England Discussion

Samid

He's no Bilal Ilyas Jhandir
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Southgate has named a 55 man squad but neither the public nor the players have been informed. He is said to be seeking to 'avoid distractions' and keep his cards close to his chest leading into the World Cup.


 
I don't really care who he brings because he's going to play his standard 11.
 
Does it makes sense to announce the squad that late? Is it to prevent players from easing off before the WC or opponents from trying to injure WC-bound players?
 
Squad should be...

GK: Pickford, Ramsdale, Pope

RB: Walker, Trippier, TAA, James
CB: Maguire, Stones, Dier, Coady
LB: Shaw, Chilwell

CM: Rice, Bellingham, Henderson, Mount, Maddison, Ward-Prowse

RW: Saka, Foden
CF: Kane, Wilson
LW: Sterling, Rashford, Grealish

Team should be...

---------------Pickford---------------
--Walker--Maguire--Stones--
Trippier--Rice--Bellingham--Shaw
--Saka--------Kane--------Rashford

Cant for the life of me see Southgate not starting with both Sterling and Mount though. Probably a heavy amount of club bias me putting Rashford in ahead of Foden but feck it
 
Starting to think Rashford is making a claim not only to make the squad (if it was in the summer just gone I don't think he'd have merited a place), but to actually start. Kane and England look a lot better when he has pace either side of him. Saka if fit has the RW guaranteed, Sterling has been first choice for years now but Rashford is in better form and provides some much needed goal threat.

I'd go something like either:

Rashford - Kane - Saka
Shaw - Jude - Rice - TAA
Burn - Dier - Stones​

Or

Rashford - Kane - Saka
Mount - Jude
Rice
Shaw - Maguire - Stones - Walker
​

Defensively I don't trust the CBs in a 2, Dier seems like a specialist in a 3, Walker is useful at RCB if fit but obviously not suited to a 2. If playing a back 3 I'd have Burn at LCB because I hate seeing a right footed LCB. In a back 4, I guess Maguire starts which is terrifying. Assuming James is out, TAA would have to start if we're playing wingbacks imo. There's no issues with his offensive game. If a back four, would need to be Walker or Trippier.
 
Trequarista10 said:
Starting to think Rashford is making a claim not only to make the squad (if it was in the summer just gone I don't think he'd have merited a place), but to actually start. Kane and England look a lot better when he has pace either side of him. Saka if fit has the RW guaranteed, Sterling has been first choice for years now but Rashford is in better form and provides some much needed goal threat.

I'd go something like either:

Rashford - Kane - Saka
Shaw - Jude - Rice - TAA
Burn - Dier - Stones​

Or

Rashford - Kane - Saka
Mount - Jude
Rice
Shaw - Maguire - Stones - Walker
​

Defensively I don't trust the CBs in a 2, Dier seems like a specialist in a 3, Walker is useful at RCB if fit but obviously not suited to a 2. If playing a back 3 I'd have Burn at LCB because I hate seeing a right footed LCB. In a back 4, I guess Maguire starts which is terrifying. Assuming James is out, TAA would have to start if we're playing wingbacks imo. There's no issues with his offensive game. If a back four, would need to be Walker or Trippier.
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For me Eric Dier is no way near good enough in any formation I can think of. I know we're not blessed with centre backs but I think there are any number of better options. Apart from that I like your team, but Gareth ain't picking Trent as a wing back, or probably anywhere. Aside from not picking him, that strange central midfield experiment probably gives an insight into the manager's mind on how he views him.
 
Would love to see something like this…

Rashford Kane Saka
Bellingham Rice Foden
Shaw Maguire Stones James
Pickford

The only real weakness in that team is at centre back, but it’s an area that we just don’t have many other options. Can’t see Southgate not playing 3 at the back or leaving out Sterling and Mount though. We really do have a lot of exciting talent to pick from that’s wasted playing negative defensive football.
 
I think Southgate's "lucky" streak has ran out, they'll go out in the early stages and I won't put a shock group stage exit beyond them.
 
I love to see that 55 man list!

Must be some real dross at the bottom
 
Malone_Post said:
Would love to see something like this…

Rashford Kane Saka
Bellingham Rice Foden
Shaw Maguire Stones James
Pickford

The only real weakness in that team is at centre back, but it’s an area that we just don’t have many other options. Can’t see Southgate not playing 3 at the back or leaving out Sterling and Mount though. We really do have a lot of exciting talent to pick from that’s wasted playing negative defensive football.
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Maguire... Good luck...
 
So I think the squad looks like this:

GK: Pickford / Pope / Ramsdale

RB: Tripper / TAA

CB: Stones / Maguire / Dier / Coady / White

LB: Shaw / Chilwell

CM: Rice / Bellingham / Henderson / Phillips / JWP

AM: Mount / Foden

RW/LW: Sterling / Saka / Rashford / Grealish

CF: Kane / Toney / Wilson


If James/Walker are fit they sneak in ahead of TAA and White

The only other ones I can see getting in is Connor Gallagher ahead of either JWP or one of the strikers, or Abraham instead of one of the strikers.

There's also Bowen / Madison / Barnes, but not sure how big a fan Southgate is of any of them.... Bowen's probably got the best shot, but he's not having a great season so far. If Saka is injured then you'd think Bowen goes though, or if he's classing Rashford as a striking option, then Bowen could be a head of one of Toney/Wilson.
 
TheGame said:
Why the feck does he need a 55 man squad? Handing out more free caps. Fecking idiot.
Click to expand...

1. It's a FIFA requirement.
2. You don't appear to understand what a cap is.
 
CF: Kane, Toney, Wilson/Rashford
AM/Wings: Saka, Foden, Sterling, Grealish, Mount

CM1: Bellingham, Maddison, Ward-Prowse
CM2: Rice, Phillips (if fit, if not then Henderson)

LB: Chilwell, Shaw
RB: James, Walker (if they're fit), TAA
CB: Stones, White, Dier, Coady, Slabby/Tomori

GK: Pickford, Ramsdale, Pope

Trippier to replace either James and Walker if they don't get up.

Wilson is having a better season than Rashford, however Rashford is a bit more versatile IMO. So it's a tough one there.

No way should Maguire be starting in this side, he shouldn't even be making the squad IMO. But I acknowledge I haven't watched Tomori or Coady this season - I just can't imagine that Maguire has been better than either.

TAA should probably also be dropped based on form. If he's dropped then there's room for both Wilson and Rashford, or a Bowen perhaps. But we know how good TAA can be, and I suspect he will be included in case Southgate wishes to play with wingbacks.
 
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Annihilate Now! said:
So I think the squad looks like this:

GK: Pickford / Pope / Ramsdale

RB: Tripper / TAA

CB: Stones / Maguire / Dier / Coady / White

LB: Shaw / Chilwell

CM: Rice / Bellingham / Henderson / Phillips / JWP

AM: Mount / Foden

RW/LW: Sterling / Saka / Rashford / Grealish

CF: Kane / Toney / Wilson


If James/Walker are fit they sneak in ahead of TAA and White

The only other ones I can see getting in is Connor Gallagher ahead of either JWP or one of the strikers, or Abraham instead of one of the strikers.

There's also Bowen / Madison / Barnes, but not sure how big a fan Southgate is of any of them.... Bowen's probably got the best shot, but he's not having a great season so far. If Saka is injured then you'd think Bowen goes though, or if he's classing Rashford as a striking option, then Bowen could be a head of one of Toney/Wilson.
Click to expand...
Isn't Philips rules out?
 
charlenefan said:
Squad should be...

GK: Pickford, Ramsdale, Pope

RB: Walker, Trippier, TAA, James
CB: Maguire, Stones, Dier, Coady
LB: Shaw, Chilwell

CM: Rice, Bellingham, Henderson, Mount, Maddison, Ward-Prowse

RW: Saka, Foden
CF: Kane, Wilson
LW: Sterling, Rashford, Grealish

Team should be...

---------------Pickford---------------
--Walker--Maguire--Stones--
Trippier--Rice--Bellingham--Shaw
--Saka--------Kane--------Rashford

Cant for the life of me see Southgate not starting with both Sterling and Mount though. Probably a heavy amount of club bias me putting Rashford in ahead of Foden but feck it
Click to expand...

Yes, your bias is showing. Foden is ahead of Rashford by a rather large margin.

I can't see him taking only four CB's whilst taking four RB's.

White has been excellent this season at RB and is a better CB. He should be in the side ahead of Maguire and Coady on merit, but with your list there it would make more sense to drop a RB in place of White, who could cover both positions.
 
King7Eric said:
Isn't Philips rules out?
Click to expand...

Pep said today that him and Walker are likely to be fit for the World Cup.

Think Southgate would want to take Phillips at all costs, probably Walker too... so TAA might have to drop out.

cesc's_mullet said:
CF: Kane, Toney, Wilson/Rashford
AM/Wings: Saka, Foden, Sterling, Grealish, Mount

CM1: Bellingham, Maddison, Ward-Prowse
CM2: Rice, Phillips (if fit, if not then Henderson)

LB: Chilwell, Shaw
RB: James, Walker (if they're fit), TAA
CB: Stones, White, Dier, Coady, Slabby/Tomori

GK: Pickford, Ramsdale, Pope

Trippier to replace either James and Walker if they don't get up.

Wilson is having a better season than Rashford, however Rashford is a bit more versatile IMO. So it's a tough one there.

No way should Maguire be starting in this side, he shouldn't even be making the squad IMO. But I acknowledge I haven't watched Tomori or Coady this season - I just can't imagine that Maguire has been better than either.

TAA should probably also be dropped based on form. If he's dropped then there's room for both Wilson and Rashford, or a Bowen perhaps. But we know how good TAA can be, and I suspect he will be included in case Southgate wishes to play with wingbacks.
Click to expand...

There is no way he's taking Maddison - he just doesn't fancy him

I also can't seem him taking all of James, Walker, TAA and White.... but he will 100% take Trippier.
 
TheGame said:
Why the feck does he need a 55 man squad? Handing out more free caps. Fecking idiot.
Click to expand...

He’s not the only one. Spain did it,
Mexico too. Probably others as well but haven’t checked
 
TheGame said:
Can you outline where it states in the FIFA requirements that you have to have a preliminary 55 man squad?

I know what a cap is thanks, the guy has handed out cheap caps frequently during his tenure.
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My bad - initially there was a Matt Law tweet when this first came about that said it was but it appears he's wrong, the requirement is 35 and up to 55.

But you'd be silly not to use the full allowance of players to cover yourself for anything that might happen between now and naming the final squad. Every nation appears to be using the full allowance of 55 names.

And yes but what does that have to do in the context of naming the 55 man squad? You said 'more free caps' as if all the players named are going to get appearances, that obviously isn't the case as most of them are getting cut.
 
DannyCAFC said:
My bad - initially there was a Matt Law tweet when this first came about that said it was but it appears he's wrong, the requirement is 35 and up to 55.

But you'd be silly not to use the full allowance of players to cover yourself for anything that might happen between now and naming the final squad. Every nation appears to be using the full allowance of 55 names.

And yes but what does that have to do in the context of naming the 55 man squad? You said 'more free caps' as if all the players named are going to get appearances, that obviously isn't the case as most of them are getting cut.
Click to expand...

Just think 55 is excessive, no point including players who do not have a cat in hell's chance of getting in. In terms of free caps, I may have alluded to previous situations where he has handed caps out here there and everywhere but then realised there isn't any friendlies arranged before the WC so mistaken on that.
 
55 is obviously overkill but it's supposed to be a private list and apparently not even the players themselves are being informed they are on it so no big deal
 
Annihilate Now! said:
Pep said today that him and Walker are likely to be fit for the World Cup.

Think Southgate would want to take Phillips at all costs, probably Walker too... so TAA might have to drop out.



There is no way he's taking Maddison - he just doesn't fancy him

I also can't seem him taking all of James, Walker, TAA and White.... but he will 100% take Trippier.
Click to expand...

Yeah Maddison may as well see if he has any eligibility to play for another home nation
 
With Chilwell out that leaves only Shaw as a LB.

Surely if he is then enough then Walker is selected and played at LB, which he has done so at a high level in the past.

If White doesn't get picked then it is an absolute disgrace. Been superb at RB and CB since signing for us. He doesn't necessarily have to start, but at one of the 5 CB's that are likely to be picked he can at least cover two positions.
 
I've been very worried about England going into the World Cup with all our injuries + bad form. But, after looking at the state of some of the other European sides, I don't think it's all doom and gloom.

Argentina and Brazil should be favourites but after that it's pretty wide open.
 
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