@StrongestTeam - Absolutely, Paul Gascoigne was absolutely unplayable for a couple of years. He was a hair's breadth away from being under the custodianship of Alex Ferguson but apparently Spurs bought his dad a house and so he ended up hanging out with Danny Baker and Chris Evans etc rather than Giggs and Keane and the like. I think he chose far better company but one can only imagine how long his very bright flame might have burned under those safe hands.
if Gareth moves on after the Euro’s , someone will inherit a very good group of young players. I would love Gareth to win the Euro’s first -very unfairly maligned in my view.
I think there are balanced views to be had. I think his crowning achievement so far has been making England's national team feel unified after the fractured and tribal dressing rooms of the past. It really is Team England, and the connection to the very talented youth sides has also been fostered very well.
He has also got the team deep into tournaments - though this is more of a contentious point as at both WC 18 and Euro 20 the draw opened up nicely. Either way, he still gets the credit for going deep, underlying reasons aside.
On the negative side, he is simply too cautious for a lot of people, myself included. We have an absolutely wild level of attacking talent nowadays, but often play dour games with the handbrake on. This is always going to ruffle some feathers, as it is feels like we are not really going all out for it, but hoping to win the test by blocking most balls rather than hitting boundaries.
As with anyone, there are pros and cons, and a lot of it comes down to what you value more.
If we don't win the thing, I don't think it'll be Southgate's fault, it'll likely be the fault of our lack of defensive and midfield options. We've got probably the best front 4 in the tournament, but it's much weaker across the squad.
I actually think a big signal of intent will come from whether Eze is selected or not. That might be a bit of a bellweather as to the mindset this tournament is being approached with. A larger squad size should mean taking an in-form, dynamic silky talent should be a no-brainer, so it will definitely speak volumes (to me) if he does not make the cut.
I should have known @mooneyman ! I just couldn’t be arsed to do that thing where the variations appear for a split second and you usually wind up with a grave or circumflex instead of the acute.
I completely overlooked Bowen in my original machinations, he has had a couple of great years, ample competition on the right flank there and able to operate centrally too. My biggest concerns are defensive, particularly at left-back where we have a couple of very young talents, I would prefer to start Colwell or Lewis ahead of a fudge option like Trippier who would be far better rotating with Walker at right back given that both are 33yrs old. I don't love the central defence, but it is the best available.
Further forward, much more solid, we have enough depth that we needn't play players out of position in order to accommodate four midfielders in three on-field roles, so Foden will not be playing on the left wing for me. There are three specialists in that position and two on the right wing with my one slightly more utility choice in TAA who I would consider playing RB in certain scenarios. Equally, barring injury Rice and Mainoo will be occupying the defensive position centrally - that they are both capable further forward is a massive plus though and adds flexibility through the tournament and in-game.
Up front, we don't have too many options. I overlooked Watkins because I don't think he works in the England system as well as Toney or Solanke do.
Personally, I am excited by the amount of strength we have throughout that midfield and attack and if the LBs play up to their obvious potential, we are some way towards a solution at the back. We just have to score more than the other lot.
Despite an overwhelming amount of public evidence I think the great unwashed don't feel he got any form of justice or showed much remorse. His partner was simply paid off.
My starting 11 of Pickford, Shaw (assuming fit), Walker, Stones, Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Saka, Bellingham, Foden, Eze, Kane. I would play Walker as a central defender because he has pace and is 10 times better than Maguire who is an accident waiting to happen. The selection of Eze is more heart than head though. Foden has to be central supporting Kane.
No Rashford and no Henderson is correct. Henderson has done nothing to say he deserves a role ahead of others (I also think that he slows our play down way too much). Rashford is not on form and selecting him instead of someone Palmer for example would have been very poor.
I don’t understand the defensive picks here, one left back (who is unlikely to be fit) seven centre backs and three right backs. I suppose this means that he would rather have no left back than Lewis or Colwell which is mystifyingly to me.
I am very pleased with that - especially Eze in, Henderson out. I'm not always Southgate's biggest fan but I don't think he has put a foot wrong there at all.
Forwards: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
Trippier or Gomez will play left back if Shaw isn't fit in time. It's a problem position for sure.
Presumably some of the younger guys - Quansah, Wharton - will be cut from the final squad but have been included to begin integrating them into the group.
I'm astounded Gordon has made it in and Sancho hasn't. I'd understand if this were a league season, but we're talking about whether we can beat 2/3 high quality teams in a one off game. Sancho has the capability to be absolutely elite and tip a tight game in our favour. I'm not sure what Gordon offers off the bench really.
I don't get this 'integrating them into the group' stuff. There are other times to do that surely that isn't in the build up to a major tournament. Isn't that also what the under 21s is for? The squad that is actually going needs to gel and get game time in the friendlies ahead of the tournament.
Comments
@StrongestTeam - Absolutely, Paul Gascoigne was absolutely unplayable for a couple of years. He was a hair's breadth away from being under the custodianship of Alex Ferguson but apparently Spurs bought his dad a house and so he ended up hanging out with Danny Baker and Chris Evans etc rather than Giggs and Keane and the like. I think he chose far better company but one can only imagine how long his very bright flame might have burned under those safe hands.
Not sure how I feel about having a German in control of our national team.....
if Gareth moves on after the Euro’s , someone will inherit a very good group of young players. I would love Gareth to win the Euro’s first -very unfairly maligned in my view.
I think there are balanced views to be had. I think his crowning achievement so far has been making England's national team feel unified after the fractured and tribal dressing rooms of the past. It really is Team England, and the connection to the very talented youth sides has also been fostered very well.
He has also got the team deep into tournaments - though this is more of a contentious point as at both WC 18 and Euro 20 the draw opened up nicely. Either way, he still gets the credit for going deep, underlying reasons aside.
On the negative side, he is simply too cautious for a lot of people, myself included. We have an absolutely wild level of attacking talent nowadays, but often play dour games with the handbrake on. This is always going to ruffle some feathers, as it is feels like we are not really going all out for it, but hoping to win the test by blocking most balls rather than hitting boundaries.
As with anyone, there are pros and cons, and a lot of it comes down to what you value more.
If we don't win the thing, I don't think it'll be Southgate's fault, it'll likely be the fault of our lack of defensive and midfield options. We've got probably the best front 4 in the tournament, but it's much weaker across the squad.
I actually think a big signal of intent will come from whether Eze is selected or not. That might be a bit of a bellweather as to the mindset this tournament is being approached with. A larger squad size should mean taking an in-form, dynamic silky talent should be a no-brainer, so it will definitely speak volumes (to me) if he does not make the cut.
Definitely agree, Eze should be going. We took a 17 year old lad from Arsenal "Just for the experience" once upon a time.
I should have known @mooneyman ! I just couldn’t be arsed to do that thing where the variations appear for a split second and you usually wind up with a grave or circumflex instead of the acute.
Cheek of him not to give you the time of day (or something). It’s late !
I completely overlooked Bowen in my original machinations, he has had a couple of great years, ample competition on the right flank there and able to operate centrally too. My biggest concerns are defensive, particularly at left-back where we have a couple of very young talents, I would prefer to start Colwell or Lewis ahead of a fudge option like Trippier who would be far better rotating with Walker at right back given that both are 33yrs old. I don't love the central defence, but it is the best available.
Further forward, much more solid, we have enough depth that we needn't play players out of position in order to accommodate four midfielders in three on-field roles, so Foden will not be playing on the left wing for me. There are three specialists in that position and two on the right wing with my one slightly more utility choice in TAA who I would consider playing RB in certain scenarios. Equally, barring injury Rice and Mainoo will be occupying the defensive position centrally - that they are both capable further forward is a massive plus though and adds flexibility through the tournament and in-game.
Up front, we don't have too many options. I overlooked Watkins because I don't think he works in the England system as well as Toney or Solanke do.
My squad would be
Gk: Pickford, Butland
Def: Walker, Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Branthwaite, Guehi, Lewis, Colwell
Mid: Rice, Mainoo, Foden, Bellingham, Palmer, Gallagher
Wide: Grealish, Gordon, Eze, Saka, Bowen, Alexander-Arnold
CF: Kane, Toney, Solanke
Personally, I am excited by the amount of strength we have throughout that midfield and attack and if the LBs play up to their obvious potential, we are some way towards a solution at the back. We just have to score more than the other lot.
I'm just hoping Luke Shaw is fit. He makes a massive difference
Scotland are my first team and I'm going with Georgia as my second for obvious reasons.
God knows what I'm going to do when the two meet in the final.
Looks like there could be a few surprises: https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/may/21/england-euro-2024-squad-henderson-chilwell-wharton-jones-rashford-eze
...although the BBC are saying Henderson is in
I think that is Dean Henderson
Its a long way back for that young man.
Despite an overwhelming amount of public evidence I think the great unwashed don't feel he got any form of justice or showed much remorse. His partner was simply paid off.
You're probably right.
No mention of Sancho. Very disappointing
My starting 11 of Pickford, Shaw (assuming fit), Walker, Stones, Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Saka, Bellingham, Foden, Eze, Kane. I would play Walker as a central defender because he has pace and is 10 times better than Maguire who is an accident waiting to happen. The selection of Eze is more heart than head though. Foden has to be central supporting Kane.
Rashford rumoured to be missing out (admittedly according to The Mail) @flymofrank
It was already confirmed that Jordan hasn't made the cut, then it was confirmed that Dean Henderson made the cut
Im happy that Eze has made the cut
No Rashford and no Henderson is correct. Henderson has done nothing to say he deserves a role ahead of others (I also think that he slows our play down way too much). Rashford is not on form and selecting him instead of someone Palmer for example would have been very poor.
I don’t understand the defensive picks here, one left back (who is unlikely to be fit) seven centre backs and three right backs. I suppose this means that he would rather have no left back than Lewis or Colwell which is mystifyingly to me.
I am very pleased with that - especially Eze in, Henderson out. I'm not always Southgate's biggest fan but I don't think he has put a foot wrong there at all.
Here's the provisional squad. Seven players to be cut from 33 to 26.
England provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), James Trafford (Burnley).
Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace).
Forwards: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
Trippier or Gomez will play left back if Shaw isn't fit in time. It's a problem position for sure.
Presumably some of the younger guys - Quansah, Wharton - will be cut from the final squad but have been included to begin integrating them into the group.
I'm astounded Gordon has made it in and Sancho hasn't. I'd understand if this were a league season, but we're talking about whether we can beat 2/3 high quality teams in a one off game. Sancho has the capability to be absolutely elite and tip a tight game in our favour. I'm not sure what Gordon offers off the bench really.
I don't get this 'integrating them into the group' stuff. There are other times to do that surely that isn't in the build up to a major tournament. Isn't that also what the under 21s is for? The squad that is actually going needs to gel and get game time in the friendlies ahead of the tournament.
Surprised Maddison has been selected. He's had a very poor season with Spurs.
No Solanke is odd for me. He’s had a great season.