England Senior National Team General Discussion Thread

He's racked up almost 300 games for Arsenal and England just past 23, over 21,500 minutes. I'm not sure how that compares to others his age but seems like a lot.

 

He's starting getting a few more of late and it's very likely only the beginning. I think it's reasonable to expect that he'll either become very injury-prone in the next couple of years or will be physically past it in his late 20s. Same for Bellingham, but probably worse.

It's a shame because players are so naive and impressionable. I remember Saka justifying his workload by saying it's fine because Arteta told him that "all the top players do it". They're literally being manipulated by managers to sacrifice their careers for them.

 

How about Rico Lewis in midfield alongside gomes. Both are very good at retaining the ball and recycling it. Lewis is too light weight to play fullback

 

No top player aged 22-23 has played more minutes than Saka I don't think. The closest are Saliba and Rodrygo. Saliba has played a very similar amount at club level but a fair bit less internationally, while Rodrygo has played about 1.5k fewer minutes at club level and also a fair bit less internationally.

He's a year older but the most comparable player is Vinicius. He's played about 24k minutes for club and country in senior pro football having just turned 24.

As we all know, Bellingham is on track to blow both of those out of the water, playing 20.5k senior pro minutes for club and country having only turned 21 fairly recently.

 

Colwill, Grealish and Palmer all in it confirming the FA checked them before their withdrew. Saka who was said to have travelled for an assessment is not in it neither was Foden. Trent, Rice and Ramsdale I’m pretty sure didn’t travel.

Also it confirms Bowen was called up before the players were assessed.

 

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/fo...=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1731418453

Predicted England XI to face Greece (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Guehi, Konsa, Lewis; Gomes, Gallagher; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane

 

Angel Gomes looks about 5 foot 3 lol. Hope he keeps his place in the squad when Tuchel comes in.

P.S
Close your eyes when you hear Morgen Rogers speaking and tell me that isn't Freddie Flintoff.

 

England’s mass exodus blamed by clubs on FA delaying Thomas Tuchel start
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/foo...n-fa-delaying-thomas-tuchel-start/ar-AA1tXBEI

Speculation that further withdrawals will occur after Thursday’s match. Get a feeling even some might already be planned and agreed with clubs - particularly players already with doubts like Walker, Gordon and Solanke perhaps.

 

England rookies must seize chance – it may not come again under Tuchel
https://www.thetimes.com/sport/foot...-it-may-not-come-again-under-tuchel-wsvrk8b2f

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Raft of drop-outs has opened door to several uncapped players but focus will be on winning, not the future, when the German takes the reins next year.

One by one they filed in for media duties. Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Lewis Hall, Curtis Jones and Morgan Rogers, a total of zero England caps between them and each brimming with wide-eyed enthusiasm about the opportunity which they hope will present itself over the coming days.

The flipside to the national team’s bedraggled ranks is that everyhigh-profile withdrawal offers a moment in time for another name to impress. Whether against Greece in Athens on Thursday, or Ireland at Wembley on Sunday, someone will follow Noni Madueke, who was the latest debutant when making his bow in the home win over Finland, and become the 1,286th player to represent England.

The nagging suspicion is that it is a chance they must seize. After all, the quartet, as well as the uncapped Tino Livramento, cannot be so sure when it will come round again.

There is a knock-on effect to the appointment of Thomas Tuchel and, in the first instance, it could well be felt by those fresh-faced players considered to be the next generation of talent.

One of the flimsy reasons behind new head coach Tuchel not taking charge of an England game until next March — he starts on January 1 — is that he wants to maximise his impact in the countdown to the World Cup in 2026.

A 15-month period in which the focus is on forging a team capable of scaling football’s greatest peak and lifting the trophy in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 19.

It is a strategy focused solely on results, results, results. Blooding new players, taking a chance on up-and-coming starlets, does not necessarily fall in line with that approach or timescale.

Over the weekend, there was a report that Tuchel had made overtures to Marcus Rashford over a potential return to the international fold should his form for Manchester United stand up to scrutiny.

Where to next? Reece James, who played under the German at Chelsea, will surely come back into the reckoning should his fitness issues be banished to the past. Mason Mount? The midfielder has been beset by injury problems since moving to Manchester United at the start of last season, but is another Tuchel favourite.


Tuchel also signed Eric Dier at Bayern Munich, although it might be a push to bring him back given he has played just 141 minutes under Vincent Kompany this season.

During Gareth Southgate’s eight-year reign, when he had to oversee an extensive rebuild, he gave 66 players their debut. The interim coach Lee Carsley’s four-match tenure has, to date, yielded three with the promise of more to come as he favours those he has worked with previously at Under-21 level.
Yet that the landscape is about to change was not lost on the new boys as they spoke at St George’s Park on Tuesday.

The Southampton centre back Harwood-Bellis admitted that his call-up was heavily determined by the presence of Carsley under whom he captained England Under-21 to European Championship success in 2023. Next time, he is aware there will be no ties with the coach.

“It will be a big motivation for all the lads that there is a new manager coming in, and wanting to keep your spot,” said the 22-year-old. “I’m here for this camp. It’s going to be a tough ask to stay in this role in the senior squad.

“That will be what the young lads are going to be pushing for. It’s going to be difficult because of the quality and experience from some of the lads who aren’t here. It’s just about now staying part of it. That is my sole focus on the England side — stay and keep doing what I am doing, if not more, and keep being part of it. That is my job now.”


Hall made his senior debut under Tuchel at Chelsea when starting in a 5-1 FA Cup win over Chesterfield in January 2022. He was a midfielder at the time, but played as a left-sided centre half. Hall did not feature under him again and does not think their time together will particularly count for much moving forward.

That said, the 20-year-old has since blossomed as Newcastle United’s left back and a strong showing this week might well present a solution to what has become a problem position for England.

“I was 17 when I first trained with the first team,” Hall said. “I just remember him [Tuchel] and his staff being really welcoming to me. I remember his sessions were really good, there was a lot of possession-based [drills], which was something I really enjoyed. He was a good person to me. He gave me my debut and without that I wouldn’t have the confidence I got when I was younger.

“From his point of view, I can understand him not wanting to take that risk on someone so young [after Chesterfield] and with so much growth still to do in their game. I am not sure if that means anything now, especially as I feel my game is completely different now to how it was back then.”

The overriding sense may be the delay in Tuchel beginning his job, coupled with eight withdrawals from Carsley’s squad, detracts from the looming fixtures. In reality, there remains plenty riding on the outcome, not least promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League.

And for the cluster of rookies there is a need for a strong showing. Otherwise, being in the next squad picked by Carsley, who is returning to the junior set-up, will not be quite such an occasion to remember.

 

Lee Carsley’s conundrum – and why Roy Keane will have eye on England
https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/england-squad-nations-league-roy-keane-3zljfphjx

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England’s interim head coach must re-engineer midfield for Nations League games, while former Ireland captain will be looking out for his daughter’s fiancé.

The previous time England played Greece, Lee Carsley was so spoilt for choice in terms of star No10s and wingers that he did not make a choice at all. He simply played every one of them. Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon. His team had as clear a shape as fog.

A rush of call-offs, with eight players pulling out of his squad, including Saka, Foden and Palmer, has flipped the dynamic. Now, for Carsley, it’s not who does he leave out, but who does he put in. From an inexperienced squad he needs to ensure that England have enough big performers, especially at the top of the pitch, to secure the victory needed in Athens on Thursday to remain in contention for Nations League promotion.

It’s Harry Kane plus Bellingham, and then Carsley has to take his pick. The interim head coach, who is taking charge of his last two games, has to be expedient not experimental. Selection is the biggest of several questions, going into the game.


So who does Carsley pick?
Two players have started every game for the former Ireland midfielder — Trent Alexander-Arnold and Declan Rice — and neither are available. This means that as well as re-engineering England at the top of the pitch, Carsley must also change their build-up — in which Rice and Alexander-Arnold, inverting in possession, have been key.

His temptation may be to play Angel Gomes and Curtis Jones in central midfield. They were his pairing when winning last year’s Under-21 European Championship, but it would be a big call to ask Jones to make his senior debut, from the start, away from home in a big game in Athens’ Olympic Stadium, one of Europe’s more intimidating arenas.

And Gomes has not been in top form for Lille, where he has not played a full 90 minutes in any of his six games since the last international break and spent most of his season not in central midfield but at No10.

The players with the most experience in central midfield are Conor Gallagher and Bellingham, but Carsley may want Bellingham higher up and has not shown much inclination towards Gallagher. Gordon and Noni Madueke look the likeliest options to use either side of Kane, and if Carsley did use Bellingham further back he would again have to consider inexperience.

The remaining candidates at No10 are Morgan Gibbs-White, whose one senior appearance lasted 14 minutes, and the uncapped Morgan Rogers. Of course Carsley could always go for a strike partnership and use Ollie Watkins or Dominic Solanke alongside Kane, but 4-4-2 would not fit the “new thinking” reputation of “Carsball”.

Is Jordan Pickford still England’s No1?
Dean Henderson was excellent in England’s most recent match, the 3-1 away victory against Finland where, for the first time in more than two years, an England manager dropped Pickford for a competitive game. So where did that leave the goalkeeper situation? It would be a surprise if Pickford does not play in Athens but the pressure on him has increased.

Carsley clearly prizes footballing ability in his goalkeepers, seen by him calling up Burnley’s James Trafford, rather than Newcastle United’s Nick Pope, as the replacement for Aaron Ramsdale, who pulled out of the squad with a finger injury. Could he start Henderson again in at least one game of the double-header? Beyond that, what will be new head coach Thomas Tuchel’s take?


Is there a changing of the guard in defence?
It was a long time coming, but since Euro 2024 Kyle Walker has finally been showing signs of age. However, a vintage performance will be required in Athens from the 34-year-old Manchester City defender, who is by far the defence’s most experienced player.

In the middle of the back line, there are suddenly a clutch of young players fighting to establish themselves. Levi Colwill has impressed under Carsley but had to pull out, leaving Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Jarrad Branthwaite and Ezri Konsa competing for a place alongside Marc Guéhi. A sign of the unit’s youthfulness is that Guéhi is only 24, but the others call the Crystal Palace defender “uncle Marc”.

With the uncapped Lewis Hall, 20, and Tino Livramento, 22, also in the squad and Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and John Stones increasingly beset by injuries, the chance is there for a younger group of defenders to establish themselves between now and the 2026 World Cup.

Can Carsley get the best out of Bellingham?
Bellingham has had some incredible moments for England over the past 12 months, in which the scale of his talent suddenly shines clear, but consistency of performance has eluded him. Devising a strategy to get the best out of Bellingham will be one of Tuchel’s main projects when he starts work in January, but it is also imperative Carsley elicits a big display from Bellingham in Athens.

So far he has used Bellingham as a striker and a No10, so the interim head coach clearly sees the Real Madrid star as principally an attacking force. However, Bellingham is listed in the squad as a midfielder and there is that shortage of options deeper. Wherever he plays, Carsley could do with rekindling the Bellingham of Hampden Park, September 2023, and the 2022 World Cup — a player dominant throughout a match.

What will Roy Keane think?
Harwood-Bellis, 22, spoke openly and eloquently at St George’s Park on Tuesday — that was until a question about his prospective father-in-law was raised. His fiancée is Leah Keane, daughter of Roy. Harwood-Bellis was not keen to discuss his private life but admitted he benefits from being able to speak regularly to the former Manchester United captain. “It’s something that is good and I take a lot of advice [from Keane],” he said.

Keane’s thoughts on the prospect of Harwood-Bellis facing Ireland at Wembley would be interesting to hear. Mind you, Harwood-Bellis’s own family are interesting enough. His father, Martin, used to be Stockport County’s mascot, Vernon Bear, while his twin sister, Bex, played basketball for Great Britain.

 

‘23 players are out on the pitch for #ThreeLions training again, with Jarrad Branthwaite working indoors and #YoungLions defender Jarell Quansah joining the session.

@anthonygordon and Lee Carsley's pre-match media conference takes place in Athens at 7.30pm (UK) tonight.’

 

It’s probably annoying when fans of midtable clubs pipe up with their players, but I have to say, I think it’s insane that Lewis Cook hasn’t been given a look in.

Not only has he been in the form of his career for the past 18 months, he’s been fit and free of injury, which has allowed him to finally fulfil the early promise he showed. He came up through all the England youth teams and captained the U21s to the World Cup. He’s an experienced PL player now, and plays nearly every minute for us.

And most importantly, he’s one of the statistical best performers in his position amongst English players. I think it’s inarguable really that he’s a Top 3 English CDM, and there’s a strong case that, on form, he is currently the best English CDM in the world. He can run games, dictate from deep, recycle possession, play accurate long and through balls, is very strong and aggressive, wins and intercepts the ball consistently. And he’s also a good egg, which helps.

I really hope Tuchel gives Cook a chance. He’d be a great squad option, deputy, and partner for Rice. I’m very surprised he wasn’t called up when Rice dropped out, tbh, seems like a massive hole in the squad.

 

I wasn't that warm on the shout previously but I've been watching a fair bit more of him recently and I think I agree. It's crazy how mobile he still is after two ACL injuries. His defensive stats are very good and he doesn't have many weaknesses in his game. In this squad especially it would've been well worth giving him a go.

The positive is that there's a clean slate after this camp and given how much Tuchel has always liked combative deep-lying playmakers, I think he may well have a decent chance of working his way into the side.

 

I hope Wharton is given a chance under tuchel too

 

How is Alex Scott doing

 

Tottenham are interested in Manchester City and England winger Jack Grealish, 29. (Football Insider), external

Thomas Tuchel could be good news for Conor Gallagher. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/3168...ngland-thomas-tuchel-chelsea-atletico-madrid/

 

Harry Kane slams team-mates over England shame with 'I don't like it' blast

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/breaking-harry-kane-england-shame-34102576

‘England captain Kane did not hold back as he insisted representing his country is “the most important thing” and admits it has already “started to drift.”

England’s new boss Thomas Tuchel does not take over until January 1 and a raft of big names have cried off sick and are blaming the demanding fixture list at this part of the season. But Kane, who will captain England for their Nations League clash in Greece, told ITV: “I think England comes before anything. It comes before club and it is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer.

“Gareth was on hot on that and he wasn’t afraid and he wasn’t afraid to make decisions if that started to drift from certain players. It’s a shame this week obviously. Yeah, I think it’s a tough period of the season and maybe that’s been taken advantage of a little bit.’

“I don’t really like it if I’m totally honest. I think as I just said there England comes before before anything, any club situation. The joy to play for England. I think Gareth brought that back. Every camp, people were excited to come, every camp people wanted to play for England and, yeah, that’s the most important thing.” ‘

 

We have to hope Tuchel doesn’t cause the same issues because they are probably not many players in the squad who would put country ahead of club like Kane does,

Be intresting if any leaks emerge about the injuries some of these players have. Can’t imagine their PR teams will be too happy to associated publicly with faking injuries.

Or if any clubs themselves push back either via sources or during press conferences next week if journalists ask those managers.

 

Honestly its one of the things where a manager like Tuchel will probably be beneficial, players will be much less inclined to try and take the piss with picking and choosing games to show up for.

Also happy to see Kane calling it out for what it is. I don't think its a great look for so many established members to be pulling out, and it is just the established players doing it. Not great to be picking and choosing what non tournament games you deem worthy, particularly given most those who've pulled out haven't exactly had amazing years with England.

 

He might but equally it might well make the Clubs more anti FA and push their players to pull out more and more.

Also I do wonder how the players involved will take to Kane after this - some of them are club teammates of them - plus I dare say they are several players still in the squad who very much want the rest as well.

 

Who are the players we think are pulling a fast one to get out of being in this squad? Was thinking that Trent seems pretty genuine considering he went off injured for Liverpool last weekend.

 

Ronaldo publicly said a similar thing the other day about being annoyed at younger Portuguese players not wanting to represent Portugal. Sign of the times, possibly.

 

Foden and Colwill for sure. Rice and Saka probally as well.

 

I wonder how the PFA will respond. Can see them deciding to get involved and have a go at Kane and the FA the way their acting recently.

 

Really? Wow, they actually don’t want to play for Portugal. I would have driven over my mother-in-law if she got in the way of me representing my Country….