Yeah I'm not concerned if Phillips makes a slow start. Players coming into a Guardiola squad often do, especially in that kind of position. Rodri wasn't an instant hit and he's doing just fine.
On Howe/Potter, I'm just encouraged that we have two good candidates to take over at the moment (or three if you count Rodgers), and we just have to hope that that's still the case when the FA are actually looking. For me, Rodgers is still ahead but obviously not English, and then I don't think there's much to choose between the other two: Potter might have looked the more ingenious so far, but if Newcastle keep improving their squad then Howe will have the chance to show what he can do with a much better group of players than he ever had at Bournemouth, which would allay a lot of the doubts people had about him. Not convinced by Gerrard, but we'll see. It's probably his no-nonsense old-school manner that puts me off as much as anything. The top managers all have a whiff of insanity.
You're right, and it could affect his World Cup. I suppose I'm thinking more about his move in the medium term, and I'm also ambivalent about whether Phillips is the best option in a midfield that will probably be anchored by Rice anyway. Bellingham might be the better bet as an 8 at this point.
Dier, like most limited defenders such as coady are fine as the central cb in a 3 but awful in a two white and tomori works or stones and tomori or even guehi as lcb if you want to counter 3 at the back is fine, but as we’ve seen vs Croatia and Italy, u conceded possession and rely on counters England imo have to learn to play with a midfield 3 and try to dominate games
Southgate won’t play the possession game to allow us to dominate As regards the WC - are at a disadvantage already as most teams there will hold the ball better and for longer and most of them will be more comfortable in the heat . I don’t see us getting very far at all but at least he will be booted out then even though it’s another wasted generation.
I’m not sure he will. Particularly if it’s a defeat to the Netherlands or France or a few Key players get injures.
Thomas Tuchel has said Reece James is struggling to reach his full fitness levels and that he was started for Chelsea yesterday somewhat reluctantly. I do hope his tendency for muscle injuries does not have an effect on his English career.
Interesting take on Foden from Haaland especially given that Haaland is three months younger !! :: “I have been watching a lot of City games for as long as I can remember. Of course, then I also watched Phil and he is an amazing player. “He is still a talent because he is still young, but he is an amazing player. He still has to develop and then we can really talk.”
You can’t compare the two players .. Grealish is a generational talent .. a view shared by just about every manager and ex player apart from Souness who thinks he holds onto the ball too long I’m expecting/ hoping that Grealish will have a magnificent season and World Cup but if he doesn’t it’s due the system not suiting him not the player. He’s had to adapt more than any other City player and he’s clearly struggled thus far My point about Haaland was that I found it interesting to see his comments about an older player .. Usually it’s experienced players who talk like this to keep the young pups grounded / in line
Southgate was at Old Trafford yesterday. I wonder what he thought of the various players he was there to watch.
I would never call grealish a generational talent. Good player but a long way from being elite. I do rate him but not as highly as u do
As I said .. watch any game featuring Grealish and the pundits ( ex players and ex managers ) always rave about his natural talent and ability. True .. since his move he’s struggled to adapt his game ( like many others ) ( Mahrez took a season and Bernardo Silva took longer )
He has bags of talent but no end product. When he turns talent into stats it will be a different story
That sums up his first season with Pep Hopefully this season ( linking up with Haaland ) he will return to his best form
There is an article in the Mirror predicting that both Sancho and Rashford have only a slim chance of making Qatar. While I’m skeptical of Rashford making it I think Sancho has a decent chance of doing so. If he does miss out through nobody would have predicted that last summer. The article predicts Shaw and Maguire won’t miss out due to past international performances but that it would be concerning for Southgate if Shaw becomes second choice at his club.
Are you guys still sure we are gonna win the World Cup ?? I’m not even taking into consideration that we have flamin Southgate as manager .. We now have Mings , Stones , Coady , Phillips , Gallagher who won’t be starters . Liverpool’s Henderson is not a certain starter either ..nor will Smith -Rowe Maguire looks poor and Ben White looks to be possibly playing substitute or cover RB Rashford looks awful .. Many of the others will be playing mediocre football in mediocre teams like Southampton or West Ham Can anyone provide a half decent eleven who will be getting some regular first football ??
Pickford Trent Tomori stones Chilwell Rice Phillips Grealish foden sterling Kane That's the best I can come up with. And most are playing for a champions league team.