International break including WC playoffs (16 Viewers)
- Thread starter Evo1883
- Start date
Ccfcisparks
Well-Known Member
Booing is OTT, but it bewilders me how he still has a starting place considering he seems to make a mistake for man united every week
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
I can't think of one major error he's made for England though.
Some players are just more suited to the international game
Wyken Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
The last couple of England managers have said they will pick players on form, including Southgate. By that reckoning Harry Maguire should be nowhere near the squad as he has had a terrible season
Also funny how Grealish is in the team more when at Man City but wasn't when he was at the top of his game at Villa
Nothing changes
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Also funny how Grealish is in the team more when at Man City but wasn't when he was at the top of his game at Villa
Nothing changes
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I might be wrong here but I feel it's almost the converse situation in comparison to John Stones .
My personal opinion is that it's all about the dynamics at Man Utd.
Otis
Well-Known Member
To be fair, Southgate always seemed unsure as to where Grealish would fit into the side, even when he first went to Man City.
Southgate is in love with Mount and also really rates Foden and Rice, so it is at times hard fro Grealish to find a place in the England line-up.
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
Grealish moving to Citeh means he's now playing regular Champions League football so has experience of better players and bigger occasions than at Villa. He was in the squad anyway so I don't see why that would change.
Who would you have picked in his place?
Ccfcisparks
Well-Known Member
Its clear our best 2 and the 2 we should be playing for the foreseeable should be Bellingham and Rice. If Kane is a guaranteed selection up top, theres 3 places to fight out for. Think Foden should be 1, Sterling likely another and its hard to discount Saka from the argument too, we are very fortunate in those attacking positions.
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
Stones is one of those more modern defenders that is basically a holding midfielder that plays at the back because he's tall and can head.
I don't think you need them so much at international level with the slower pace of the game and just being a big strong lump (Maguire, Bonucci etc.) is enough
Otis
Well-Known Member
It will be Mount though. He is a Southgate favourite.
I don't think he's done particularly well for England myself. Done really well at club level, but hasn't shine that brightly for England. I much prefer Foden to Mount.
Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
It's also still the case that having appeared for the U21's will get you a leg up to the first team more than being a good player who's worked their way up.
SlowerThanPlatt
Well-Known Member
At that age players tend to be pushed forward on recommendation of their clubs/agent, it’s U19 and closer to first team football you can get a representation imo
Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
Tom Lawrence
Frostie
Well-Known Member
Maguire is a very good centre back, exceptional in the air & uses the ball brilliantly. Unfortunately he also has glaring weaknesses, particularly with regards his pace/agility.
For United he plays in a system which doesn't play to his strengths at all & actually exposes his weaknesses massively. They allow midfield runners to get up against their Centre Backs & he can be ripped apart by someone with pace & skill.
He has never let England down though & we are a lot more pragmatic about playing to players strengths. Southgate was slaughtered for his use of defensive midfielders but the systems we use & players like Rice allow Maguire to flourish.
CovBrummie94
Well-Known Member
Southgate has never really picked on form. He has always had his favourites.
Frostie
Well-Known Member
I don't see a problem with that tbh.
I think you have to keep players around that you know can play the styles, systems & tactics you want & won't let you down.
If Southgate picked purely on form Sterling wouldn't have played much/at all at the Euros & ended up being arguably the tournament's best player. Pickford arguably wouldn't have played either & was exceptional.
If the public had their way & there were no "favourites" Alan Shearer wouldn't have played at Euro 96.
CovBrummie94
Well-Known Member
No I don't think it's a problem. I'm happy for the likes of Pickford and Maguire to be selected as they've never let us down and always perform when called upon.
It will become an issue for Southgate if the success stops. People will use his selection of out of form "favourites" as a stick to beat him with, but that's just part of football management I guess.
My biggest concern with England is Southgate's tendency to be more defensive in the big games and that will stop us ever winning a major tournament with him as manager.
CJ_covblaze
Well-Known Member
And his form for the team Southgate is picking him for has been very good. He’s never let his country down and he should be be in the team.
Ccfcisparks
Well-Known Member
Is he one of the best 2 English CB's in the world?
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
I think our issue is that we're generally very weak at the back in every position.
Otis
Well-Known Member
Not sure on that. James is excellent at right back and Shaw at left back. I think they are both top players.
We then also have Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Armstrong and Kieran Tripper.
At the left back we have Ben Chilwell.
It's the centre where we are weaker I think. The centre backs. No-one is looking top class there really. This is why Maguire plays.
Southgate was right, to boo a player before and apparently early on when on the ball, is idiotic at best. If Maguire consistently fucked up for England you could understand some annoyance at him being picked but he hasn’t.
Agree with some of the comments above, at league level I’m not particularly a fan of Pickford or Maguire but both have been very good for England in recent years
I think Bellingham might edge Mount out for final midfield place in team. I like Mount but I’ll be disappointed if Southgate shoehorns him into front three to accommodate him as it will be at the expense of Foden or Grealish…which would diminish our attacking threat
We’ve got some great options in midfield and attack though…could be exciting times if everyone’s fit
Agree with some of the comments above, at league level I’m not particularly a fan of Pickford or Maguire but both have been very good for England in recent years
I think Bellingham might edge Mount out for final midfield place in team. I like Mount but I’ll be disappointed if Southgate shoehorns him into front three to accommodate him as it will be at the expense of Foden or Grealish…which would diminish our attacking threat
We’ve got some great options in midfield and attack though…could be exciting times if everyone’s fit
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
Who do you pick instead of him though?
Evo1883
Well-Known Member
Well , that's a shocking state of affairs If it's maguire or bust eh .
Not sure tbh .
Let's be honest in 90% of England matches the defence does very little as England dominate the ball , when people says he never let's England down , you could put me there and I wouldn't let them down ..
His job at club level shows you the defender he is .
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
I think part of that is playing the midfield holding the way we do to protect them.
Evo1883
Well-Known Member
Il be honest I'd rather play anybody else but maguire .. he's painfully average
Liquid Gold
Well-Known Member
I don't know, even the next tier of players like Mings gives me no confidence.
Either way booing him was bang out of order.
Evo1883
Well-Known Member
OK I agree not mings either , yea not a fan of booing but fans are rightly frustrated the manager is not picking players like he said he would
Evo1883
Well-Known Member
Basically Southgate has entrenched himself in the " doesn't matter how shit maguire is week in week out , he will play for England " camp and I'm not happy with that either tbh
The lads almost 30 and won absolutely nothing , Southgate treats him like prime maldini
The lads almost 30 and won absolutely nothing , Southgate treats him like prime maldini
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Ccfcisparks
Well-Known Member
Tomori is the best English CB in Europe statistically
SBAndy
Well-Known Member
Behave.
stupot07
Well-Known Member
Agree with that. He seems to have an almost obsessive favouritism about Mount. Good player, but has been really average for England. Foden is just pure class and should be the first name on the teamsheet.
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Evo1883
Well-Known Member
Well he's 29 , never won a major honour , cost 80 mill and makes mistakes weekly in the Premier league .. it's laughable how much Southgate adores him