England Senior National Team General Discussion Thread

Plus Grealish, who the know-it-all media insisted was a starter in Tuchel's eyes.

 

Is there actually a need for someone other than Spence to play both games in the absence of others? Doesn't particularly seem obvious to me why he shouldn't do it. Good opportunity to get him more caps before the tournament.

 

I’ll put this question in here, as it a generic England question, with O’Reilly, Hall and Lewis-Skelly all transitioning relatively late to LB from midfield, who if any are the left footers (not currently playing LB) in the lower age groups that you see forging a pro career in that position?

 

I think you could argue that any box-to-box midfielder has a decent likelihood of beginning their Premier League career at full-back, while any attacking midfielder is even more likely to debut on the wing. Particularly those at bigger clubs.

Didn't Mainoo even begin his Man United senior career at right-back? I at least remember him playing there in pre-season, before it came apparent he was already better than their other midfielders.

 

Landon Emenalo already seems to be undergoing that transition with Chelsea

 

O'Reilly may have timed his run well to have a legitimate chance of starting next summer.

Still a lot can happen but, as unpredictable as Tuchel is, it seems to be very open for someone to grab.

Hell of a chance if you're starting every game for Man City, and are an athletic 6' 4" (and he may even be taller than that now!)

 

If he can stay in the Man City side all season there he'd probably be the favourite to start at left back. I think the big question will be if City stick with him when Ait-Nouri is back. I think academy players always have the issue that they're often one bad result from being out the side again when there's a big money player waiting in the wings, sometimes not even a bad result is needed.

 

Yeah - noticed there was an article in their local paper asking the same question. Struck by how much the Man City fans rate him though. Ait-Nouri seems a bit suspect defensively - but still a big call to leave a new expensive signing out for an academy player.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/man-city-ask-unexpected-question-32620616

 

I haven't watched Man City this year. So is O'Reilly good enough? Or is this another Rico Lewis, a player with flaws being downplayed?

 

Smaller sample size but it looks a very different case to Rico Lewis imo. He looks much more natural as a full-back and holds width very well. On another planet physically too. Still a lot to find out about him but I think he's worth his place in the squad considering the circumstances.

 

He's far from the finished article but I'd say he looks a lot more of a natural premier league player than Lewis ever did. Unusually for a lot of midfielders transitioning to full back he's actually really very solid defensively. Strange for a midfielder its probably his passing that needs to improve most.

In some ways he's almost an opposite of Lewis. I think Lewis is and always will be against it to make it as a premier league full back, its very difficult nowadays to establish yourself as a premier league full back if you lack athleticism, especially to the extent Lewis does.

 

Rico Lewis really is a (central) midfielder if anything, linking play together with simple but effective passes but he'll never get enough opportunities there at a club like City with all their options and possible reinforcements.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cr70d0p49kro

Nice to hear these words

 

Bayern Munich are interested in Crystal Palace's 25-year-old England defender Marc Guehi, who is out of contract at the end of the season and had a deadline-day move to Liverpool collapse last month. (Sky Germany - in German), external

Crystal Palace plan to offer Adam Wharton a new contract to try to ward off interest from Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City in the 21-year-old England midfielder. (Mail), external

Napoli are in pole position to sign Manchester United and England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 20, on loan in January after maintaining contact with the Premier League club since the summer. (Sky Switzerland - in French)

 

Just a small thing but its good to see that they all look genuinely happy to be there.

 

2 spare tickets for the eng v wales game maybe 3 if anyone interested block 118 no money wanted

 

Rio interviewing Gerrard. Talk a bit about what went wrong at England.

 

Sounds like the team might stay at home in March now and play Uruguay and Japan.
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...-japan-friendlies-2026-world-cup-preparations

 

Would be two great tests

 

England 2026 World Cup watch: Lack of defensive depth? Wharton’s puzzling absence?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6693531/2025/10/07/england-2026-world-cup-watch-wharton-analysis/

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Clearly when Thomas Tuchel is able to leave out Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, the England fans’ player of the season for the last campaign, a rejuvenated Jack Grealish and a talent as unique as Phil Foden, it demonstrates how abundant his attacking options are.

It is hard to imagine that when the squad for next summer’s World Cup is announced all three will still be absent — particularly Bellingham.

Whether Tuchel is making a subtle statement about his authority or simply looking to assess backup plans, there is no doubt he has abundant options in attack.

The omissions of Bellingham, Foden and Grealish grabbed the attention and dominated the talking points when the squad was announced for this international window, but Tuchel’s picks at centre-back deserve more analysis as they reveal a possible problem.

Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa appear to be his first-choice pairing and their form and fitness will be crucial.

Newcastle United’s Dan Burn appears to be the next in line in Tuchel’s thinking, despite only having being capped three times so far. After that, it is anyone’s guess.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah was added to the last squad late after withdrawals, and he has retained his place for the international friendly against Wales and World Cup qualifier in Latvia. Quansah has yet to earn a senior cap for his country. Tuchel’s other contenders at centre-back are raw as well.

Injuries have restricted Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite to just one cap, and the 23-year-old is still recovering from a hamstring issue, while Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah has also only made one appearance and has been left out by his former Chelsea boss.


Chalobah’s Chelsea team-mate Levi Colwill would surely have been in the reckoning to add to his four caps had he not damaged his ACL in pre-season after a gruelling campaign that included the Club World Cup in the summer. Milan’s Fikayo Tomori has revealed Tuchel has advised him to focus on performing in Serie A and he may get the opportunity to add to his five caps.

Undoubtedly, there are players with potential and talent at Tuchel’s disposal, but very little valuable experience in a position that requires more maturity and discipline.

That is why he has turned again to Manchester City’s John Stones, the 31-year-old who has 83 caps and a wealth of experience, despite his minutes having been limited for Pep Guardiola’s side of late.

Tuchel’s brief is a short-term one: win the World Cup next summer. Patiently developing emerging centre-backs for England’s long-term future isn’t his priority. It is another factor in Jordan Henderson’s return to his midfield options at the age of 35.

England fans have lots to be excited about with so many talented players emerging, but right now, Tuchel wants players who are ready to go next summer. Don’t count out Harry Maguire from getting a recall if he can find some form at Manchester United either.

Adam Wharton may be wondering what he has to do to force his way into Tuchel’s squad — and he isn’t the only one.

Wharton has played an integral part in Crystal Palace’s superb start to the season. Their 19-game unbeaten run may have come to an end at Everton at the weekend, but Wharton was still impressive.

Grealish has been in great form since joining Everton on loan and his winning strike earned him the man of the match award, but in an interview with Sky Sports after the game, he insisted that Wharton was more deserving of it.

“Adam Wharton today… I can see the man of the match award there. I think that’s coming to me,” he said. “But it should have gone to Adam Wharton because, in my opinion, he was the best player on the pitch.”

The clamour for Grealish to be included will grow if he continues his current form as he offers different traits to other attacking options at Tuchel’s disposal — and he has plenty of options.

Wharton also offers something different. He is a type of player that English football has been crying out for: a ball-playing midfielder who can pull the strings and dictate from a deeper position. Every great international side has included such a midfield maestro.

Henderson’s inclusion may be down to his experience and leadership ability rather than his form in the Premier League for Brentford. However, if Wharton continues in a similar vein, his continued absence could be considered a dereliction of duty by the England manager.

It may ultimately come down to a choice between Wharton and Elliot Anderson at Nottingham Forest, but there could be a case for both to be included.

Grealish, the self-appointed spokesman for the England Outcasts Club, certainly would think so.

Why are the media still saying Guehi and Konsa are first choice when Tuchel keeps hinting he sees Stones as a first choice starter (Suppose that could be in Midfield).

 

"Elite" Jude Bellingham will turn Thomas Tuchel into a believer and win back his England place, says Jordan Henderson

🗣️"We are talking about a world-class player, here. He is very special."https://t.co/NHXNsFtvjO pic.twitter.com/cSNz4hkjOW

— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) October 7, 2025

 

Don't understand the fuss being made. He'll be back in November. It's good that he's being rested. Tuchel has done the Right thing.

 

England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 20, is looking to leave Manchester United in January with Napoli a possible destination. (Mirror, external)

Harry Maguire, 32, wants to continue at Manchester United but will have to take a pay cut to extend his stay beyond the end of the season. (Talksport, external)

 

I'd go with Henderson o'reilly stones ghuei spence Anderson rice rogers rashford Watkins saka against Wales and give anderson rashford rice and ghuei saka 60 minutes. No point in risking them

 

*Guehi