Ashley Phillips is playing really well for Stoke. Seems to have nailed down a starting spot there which is very encouraging.
Yeah very encouraging, think he was out with concussion for a few games earlier in the season, so good to see him recover his starting spot. He has a hell of a lot of experience for a teenager CB in the Championship (pretty much the only regular teen CB in the league this season). I know a few Spurs fans/youth followers have question markets about his passing/on-ball skills, but still a lot of room for growth in that department.
Simpson-Pusey starts for City against Brighton. Walker and Rico Lewis also in the back line. Not sure exactly what Pep is doing here. This feels like it has Brighton win written all over it.
Nathan Lowe seems to be on fire for Walsall in League 2, 6 goals and 3 assists in his last 8 league games. Could be one to watch out for. Very impressive record for his age. Got called up last year and perhaps a bit unlucky to not make this squad given Ballard is in.
Lowe will have club games over the international weekend. Might have something to do with it. Lowe looked interesting in his first moments at Stoke. A full season in League 2 will really help him mould his game. Scores off both feet and his head.
Walsall games are usually cancelled during International breaks as they have several Caribbean internationals. Simkin with England U20s and Okagbue with Ireland U21s. I think England probably need to be a bit more proactive with L2 outfielders.
‘Oliver Arblaster has withdrawn from England's Elite League squad due to the injury he picked up against Sheffield Wednesday. Sydie Peck has replaced Arblaster in the squad, whilst Louie Marsh is on the standby list.’ According to Sheffield United.https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2024/november/11/call-ups/
England selectors have a tendency to go on picking players because of their form a couple of years earlier. Ballard had a nasty injury a year ago and I think it would be better to give him the chance to get back to where he was as a player at club level and not become another of those Cauley Woodrow/Tyreece John-Jules type selections that is just named in the squad by default regardless of his career progression.
James Dornelly (Peterborough United), Kamari Doyle (Exeter City), Sammy Braybrooke (Dundee FC, loan from Leicester City), Thierry Small (Charlton Athletic), Sydie Peck (Sheffield United), Amara Nallo (Liverpool) and Matty Young (Salford City) have been called into the England men's Elite League Squad to play Germany and Poland. They replace Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (Manchester City), Ashley Phillips (Stoke City, loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Oliver Arblaster (Sheffield United), who are withdrawn with injury, and Lewis Miley (Newcastle United) and Kellen Fisher (Norwich City) who have been selected for the MU21s.
Can’t remember this many during one International break but I guess it’s a downside of the seniors who instantly just promote from the U21’s when I don’t think it’s necessary unless they absolutely deserve it like Rogers for example. I mean we have plenty of senior players who have been performing at a high enough level to be given a chance, like Maddison, CHO, Tomori etc. When we just constantly promote from within, it just seems to affect all age groups with a knock on effect with all the changes.
The culture of promoting from within is really annoying. You see it in both coaching decisions and squad selections and it makes the whole setup look like one big boys club. It's the type of thing that leads to Bashir Humphreys getting in the U21s over Harrison Burrows.
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