England Senior National Team General Discussion Thread

Unfortunately if Kane was to get injured and miss the World Cup Tuchel would likely make Henderson captain citing his experience. He is not going anyway till after the World Cup.

 

Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, 25, remains keen on a move to Liverpool but Barcelona have also shown an interest in the England international. (Team Talk)

England midfielder Jack Grealish, 30, is loving life at Everton and wants to stay at the club to continue working under manager David Moyes. (Football Insider)

A Mason Mount England recall is unlikely as Thomas Tuchel is said to have reservations about how much the midfielder could actually impact the Three Lions group that plays a totally different style to United's under Ruben Amorim - Daily Mail

Kobbie Mainoo remains keen on a move to Napoli if he is allowed to move on loan in January - Daily Mail

 

I think that goes back to the original point: Rice as the 6 was the issue. Rice as the six meant ball progression through the middle of the pitch was minimal so any midfielders playing an advanced role struggled to shine. I remember the USA game well, they just aggressively went man-to-man and Rice didn't really know what to do with the ball. There were times when he held the ball at his feet completely ponderously.

The game plan under Southgate was always keep it tight in the middle, win duels and limit transitions, then slowly build up with the ball and funnel it to the wide areas to try and create from there. It's the reason Phil Foden never played as a 10, the reason Maddison often played off the left too. Mount was only allowed to play there because of his off the ball work.

It's not really an environment for those players to work well so I'd want to see it again in a setup where there's a proper ball progressor as the deepest midfielder in a team where players actually move off the ball and don't just stand still.

 

Really hope Guehi doesn't go to Liverpool, with Trent gone, Robertson and VVD washed and Salah wanting out I think their small golden period could be over.

 

I really don’t think he would since Henderson won’t be starting unless you think he’s going to drop Anderson for him in which case he would need driving straight to a mental institution in a straight jacket. Rice would be the obvious choice I would imagine or Stones.

 

Very accurate.

 

James and Anderson as a two is a tasty thought - Horris, any opinions on that balance? I think Carsley would employ them together.

 

The fact that Henderson hasn't even been included in England's five man leadership group should tell anyone with any common sense just how close he is to being a starter.

IF Kane is out, then Guehi, Jude, Saka and Rice would all seem to be next in line for the armband.

 

If he has any ambition he'll go to real Barcelona or bayern

 

Both games at Wembley, how predictable. Would have liked an away game but we seem allergic these days to friendly games away for some reason.

 

Yeah I'd definitely like to see that too. Don't see why it wouldn't look good with a 10 playing ahead of them, tonnes of ball progressing quality between them and they're both very good off the ball. This conversation just highlights how mental it is that Henderson is still an option.

 

Curtis Jones vs Inter (A)

pic.twitter.com/ACfpJtwUi1

— Savvy (@lfcsavvy) December 9, 2025

Hard to see how this is a player we can afford to leave out. Jones regularly puts in good performances against top opposition on the big stage and has a catalogue of good England senior showings under Carsley. It's daft to exclude him because he's not starting every game for Liverpool imo because we're not going to get this quality from someone like Alex Scott (yet).

He's had a few very good games on the trot for Liverpool now though, so hopefully he manages to put a run together and stays fit.

 

His ball progression is very good

 

Does a bit of everything. Really strong carrier & dribbler, good in duels too. Said before I also think he's one of the best we have at controlling a game.

 

Would u play him as a 6

 

Yeah I agree with everything you say about Jones which just makes it more baffling about Henderson being picked as a cheerleading captain. Hopefully we get the expanded squads ( yes fireburn I know your not convinced Tuchel will go with it ) so you could take both and have Henderson there purely for his off field influences if it has to be.

 

96.67% — No midfielder has a higher progressive pass accuracy than Curtis Jones in the Top 5 Leagues 🎯

🎖️ 100th percentile for forward pass %:
🎖️ 99th percentile for forward passes
🎖️ 96th percentile for progressive carries
🎖️ 96th percentile for progressive passes
🎖️ 83rd… pic.twitter.com/e9p9t53aaJ

— DataMB (@DataMB_) December 9, 2025

 

They should play the send off friendlies around the country and up north like they used to do

 

These are in March I think. A few months before the World Cup but I understand what u mean

 

Curtis Jones biggest issue is he's often playing 2nd fiddle behind Mccalister and Gravenberch. If he was a nailed on starter for Liverpool, I think he would have more England caps.

 

2 of our group games are on itv which is a shame

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cgjnd28w56po

 

Hear, hear. Get them up here at Boundary Park - the second highest ground above sea level in England - and let's really prepare them for those lung busting high-altitude conditions at the Azteca