Been watching Amazon prime. Greenwood has been excellent again. His ability with two feet is quality. Great goal. Also bissaka has been superb going forward. Put in a great ball for rashford's header and then another one not too long after. I would love to see Greenwood taken to the euros maybe ahead of odoi
Jenks's post got me thinking that there are a few players who might be looking over their shoulder; Heaton, Rose, Mings, Delph, Ox, Barkley, CHO and Wilson.
Was going to comment on this matter too. I think the most disappointing thing is that he just doesn't even try and influence/impact games. Every time he gets the ball he just seems to take a touch and then pass it backwards or square. I can understand and let him off with not getting the same numbers as the likes of Rashford, Sterling and Sancho for G+A, if he was trying to beat his man, make riskier passes etc. I know we need to take his age and injury into consideration, but even then he's been extremely disappointing. Finally, I think his attitude also disappoints me, watching Rashford and Sterling what strikes you is that they never give up even when it's not going their way. Sterling at Anfield a few weeks back was a prime example of this, whilst Rashford also has shown an exemplary mentality on many a occasion. CHO however just seems to drift out of games completely and let them pass him by. Given Southgate alluded to considering Grealish as a wide option, then he has no excuses to not pick him if CHO is his competition, providing the current form and trajectories of the two stay the same between now and March. In all fairness to Southgate though, he has shown he'll drop players from the team or even the squad altogether, if they aren't putting in the performances. Trippier, Dier, Rashford, Alli, Rose and Keane are just some of the recent examples of this. Hopefully he has been keeping close tabs on CHO and will make that call with him as well.
Alfie Bates (2001 born) scored for Walsall yesterday in League Two. Good to see some loan players doing well in League One: Max Sanders has been ever present for Wimbledon, Liam Walsh and Callum O'Hare being key players for Coventry, Ben Sheaf for Doncaster. Also some former youth internationals having a great season like Cameron Brannagan, Louis Reed or Jordan Rossiter, some of them hopefully will play a league higher next season.
I think CHO should be out of squad for now but he really needs a run of 5-10 games where he is starting to get some rhythm, especially as he is such a dynamic player. Gomez had a similar injury and you only now see him back to his best after a run of starts where he can dust of the cobwebs
A lot can happen before March. His 'troubles' are getting way too much attention as per. Probably should've just stayed in the U21s all along though.
I think the reason for this is that now we have so many options throughout the squad, the bar is and should be raised. We're in a position now where we should be aiming to win tournaments or at least be very close. To do this, you need 11 players who you can rely on to perform and deliver in big games and when it matters. CHO remains a top talent, but he simply hasn't shown enough to be of the quality needed to get into the England squad lately, if it's based on meritocracy. Considering Grealish has been playing on/off the left, he's nowhere near that level this season and so if there is somebody that can come in and improve the team or squad, they should. May sound harsh and ruthless but that's the nature of top level sport or at least it should be.
A few players could do with a loan in January; Garner, Skipp, Jones, Brewster and Smith Rowe spring to mind. Any others to add?
But Pickford is assured of a squad place at least. The other players I listed shouldn't necessarily be.
Wolves v man city tonight. Can't even bring myself to watch this game as we know there will probably 1 Englishman per side. Disgraceful really but at least city won't win the title. That in itself is a victory for football.
Pickford hasn't had a great season for Everton but he always brings his A game for England and till that changes he should be number one.
Honestly, it's a crime that with the league clearly a completely lost cause, Foden still isn't getting regular games. He's clearly shown he's good enough and that he'd add so much to this City team. Sadly, Guardiola is clearly too stubborn to think about any of this.
I would say Foden will probably play the next game so I don't think him not playing tonight is that problematic. With that said I remain far from convinced City won't buy someone to replace Silva ahead of Foden. I expect a massive reaction from them in the transfer market in an attempt to correct their issues with a few hundred million spent again much like after their 16/17 season.
Interestingly, McTominay has now picked up what could be a bad injury so Garner could become a lot more important for United between now and the rest of the season. Agree with all the rest though.
English eligible players starting in the Premier League, total per matchday: Matchday 1 - 83/220 = 37.7% Matchday 2 - 74/220 = 33.6% Matchday 3 - 75/220 = 34.09% Matchday 4 - 74/220 = 33.6% Matchday 5 - 75/220 = 34.09% Matchday 6 - 69/220 = 31.36% Matchday 7 - 76/220 = 34.54% Matchday 8 - 73/220 = 33.18% Matchday 9 - 77/220 = 35% Matchday 10 - 75/220 = 34.09% Matchday 11 - 71/220 = 32.27% Matchday 12 - 74/220 = 33.6% Matchday 13 - 79/220 = 35.9% Matchday 14 - 80/220 = 36.36% Matchday 15 - 77/220 = 35% Matchday 16 - 76/220 = 34.54% Matchday 17 - 78/220 = 35.45% Matchday 18 - 72/198 = 36.36% ( obviously missing the West Ham v Liverpool match so will add the correct numbers at a later date if I remember but I anticipate adding another 5 English players at least but quite possibly more ) Matchday 19 - 79/220 = 35.9%
2001 born Cameron Archer starts for Villa today. Got to be honest and say I know nothing about him but good luck to the kid. edit: scratch that! My app is playing games with me, for some reason his name is in the team when in fact it should be Konsa. I think my app is still on the Christmas sherry
I’ve sometimes been quite critical of some of the talented youngsters coming through and playing Premier League football as it feels like some just shy away and play it safe and maybe feel they don’t belong at this level yet however that can’t be said for Brandon Williams who you just get the feeling he just instantly feels at home playing senior football for Utd. He looks such a good prospect and I think over the next few years will become a serious competitor for that left back birth with Chillwell. People can criticise Utd on many fronts but something they do well is introduce the kids into the first team with the belief and confidence that they belong on that stage just like Williams, Greenwood and obviously players like Rashford and McTomminey before them.
It’s like when Jude Bellingham squared up to an opponent in The Championship, it’s a lack of fear. You see so many players that look great at youth level but become gun shy when they’re up against fully grown men that are at a higher level. I read an interview with Donald Love and Roshaun Williams and they basically said that to make it at United you have to be able to cope with the constant pressure and spotlight. Love did make some encouraging early appearances but it obviously wasn’t for him. The likes of Borthwick-Jackson and Wilson looked good in early appearances too but had the wrong mentality for a different reason. They both had poor attitudes once they got a decent contract and were big disappointments. Warren Joyce said along with Januzaj they stopped working to improve. No one expected McTominay to become a first team player at all from his technical qualities when he was in the academy but he has an exceptional attitude and works as hard as anyone to improve. Ole also said recently that Rashford put so much extra training in that he’s thought about reigning him in so he doesn’t get burnt out. Williams and Greenwood need to look to Rashford and McTominay if they want to sustain a career at the top.
Nelsen has had a good game. Not used to seeing so many English players in a Chelsea arsenal game. Tariq lamptey is on for Chelsea, odoi has just come on
To be fair, tomori was being played as right back. Rudiger or French lad should have been taken off for lamtey and moved tomori to his natural cb position.
Yeah was going to say that plus didn’t think he was that bad, just a casualty of Lampards initial screw up with his original tactics. I thought it was very odd that Lampard let the substitution to go ahead though as Rudiger was down injured with a head injury. Would have made more sense to sub Rudiger and move Tomori to center back with Lamptey at right back. I mean obviously it’s paid off for Chelsea but thought it was strange at the time tbh.