England Senior Team General Discussion Thread

Got to admit that I’m well and truly in the Grealish camp now for a call up to the next Squad especially if his good form continues obviously. Even if Southgate isn’t a fan for whatever reason, I just can’t see how he can justify leaving him out and if he does I think serious questions will be asked. He just runs the show for Villa and can only imagine how good he would be with better players around him, he’s so good and comfortable on the ball. Got to be space for both Maddison and Grealish in the next squad in my opinion.

 

I agree. I would take both to the euros. Southgate is there so he cant fail to be impressed

 

The thing is it's not just that there is room for both, it's more that I don't see how we can do without both. Given many of the other attacking options in midfield have problems. Alli seems to have slowed down again after his new lease of life under Mourinho. Barkley has made very little impact this season albeit he has been injured, the Ox is just so unreliable, Lingard is finished and Mount is nowhere near as consistent or influential as those two.

 

Ive not been a fan of grealish because whilst hes easy on the eye his goal and assist stats just havent been enough. But thats changed now so theres no excuses. Grealish has 8 goals 6 assists in 22 games and maddison 9 goals 3 assists in 25 games. And grealish is doing that in a bottom half team with no other really decent players (leicester have vardy, chilwell etc). Sold

 

Ancelloti not impressed by Pickford it seems, looking to bring in a challenger for his spot.

 

Grealish always looks so comfortable in possession . It's like he has a few seconds more than any normal player. Maddison is much more instinctive, he can pick out a pass without thinking about it.

 

This is the main point though I feel. Previously, Southgate's case against those two has seemingly been that they don't fit the system. However, their form and impact allied to the way it completely contrasts with his previous preferred choices of Barkley, Lingard, Alli, AOC means that the onus should be on him to recalibrate and rebalance that area of the pitch in order to somehow fit at least one of them in. International management has always been about assessing your options and then building around that, rather than club football where transfer windows mean you can design your system first and select your personnel to fit, i.e the other way round. That may mean we have to leave out Alexander Arnold, or that we have to play two holding players behind Maddison or Grealish. However, I just feel it's reaching an unquestionable stage now with both of them. That so many posters on here are clamouring for it even the ones who didn't previously is testament to the quality they've both shown.

 

Harry Kane out until April!

 

Hopefully he stays out until April as well this time. I feel too often he rushes back from injuries and it doesn't help him. I know there's the age old argument of "it's their bodies they know best" but for once he should just rest until he's fully healed and able to properly come back. Otherwise, he's just not doing himself any favours in the long run.

 

Southgate should start planning for the tournament without him, and only bring him back in if he's fully match-fit when it rolls around. I don't want another tournament with a half-fit star striker. We had enough of that with Rooney.

 

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Sadly he will be rushed back just like the UCL final. He should be put on the bench for regular fit cfs like Vardy or Rashford

 

I like Maddison but I am almost certain if he were to actually start playing regularly for England he would be quickly set upon by those who demand him. He doesn't do nearly as much in open play as some people seem to think.

To be honest I think Foden is a much better player even if he's not playing right now. He's the one I'd actually look to get in the England 11. He's full of energy and running which is apparently one of the problems Southgate has with Maddison but he's also got more overall quality on the ball.

 

Without kane we may as well give up. There are no strikers in our squad who come close. I would take even a 70% fit kane

 

He has 2 months to get back his match fitness before our first game. Plenty of time

 

I do agree with you here, Maddison does not really have the legs to carry the ball and take control of the game by himself which could be an issue with England. And he never looked amazing with the u21, for this reason IMO. On the other hand, Grealish has a big engine and can drive with the ball and dominate anyone. What Barkley does - quite well - for England, Grealish would do better. Until Foden plays more often, Grealish is the obvious alternative for me.

 

What? Maddison controls games for Leicester all the time. Hes involved in everything. Set pieces. Open play, assists

 

You could also argue Maddison does it in a 2 as Perez often plays as a ss

but ndidi does the work of 2 men

the biggest issue for me is seeing Graelish as an 8 and obviously the emergence of foden

 

He's a very good player I love him. But he plays in a team set up in a certain way, with complete freedom and plenty of options to combine with. He's not really the type of player to take the game by the scruff of the neck, mainly bc doesn't have the power to drive with the ball forward and escape pressure. He can do it on 2/3 yards max. Foden Grealish are better than him in that respect, give them the ball anywhere on the pitch they'll keep it and escape their markers

 

Kane will have time and hopefully have a few games before the euros so hopefully this acts as a needed break for him but it is a shame.

Maybe Vardy will now consider returning to the squad?

 

Grealish's most productive performances this season have been as a wide left attacker. I think he's more genuinely versatile than Maddison.

https://www.whoscored.com/Players/113069/Show/Jack-Grealish

 

Time for Callum Wilson to seize that No9 shirt

 

yeah he plays as a free role player from the left in a 4231

dean smith might want to try a standard 433 though with grealish in the middle as they leak goals

 

Apparently Barkley has serious off field issues .. can’t see him ever filling his early potential now

 

"apparently"

 

Know we are weaker without him, but when you look at the form, confidence and quality that our forwards are playing with, I can't help but feel we have it covered going forward without Kane. An injury in other areas would be far more worrying imo.