Well obviously he’s a completely different player and position but mathematically it’s obviously improved his chances.
It hasn't. It has improved Watkins or Saka probably.
If a defender was out, it'd improve Whites chances
Well obviously he’s a completely different player and position but mathematically it’s obviously improved his chances.
Is he going up front then?
It hasn't. It has improved Watkins or Saka probably.
If a defender was out, it'd improve Whites chances
I have a gut feeling Ben White will be in the final squad.
Southgate obviously likes him - last summer he mentioned him along with Kalvin Philips as two Championship players who could break into the team pretty soon, and with these 26 man squads I could see him tagging along (though wouldnt expect him to play anything).
The advantages in picking White are that he covers two or more positions, he gets tournament experience prior to the World Cup and that as a ‘footballer’ with the ball at his feet progressing attacks, only Stones can compete with his level amongst centre backs.
If Southgate has had a proper study of White, I think he’ll go.
That said, Southgate has favourites and he’ll probably be selecting an injured Maguire and a hopelessly out of form Mings.
If you need a player who can cover multiple positions while in a 26 man squad, you've got some serious problems.
If you need a player who can cover multiple positions while in a 26 man squad, you've got some serious problems.
Serious problems:
1. Rice & Henderson together have played just 3 games in the last two months.
2. Bellingham lacks experience, he’d qualify for the U17s FFS.
3. Maguire is going but is injured and might not play.
4. Stones is always only a kick away from a catastrophic mistake that normally means England lose in the semi-finals of competitive competitions.
5. Tyrone Mings.
Serious problems:
3. Maguire is going but is injured and might not play.
5. Tyrone Mings.
these 2 are catastrophically bad
Having said that, pretty much nailed on, and will ensure England deliver the predictably poor progression we've come to accept.
England always do it, I never understand why, then it always fails.
The manager picks big club defenders who have spent much of the season not defending and then is surprised when they fail under constant forward pressure.
Pick the players who have defended all season, throw themselves in front of shots all season, blocked corners all season, not the ones who do that two or three times a month.
Southgate has stated he will only play players from the 'big' clubs who have that kind of experience.
Southgate has stated he will only play players from the 'big' clubs who have that kind of experience.
Southgate has stated a lot of things, come back to me when England don't choke at the first available opportunity and I might just elevate him above all the other choking dogs.
He's also on record stating that "People will be picked on merit, on current form" and that he won't pick players who are not playing.
Which if Southgate's words were worth anything at all*, SHOULD rule out Maguire (injured), Henderson (injured), Mings (form) amongst others.
*Spoiler - they're not.
the prick called up Harry Maguire when he was literally IN JAIL. There's no chance he's leaving him out for the minor detail that he isn't fit to actually play.
Not that I want to be seen as a defender of Southgate but...
Naming and taking injured players is a theme. should be a sackable offence.
To be fair, there's no point even going to an international tournament if there isn't a massive front page x-ray of an England players' foot to kick things off.
Southgate picks who he trusts (hence Dier's relentless inclusion despite being out of form for 2 years). Henderson is a massive dressing room influence, so I get him and I think Maguire is too. The problem is, they may only be dressing room influences on account of their injury.