England men's fixtures omdt.

[Adem Poric]

I’m not shocked by the White pick. He’s good enough to be in there. It really does expose the initial selection though as it’s picking a player who fits in to the two positions we are carrying unfit regulars.

 

The main problem we have left ourselves with is how many City and Chelsea players do we add into a team when they may not be as up to speed as the ones who have played in the friendlies? It’s likely to be six of the first team. I just think that Croatia game comes too early for us. I’d take a draw now.

[Bannofan]

I think he's had a really good look at Mings now, and if he's seen what we have seen,  will have decided that he's too dodgy to play in a four, and isn't really suited to a back three. 

 

Looks like White is being fast tracked to the first 11 as it stands.

 

Henderson and Maguire simply shouldn't been in the squad, they are half fit at best. I'm not exactly relishing the prospect of Maguire being dumped straight into the team at the knockout stages - IF we get out of the group - and facing some of Europe's deadliest attackers. 

 

We don't need Henderson . Rice, Phillips, Bellingham and Mount can cover what he does. 

 

What we don't have is a James Ward Prowse who looks like international football suits him, and the fans are baffled as to why he isn't there on his own merits. 

 

 

 

 

[fudge27]

40 minutes ago, SiJ said:

You mean complete lack of fitness.

 

He's played 45 minutes in the last three months. Even a player as naturally fit as Henderson needs more time to get up to speed. 

 

Even if he was fully fit, I'd have still got JWP in for his set plays and industry. Instead, we've added another CB, which suggests to me Maguire has little chance of being fit until the latter stages, if at all. May also point to the fact he's not confident if we have to rely on Mings/Coady as a pairing.

Its well known Maguire won't be fit til the knock out stage ain't it? 

 

I think I'd have taken White over Maguire initially and then used JWP to replace TAA as we are a good DM short now, but think White is the right pick for squad balance 

[Guest]

22 minutes ago, SiJ said:

Should have been JWP.

 

Arguably, the best deadball specialist in the PL atm. 

 

We don't exactly look like scoring much from open play.

 

Think we will look more likely to score from open play with the likes of Kane, Mount and Foden in the team. 

 

Ward-Prowse and Lingard should both be in the squad though, both on form and both offer a different attacking threat that could be useful. I'd have White above Mings but Stones, Maguire, Coady and White or Mings would have been enough CB's even with Maguire's injury. If Maguire is not likely to return until the latter stages then he shouldn't be wasting an option. If he reverts to 3 at the back the James or Walker will play as right-centre-back. 

[Bannofan]

2 hours ago, The only way is S6 said:

It looked exactly like you described.

We seemed to stand off them & they had twice the speed & skill.

I honestly thought when we conceded that last free kick they would equalise.

 

And that's Romania.

 

If we face Portugal  ( Ronaldo, Bernado Silva, Bruno Fernades ,Joao Felix)  France  ( Pogba, M'bappe, Benzema, Griezman) Belgium ( De Bruyne, Hazard,  Mertens, Lukaku ) or Germany  (  Kroos, Gundogan, Kimmich, Havertz, Werner)

 

We aren't really going to be able to stop them are we?

 

Can't see us getting past the QF's again, unless we outscore teams!

 

 

[Guest]

4 minutes ago, Bannofan said:

I think he's had a really good look at Mings now, and if he's seen what we have seen,  will have decided that he's too dodgy to play in a four, and isn't really suited to a back three. 

 

Looks like White is being fast tracked to the first 11 as it stands.

 

Henderson and Maguire simply shouldn't been in the squad, they are half fit at best. I'm not exactly relishing the prospect of Maguire being dumped straight into the team at the knockout stages - IF we get out of the group - and facing some of Europe's deadliest attackers. 

 

We don't need Henderson . Rice, Phillips, Bellingham and Mount can cover what he does. 

 

What we don't have is a James Ward Prowse who looks like international football suits him, and the fans are baffled as to why he isn't there on his own merits. 

 

 

 

 

 

Completely agree about Maguire. He looks highly unlikely to be ready for the first couple of group games at least. If we get through to say the quarter finals without him and then he walks back into the team under-cooked without match practice for a game of that magnitude it is asking for trouble. 

If he'd have been fit to be involved against Croatia then fair enough as he is our most experienced defender but it's not looking likely at all is it. 

[Ellis Rimmer]

2 minutes ago, Bannofan said:

 

And that's Romania.

 

If we face Portugal  ( Ronaldo, Bernado Silva, Bruno Fernades ,Joao Felix)  France  ( Pogba, M'bappe, Benzema, Griezman) Belgium ( De Bruyne, Hazard,  Mertens, Lukaku ) or Germany  (  Kroos, Gundogan, Kimmich, Havertz, Werner)

 

We aren't really going to be able to stop them are we?

 

Can't see us getting past the QF's again, unless we outscore teams!

 

 

To be fair all teams have weaknesses, Belgium still have to have Vermalen in there, you wouldn’t exactly swap

[SiJ]

 

[beswetherick]

As for taking an unfit Maguire and Henderson… I would understand the gamble of taking someone like Kane if he wasn’t 100% because he’s a world class player who can still win you a match.
 

Maguire and Henderson aren’t at that level, and selecting them means keeping good players who are fit out of the squad. Waste of two places 

[Bannofan]

1 minute ago, beswetherick said:

As for taking an unfit Maguire and Henderson… I would understand the gamble of taking someone like Kane if he wasn’t 100% because he’s a world class player who can still win you a match.
 

Maguire and Henderson aren’t at that level, and selecting them means keeping good players who are fit out of the squad. Waste of two places 

 

Exactly,  in the same injury position you would take Kane as he is the best we have. 

 

A fully fit Henderson is 'meh' anyway , Bellingham and Rice much better, and Maguire , for me, had a good season at Leicester that got him his stupidly overpriced move to Man Utd, where he has been 'O.K.'.

 

He is definitely one of players who seems to have got credit for scoring a header at the WC, and being part of the semi final squad. 

 

I can't for the life of me remember any decent defending him or John Stones did at the World Cup. 

[beswetherick]

Just shows how light in quality those areas of the pitch are compared to other nations. I’m not even sure Maguire or Henderson would get into the France squad if they were fully fit, let alone carrying injuries

[Ever the pessimist]

I hope we go for 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1

 

Rice and Bellingham

Mount, Grealish and Foden

Kane

 

Suspect Southgate will go with Rashford though. 

 

[Jim]

I wonder if the White pick suggests Maguire could miss all the group games? Mings looks an accident waiting to happen? Also I can’t understand how Tomori didn’t get a pick as one of the centre backs?

 

JWP should’ve been in the original 26 period. The only thing Henderson has got going for him is his experience, there are currently better players than him around and he’s always prone to dropping a b*ll**k or two as yesterday showed.

 

I think Southgate will find himself under pressure for the first time after this tournament?

[Kopparberg]

 

[Adem Poric]

10 minutes ago, Ever the pessimist said:

I hope we go for 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1

 

Rice and Bellingham

Mount, Grealish and Foden

Kane

 

Suspect Southgate will go with Rashford though. 

 

 

Pretty similar here.

 

I think Mount can fit anywhere in that midfield so I might include instead of either Sancho or Bellingham (both JB & MM are not really DM but are box to box centre mids) but I'd certainly want to get in as many creative options as possible.

 

______________Pickford-------------------------

James-----Stones-------DontCare-----Chilwell

-------------Bellingham------Rice------------------

-------------------------Foden---------------------------

----Sancho----------------------------Grealish----

--------------------------Kane----------------------------

 

 

When you have footballers who can change games and consistently play on the front foot like Foden and Grealish then you have to get them in your team. We absolutely wont play that team though as Sterling and Rashford will be picked and it could prove costly for Southgate.

 

For all the negativity around Maguire we really do have an issue there with him not being fit. I dont think Coady plays well in a back four, he should be in the middle of a three if he plays. Mings will likely play but has gone off the boil since Christmas. White has just come into the squad and is unlikely to jump ahead even if he is probably the best of the rest.

 

[FreshOwl]

We can forget about creating enough to win games if Grealish doesn’t start 

 

Sterling, Rashford, Sancho. All too direct, all lack creativity. Kick the ball and run merchants 

 

Grealish is the key

[The only way is S6]

10 minutes ago, FreshOwl said:

We can forget about creating enough to win games if Grealish doesn’t start 

 

Sterling, Rashford, Sancho. All too direct, all lack creativity. Kick the ball and run merchants 

 

Grealish is the key

I think Mount provides exactly the same.

It’s either or.

There is actually some real quality to come back into the starting XI though, thankfully. These 2 friendlies created the impression we’re a poor side imo. 

[FreshOwl]

2 minutes ago, The only way is S6 said:

I think Mount provides exactly the same.

It’s either or.

There is actually some real quality to come back into the starting XI though, thankfully. These 2 friendlies created the impression we’re a poor side imo. 

I don’t see how either Sterling or Rashford should be starting.

 

I heard one of the pundits yesterday say that Southgate can always rely on them two - rely on them for what exactly? What have they ever done in an England shirt? 
 

Re Sancho, I haven’t seen enough of him to give a fair assessment, but he looked like a very raw winger yesterday. Couldn’t control the ball well, couldn’t dribble. One flash of potential when he hit the bar 

[Bannofan]

Absolutely,  Tomori should be in the squad...not sure how you can have an absolutely blinding half season on loan at AC Milan, then not make the squad ahead of Mings, White and Coady. 

 

For me it would be Stones/Tomori  if we were playing a back four.

 

Mind, as I've previously said, I'd be playing Lewis Dunk because I like my defenders to get off on clearing their lines , rather than trying - and failing - to be Franco Baresi.

 

 

[Adem Poric]

Sancho is clearly a talent. He's also grown up playing football at youth level with Foden, he plays with Bellingham at Dortmund. I think if he has that level of comfort around him it might unlock what he has produced for Dortmund. I'm also ok with Mount being in the team and Foden being in that role instead. We have to find a way to get Grealish and Foden in the team together. That is paramount to having any success. 

 

The Sterling of two years ago gets in most teams in world football, the current version is not on form and shouldn't play. Rashford doesn't look fit, he seems distracted. There isn't a strong case for either but we all know what Southgate is like with his favourites and that is why one or both are likely to play against Croatia.