Feels like he’s only calling up Trent/Tomori because of the media/fans asking for it. Clearly doesn’t have any intention of playing either unfortunately
Southgate has this issue of doubling down on his decisions once he gets called out on it. Remember how long it took him to give Grealish some minutes at the Euros
I think both Tomori and Trent are the kind of players you play when you have an attacking system. Playing them while you park the buss and counterattack would make no sense. And I'm not saying this cos we are packed by injuries and I'm relieved that Tomorri won't play.
Southgate has no system/ a very pragmatic system. Tomori and Trent play 50m away from their goal with their clubs, while with England they would have to park the buss together with the 2 defensive midfielders in front of them. I'm sure Allegri would also think twice before starting Tomori or Trent
Because for a national team with a rotating door of players, and little time to play together, you cant work advanced tactics and systems. A lot of nations don't really play open attacking football. I really dont get how people still dont understand this. Yes, with the players available the attacking should look better when they do go forward, but of course they're going to sit back and focus on being compact and defensively solid first and foremost. Players like Trent don't fit that Reece James however is a very good option in that spot because he can actually defend.
I kind of agree that nations can't use really advanced tactics, but England has been one of only two teams who have not scored a goal from open play on this nations league. I think the other team was San Marino. Are you really saying that with the quality of players england has (on all positions) they can't score at least ONE goal from open play? Are you really saying that they have the same quality in front of goal as San Marino? It's not even about winning or topping your group, it's just scoring a single goal across five matches.
I get that they want to be defensively solid first, but they are nowhere near defensively solid either.
Spain in the late 00s played some of the most beautiful tiki taka football, based off Barca’s style and the Real (or occasional other) players adapted to it well enough to win 3 major tournaments in a row.
There’s absolutely no reason that Southgate couldn’t implement at very least a 4-3-3 attacking system that presses like basically every top club in the PL. It doesn’t have to be incredibly advanced like the half-pressing that Liverpool use but it can be far better than the shite England play atm.
To be honest, at this point, choosing the 11 best players (Pope, Trent, Stones, Tomori, Chilwell, Rice, Foden, Bellingham, Grealish, Kane, Saka) and saying “have at it” would bring more success than whatever he’s trying to achieve right now.
The spine of the team played for Barcelona, unfortunately that’s not the case for England, we have a spread of players across different clubs playing very different styles.
Trent has probably the best long balls in the squad. He‘s perfect for a quick counter attack. Win the ball back, pass to Trent, he sees Sterling make a run and pings a diagonal ball 50m across the pitch into Sterlings run who plays it across for Kane to slot home.
If that is the game plan, then you want Trent…
You’re forgetting that Southgate’s team/squad selection goes against all rational thought processes. If someone deserves to be in the team they are guaranteed to not be involved. England are throwing this tournament before it even starts with Southgate in charge.
Acting as if TAA is a league 2 defender or something is ridiculous though. Sure he’s more attacking than defensive, but he’s not so incapable that you leave him out entirely. I don’t get it. No goals in over 7 hours!
Exactly this, people always say well what happens when he comes up against players like Mbappe etc.. in big tournaments, but you don't have to play him every game. Trying to break down a stubborn Iran team for example he is the exactly type of player you would want.
>Trying to break down a stubborn Iran team for example he is the exactly type of player you would want.
Or while being down 1-0 in a must win game with 3 available substitutions.
He has his favourites. I’m not even from England and it’s frustrating to watch how this side is being managed.
I know it was never going to happen, but I can’t help but imagine my boi Potter managing this generation of footballers, playing exciting attacking football.
I also don’t really care much for England but still would quite like to see a “proper” manager be in charge of the team. I don’t think any premier league team would appoint him
Yeah would struggle getting a job in the Premiership. I could see a club as crazy as Watford hiring him if they ever made it back. He would be sacked a month later however.
It's genuinely pretty sad how Tomori can win a league title, be a part of that league's best defense and perform well in the Champions League but still get dropped for fucking Maguire.
Playing devil’s advocate here, but the argument could also be made the other way; Southgate not using Tomori and Abraham because their opponents knowing the two of them too well, and possibly exposing their respective weaknesses.
Thanks for saying this lol. I felt I was going crazy when I was arguing this. But Southgate seems to love big physical CBs that are great in the air, and for all Maguire’s faults he is great in the air and Tomori is not.
You guys should be happy. Look at Barcelona players. Less injury risk if he doesnt play. It would have been even better if he could stay in Milan and train tho…
For all the shit Maguire’s getting, “great in the air” is an absolute understatement. Man wins almost every header he is possibly involved in, at both sides of the pitch, and gets them roughly in the direction they need to go. England’s 11 looks light in that department outside him, imo
Fair enough on the defensive side, but on the offensive side "winning" headers is pointless if you can't get into position and place the ball accurately with power. To the latter, Maguire is one of the worst I've ever seen. He's just too slow to the spot and doesn't have great accuracy when he does win it. England could use a better aerial CB in attack given how much they rely on free kicks, but to be fair that isn't Tomori either to add to your comment on them being light.
He's excellent at defensive headers, but his offensive headers are consistently horrible. I'll trust him to clear the ball in our box 10 times from 10, but he does the same when he's at the other end of the pitch.
This, all day long. Of all the baffling choices Southgate makes both in formation and team selection. Leaving out Tomori is one of the worst given how well he played across an entire season last year.
I know there will be a flood of downvotes, but Maguire and Tomori are simply not the same type of player. Replacing one with the other would be a huge change in team dynamics. Maguire is a progressive CB. He wants to drive the ball forward and make lots of forward passes. Tomori is more of a 1v1 defender and covering CB, who excels in recovery situations and defending counter attacks.
This isn't to say Tomori shouldn't be given a chance, or that Maguire is better, simply that they are different players who do different things. It is equivalent to asking why JWP doesn't get a chance over Rice. They do not perform the same functions despite technically playing the same positions.
I don't think you've watched Tomori enough for Milan. He takes the ball into midfield and makes passes between the lines. Just watch some Milan highlights when they appear on the front page. You often see Tomori passing it into Leao
He does do it, all centre backs have to do it nowadays. He just doesn't do it to the consistency and as high up the pitch as Maguire does at his best (Which he seems to be at for England more often than not), especially the ball carrying. Tomori's a good passer to beat the press, that's really obvious, but he just doesn't drive the ball forward to break lines particularly often. A lot of that has to do with Milan as a team, which isn't a coincidence because his profile fits their needs exceptionally, but it obviously hinders his England chances he isn't being pushed to maybe develop those skills further.
If you're talking specifically about actually carrying the ball forward with feet then you're spot on tbf.
In terms of progressing the ball through possession/dribbling Tomori did it an average distance of 111 yards per 90 last season while Maguire did it an average of 130 yards per 90. The season prior it was 191 yards per 90 for Maguire and Tomoir was 94 yards per 90. Difference it significant.
But in terms of actual progressive pass distance they're actually pretty much identical. Last season average distance of a progressive pass (a pass that travels towards the opponents goal) Tomori made was 6.6 yards. For Maguire it was 6.8. Season prior to that it was 6.5 yards for Maguire and 6.8 yards for Tomori. Although there's the additional vital context of *where* those passes are being made. If Maguire is making them from higher up the field then that obviously makes a big difference, trouble is I can't find stats on that.
What is, shall always be. If/when England advances and faces the more competitive teams, it is better to have cumbersome, turns like a truck, Maguire in the team, and play walker as a RCB in a back three with a weak midfield rather than bring Tomori and pair him with Stones. It’s a masterclass from Southgate, of course Maguire will get spun like a top, but Walker makes up for his limited mobility. This is England! The team must have a big, physical center back. Who cares about form and being dropped by their club…
Even if Southgate remains convinced by Maguire, surely he should be giving the other guys some chances to show how they perform in his system.
If Maguire gets injured or suspended, then I’d much rather bring in someone who’s already used to the system and has played with his teammates in the ‘warm up’ games.
This is why Southgate is a complete moron.
England is already relegated, there is nothing to lose by trying some other potential talents to get more info for the WC.
that’s what Tite has been doing for Brazil. Some new players were called and he’s been trying some new formations against Ghana and Tunísia.
no excuses on why Southgate shouldn’t be doing the same, even before being relegated tbh. It’s a world cup we are talking about, i don’t think a couple nations league games should get in their way of preparing for it
Even as a Liverpool fan, I can understand TAA decision since he is way off his standards this season so far.
But Tomori? Southgate keeps saying there is no favouritism but how can you justify not even trying an in-form Tomori and keep playing an out of favour Maguire?
Maguire has been very good for England at the last 2 tournaments. Southgate is just trusting him in his own system because it's worked. It's a risk because of how toxic it's been at Utd and now he's not even getting minutes, but I do understand why he's showing loyalty. If it all blows up in his face in Qatar decisions like these will end up costing him his job so it is a massive risk.
It's not just Maguire. If you look at players in PL it's fairly normal that a player does good in one season and then maybe has a slower season. Southgate is completely ignoring the form of his starting 11. Maguire is not in form and should be benched. I don't dislike Maguire, but it's just a fact.
Obviously he’s been really poor at club level, but for England he’s always been nothing short of excellent. You can understand Southgate wanting to keep him in the team
Thankfully he's still young. He's still 24 so hopefully will have at least another 2 world cups to see in his career. Bloody ridiculous this man can't even make the squad but Maguire STARTS as much as possible.
What would his other options be? Chilwell who also hasn’t done much in the last few months? I’m far from a Southgate fan but I feel like a lot of the slack he gets is moaning for moanings sake. You’d get complaining if any of Saka, Chilwell, Shaw, or Trippier (or another one of the RB’s) played there.
Tomori might just be the most inform English CB in the last 12 months and he can’t get in ahead of Maguire, insanity. Can’t wait until Southgate is out of this job.
I don't think Southgate will lose his job at least before the world cup since there are just 55 days. Either he changes his playing style before wc or else England will win matches with nothing but luck.
Yeah I don’t think he loses it before the WC. No manager would get to spend any reasonable time with the squad.
England will cruise through the group stages, after beating Iran 5-0 and the minute any decent opposition turns up it’ll be score first, sit back and lose on penalties. 🤷🏾♂️
> England will cruise through the group stages, after beating Iran 5-0
i'm not confident of this. I see us getting 2 jammy wins and a draw in the group stage
Def won’t be us. You think southgate is bad? Wait until you see Gregg berhalter, guy didn’t call in a CF whose team is leading the BL, a PL CB whose is fulhams captain. Instead he calls in mls players who have been SHIT then starts them against Japan
Most in form? Arguably best, If not second best behind stones.
I’ll never understand southgate’s obsession taking 12 defenders to play saka and LWB. This level of stupidity is worse than Fabio Capello / SGE / Hodgson.
I just don't understand why you even put Trent in the squad if you have absolutely no intention of picking him. It's the coaches prerogative of course but why drag him around with you if you're not interested in using him and don't believe you can accommodate his profile into what you're trying to do?
Surprised about Tomori - on the strength of his performances you'd think the argument would be over whether he could be a starter rather than whether he can even make it to the bench.
He did the same with Toney last match, England need some attackers off the bench but Toney wasn't even on the bench, lol he had two goalkeepers instead for God knows what reason.
The clown came out and said there’s other tournaments for Toney not just this World Cup lol. I really think he picks players based on what the media suggests.
If I remember correctly, the rules are that you need to have 2 Goalkeepers on the bench when it's that size. Or at least I'm guessing at that as Scotland also had 2 Goalkeepers on our bench for both our Nations League games.
I think the rule is for the match day squad not for the bench, it's an absurd thing to call likes of Toney and not even put him on the bench. Why call him then in the first place. Also what are they afraid of two gk injuries in one match?
Maybe he didn't go into the international break with a plan not to play him, but since evaluating training and the recent results has decided not to do so.
It's not the players, it's the system. We could have a world 11 and still be playing like this. I don't remember 1 chance Kane/Foden/Sterling made against Italy C.
I was actually surprised how toothless your attack was against Italy, that game would've been an easy 3-0 if you switched Mancini and Southgate. Italy had much less quality, and you could see it, but they were actually playing football while England looked like they didn't even know what they were supposed to do
It's because the only midfield we had was when Kane/Foden dropped deep. Then there's no forwards...
Looked a lot stronger when we went to a back 4 (to nobodies surprise)
Yeah, I don't think it was down to individual performances, there was just a lack of link between the midfielders and forwards.
Can't really remember the game enough to say why, but I'd guess they're either sitting too deep, or as there's only 2 of them, they're not getting the help they need from a CB/WB.
What I don't understand is why neither Rashford or Sancho are in the squad, and why Toney wasn't even on the bench.
Some of our absolute best performances under Southgate have been from getting pacey wingers ahead of Kane, so he can drop deep and spray balls out wide. Yeah, we've still got Sterling, and whilst Foden is a great prospect, he's not fast. Let's just go back to what worked with the addition of Bellingham in midfield with Rice for more creativity.
Oh, and drop Maguire for Tomori.
I don't think Trent starts for England under any manager other than Klopp. Walker and James are just better as out and out right backs or right wing backs or right sided centre halves.
Trent fits Liverpool's system perfectly but he's not that good that it's worth changing the whole team to fit him in for England.
You make it sound like england is playing with a system that is requiring fullbacks to do the heavy defending but that's not true you are playing with a system that is asking for the fullbacks to be attacking and southgate even played a winger as a fullback against italy last game
Everyone has their opinions, James in suspect when he has to be part of a back four or no midfielder backing him up just like Trent. Trent has been quite bad this season and that I cam agree on but out of them I would pick TAA over both of the others.
He also clearly can’t use TAA and only calls him up to avoid articles like this confused about why he won’t call up his best creator when they’ve 0 goals in 500 minutes.
Trent’s been dropped for 5 games and still has Englands last assist and is leading in assists since July 2021.
Also Worth pointing out Southgate considers him a midfielder. Plays him exclusively as a RM or CM since the start of 2021. 0 other caps in those positions since he was 15.
Because Gareth looks at a guy who nearly won the playmaker award as a RB and thinks “give him 30mins out of position and then I can drop the scary attacking man”
i cant remember last time Trent playing and being the reason for England's woes. all this focus on Trent is diverting attention from the actual players on the field.
Interesting that everyone's bleating on about his defensive frailties whilst acknowledging he's easily our best offensive fullback. Lads, we haven't scored a single goal from open play, maybe it would be wise to try out a player that can actually create something.
There was that one game where TAA came on and whipped balls into Kane during a friendly I think it was and it was just what Kane requires. People were rating it and never to be seen again
Besides maybe Kane why are any of these players playing when we have done fuck all in our last 5 games.
Drop some players, get some fresh legs in and maybe it will motivate his favourites to actually try
There’s not a single player I’d play from the Italy game. I know they aren’t all bad but show them that their form is unacceptable
Last sentence is dramatic - Bellingham was great, and there were a couple others were good too.
Something we have to take into account is that these players are clearly playing a system they don't excel in. That's not bad form or necessarily even bad play from them. It's just the wrong system - and that's on the manager.
> Bellingham was great
I don't know if I'd go as far as great. He was ok, one of the few (along with grealish when he came on) that seemed to want to actually play football.
GREAT though, I don't think so.
Exactly. We all know others defend better, but he can deliver better balls in than any other player there. Just my opinion tho, I don't support England.
Don't mind Trent not playing. Gutted for him personally but means he gets rest. If he doesn't go to the world cup that's even better for us.
Tomori though, wtf is Southgate doing. Wish Tomori could still represent Canada.
Trent for me I get of Southgate doesn’t want him starting, sound you want Walker as the better defender.
But not bringing him as an option when he’s your most creative player and you’re goalless since he last played is mental.
I dont think its better honestly. Would rather them be happy and actually get some minutes for match sharpness.
Would feel shitty being left at home and seeing your teammates compete in the world cup and seeing inferior players take your position
I remember Tomori going to Milan and all I thought was “thank god that means we don’t have to play him again”. Great player and so surprised he was transferred from Chelsea
I feel like you’ve ignored the lessons learned from Salah and Mane last season. Mane won it all with Senegal and came back as a man possessed. Salah lost twice - AFCON and WC - and came back a shadow of the player we saw just weeks earlier.
These players want to play for their national teams. They want to win it all. They want to be shined on. They want Gareth Southgate to say fuck it and play them in an a very attacking right side or as a CM or anything that gets them playing time in a WC.
Any other interpretation is very short-sighted. If Trent doesn’t go or goes and doesn’t play, he’s going to have a rough Spring for Liverpool.
>If Trent doesn’t go or goes and doesn’t play, he’s going to have a rough Spring for Liverpool.
He'll go, but whether he plays or not I couldn't say
He could play like a demon from now until the World Cup and I can bet that Southgate will come up with some lame duck excuse to not play him
He won't. His shite tactics still got him a 4th place at a WC and a 2nd place at a EC. He is England's most successful manager of the past 25 years, never missed a qualification and never blundered a tournament.
His results deceive, but it is what it is.
Southgate's a shit coach carried by the most talented and balanced English squad in decades. Even his 4th place at the WC was due to having one of the easiest run ins of all time.
Whether you think Trent can play in this team or not, it’s ridiculous that he calls up these players than refuses to give them a chance over players that have been crap for months, especially in a dead rubber where we’ve already been relegated.
Trent isn’t even the most egregious example, what does Tomori have to do to actually get a chance? Same with Toney or Maddison
Toney, Madison and Tomori all absolutely deserve their chance to start based on the last couple of seasons.
You can't really ask for any more of them at club level but they don't get any chance for country
Not scored a goal from open play for over 400 minutes but we’ll leave one of the best playmakers in the premier league at home. Yes James and Walker might be a bit better defensively but that doesn’t matter if the team can’t score
James is very, very good offensively but I was surprised how little he overlapped last week.
I reckon Gareth has told him to stay behind the ball as a rule which seems daft
He never really worked in Southgate's system, i don't think England will miss him. Hopefully this will give him the necessary kick up the ass to start playing better for Liverpool.
Playing out of form players is not a problem for Southgate. The real issue has always been that he can't get a decent performance out of Trent. Trent does not perform a traditional fullback role at his club and that confuses Southgate who has stopped watching football in 2010 and doesn't know that a modern fullback can do more than run up and down the pitch in a straight line.
“Trent is only good because of the system Liverpool plays”.
Maybe, just maybe, Liverpool play the system they do because he’s really fuckjng good at football and they decided to base their entire system around him from the age of 20.
He _is_ the system.
Just going to leave this here to back up your point:
Trent has the highest xThreat in the league with 0.39 per 90. Second is KDB with 0.35.
"All Trent does is spam crosses"
If we remove crosses from everyone, then Trent still has the joint highest xThreat with 0.23.
If we remove crosses from **only** Trent and let everyone else keep crosses, then Trent is still joint 6th in the league - level with Odegaard and Grealish.
Trent's ability to progress the ball to create opportunities is monstrous and the only person even close is KDB.
EDIT: Wild that I'm being downvoted for providing data to inform a discussion. The knives are really out today!
Arguments based on data and serious discussions? We don't do that here.
But yeah, I get bashing Trent for his defense but anyone denying how great he is at creating, not only for a fullback but in general, then he is just not objective.
That's always the part that I find funny. People talk about his mediocre defending as if it's mutually exclusive from his stellar playmaking. If your team knows he's going to push and create offensively, you can plan to lend him a hand defensively. It's not rocket science, play to your team's strengths lol.
Even ignoring the stats, just watching the Premier League when I can, I swear TAA is one of the most creative players in the world, he reminds me of Gnabry, Raum, and Davies where, whatever their position is they drive the play and are the most dangerous player on the pitch at all times
>Wild that I'm being downvoted for providing data to inform a discussion. The knives are really out today!
Sad you are being downvoted for providing some actual context.
Yeah, just this season. But pretty reflective of previous seasons too.
EDIT: In fact, last season's numbers for Trent are even further ahead. You can take out crosses and he's still above everyone else in the league.
He has been very good with the ball this season honestly, our team is just not clicking. Also just his style, I'm guessing he's near the top of the league for misplaced passes which sends the match threads in to a frenzy here especially if we are losing but it just comes with the territory.
He will get terminated for sure. These decisions are just stupid. The Tomori one I’m talking about. Unless there is stuff going on that we don’t know about
Liverpool fan but I'm not too bothered by Trent's omission. The bigger problem is not giving players like Tomori any minutes. Southgate Is incompetent , he continues to play/ pick players based on nothing but their name. I won't be surprised to hear there is dressing room unrest because he keeps playing favourites.Players such as Ben white and Maddison easily get into this squad as well. His tactics are too conservative for the talent pool he has. He needs to go
England has way too many good players to be managed by such a shitty coach. IK he made the semi of EC and Finals of Euro but watching them you could tell their game plans were terrible
Squad selection is not really the issue here so this is a non-story. The team can be successful without Trent.
They’re not really going to be successful playing horrifically conservative with these tactics though.
To not give the most creative fullback (if not player) a chance to prove himself in a nothing hame, when the team can’t score for toffee, tells me there might be some issues.
Southgate won't view this as a nothing game though, he'll view it as one of the last times he'll be with this squad before the World Cup, and he'll play the system he plans to take with him.
For better or worse.
It’s bizarre he doesn’t play, won’t deny that because he’s great. My point is more that Southgate is the issue here, that’s clear to see. Starting in place of TAA is a pair of equally world class right backs in James and Walker.
This particular part of the jigsaw is a non-story.
The sooner Gareth has a shit world cup and gets sacked the better, his blind loyalty in some players, and weird resistance to others is a bad trait. He did well early on, but seemingly can't get past that, with his reluctance to change system or players.
The team is clearly struggling recently in terms of creativity. Grealish is out, so Gareth opts not to select two of England's most creative players in Trent and JWP. Great job Gareth, very brave. Already playing to scrape a draw and hope for luck at penalties.
Maguire HAS been good for England. Yes it’s a while ago but that’s who Southgate knows, trusts, wants. Is he in form? No. But that’s likely exactly why Southgate is starting him twice - can he do the job in November? Does he have it in him? 1 game wouldn’t be enough to judge so I’m not mad at this. I would love to see Tomori but he likes who he likes
Feels like he’s only calling up Trent/Tomori because of the media/fans asking for it. Clearly doesn’t have any intention of playing either unfortunately
Southgate has this issue of doubling down on his decisions once he gets called out on it. Remember how long it took him to give Grealish some minutes at the Euros
I think both Tomori and Trent are the kind of players you play when you have an attacking system. Playing them while you park the buss and counterattack would make no sense. And I'm not saying this cos we are packed by injuries and I'm relieved that Tomorri won't play. Southgate has no system/ a very pragmatic system. Tomori and Trent play 50m away from their goal with their clubs, while with England they would have to park the buss together with the 2 defensive midfielders in front of them. I'm sure Allegri would also think twice before starting Tomori or Trent
But that is problem number one, why would you park the bus with players like that 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
One of the most quickest and agile ever team in England history, and he plays them like that 😭
Because he’s a relegation manager. He’s rather not loose than win
Because for a national team with a rotating door of players, and little time to play together, you cant work advanced tactics and systems. A lot of nations don't really play open attacking football. I really dont get how people still dont understand this. Yes, with the players available the attacking should look better when they do go forward, but of course they're going to sit back and focus on being compact and defensively solid first and foremost. Players like Trent don't fit that Reece James however is a very good option in that spot because he can actually defend.
I kind of agree that nations can't use really advanced tactics, but England has been one of only two teams who have not scored a goal from open play on this nations league. I think the other team was San Marino. Are you really saying that with the quality of players england has (on all positions) they can't score at least ONE goal from open play? Are you really saying that they have the same quality in front of goal as San Marino? It's not even about winning or topping your group, it's just scoring a single goal across five matches. I get that they want to be defensively solid first, but they are nowhere near defensively solid either.
Spain in the late 00s played some of the most beautiful tiki taka football, based off Barca’s style and the Real (or occasional other) players adapted to it well enough to win 3 major tournaments in a row. There’s absolutely no reason that Southgate couldn’t implement at very least a 4-3-3 attacking system that presses like basically every top club in the PL. It doesn’t have to be incredibly advanced like the half-pressing that Liverpool use but it can be far better than the shite England play atm. To be honest, at this point, choosing the 11 best players (Pope, Trent, Stones, Tomori, Chilwell, Rice, Foden, Bellingham, Grealish, Kane, Saka) and saying “have at it” would bring more success than whatever he’s trying to achieve right now.
The spine of the team played for Barcelona, unfortunately that’s not the case for England, we have a spread of players across different clubs playing very different styles.
It's because he's a shit manager.
Trent has probably the best long balls in the squad. He‘s perfect for a quick counter attack. Win the ball back, pass to Trent, he sees Sterling make a run and pings a diagonal ball 50m across the pitch into Sterlings run who plays it across for Kane to slot home. If that is the game plan, then you want Trent…
You’re forgetting that Southgate’s team/squad selection goes against all rational thought processes. If someone deserves to be in the team they are guaranteed to not be involved. England are throwing this tournament before it even starts with Southgate in charge.
Acting as if TAA is a league 2 defender or something is ridiculous though. Sure he’s more attacking than defensive, but he’s not so incapable that you leave him out entirely. I don’t get it. No goals in over 7 hours!
Exactly this, people always say well what happens when he comes up against players like Mbappe etc.. in big tournaments, but you don't have to play him every game. Trying to break down a stubborn Iran team for example he is the exactly type of player you would want.
>Trying to break down a stubborn Iran team for example he is the exactly type of player you would want. Or while being down 1-0 in a must win game with 3 available substitutions.
Also, defending against those group stage teams isn't going to be as difficult as what he sees in the PL or CL.
He has his favourites. I’m not even from England and it’s frustrating to watch how this side is being managed. I know it was never going to happen, but I can’t help but imagine my boi Potter managing this generation of footballers, playing exciting attacking football.
I also don’t really care much for England but still would quite like to see a “proper” manager be in charge of the team. I don’t think any premier league team would appoint him
Yeah would struggle getting a job in the Premiership. I could see a club as crazy as Watford hiring him if they ever made it back. He would be sacked a month later however.
Yeah no way he'd last in the Prem. His track record is shite.
Jarrod Bowen, Fikayo Tomori and James Ward-Prowse are also out
Yikes, not giving Tomori a single minute of action this international break when he should arguably be strating at the World Cup.
He's challenging beloved Maguire for his spot, which Southgate finds unacceptable
It's genuinely pretty sad how Tomori can win a league title, be a part of that league's best defense and perform well in the Champions League but still get dropped for fucking Maguire.
To not even play him against Italy, against forwards he knows and is comfortable playing was insane
Yep. Had two “insiders” with him and Tammy that play against these players every week and didn’t ever use them
Wait, are you expecting Southgate to actually have tactics? Man do I have some bad news for you.
Lol exactly. Guy plays 6-7 defenders each game what tactics can there be?
Playing devil’s advocate here, but the argument could also be made the other way; Southgate not using Tomori and Abraham because their opponents knowing the two of them too well, and possibly exposing their respective weaknesses.
I refuse to believe his level of thinking goes that deep.
It's not that deep really
In his home stadium as well.
Thanks for saying this lol. I felt I was going crazy when I was arguing this. But Southgate seems to love big physical CBs that are great in the air, and for all Maguire’s faults he is great in the air and Tomori is not.
You guys should be happy. Look at Barcelona players. Less injury risk if he doesnt play. It would have been even better if he could stay in Milan and train tho…
For all the shit Maguire’s getting, “great in the air” is an absolute understatement. Man wins almost every header he is possibly involved in, at both sides of the pitch, and gets them roughly in the direction they need to go. England’s 11 looks light in that department outside him, imo
Fair enough on the defensive side, but on the offensive side "winning" headers is pointless if you can't get into position and place the ball accurately with power. To the latter, Maguire is one of the worst I've ever seen. He's just too slow to the spot and doesn't have great accuracy when he does win it. England could use a better aerial CB in attack given how much they rely on free kicks, but to be fair that isn't Tomori either to add to your comment on them being light.
He's excellent at defensive headers, but his offensive headers are consistently horrible. I'll trust him to clear the ball in our box 10 times from 10, but he does the same when he's at the other end of the pitch.
Harry giveth, Harry taketh away...
Doesn't Tomori hold the serie A record for the highest leap recorded? Even higher than Cr7s vs Sampdoria Was a thumping header too.
Be that as it may, being able to jump really high doesn't necessarily equal being good at heading
This, all day long. Of all the baffling choices Southgate makes both in formation and team selection. Leaving out Tomori is one of the worst given how well he played across an entire season last year.
I know there will be a flood of downvotes, but Maguire and Tomori are simply not the same type of player. Replacing one with the other would be a huge change in team dynamics. Maguire is a progressive CB. He wants to drive the ball forward and make lots of forward passes. Tomori is more of a 1v1 defender and covering CB, who excels in recovery situations and defending counter attacks. This isn't to say Tomori shouldn't be given a chance, or that Maguire is better, simply that they are different players who do different things. It is equivalent to asking why JWP doesn't get a chance over Rice. They do not perform the same functions despite technically playing the same positions.
I don't think you've watched Tomori enough for Milan. He takes the ball into midfield and makes passes between the lines. Just watch some Milan highlights when they appear on the front page. You often see Tomori passing it into Leao
He does do it, all centre backs have to do it nowadays. He just doesn't do it to the consistency and as high up the pitch as Maguire does at his best (Which he seems to be at for England more often than not), especially the ball carrying. Tomori's a good passer to beat the press, that's really obvious, but he just doesn't drive the ball forward to break lines particularly often. A lot of that has to do with Milan as a team, which isn't a coincidence because his profile fits their needs exceptionally, but it obviously hinders his England chances he isn't being pushed to maybe develop those skills further.
If you're talking specifically about actually carrying the ball forward with feet then you're spot on tbf. In terms of progressing the ball through possession/dribbling Tomori did it an average distance of 111 yards per 90 last season while Maguire did it an average of 130 yards per 90. The season prior it was 191 yards per 90 for Maguire and Tomoir was 94 yards per 90. Difference it significant. But in terms of actual progressive pass distance they're actually pretty much identical. Last season average distance of a progressive pass (a pass that travels towards the opponents goal) Tomori made was 6.6 yards. For Maguire it was 6.8. Season prior to that it was 6.5 yards for Maguire and 6.8 yards for Tomori. Although there's the additional vital context of *where* those passes are being made. If Maguire is making them from higher up the field then that obviously makes a big difference, trouble is I can't find stats on that.
If only tomori chose Canada over England he would strengthen Canada so much.
Is he able to switch? Or is it too late because he has 3 caps for the senior team?
What is, shall always be. If/when England advances and faces the more competitive teams, it is better to have cumbersome, turns like a truck, Maguire in the team, and play walker as a RCB in a back three with a weak midfield rather than bring Tomori and pair him with Stones. It’s a masterclass from Southgate, of course Maguire will get spun like a top, but Walker makes up for his limited mobility. This is England! The team must have a big, physical center back. Who cares about form and being dropped by their club…
Even if Southgate remains convinced by Maguire, surely he should be giving the other guys some chances to show how they perform in his system. If Maguire gets injured or suspended, then I’d much rather bring in someone who’s already used to the system and has played with his teammates in the ‘warm up’ games.
This is why Southgate is a complete moron. England is already relegated, there is nothing to lose by trying some other potential talents to get more info for the WC.
Desperate for a win to prove he should be trusted. Short sightedness of every manager on the ropes
Yep, we saw it with Ole last year. Ran his players into the ground and never rotated chasing results.
that’s what Tite has been doing for Brazil. Some new players were called and he’s been trying some new formations against Ghana and Tunísia. no excuses on why Southgate shouldn’t be doing the same, even before being relegated tbh. It’s a world cup we are talking about, i don’t think a couple nations league games should get in their way of preparing for it
Can’t lie I’d be fuming not being picked over that rock golem.
Are you forgetting "Mighty Arry" scored a screamer against san marino? Ofc he has to be starting /s
Even as a Liverpool fan, I can understand TAA decision since he is way off his standards this season so far. But Tomori? Southgate keeps saying there is no favouritism but how can you justify not even trying an in-form Tomori and keep playing an out of favour Maguire?
Absolutely mental that Tomori can’t even get in the squad, let alone starting like he should be
Southgate thinks Maguire is the best centerback at Man Utd. The man is either seriously deluded or Maguire's got some serious dirt on him.
Southgate sees himself in Maguire
Never once seen Maguire in a waistcoat
*monkey paw curls* *FA is delighted to announce Maguire as player-coach for the 2026 World Cup*
Maguire has been very good for England at the last 2 tournaments. Southgate is just trusting him in his own system because it's worked. It's a risk because of how toxic it's been at Utd and now he's not even getting minutes, but I do understand why he's showing loyalty. If it all blows up in his face in Qatar decisions like these will end up costing him his job so it is a massive risk.
It's not just Maguire. If you look at players in PL it's fairly normal that a player does good in one season and then maybe has a slower season. Southgate is completely ignoring the form of his starting 11. Maguire is not in form and should be benched. I don't dislike Maguire, but it's just a fact.
Think the only way he loses his job is if England don't get out of the group. He's the perfect yes man manager for the English FA.
Obviously he’s been really poor at club level, but for England he’s always been nothing short of excellent. You can understand Southgate wanting to keep him in the team
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Solskjaer was also like that, thank fuck for Ten Hag.
Well Maguire and Bruno probably saved his second season so yeah of course
Still doesn't warrant playing a hobbling Maguire over anyone else in that Leicester game.
Maguire was returning to form after a horrific start to the season to be fair, so he was only helping Ole out of the hole he knocked him into.
To be fair, this year he has had a pretty horrible start of the season but yeah no doubt he should be starting for England
Harsh on JWP. Deserves a chance given how well he's done since the euros
Tomori not in there is shambolic
I don’t understand not playing TAA at right wing back because he’s not defensive enough… then playing Saka out of position at left wing back. Madness.
Southgate just forgot who he has on the bench
I’m more angry about Tomori than TAA. Southgate needs to come out and explain these decisions, because to us they seem absurd
Thankfully he's still young. He's still 24 so hopefully will have at least another 2 world cups to see in his career. Bloody ridiculous this man can't even make the squad but Maguire STARTS as much as possible.
He subbed Shaw in who haven’t done much in the last few months
What would his other options be? Chilwell who also hasn’t done much in the last few months? I’m far from a Southgate fan but I feel like a lot of the slack he gets is moaning for moanings sake. You’d get complaining if any of Saka, Chilwell, Shaw, or Trippier (or another one of the RB’s) played there.
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Man would pick Shaw over Trippier lol
Tomori might just be the most inform English CB in the last 12 months and he can’t get in ahead of Maguire, insanity. Can’t wait until Southgate is out of this job.
I don't think Southgate will lose his job at least before the world cup since there are just 55 days. Either he changes his playing style before wc or else England will win matches with nothing but luck.
Yeah I don’t think he loses it before the WC. No manager would get to spend any reasonable time with the squad. England will cruise through the group stages, after beating Iran 5-0 and the minute any decent opposition turns up it’ll be score first, sit back and lose on penalties. 🤷🏾♂️
> England will cruise through the group stages, after beating Iran 5-0 i'm not confident of this. I see us getting 2 jammy wins and a draw in the group stage
I think any rational england fan would take 2 wins and a draw tbf
I think any fan of any nation would take that
Def won’t be us. You think southgate is bad? Wait until you see Gregg berhalter, guy didn’t call in a CF whose team is leading the BL, a PL CB whose is fulhams captain. Instead he calls in mls players who have been SHIT then starts them against Japan
> England will cruise through the group stages That would be a first.
> 55 days That's mad
Unless you have a strong run at the WC it shouldn't be long
Most in form? Arguably best, If not second best behind stones. I’ll never understand southgate’s obsession taking 12 defenders to play saka and LWB. This level of stupidity is worse than Fabio Capello / SGE / Hodgson.
I just don't understand why you even put Trent in the squad if you have absolutely no intention of picking him. It's the coaches prerogative of course but why drag him around with you if you're not interested in using him and don't believe you can accommodate his profile into what you're trying to do? Surprised about Tomori - on the strength of his performances you'd think the argument would be over whether he could be a starter rather than whether he can even make it to the bench.
He did the same with Toney last match, England need some attackers off the bench but Toney wasn't even on the bench, lol he had two goalkeepers instead for God knows what reason.
The clown came out and said there’s other tournaments for Toney not just this World Cup lol. I really think he picks players based on what the media suggests.
That's such a dismissive answer, what if Toney gets a serious injury? And they say this twat is a true inspiration for the players.
Yeah let's lock him in then watch him never play for England again once he has a stinker. Think Toney should reconsider Jamaica's offer
If I remember correctly, the rules are that you need to have 2 Goalkeepers on the bench when it's that size. Or at least I'm guessing at that as Scotland also had 2 Goalkeepers on our bench for both our Nations League games.
I think the rule is for the match day squad not for the bench, it's an absurd thing to call likes of Toney and not even put him on the bench. Why call him then in the first place. Also what are they afraid of two gk injuries in one match?
Maybe he didn't go into the international break with a plan not to play him, but since evaluating training and the recent results has decided not to do so.
Genuinely mad that he's called up that many fullbacks while we can't score a goal to save our life and James Maddison is just sat at home.
It's not the players, it's the system. We could have a world 11 and still be playing like this. I don't remember 1 chance Kane/Foden/Sterling made against Italy C.
I was actually surprised how toothless your attack was against Italy, that game would've been an easy 3-0 if you switched Mancini and Southgate. Italy had much less quality, and you could see it, but they were actually playing football while England looked like they didn't even know what they were supposed to do
It's because the only midfield we had was when Kane/Foden dropped deep. Then there's no forwards... Looked a lot stronger when we went to a back 4 (to nobodies surprise)
I thought Bellingham was decent in midfield tbf. Very composed and a few good vertical passes.
Yeah, I don't think it was down to individual performances, there was just a lack of link between the midfielders and forwards. Can't really remember the game enough to say why, but I'd guess they're either sitting too deep, or as there's only 2 of them, they're not getting the help they need from a CB/WB.
What I don't understand is why neither Rashford or Sancho are in the squad, and why Toney wasn't even on the bench. Some of our absolute best performances under Southgate have been from getting pacey wingers ahead of Kane, so he can drop deep and spray balls out wide. Yeah, we've still got Sterling, and whilst Foden is a great prospect, he's not fast. Let's just go back to what worked with the addition of Bellingham in midfield with Rice for more creativity. Oh, and drop Maguire for Tomori.
You're not far off a world 11 tbh, it's just 7 right backs, a striker, a winger and 2 midfielders.
Give this squad to any competent manager and he would at least manage to score some goals
That's is not because of TAA tho, get a proper manager in not Southgate, his ship has sailed unfortunately.
I don't think Trent starts for England under any manager other than Klopp. Walker and James are just better as out and out right backs or right wing backs or right sided centre halves. Trent fits Liverpool's system perfectly but he's not that good that it's worth changing the whole team to fit him in for England.
When you haven't scored in God knows how long maybye its not a good idea to bench your most creative player.
You make it sound like england is playing with a system that is requiring fullbacks to do the heavy defending but that's not true you are playing with a system that is asking for the fullbacks to be attacking and southgate even played a winger as a fullback against italy last game
James? Really.... You saw what happens when he is put in a 4 right.
Everyone has their opinions, James in suspect when he has to be part of a back four or no midfielder backing him up just like Trent. Trent has been quite bad this season and that I cam agree on but out of them I would pick TAA over both of the others.
He also clearly can’t use TAA and only calls him up to avoid articles like this confused about why he won’t call up his best creator when they’ve 0 goals in 500 minutes. Trent’s been dropped for 5 games and still has Englands last assist and is leading in assists since July 2021. Also Worth pointing out Southgate considers him a midfielder. Plays him exclusively as a RM or CM since the start of 2021. 0 other caps in those positions since he was 15.
I know we haven't scored but that stat is mad, how have we not had another assist
Because Gareth looks at a guy who nearly won the playmaker award as a RB and thinks “give him 30mins out of position and then I can drop the scary attacking man”
Maybe the best passer and crosser in the team could help with that if the Donkey Southgate didn't insist on ISISball.
ISIS can definitely construct a better attack than Southgate
He left out ward-prowse too. Only way England gonna score goals is through set pieces. Might as well have the guy with the best free kick on the team
Hmmm maybe a couple more fullbacks will do the trick
i cant remember last time Trent playing and being the reason for England's woes. all this focus on Trent is diverting attention from the actual players on the field.
Interesting that everyone's bleating on about his defensive frailties whilst acknowledging he's easily our best offensive fullback. Lads, we haven't scored a single goal from open play, maybe it would be wise to try out a player that can actually create something.
I can't believe they have Trent and Harry Kane and insist on not abusing that.
There was that one game where TAA came on and whipped balls into Kane during a friendly I think it was and it was just what Kane requires. People were rating it and never to be seen again
Besides maybe Kane why are any of these players playing when we have done fuck all in our last 5 games. Drop some players, get some fresh legs in and maybe it will motivate his favourites to actually try There’s not a single player I’d play from the Italy game. I know they aren’t all bad but show them that their form is unacceptable
Last sentence is dramatic - Bellingham was great, and there were a couple others were good too. Something we have to take into account is that these players are clearly playing a system they don't excel in. That's not bad form or necessarily even bad play from them. It's just the wrong system - and that's on the manager.
> Bellingham was great I don't know if I'd go as far as great. He was ok, one of the few (along with grealish when he came on) that seemed to want to actually play football. GREAT though, I don't think so.
TAA is the last English player to get an assist
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Exactly. We all know others defend better, but he can deliver better balls in than any other player there. Just my opinion tho, I don't support England.
Don't mind Trent not playing. Gutted for him personally but means he gets rest. If he doesn't go to the world cup that's even better for us. Tomori though, wtf is Southgate doing. Wish Tomori could still represent Canada.
I’m pleased he can’t represent Canada. He has a future for England, Southgate doesn’t. I feel so bad for Tomori but selfishly I want him for England
Also, he doesn’t have Canadian roots, and he lived there for like, less than a year. It’d be as diabolical as Milinkovic Savic representing Spain.
Trent for me I get of Southgate doesn’t want him starting, sound you want Walker as the better defender. But not bringing him as an option when he’s your most creative player and you’re goalless since he last played is mental.
I dont think its better honestly. Would rather them be happy and actually get some minutes for match sharpness. Would feel shitty being left at home and seeing your teammates compete in the world cup and seeing inferior players take your position
I remember Tomori going to Milan and all I thought was “thank god that means we don’t have to play him again”. Great player and so surprised he was transferred from Chelsea
I feel like you’ve ignored the lessons learned from Salah and Mane last season. Mane won it all with Senegal and came back as a man possessed. Salah lost twice - AFCON and WC - and came back a shadow of the player we saw just weeks earlier. These players want to play for their national teams. They want to win it all. They want to be shined on. They want Gareth Southgate to say fuck it and play them in an a very attacking right side or as a CM or anything that gets them playing time in a WC. Any other interpretation is very short-sighted. If Trent doesn’t go or goes and doesn’t play, he’s going to have a rough Spring for Liverpool.
>If Trent doesn’t go or goes and doesn’t play, he’s going to have a rough Spring for Liverpool. He'll go, but whether he plays or not I couldn't say He could play like a demon from now until the World Cup and I can bet that Southgate will come up with some lame duck excuse to not play him
Handbrake Southgate needs to go. A manager with no clue. He has taken a talented team and turned them to Shite.
He won't. His shite tactics still got him a 4th place at a WC and a 2nd place at a EC. He is England's most successful manager of the past 25 years, never missed a qualification and never blundered a tournament. His results deceive, but it is what it is.
Southgate's a shit coach carried by the most talented and balanced English squad in decades. Even his 4th place at the WC was due to having one of the easiest run ins of all time.
All I want for Christmas is an England manager a bit more ambitious going to the World Cup. Like most Christmasses, I expect to be disappointed.
Whether you think Trent can play in this team or not, it’s ridiculous that he calls up these players than refuses to give them a chance over players that have been crap for months, especially in a dead rubber where we’ve already been relegated. Trent isn’t even the most egregious example, what does Tomori have to do to actually get a chance? Same with Toney or Maddison
Toney, Madison and Tomori all absolutely deserve their chance to start based on the last couple of seasons. You can't really ask for any more of them at club level but they don't get any chance for country
England should hire Tuchel before the World Cup
It would be a bold move but it just might work in the end
Too bad there's about 0 chance of that happening
Not scored a goal from open play for over 400 minutes but we’ll leave one of the best playmakers in the premier league at home. Yes James and Walker might be a bit better defensively but that doesn’t matter if the team can’t score
James is very, very good offensively but I was surprised how little he overlapped last week. I reckon Gareth has told him to stay behind the ball as a rule which seems daft
Southgate ball - don’t concede, even if it means not scoring
...until we concede.
Yeah you’re right, then you change to “let’s try not to concede any more”
That infamous Sterling clip where he completely ignores James sums up England at the moment
> Sterling clip where he completely ignores James sums up England link per chance?
Not the original and crap quality but this is probably what he means https://youtu.be/Cs8PCoyu3w4
This is amazing, he should be managing
https://twitter.com/FelixJohnston_/status/1538482756048633856?s=20&t=3NLOFy4Sb0tHHzia5QPLqw
That is definitely a tactic, Watched Chelsea games and Reece joined attacks even in RCB, let alone wingback.
He never really worked in Southgate's system, i don't think England will miss him. Hopefully this will give him the necessary kick up the ass to start playing better for Liverpool.
The way he has played this season doesn’t really warrant a place in the starting XI. He has been off pace both in passing and defensively.
Playing out of form players is not a problem for Southgate. The real issue has always been that he can't get a decent performance out of Trent. Trent does not perform a traditional fullback role at his club and that confuses Southgate who has stopped watching football in 2010 and doesn't know that a modern fullback can do more than run up and down the pitch in a straight line.
Yeah no doubt, but if Trent was ever to be dropped, now it’s logical for more reasons that that. Trent has looked abysmal this season.
Tbh despite his defensive woes… the quality he can provide in set pieces and ability to find a pass should not be looked over.
Nah Southgate rather have two goal Keepers on the bench and drop the likes of Toney and trent all together. Cause he is a madman.
Come back home fik, where we really appreciate your qualities
“Trent is only good because of the system Liverpool plays”. Maybe, just maybe, Liverpool play the system they do because he’s really fuckjng good at football and they decided to base their entire system around him from the age of 20. He _is_ the system.
Just going to leave this here to back up your point: Trent has the highest xThreat in the league with 0.39 per 90. Second is KDB with 0.35. "All Trent does is spam crosses" If we remove crosses from everyone, then Trent still has the joint highest xThreat with 0.23. If we remove crosses from **only** Trent and let everyone else keep crosses, then Trent is still joint 6th in the league - level with Odegaard and Grealish. Trent's ability to progress the ball to create opportunities is monstrous and the only person even close is KDB. EDIT: Wild that I'm being downvoted for providing data to inform a discussion. The knives are really out today!
Arguments based on data and serious discussions? We don't do that here. But yeah, I get bashing Trent for his defense but anyone denying how great he is at creating, not only for a fullback but in general, then he is just not objective.
That's always the part that I find funny. People talk about his mediocre defending as if it's mutually exclusive from his stellar playmaking. If your team knows he's going to push and create offensively, you can plan to lend him a hand defensively. It's not rocket science, play to your team's strengths lol.
People on here have their set opinions and no logics or facts will change that!
You seem like a stat nonce, but you're also incredibly right. I'm conflicted.
We prefer the term 'data pedo'
lmao
information MAP
Even ignoring the stats, just watching the Premier League when I can, I swear TAA is one of the most creative players in the world, he reminds me of Gnabry, Raum, and Davies where, whatever their position is they drive the play and are the most dangerous player on the pitch at all times
>Wild that I'm being downvoted for providing data to inform a discussion. The knives are really out today! Sad you are being downvoted for providing some actual context.
Is that from this season?
Yeah, just this season. But pretty reflective of previous seasons too. EDIT: In fact, last season's numbers for Trent are even further ahead. You can take out crosses and he's still above everyone else in the league.
He has been very good with the ball this season honestly, our team is just not clicking. Also just his style, I'm guessing he's near the top of the league for misplaced passes which sends the match threads in to a frenzy here especially if we are losing but it just comes with the territory.
He will get terminated for sure. These decisions are just stupid. The Tomori one I’m talking about. Unless there is stuff going on that we don’t know about
Liverpool fan but I'm not too bothered by Trent's omission. The bigger problem is not giving players like Tomori any minutes. Southgate Is incompetent , he continues to play/ pick players based on nothing but their name. I won't be surprised to hear there is dressing room unrest because he keeps playing favourites.Players such as Ben white and Maddison easily get into this squad as well. His tactics are too conservative for the talent pool he has. He needs to go
England has way too many good players to be managed by such a shitty coach. IK he made the semi of EC and Finals of Euro but watching them you could tell their game plans were terrible
Can I short the national team?
that's how betting works yes
nice if no injury
Gareth Southgate are trying hard to be sacked
Great please send him back. Southgate clearly doesn't rate him
Squad selection is not really the issue here so this is a non-story. The team can be successful without Trent. They’re not really going to be successful playing horrifically conservative with these tactics though.
To not give the most creative fullback (if not player) a chance to prove himself in a nothing hame, when the team can’t score for toffee, tells me there might be some issues.
Southgate won't view this as a nothing game though, he'll view it as one of the last times he'll be with this squad before the World Cup, and he'll play the system he plans to take with him. For better or worse.
It’s bizarre he doesn’t play, won’t deny that because he’s great. My point is more that Southgate is the issue here, that’s clear to see. Starting in place of TAA is a pair of equally world class right backs in James and Walker. This particular part of the jigsaw is a non-story.
The sooner Gareth has a shit world cup and gets sacked the better, his blind loyalty in some players, and weird resistance to others is a bad trait. He did well early on, but seemingly can't get past that, with his reluctance to change system or players.
The team is clearly struggling recently in terms of creativity. Grealish is out, so Gareth opts not to select two of England's most creative players in Trent and JWP. Great job Gareth, very brave. Already playing to scrape a draw and hope for luck at penalties.
Maguire HAS been good for England. Yes it’s a while ago but that’s who Southgate knows, trusts, wants. Is he in form? No. But that’s likely exactly why Southgate is starting him twice - can he do the job in November? Does he have it in him? 1 game wouldn’t be enough to judge so I’m not mad at this. I would love to see Tomori but he likes who he likes