What HE WILL DO and what WE WANT HIM to do are of course very different things as we have found out in recent months. The one thing I would say is it's getting to the stage now where Southgate really needs to be developing an idea of what his team for the euros is vaguely going to look like. We are now beginning to run out of int breaks and opportunities to bed in the likes of Maddison, AWB and any other youngsters who could potentially be in the side next summer so it is important we start giving them games and the chance to settle in.
I don't think there's is any reason to assume that he will drop Barkley now or at any time during the season. I don't know what he'll do with Lingard and Oxlade-Chamberlain though. It's hard to make an argument for either being in the squad, but managers don't like doing exactly what the media tells them to.
Shall we move all The Potter related discussion to the Dual Nationality thread? Another one we've likely lost to a third-rate nation.
I just don’t see how Ox and Lingard can justify a squad place unfortunately. Maddison, Mount and Grealish are all more deserving.
Its been a hard desicion for me and my family but Ive decided to remain posting on the England forum.
I think it will be very odd for Southgate to pick Ox and Lingard this time round tbh but wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprised if he did.
I don't like or rate Lingard, however he has at least performed well for England under Southgate and has also had a reasonable amount of game time in the last year to keep himself ticking over for the games for England. So although it's still a weak case in comparison to Maddison, he can still make some form of justification for being in the squad. The Ox however is an absolute joke of a selection if he's picked and a complete waste of a spot. I mean seriously how on earth can someone who has not played any football for the last year and who didn't even look match fit the other night possibly be considered a better option than one of the best young and most in form player's in the country in Maddison. Whether Southgate feels Maddison fits his long-term plan or not, whether he prefers the Ox as a player or not, it shouldn't even matter in a case like this. Picking the Ox should be a sackable offence alone and I say this as someone who actually likes him as a professional and person. Also, even if/when the Ox gets back to full fitness and is playing regularly, he shouldn't be in. This is because he doesn't bring anything different to what Barkley or even Alli does, his game is based more on direct running, physicality, energy and end product rather than the ability to dictate play, receive the ball in tight spaces and pick a pass which is what we are lacking and actually need.
I think Ox’s last call up was a good will gesture a la Chalobah. If he’s in the next squad though then it’s just plain wrong.
The worry is that these two games coming up are tougher match scenarios than the last international meet up. Meaning it’s harder to bring less experienced players into these games in comparison to the last games. That is what was so awful about Southgate’s squad use in the last meet up. Those games were perfect to use the less experienced players and give them some minutes. To completely ignore Winks and Maddison was absurd. It’s not even about not agreeing with a lineup or with certain players starting. If he had given Maddison the pitch time that Ox got against Bulgaria and not completely overplayed Rice and Barkley the complaints would have been far more subdued.
Gomez on the bench again, he’s really finding it hard to find a start in league games at the moment. In regard to Squad selections, I think he’s quite lucky in the respect that he’s still one of our best Centre half’s and not much competition for his place in the Squad unlike the Ox where there does seem like more options who are in form. Having said that though, with the emergence of Tomori and when Stones gets back fit, it might all of a sudden start to get interesting.
Actually maybe I’m being harsh on Henderson after seeing Lloris making his howler which is just awful. Lol
Tomori has had a solid game for Chelsea this afternoon, hardly put a foot wrong. Really good performance and surely must be under consideration for the Squad.
I've watched his past two games and he's been excellent in both, against Pool he bossed Salah with ease. He has to be in the squad in my opinion.
I've also heard Chelsea fans criticising Barkley and saying they were much better when Kovacic was on. Lampard doesn't seem to like him and he's obviously a much better judge of midfielders than Southgate. I apologise for sounding like an absolute broken record on this by now but it's another crime that he not only continues to make the team, but actually seems to be pretty locked in when Maddison continues to play as well as he does.
I thought Barkley was going to be a proper player a few years ago but I’d say he’s plateaued or even regressed at Chelsea .. shouldn’t be anywhere near the England team