posts on here whilst those matches are taking place complaining about his style of play and how ‘it’s only Ukraine’ and by those who can’t help but tell people that they have no interest in the game. Never change…

I’m not particularly defensive of Southgate

As for your comments about my MO, I will just smile. Coming from someone who comes across as the resident Owen Jones who has a lot to say without saying anything I guess we can agree to disagree and I can leave you to what you do.

[SalisburyClaret]

Southgate said he’ll always pick on form

[Vegas Claret]

He said in his very first press conference that he would pick on form and not on reputation or the club they play for. I can't see how anyone can take the picking of Maguire, Philips, Henderson or Johnstone seriously when the likes of Sterling and Bowen haven't got in the squad.

[Shaggy]

Southgate = woke waistcoated ******

And he’s a poor manager

[Sozturf7]

I like the man but he's lost the plot.

[quoonbeatz]

Tbf he's not picking Maguire on reputation.

[ŽižkovClaret]

I dont see how Eddie Nketiah gets in ahead of Sterling ngl

[equinox]

I don’t really watch international football anymore tbh,

4 posts, that must be a new record?

[Tricky Trevor]

Apart from Tripps and Walker the list of defenders is scarily poor for international football.
I know it’s only Ukraine and Scotland but if that lot came up against a top tier side we’d be screwed.
Midfield isn’t much better but the top end should score goals if they bother showing up.

[IanMcL]

Awful!

Best keeper not in squad. Players not even sniffing their own first team and players from a plastic league, when previously he wouldn't take from our own Championship.

Is he after the sack? Perhaps he is.

[daveisaclaret]

From the perspective of a general Southgate fan - I think Henderson being in is a genuine disgrace, but at the same time there aren't two English central midfielders out there that would actually make me think the squad was notably better if they replaced him and Phillips.

Likewise Pope, he's better than Ramsdale and Johnstone but it's right that Pickford is our goalie so hard to be too animated.

[CoolClaret]

Get in the bin Southgate.

Horrific.

What a complete and utter tosser.

[claret2018]

He picks the players who serve him well for England. Maguire has always looked a different beast playing under Southgate than he has for Utd.

We’ve got to the WC semi final and the final of the Euros in the last 2 tournaments. I’m not sure anyone else would have done any better.

[Sproggy]

He picks the players who serve him well for England. Maguire has always looked a different beast playing under Southgate than he has for Utd.

We’ve got to the WC semi final and the final of the Euros in the last 2 tournaments. I’m not sure anyone else would have done any better.

Geoff Hurst has never let England down and he has as many first team minutes as Maguire this season. How far back are we allowed to look?

[AfloatinClaret]

He picks the players who serve him well for England. Maguire has always looked a different beast playing under Southgate than he has for Utd.

We’ve got to the WC semi final and the final of the Euros in the last 2 tournaments. I’m not sure anyone else would have done any better.

Now then, now then. A bit less of the facts and common sense please... you know how much they annoy the natives.
Southgate didn't select Pope/Tarks often enough or Ben Mee at all; What's a Euro final and a WC semi in comparison to that.

[Stanbill05]

Biggest surprise for me is the fact Henderson is only 32. Legs have clearly gone already, which is a problem when your engine is your biggest asset.

[equinox]

Awful!

Best keeper not in squad. Players not even sniffing their own first team and players from a plastic league, when previously he wouldn't take from our own Championship.

Is he after the sack? Perhaps he is.

Eee Ian, you're a decent chap and you can tell your heart is in the right place but you don't half post some absolutely dogsh!t!

[IanMcL]

Eee Ian, you're a decent chap and you can tell your heart is in the right place but you don't half post some absolutely dogsh!t!

Mostly kind, Equinox!

Are you saying Pope is not a better keeper than one or two or even all three?

Are you saying that he has not chosen players who can't get a sniff at their own club?

Are you also saying that the Saudi League for Old stagers and money grabbers is better than our very competitive Championship, from where Southgate has said he won't pick?

Not sure which is incorrect.

[Rileybobs]

Are you also saying that the Saudi League for Old stagers and money grabbers is better than our very competitive Championship, from where Southgate has said he won't pick?

Unbelievably Neymar has been called up for Brazil’s upcoming World Cup Qualifier and Ronaldo is a regular in Portugal’s squads too.

[IanMcL]

Unbelievably Neymar has been called up for Brazil’s upcoming World Cup Qualifier and Ronaldo is a regular in Portugal’s squads too.

Do you not think they are a bit different to the players called up to the England squad?

[warksclaret]

We now have the best squad in the World but under Southgate we will never win a trophy. Heard a lovely quote today- Gareth Southgate is like letting a coach driver in charge of a Ferarri. He is two faced stating initially he would only pick players on form-he is now picking players not even playing for their clubs. Ten Hag never picks McGuire in a mediocre United side, Phillips probably played less than 100 minutes for City last season and not featured this season, and Henderson realising he cant hack the PL is playing in Saudi Arabia. Feel sorry for players like Sterling and Gibbs-White

Looking forward to when the Saudis want to win something at Newcastle and want a bigger coach than Howe. We can then put Eddie in charge of England, as he is simply light years ahead of Southgate in coaching

[Rileybobs]

Do you not think they are a bit different to the players called up to the England squad?

Well you were suggesting that players playing in the Saudi league shouldn’t represent England because Southgate doesn’t often select players playing in the Championship. So I was demonstrating that the quality of a player is not determined by which league they ply their trade in. There are now countless current internationals who play in the Saudi league whether we think the standard is good or not.

Do you not think that there’s a reason that Henderson is playing in Saudi and not the Premier League? It’s not because he’s not good enough for the Premier League, because obviously he is - it’s because he’s getting paid obscene amounts of money to do so. And whilst that’s a questionable decision of his it isn’t a reflection on his ability.

[Rileybobs]

We now have the best squad in the World

Now this is why I find some of the Southgate bashing to be tripe. Do we really have the best squad in the world? Because it certainly doesn’t look that way to me.

[daveisaclaret]

C Ronaldo is Portugal's best ever player, Neymar is Brazil's best player of this generation, Jordan Henderson is a guy who gets on England's bench as we lack depth. I assume Rileybobs understands that so it does look a bit weird to cape for it

[Rileybobs]

C Ronaldo is Portugal's best ever player, Neymar is Brazil's best player of this generation, Jordan Henderson is a guy who gets on England's bench as we lack depth. I assume Rileybobs understands that so it does look a bit weird to cape for it

I thought I made the point pretty clear in my last post. Which is that a player playing in the Saudi league does not necessarily make them less of a player than one playing in the Premier League, and certainly not in the Championship as per Ian’s suggestion.

Henderson left the Premier league for money, not because he isn’t good enough. And your point about us lacking depth is exactly why he’s been called up - so why does the fact that he plays in Saudi suddenly make him not good enough for selection? It think it was fairly obvious that I wasn’t comparing the abilities of Henderson with Neymar and Ronaldo.