England Squad

[Baldyman]

I’d say we possibly have the best attacking options in world football right now in Kane, Saka, Foden , Bellingham , Palmer , Watkins & Toney .  However there’s a massive gulf in class between those forward options and our midfield and defensive options . Any injuries to the likes of Trippier , Walker or Rice and I fear we’ll be badly exposed but who knows ? Maybe 2024 will be our year to ride our luck !! 

[JBFC II]

9 minutes ago, Jose said:

He’s always said he doesn’t play centrally for England as he doesn’t for City. Which was rubbish at the time and after a good season Southgate’s recent quote is we want him in a centre position. 
 

A walking contradiction.

Anyway I’d move Bellingham back and Foden at 10 but then leaves a space on the left?! 

Gordon on the left? Is he good enough to make the step up to start?

[TV Tom]

22 minutes ago, Ronnie Sinclair said:

The goalkeeping department must be the worst its ever been for England, apart from Pickford the others have either been dropped or injured for most of the season (Trafford looked out of his depth for Burnley before they brought Muric back in.  Was Raya a better bet for Arsenal than Ramsdale, the jury probably still out).

You’re dead right, it says it all if Pickford is our No.1, there’s a reason why he doesn’t play for a top club

[chinapig]

16 minutes ago, JBFC II said:

Surely we look to play Foden as a 10, Bellingham as an 8 alongside Rice and Trent as a right back who can step up if needed? Would be disappointed if we shove Foden onto the left with how good he’s been this season.

I really don’t get the Trafford one, he’s not shown he’s good enough for the Premier League never mind England. Do we need 4 keepers in this squad anyway?

Only if you set much store by nominal positions rather than roles. An example was Scholes who people complained was played on the left. He said himself that wasn't true, he was free to go wherever he wanted and just needed to move left when we were defending. The same could apply to Foden though it would help if Shaw was fit as he is good at pushing high up.

It's significant that Bellingham has been named as a forward not a midfielder too. That doesn't mean that you won't be proven right of course.

Trafford has suffered from being in a dreadful Burnley side but has been outstanding for the U21s. But this is a provisional squad and he is unlikely to be in the final 26.

Edited May 21 by chinapig

[North London Red]

Imagine the clamour for Southgate to reconsider if Sancho and Bynoe-Gittens both play well in the Champions League final a week on Saturday. 
 

Sancho arguably a bit unlucky, as are Dier and Solanke. 

[Gillies Downs Leeds]

3 hours ago, hinsleburg said:

No Shaw or Chilwell, who on earth plays Left Back? Potentially Trent to shoehorn him in and means he can move into the midfield easier when in possession?

 

Would have the palace left back in the squad personally.

[chinapig]

13 minutes ago, Gillies Downs Leeds said:

Would have the palace left back in the squad personally.

He's been very good since Glasner came in, though in more of a wing back role. I would have picked him though.

[Nathandao]

49 minutes ago, TV Tom said:

You’re dead right, it says it all if Pickford is our No.1, there’s a reason why he doesn’t play for a top club

Pickford is one of the best goalkeepers around. He gets so much undeserved hatred and very rarely puts a foot wrong for club and country.

2nd for clean sheets in the prem this season for a bottom half side says it all I think...

[SecretSam]

1 hour ago, JBFC II said:

A bit confused as to what James Trafford has done to deserve a call up?

Interesting that Bellingham is named as a forward whilst Trent is named as a midfielder, wonder what the plan is there?

It's amazing how thin the pickings are in some positions - Trafford shouldn't be anywhere near the squad. 

Quite frightening how thin the midfield is as well

[hinsleburg]

24 minutes ago, Gillies Downs Leeds said:

Would have the palace left back in the squad personally.

I think Mitchell would have been my pick too, little bit old fashioned but like having left footed players at Left Back...

Can see Colwill being picked as can also play there.

[Harry]

32 minutes ago, chinapig said:

Only if you set much store by nominal positions rather than roles. An example was Scholes who people complained was played on the left. He said himself that wasn't true, he was free to go wherever he wanted and just needed to move left when we were defending. The same could apply to Foden though it would help if Shaw was fit as he is good at pushing high up.

For me, we don’t need the full backs pushing up. 
I’d even rather we stick a CB at LB for more defensive solidity. 
With the wealth of attacking options we have we are far better having Rice, Jude, Saka, Foden, Palmer & Kane as the front 6 and just telling the back 4 to stick to defending. 
Those attacking players don’t need full backs pushing high. They’ll just get in the way. 
Our weakest area is the defence. We should just tell all 4 to stay back and focus on that 

[Malago]

20 minutes ago, Nathandao said:

Pickford is one of the best goalkeepers around. He gets so much undeserved hatred and very rarely puts a foot wrong for club and country.

2nd for clean sheets in the prem this season for a bottom half side says it all I think...

Specialist in saving pens as well. 

[Northern Red]

22 minutes ago, Nathandao said:

Pickford is one of the best goalkeepers around. He gets so much undeserved hatred and very rarely puts a foot wrong for club and country.

2nd for clean sheets in the prem this season for a bottom half side says it all I think...

Yep. Without him Everton would likely have been relegated at some point in the last few years.

[grifty]

My ideal team would be

Pickford

Walker Stones Maguire Shaw

TAA Rice

Bellingham

Saka Kane Foden

Shaw to operate as a flying wingback, with the other 3 forming a more conventional back 3.

Foden, although showing there as left forward basically does what he wants where he wants to link in with Jude, Kane and Saka and make them click. Shaw can provide a bit more width and cover on the left flank. Walkers pace can make up for anything on the other side.

Football would be coming home!

Edited May 21 by grifty

[Carey 6]

1 hour ago, JBFC II said:

Off the bat I'd say 

Trafford, Branthwaite, Quansah, Wharton, Jones, Toney and Eze.

The teams for the friendlies will give us more of a hint 

Branthwaite is twice the player Dunk is. 

 

Dunk has played a few times for England and has seemed to make a mistake every single time. 

 

[Northern Red]

58 minutes ago, North London Red said:

Imagine the clamour for Southgate to reconsider if Sancho and Bynoe-Gittens both play well in the Champions League final a week on Saturday. 
 

Sancho arguably a bit unlucky, as are Dier and Solanke. 

Sancho was never an automatic pick even when he was ripping it up for Dortmund first time around, amd when he was picked there were the same questions about attitude (timekeeping etc) and mentality that have caused him problems at club level.

[Robbored]

Question is who will miss out when the squad I’d culled? 

[TonyTonyTony]

We are so strong up front - Just imagine if Musiala had chosen to play for England. 

[W-S-M Seagull]

2 hours ago, Northern Red said:

It's the right call on Rashford, but I'd forgive him if he feels a bit miffed that Grealish has made the cut when he hasn't.

Grealish had a fantastic season last season and has been OK this season. I don't think he lost his place for Man City because he has been playing poorly, think its more a case of being kept out of the team by the superb Doku. 

Grealish has won 3 premier leagues in a row and a treble. Plus he has a good relationship with Foden so based on those things I can see why he is in the squad ahead of Rashford who's just done nothing. 

[W-S-M Seagull]

5 minutes ago, TonyTonyTony said:

We are so strong up front - Just imagine if Musiala had chosen to play for England. 

And Haaland. 

[North London Red]

2 minutes ago, Northern Red said:

Sancho was never an automatic pick even when he was ripping it up for Dortmund first time around, amd when he was picked there were the same questions about attitude (timekeeping etc) and mentality that have caused him problems at club level.

Not automatic, but still got 23 caps in three years. 

Totally get the point about professionalism, but Sancho could be a potentially devastating option from the bench against a tiring defence. Dortmund have worked out how to get the best out of him (for the wider benefit of the team); Ten Hag and Southgate haven’t.

[DaveF]

6 minutes ago, North London Red said:

Not automatic, but still got 23 caps in three years. 

Totally get the point about professionalism, but Sancho could be a potentially devastating option from the bench against a tiring defence. Dortmund have worked out how to get the best out of him (for the wider benefit of the team); Ten Hag and Southgate haven’t.

He's not really been tearing it up for Dortmund, though slowly getting back to his best.

I'd argue on this season people like Gordon and Bowen deserve a place more so than Sancho.

[chinapig]

33 minutes ago, Harry said:

For me, we don’t need the full backs pushing up. 
I’d even rather we stick a CB at LB for more defensive solidity. 
With the wealth of attacking options we have we are far better having Rice, Jude, Saka, Foden, Palmer & Kane as the front 6 and just telling the back 4 to stick to defending. 
Those attacking players don’t need full backs pushing high. They’ll just get in the way. 
Our weakest area is the defence. We should just tell all 4 to stay back and focus on that 

A 4-0-6 formation would certainly be brave and probably unprecedented! With the quality of defenders we have being so much lower than our attackers we would likely be overwhelmed.

And how do you get any coherent game plan with 6 attackers getting in each other's way, occupying the same spaces? It doesn't seem to be the ways tournaments have been won in the past.

[Harry]

7 minutes ago, chinapig said:

A 4-0-6 formation would certainly be brave and probably unprecedented! With the quality of defenders we have being so much lower than our attackers we would likely be overwhelmed.

And how do you get any coherent game plan with 6 attackers getting in each other's way, occupying the same spaces? It doesn't seem to be the ways tournaments have been won in the past.

Ha ha. 
No, I mean you’d still have Rice and Jude essentially as central midfielders, so you’d have Rice more the holding CM with Jude getting forward. 
I just don’t think that with Saka, Foden & let’s say Palmer all in advanced attacking positions, with Jude able to join them, it doesn’t require full backs to get up the pitch as well. I’d rather we picked 4 solid proper defenders who are there to defend first and foremost and let the flair players do the attacking and creativity. 
Would also help lots if Stones didn’t hold onto the ball for about 38 seconds every time he gets it and slows everything down. Just ping it into Foden or Jude and play from there with speed and intensity. No need for the slow ball played by Stones 

Edited May 21 by Harry

[Silvio Dante]

Just been sent this:

 

[Malago]

45 minutes ago, grifty said:

My ideal team would be

Pickford

Walker Stones Maguire Shaw

TAA Rice

Bellingham

Saka Kane Foden

Shaw to operate as a flying wingback, with the other 3 forming a more conventional back 3.

Foden, although showing there as left forward basically does what he wants where he wants to link in with Jude, Kane and Saka and make them click. Shaw can provide a bit more width and cover on the left flank. Walkers pace can make up for anything on the other side.

Football would be coming home!

Foden is wasted on the left.  Play him as the 10, play Bellingham alongside Rice and Palmer on the left of the front 3

[CyderHead92]

5 minutes ago, Malago said:

Foden is wasted on the left.  Play him as the 10, play Bellingham alongside Rice and Palmer on the left of the front 3

I be tempted 4-1-4-1 with rice as the holding midfielder and Saka Foden Bellingham palmer in front

[JBFC II]

48 minutes ago, Carey 6 said:

Branthwaite is twice the player Dunk is. 

 

Dunk has played a few times for England and has seemed to make a mistake every single time. 

 

I'd agree. 

I feel like with it being an major tournament Southgate will be as conservative as possible, Branthwaite has yet to play for England, it's a big risk taking him

[Iron Acton Red]

5 hours ago, grifty said:

Would he go Trent at centre mid?

With Walker at RB and Trippier able to cover both full back positions we can free Trent into centre mid with Rice and Bellingham just ahead.

Foden, Kane, Saka as a top 3 but let Foden drift everywhere and do what he wants basically.

Hopefully Foden will tear up this tournament.

[Harry]

17 minutes ago, Malago said:

Foden is wasted on the left.  Play him as the 10, play Bellingham alongside Rice and Palmer on the left of the front 3

That’s what I’d do.