Ideally, I'd like to see: (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Walker, Maguire, Stones, Trippier (working on the assumption that Shaw won't be fit); Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Foden, [?]; Kane
If Rashford doesn't start, then someone's going to end up getting played out of position. Foden can do a job on the left, but you wouldn't choose to have him there.
What we definitely don't want to be doing is shoehorning players in, but I think we learnt from the Gerrard/Lampard/Scholes fiasco years ago not to do that.
Grealish, Gordon and Eze on the left, Foden, Palmer and Bellingham attacking midfielders, Rice and Mainoo defencive midfielders Saka on the right but would prefer Olise to be available to England.
Aside from Kane we are lightweight up front, I would be taking Watkins and Toney
Biggest issue for me is defence, hope that Branthwaite continues to progress, I would have him in my squad
Definitely hard to fit everyone in when Southgate will play Jordan Henderson next to Rice. I bet he flees to an underground bunker when opening a Coke in case it explodes everywhere.
Declan Rice thinks his best position is defensive midfielder and whether he is right or not, playing for England is not about finding your most effective position but how you can best improve the national team. With the riches further forward and the dodginess of our defence, this is an easy choice.
Whether Mainoo is a natural defensive midfielder or not is a livelier debate I think. I picked him myself on form, ability and to a large extent for want of alternatives. He had an excellent showing in the most recent round of England fixtures but he is definitely an understudy.
I suppose that Henderson is an alternative, hasn't played an awful lot which may be a blessing in one respect, but one wonders if his best days are behind him if he is struggling to get minutes for Ajax. Adam Wharton is perhaps just a little too green still but I hope he is going to figure sooner rather than later.
Sancho probably has a decent chance to come back in with the Champions League final to come, having played so well in the Semi Final. I expect he'd be an alternative tactical option to Saka on the right, but my impression is he isn't that flexible which could go against him.
International success generally does depend on (at least) some payers being flexible and not saying "I play here". I think this is the approach Southgate is trying to take with his selections. It is about finding the balance between a squad that is flexible but also including good players on form.
We are lucky at the moment to have two players that have such good technique that they could play well in any position (Bellingham and Foden). If these two stay fit and a few attackers find their mojo we should do well.
I don't like Foden on the left or right, he is a central midfielder and he is less effective than specialist widemen that we have available. I would rather be rotating Foden, Bellingham and Palmer in the central midfield to keep them all fresher and allow for a higher energy game. Gallagher probably gets added to that central mix too, which is fine by me. But with regards to the wide players, we have sufficient quality and with slightly different skillset to pose real problems for anyone. Slightly more worried on the right than the left, perhaps TAA would provide an option further up with his pace and his crossing ability, both Kane and Toney would be able to take advantage of that and Palmer/Bellingham compete well aerially in the box too. We have an abundance the right side of the halfway line, very nervous about our own backline.
In my opinion Foden needs to be the first name on England's teamsheet. He is young, hardworking, a team player and a prolific goalscorer. City would not have won the title without him.
Palmer is a good player, but there is a reason why City let him go.
I imagine Henderson will go but will only be used off the bench.
Dier playing again (at Bayern) might put him in the frame as he can cover at both centre back and defensive midfield. Same goes for Joe Gomez, who can cover at centre back and full back.
Biggest worries are in defence. Left back position is weak and Stones and Maguire aren't really the kind of defenders you want if you're under pressure. We need to aim to control games with the ball to stifle the opposition. I'm expecting us to play slow and steady possession, while waiting to picking our moments to attack carefully.
You do tend to post the odd whimsical non-specific comment @mooneyman ! That last sentence is a case in point. I’m on record, controversially, as having found Palmer less engaging than most players in a fairly recent post-match interview. But I’ve no idea why City “let him go”. Do you know?
Whatever my reservations about the lad’s personal qualities (and notwithstanding my personal lack of love for Chelsea football club), I think he is much more than “a good player”. He does tend to operate quite often on the right and would therefore be one of the options if Bukayo Saka is unavailable following the surgery which I read recently he is shortly due to undergo.
I agree, Foden and Bellingham first names on the sheet for me, followed by Kane, like him or not, he scores goals. Let's be honest, our main problem area is defence
Comments
Probably because they're spit scared at being taken to court by the City machine.
City goons already trying to get on the pitch
Pretty unusual to see fans raiding a premier league pitch isn't it?
Hopefully they enjoy these celebrations while they can and the FA have some balls with the punishment in however many years it is.
I don't remember a pitch invasion after a PL title win until City won it for the first time (which was ridiculously dramatic tbf).
This send-off for Klopp is quite something. Never seen anything like it.
I love when a team are so bad it messes up the league table alignment
Palmer? 22 Premier League goals! Has to be head and shoulders above Rashford.
They did bring it up
Not off the left. Also, almost half of those goals were penalties!
I'm chatting bollocks here. Can't have Foden on the left.
Also 11 assists...
Ideally, I'd like to see: (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Walker, Maguire, Stones, Trippier (working on the assumption that Shaw won't be fit); Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Foden, [?]; Kane
If Rashford doesn't start, then someone's going to end up getting played out of position. Foden can do a job on the left, but you wouldn't choose to have him there.
Rashford!?!?!?!
He'd be lucky to make the squad, let alone start.
He'll make the squad because he's one of Southgate's faves. And if it came to it, he could be an asset in that role.
What we definitely don't want to be doing is shoehorning players in, but I think we learnt from the Gerrard/Lampard/Scholes fiasco years ago not to do that.
Anthony Gordon is another option for that left-sided spot, totally forgot about him.
Grealish, Gordon and Eze on the left, Foden, Palmer and Bellingham attacking midfielders, Rice and Mainoo defencive midfielders Saka on the right but would prefer Olise to be available to England.
Aside from Kane we are lightweight up front, I would be taking Watkins and Toney
Biggest issue for me is defence, hope that Branthwaite continues to progress, I would have him in my squad
Definitely hard to fit everyone in when Southgate will play Jordan Henderson next to Rice. I bet he flees to an underground bunker when opening a Coke in case it explodes everywhere.
Mainoo is not a defensive midfielder. Nor is Rice particularly although I accept he will play there for England
Declan Rice thinks his best position is defensive midfielder and whether he is right or not, playing for England is not about finding your most effective position but how you can best improve the national team. With the riches further forward and the dodginess of our defence, this is an easy choice.
Whether Mainoo is a natural defensive midfielder or not is a livelier debate I think. I picked him myself on form, ability and to a large extent for want of alternatives. He had an excellent showing in the most recent round of England fixtures but he is definitely an understudy.
I suppose that Henderson is an alternative, hasn't played an awful lot which may be a blessing in one respect, but one wonders if his best days are behind him if he is struggling to get minutes for Ajax. Adam Wharton is perhaps just a little too green still but I hope he is going to figure sooner rather than later.
Sancho probably has a decent chance to come back in with the Champions League final to come, having played so well in the Semi Final. I expect he'd be an alternative tactical option to Saka on the right, but my impression is he isn't that flexible which could go against him.
International success generally does depend on (at least) some payers being flexible and not saying "I play here". I think this is the approach Southgate is trying to take with his selections. It is about finding the balance between a squad that is flexible but also including good players on form.
We are lucky at the moment to have two players that have such good technique that they could play well in any position (Bellingham and Foden). If these two stay fit and a few attackers find their mojo we should do well.
I don't like Foden on the left or right, he is a central midfielder and he is less effective than specialist widemen that we have available. I would rather be rotating Foden, Bellingham and Palmer in the central midfield to keep them all fresher and allow for a higher energy game. Gallagher probably gets added to that central mix too, which is fine by me. But with regards to the wide players, we have sufficient quality and with slightly different skillset to pose real problems for anyone. Slightly more worried on the right than the left, perhaps TAA would provide an option further up with his pace and his crossing ability, both Kane and Toney would be able to take advantage of that and Palmer/Bellingham compete well aerially in the box too. We have an abundance the right side of the halfway line, very nervous about our own backline.
In my opinion Foden needs to be the first name on England's teamsheet. He is young, hardworking, a team player and a prolific goalscorer. City would not have won the title without him.
Palmer is a good player, but there is a reason why City let him go.
Because they weren't able to give him game time ahead of De Bruyne, Silva, Rodri and Foden and so he pushed for a move?
Mainoo should 100% go. I'd probably start him.
I imagine Henderson will go but will only be used off the bench.
Dier playing again (at Bayern) might put him in the frame as he can cover at both centre back and defensive midfield. Same goes for Joe Gomez, who can cover at centre back and full back.
Biggest worries are in defence. Left back position is weak and Stones and Maguire aren't really the kind of defenders you want if you're under pressure. We need to aim to control games with the ball to stifle the opposition. I'm expecting us to play slow and steady possession, while waiting to picking our moments to attack carefully.
You do tend to post the odd whimsical non-specific comment @mooneyman ! That last sentence is a case in point. I’m on record, controversially, as having found Palmer less engaging than most players in a fairly recent post-match interview. But I’ve no idea why City “let him go”. Do you know?
Whatever my reservations about the lad’s personal qualities (and notwithstanding my personal lack of love for Chelsea football club), I think he is much more than “a good player”. He does tend to operate quite often on the right and would therefore be one of the options if Bukayo Saka is unavailable following the surgery which I read recently he is shortly due to undergo.
Glad I'm keeping you amused!
I agree, Foden and Bellingham first names on the sheet for me, followed by Kane, like him or not, he scores goals. Let's be honest, our main problem area is defence
Arsenal bridesmaids again @flymofrank , shame really.