The alternative is to fly halfway across the world to cap-tie yourself to a nation that you have next to no connection to, that you very likely would not ideally want to play for throughout your entire career. Which holding midfielder would you have brought into the squad replace JWP ahead of Bellingham?
Bellingham was next in line after playing well for the under 21s. Replacements very often come from the under 21s. The kid has been playing for Birmingham before he went to Germany, it’s a different situation to Musah.
I don’t disagree, that Bellingham has impressed more, but like you say he has a full professional season under his belt and is at a better team, more suited to putting youngsters like him into the team, due to the fact they’re better. Also, while it maybe is better advised to concentrate on Bellingham’s development, what does this cap do for him, if he’s more than likely to be in the u21 team if everyone is fit, for next window and perhaps the ones after that? and as you said and I agree with, England will lose more players to dual nationality, that’s reality. Will also keep some however
i don’t particularly think there was a need, squad wise, for a replacement in that position. AM-N could’ve filled in, if necessary and he didn’t even use the 2 DM’s in the squad. I think the FA/Southgate WANTED to call him up for PR reasons and maybe in response to Musah going with the USA. Might sound far fetched, but it’s not beyond the FA
Honestly I think you're massively overcomplicating things. They've called up a hugely talented 17-year-old who already has a case for being in on merit and is only likely to get better. It doesn't require a conspiracy theory to explain that.
Hey Mark, I follow your train of thought now. There’s good judges of players on here and I think they’d back me up saying that the two best orthodox central midfielders under 18 are Musah and Bellingham. In fact I think the best two since the Gerrard, Scholes, Hargreaves and Lampard era. Note: I don’t class Mount, Foden or Maddison as centre mids.
That’s fair enough & I respect your opinion, but if you look at the history of Southgate and the FA, it’s filled with PR statements. What I’m basically saying is, Bellingham getting a cap at 17, is a PR statement, not that he isn’t talented enough or whatever
As far as I see, it’s not people, it’s just me so far. Relax. I have my opinion on this topic, which you don’t agree on, the same way I don’t agree with your near obsession & sense of “ownership” with dual nationals. I have no problem with Southgate playing youth, but do it because they actually help to improve the team & can meaningfully contribute. And not simply go back down to the u21’s next time round
Azeez dovetails Musah beautifully in a two and I love watching them together, but I have doubts he will get any game time this season. I’d have thrown him in by now at Arsenal but he hasn’t even got on the bench yet. So I just can’t make that judgement sorry mate, I know he played well in the league trophy but there’s lots of competition at Arsenal. Youth games are youth games of course.
ah, I understand now. I thought you meant the best u18 central midfielders in general. But you’re referring to the u18 central midfielders that are getting first team minutes also?
On the subject of midfielders, just checked the training camp squads for this week & Southampton's Kgagelo Chauke is a late replacement for Aaron Ramsey (who was moved up to the U19s) in the U18 squad. Had previously been reported that he was open to playing for South Africa. Hearing that 17-year-old Southampton starlet, Kgagelo Chauke, is being monitored by England, but the young midfielder wants to play for #Bafana one day…He’s hoping to play for South Africa’s youth sides in the near future. 🇿🇦⚽️ https://t.co/7HN4teuCaS pic.twitter.com/wuvKaSBf5I— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) January 26, 2020
I'm not sure that an elaborate Musah-wooing plot is a more reasonable explanation than JWP being replaced by someone who is already at St. Georges Park and playing in his position at a high level in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.
This is true. But it obviously depends on their individual club dynamics, but this is largely true and I agree with it
I didn’t say it was a more reasonable explanation, I just said that the good PR For Southgate & FA was an influence in him being called up, 100%. I’m sure him having the #17 shirt also, was just a happy coincidence
TheSercetScout who said Musah will be back. Follows England at all ages levels. So he definitely means he'll be back for England. Weather hes right is another matter.
The comments coming out of the American camp sound hopeful rather than confident, and Musah himself hasn't posted anything about the call-up on his fairly active Instagram page. I don't think he's remotely decided yet.
The US have a good track record at keeping people they get to play for them, i'd be surprised if he switched back after playing at senior level. To get someone like Dest for example to turn down the Netherlands for them, they must be able to sell their vision extremely well.