The Football Thread.

guitars4you

So Southgate picks his squad today - main questions are 

So will Rashford make it - I don't think so - Gordon + Bowen IMO as back up to Sacko and Foden

Who will go as back up to H Kane - Toney or Watkins - To be fair that is IMO the only advantage in taking Rashford - He can provide back up wide or central striker - But he won't start IMO unless we have injury issues 

Plus who goes in midfield alongside Bellingham and Rice - Mainoo/Gallagher/Madison - I bet Henderson finds a seat but it wouldn't be on my plane 

Shrews

Southgate likes his experienced heads so Henderson and Rashford will be on the plane I guess. Possibly at the expense of Watkins and Bowen.

Unless he decides to go all controversial and chooses Benson and Hedges from the lower leagues. 

TTony

guitars4you said:

So will Rashford make it - I don't think so - Gordon + Bowen IMO as back up to Sacko and Foden

I can't think of any rational justification why Rashford would go in place of Gordon or Bowen, or just about any other player who's pulled on a pair of boots* in the last 3 seasons.



*ideally football boots, but other alternatives could be considered.

RaymondLin

26 players.....I think the one that goes are.

Goalie
Pickford
Ramsdale

Defender
Walker
Maguire
Stone
Alexander Arnold
Guehi
Branthwaite
Chilwell (only recognised Left Back ?? with Shaw out?)

Midfielder
Rice
Mainoo
Palmer
Gallagher
Bellingham
Gordon
Foden
Saka

Forward
Kane
Watkins

That's 19....so 7 more.  Crossed out those who I think won't make it.

A Goalie +
Konsa
Trippier
Colwill
Dunk
Tomori
Gomez
Lewis
Bowen
Eze
Maddison
Henderson
Rashford
Grealish
Toney
Wilson

guitars4you

In places we are very strong and potentially the best team we've had for years - Pickford, Rice, Bellingham, Kane, Foden and Saka could probably play in any other European team  - But a few positions we probably have to make do 

 Centre backs - Nothing actually wrong with Stone other than he spends most of his game time now on a bench - Walker is still fine with A Arnold as back up and can move into wide midfield if required - LB not so sure - We had Chillwell or Shaw as to good contenders when available - But think both are out - So that means Trippier will go to cover/play

Other players and relevant places and there is not enough consistency in their PL performance from Grealish + Maddison (he was fine before Christmas) 

Cole Palmer and indeed Elliot both look very good options, but not really integrated into the senior set up yet so maybe a tournament to soon for them - But if you took one then I'd say Palmer based on his goal scoring record 

Think Sancho's return to form is to late for him to get in the squad 

The formation will be a bit of a question to get the best out of the team - GS likes 4-2-3-1 - So Rice will be holding in midfield, probably with Mainoo - Leaving Belligham in the centre with Foden + Saka playing wider - But Foden should be a #10 style floater - But that would either require a change in formation, with now only 1 central holding midfield player - GS is boring so won't take that option

guitars4you

GS comes on at 2pm - But early reports are Rashford, Henderson and Sterling (no surprise there) can start to book their summer holidays now

scrumhalf

Why do we need squads in this day and age? Why not have a load of players you can choose from? If the FA  or one of the other national bodied wants to take 30+ players then as long as it can keep them all happy, why not?

Lestratcaster

Henderson and Rashford have indeed been left out. I never rated Henderson anyway and England have Rice, Bellingham and I think Foden could do a job in a midfield 3 (though he's better further forward). Cole Palmer can also go in there.

Surprised Ramsdale got a place as he's not played much this season. No doubt he'll move on after the tournament, shouldn't be sitting around on the bench but its pretty clear Raya is the no.1 so if the formalities take place and we sign him permanently then he won't be playing much.

Still no first choice back up to Kane, Watkins has had a good season but the international setup is different. Same goes for Toney. The other attacking forwards are either wide or no.10 type players.

RaymondLin

I think Toney and Watkins can do a holding job fine as a No.9 in a pinch, it just mean Bellingham would need to get into the box more as a No. 8 rather than a 6 to add a bit more fire power.

Real Madrid don't really have a great No.9 and he has been doing that job all season.

sev112

I’m always surprised Harvey Elliott at Liverpool doesn’t get a look in - is he not English perhaps?

 

RaymondLin

sev112 said:

I’m always surprised Harvey Elliott at Liverpool doesn’t get a look in - is he not English perhaps?

 

Left footed like Foden and Saka, both Southgate prefer over Elliot he plays him on the right.  Currently on the right Palmer plays there and he has had a stormer of a season.

If he thinks more in the center then he is behind Bellingham and Foden for more advance role.

For more defensive role in midfield would be more holding which is Mainoo, Jones, Whaton etc.  I think it is simply the fact that Saka, Foden and Palmer, all left footed, all can play the same position he does.  So England have enough cover in that area.

munckee

My England starting 11 for Euros:

Pickford
Walker, Stones, Anyone but Maguire, Trippier
Rice, bellingham, Mainoo 
foden, Kane, Saka.  

Shrews

Who is slotting in for Rice if he picks up an injury? 

DrCornelius

munckee said:

My England starting 11 for Euros:

Pickford
Walker, Stones, Anyone but Maguire, Trippier
Rice, bellingham, Mainoo 
foden, Kane, Saka.  

As a palace fan I’m biased of course but I’d go -

                        Pickford
Walker    Stones.       Guehi.       Trippier 
         Rice.      Bellingham.     Wharton
               Saka.     Kane.     Eze

guitars4you

munckee said:

My England starting 11 for Euros:

Pickford
Walker, Stones, Anyone but Maguire, Trippier
Rice, bellingham, Mainoo 
foden, Kane, Saka.  

I think you are right 

munckee

DrCornelius said:

munckee said:

My England starting 11 for Euros:

Pickford
Walker, Stones, Anyone but Maguire, Trippier
Rice, bellingham, Mainoo 
foden, Kane, Saka.  

As a palace fan I’m biased of course but I’d go -

                        Pickford
Walker    Stones.       Guehi.       Trippier 
         Rice.      Bellingham.     Wharton
               Saka.     Kane.     Eze

I admire your loyalty but no space for foden  or at least Palmer sounds like madness! 

DrCornelius

munckee said:

DrCornelius said:

munckee said:

My England starting 11 for Euros:

Pickford
Walker, Stones, Anyone but Maguire, Trippier
Rice, bellingham, Mainoo 
foden, Kane, Saka.  

As a palace fan I’m biased of course but I’d go -

                        Pickford
Walker    Stones.       Guehi.       Trippier 
         Rice.      Bellingham.     Wharton
               Saka.     Kane.     Eze

I admire your loyalty but no space for foden  or at least Palmer sounds like madness! 

Palmer comes on when Saka is tired :-)

For some reason I cant remember many England games where Foden has showed anything like his club form so I'd give others a chance.   I'm definitely being over loyal / mad with Wharton but the lad is some player - to resort to a well used phrase , he is like Pirlo and would be brilliant alongside Bellingham for years to come.  He wont be at Palace for long unfortunately 

swiller

Sensible choices by southgate.
I think gordon well deserves a start, esp if trippier starts. Absolute talisman for the toon this season and can score, assist and g will run at players and chase the ball. 12 goals from 48 games as a winger? cmon.

thecolourbox

That's reminded me I need to pick my team for the upcoming Euros - I like to pick a small team who I think might do better than expected then follow them, then whoever they go out to, I follow them and so on until the final. That way I can follow the tournament all the way through and always have a team to support. 

I do give myself the right to veto, if the team I end up having to follow is either a) England or b) a dirty cheating team

victorludorum

Chelsea. What is going on there!?