England Senior National Team General Discussion Thread

Going to be honest, I don’t really think those wide forward positions are anywhere near as competitive as we make them out to be. Saka and Foden are both elite talents and bang in form, but outside of that I think we overrate our depth there. The three options that aren’t those two are Rashford, who as we’ve seen many times before is brilliant when on song, but atrocious when off it and also has a tendency to go very long periods of time out of knick. You then have Grealish who I do still like fair enough even though he hasn’t quite got going yet this season. However the final option from the last squad is Bowen, who with all due respect is a player with a limited ceiling and inferior in quality to both Gordon and Sterling.

I generally don’t like to get as paranoid around duals as others on here, but Livramento and Gordon do seem to be receiving serious advances from countries who would be very viable choices. It would be short sighted and reckless to not do what we can to tie them down given they either upgrade the squad or in Livramento’s case, play in a position which could become an issue in 2-3 years.

 

The issue with Gordon and Livramento is what happens if Scotland offer a place between now and March, Southgate claims he will never promise a place to someone but we know he did that to get Rice so he might have to do the same with them.

 

Gordon and Livramento won’t switch to Scotland just because they’re offered a place in a Euros squad. I think that’s pretty obvious.

 

I agree with Gordon as his agent clearly shut down talk but not fully convinced Livramento won’t

 

Tomori scored for AC Milan tonight.

 

Gordon and Livramento have zero interest in Scotland. That's pretty obvious. Scotland can want all they like. I'd like taylor swift but it's not going to happen

 

If Rashford, Grealish and Gordon all continue on their current trajectories then Gordon will be going to the Euros.

Livramento is a little more complicated as he has done the whole 'I'm happy to play for anyone at international level' thing. Balogun also used to say similar things. I do think Livramento has a good chance of being called up to the next squad though. I think as a left back he suits Southgate's mentality more than Lewis as he's solid defensively first and foremost. We also need to be planning for the post Walker and Trippier world at right back. Trent is unreliable defensively in that position and Reece James is very injury prone and a bit of an odd character. I think looking at pathways Livramento should be able to see a clear pathway with England.

By the standards of international football they're hyper-competitive.

There's Sterling, Rashford, Grealish, Foden, Gordon, Saka, Bowen, Palmer and Barnes vying for two positions. Most players have periods of good and bad form.

 

I think Trippier deserves a bit more recognition. I think he's at world class level at the moment but playing at a club where he won't get the attention. He bossed the game against United last night.

Kieran Trippier’s game by numbers vs. Manchester United:

113 touches
56/75 passes completed
6 ground duels won
6 key passes
4 clearances
3/3 dribbles completed
1 shot against the woodwork
1 big chance created
1 assist

Wonderful performance. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/N7hqfKMSU9

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 2, 2023

 

I think the issue at right back is that as fireburn has said that it could and probably will be Walker and Trippiers last tournament since they are 33 and I think it’s likely they call it a day Internationally. Trent and James were the obvious choice to replace them a few years ago but they have their issues ( as stated by AJ ) so I really think there’s a serious case to get Livramento involved as soon as possible.

 

And Southgate has also used Maddison and Eze this year in those positions.

 

Trippier has said before he won’t ever call it a day but when faced with being dropped I’m sure most players would want a diginifed retirement.

If Livramento is lost then Rico Lewis becomes next in line but he wants to become a midfielder full time then I’m not sure who.

 

From Livramento's perspective. It's a tough choice. Play regularly at tournaments for two sides that can potentially win them. (Us and Portugal) or play for a bang average team that qualifies for a tournament once in a blue moon

 

🚨 Ten Hag on Marcus Rashford: "He works hard every day in training. He will get back, I'm sure".

"He will recover and gets all our support". pic.twitter.com/wSLw7Livib

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 3, 2023

Tottenham are monitoring Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, 28, ahead of the January transfer window. (Football Insider)

 

I’d say that Walker and Trippier are still both playing at the elite level. One or both might retire but I’d not be surprised if they’re still around at the next World Cup. I do think we need to look to the future though and Livramento is pretty clearly it.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67604744
Can Gordon make the Euros?

 

The jocks are wetting themselves over Livramento. Southgate needs to call him up in the next squad.

 

Watkins back for Vila. Konsa also starts.
Palmer only on the bench for Chelsea (Rumours of a slight knock.). Colwill, Gallagher and Sterling start. James suspended and Chilwell still injured.
Trent starts for Liverpool. Jones and Elliott on the bench.
Bowen returns from Inury to start for West Ham. Ward - Prowse also starts.
Guehi and Johnstone start for Palace. Eze injured.

 

Exactly. Livramento and Gordon have both said they want to play for England, so as long as they know they're in the mix-up why would they give up the dream? Tino's performances at left back alone already place him ahead of Chilwell for me. And that ability to play both left and right is absolute gold dust for an international manager.

 

Arsenal v Liverpool in the FA cup. Will Ramsdale even get to play that match?

 

Why would they be wetting themselves? I mean he’s not a Scotland player and very unlikely to be so anytime soon.

 

The talk of Livramento seems a bit baffling to me, if he wasn't a duel nobody would be talking about him. He's started literally 2 premier league games since April 2022. Needs to prove an awful lot in terms of form and ability to maintain fitness before a senior call up is part of the conversation.

Besides which his position is hardly one England particularly struggle to produce. We have top talents right through to Rico Lewis in the 04s. Seems unlikely it's a position that's going to just completely dry up going forward. Similarly for Gordon, he's having a great season and unlike Livramento deserves to be part of the conversation, but I struggle to see a situation where England wilk not be producing plenty of players of a similar or higher calibre going forward.

 

We do and we don’t in terms of top full backs. James and Trent are very talented but also have major flaws. Other than Livramento theand Lewis there is Aarons, Thomas and Hall at PL clubs. Others are at least a season or two away from the PL Unkess I am missing someone.