England Senior National Team General Discussion Thread

If Everton had kept them points we'd be above Chelsea.

 

The Ward-Prowse convo is pointless because he might be ahead of Henderson but he's still behind several others who are also ahead of Henderson.

The weaknesses you mentioned he has are glaring in this England setup and are basically why we don't want Hendo there anymore so it feels futile to discuss another fringe option that will only maintain similar problems rather than someone who brings something new to the table.

 

Also ITV have firet choice of the R16 and Semi (Therefore an England match if we make it to those stages) while the BBC have first choice of the QF.

 

PL English Players of the Match - Week 15
Bukayo Saka - Luton Town v Arsenal
Trent Alexander - Arnold - Sheffield United - Liverpool
Dwight McNeil - Everton v Newcastle United
Jarrod Bowen - Spurs v West Ham


Pl English players of their Club - Week 14
James Trafford - Burnley
Alfie Doughty - Luton Town
Bukayo Saka - Arsenal
Sam Johnstone - Crystal Palace
Harry Toffolo - Nottingham Forest
West Foderingham - Sheffield United
Trent Alexander - Arnold - Liverpool
Cole Palmer - Chelsea
Dwight McNeil - Everton
Kieran Trippier - Newcastle United
Jarrod Bowen - West Ham


BBC Sport English players of the Match - Week 14
Cole Palmer - Manchester United v Chelsea
Jarrod Bowen - Spurs v West Ham

BBC Sport English players of their Club - Week 14
James Trafford - Burnley
Ross Barkley - Luton Town
Cole Palmer - Chelsea
Tino Livramento - Newcastle United
Jarrod Bowen - West Ham

Second and third places
Pl- Daniel Bentley, Charlie Taylor, Ross Barkley, Gabriel Osho, Jack Hinshelwood, (Michael Olise), Nathaniel Clyne, Andre Brooks, Jack Robinson Harry Maguire, Jordan Pickford, Jamaal Lascelles, James Ward - Prowse

BBC - Craig Dawson, Josh Brownhill, Alfie Doughty, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Ben Mee, (Michael Ollse), Sam Johnstone, Marcus Tavernier, Harry Toffolo, Ryan Yates, Wes Foderingham, Cameron Archer, Phil Foden, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Dwight McNeil, Lewis Miley, Anthony Gordon, James Ward - Prowse

 

Pickford was linked to them but he is probably only going to leave Everton if they get relegated. Still continued links to Guehi.

 

You miss the point, Barry. This isn't an attack on Spurs who, it's good to see, are now being linked with the likes of Branthwaite and Guehi as they try to patch their own non-English hole.

It's just a personal gripe about the ridiculous state of affairs, whereby any English team can be allowed to play in the English Premier League, in front of a predominantly English crowd, but not have one English player in the starting Xl. Yes, it may simply be the way our game is heading, but how can that ever be right?

 

I agree. But even if they did have rules Johnson would be counting as English as if a PL club took court action any rules that discriminated against Duals would fail anti - discrimination laws (I know rugby has them but nobody in rugby had the money to challenge them - Football clubs do.

 

Why not? Shouldn’t we be crying out for change when the big 6 teams are now lining up without one English player?

Spurs, for example, have spent £750 million on bringing 30 players to the club in the last 3 seasons. Just 3 of those were English, with James Maddison the only realistic starter. That’s not a club which has been ‘readily looking at English options’ or is in any way focused on opening up pathways for its English youngsters. Nor is it a club that will be serving up top class players for the national team any time soon.

Incentivise these teams. Restrict them. Penalise them. Whatever. But don't just turn a blind eye to what they're doing.

 

While that is all good making English players the target of their club fans for only being there because there is English is not always a good thing either.

 

Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, and Crystal Palacedefender Marc Guehi, 23, are high on Ange Postecoglou's wanted list as the Tottenham boss reshapes the club's squad. (Sky Sports)

Everton midfielder Dele Alli, 27, is close to a return to full training as he steps up his recovery from the thigh injury which has meant he has yet to play this season. (Times - subscription required)

 

🚨📩 FAO: Gareth Southgate

Jarrod Bowen is the top-scoring English player in the Premier League - followed closely by Ollie Watkins, Callum Wilson and Dominic Solanke 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿💥 pic.twitter.com/h8UxEmXQar

— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) December 8, 2023

Three matches, three wins, three clean sheets 🪄@HarryMaguire93 is November's @EASPORTSFC Player of the Month 🏆@ManUtd | #PLAwards pic.twitter.com/y6AxRrgGLW

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 8, 2023

 

And because being third choice keeper sometimes pays better than being a starter lower down the league. I am sure the likes of Scott Carson and Tom Heaton couldn’t get their current salary starting outside of the PL

The Russian and Turkish leagues have had strict quotas rules but also many complaints that their players have become lazy because their face the pressure of being dropped or replaced by their club.

 

It’s a passionate England fan simply airing his frustrations, Barry. Not a job application to become the next CEO of the Premier League.

You’re right, there probably aren’t any workable ways to encourage teams to invest in English players. But at the risk of some Fireburn doom-mongering, it doesn’t half leave you worried about where that will leave the national side, if more of the big six follow Tottenham’s lead.

 

I think people have a rose tinted view on England pre-PL and pre joining the EU. The reality is that after the WC win, we were mediocre in tournaments until 1986, some of them we didn’t even get to. There were far fewer foreign players in the top flight in that period, yet it made no difference to our performance in international football. Even the Scots were better than us for some of that time. I’d also argue that there are many countries out there with leagues that have a much larger percentage of homegrown players in, yet also have a much smaller pool of top quality players to pick for their national side. In addition to this, the world is a big place, with many countries outside this one. If players are desperate to get their opportunity at a young age, they can always move abroad in search of game time.

 

Pep Guardiola not playing Kalvin Phillips: "I don't know what will happen. I feel so sorry for my decisions for him. I'm so sorry."

 

🔴 Ten Hag on Rashford: “I’m not gonna change my idea. He’s an incredible, good player”.

“He can't play every game — he's not in this moment in the form he was last year but I am sure Marcus will get there”. pic.twitter.com/mqFgUBWOc2

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 8, 2023

 

Without getting too negative I really think Rashford's dramatic dip in form is a bit of a disaster for us. We have other talent in that position, of course, but the qualities Rashford has are worth their weight in gold in international tournaments and we don't have any other wide players who can do what he can do, specifically his game-changing ball striking.

The Rashford of last season could have been such an asset for us but on current form he's probably going to lose his place.

 

I suspect Southgate might well take him even if he is barely playing.

Will Saka and Foden start together? Otherwise if Rashford does not start/make the squad who might else start. Maddison? Grealish ? Gordon? Bowen? Sterling?

 

It wouldn't be popular but I'd take him regardless.

As a left winger the obvious answers are Sterling or Gordon as a replacement. Either or for me.

 

Rashford to be fair has always been hit and miss for Man Utd but seems to turn it up for England.

I hope Sancho can get a good move and get back to his form, a few years ago we had Grealish, Sancho, Saka, Sterling, Rashford, Hudson-odoi as depth, now two of those have dropped off, sterling isn't in the squad.

 

It will be such a big talking point that will probably dominate above all other controversial issues (Even Henderson) if things stay as it does for Rashford.