They still feel like a transitional partnership for me. A bit of a step down from the prime Stones/Maguire axis of recent years - and something of a place-holder for the Colwill/Branthwaite pairing that could easily lead us into the next Euros.
Walker being in that team of the tournament called it into question a lot! He was dreadful in the euros. Especially the final where his positioning ultimately cost England both goals.
No way. Branthwaite is nowhere near their level. If we want to talk about partnerships then Guehi and colwill could be a good duo
I don’t see Tuchel pairing those together. Colwill if he returns well has a very good chance but likely paired with someone else.
Colwill and Branthwaite haven't been given a chance to establish themselves for England. But if we're going by ceiling, then them two, plus Quansah are the most rounded, young CBs England currently have and should be stepping up in 2028 By the next Euros England should already be blooding in the next cohort of national team pillars, esp as this WC will likely be Kane, Stones (and possibly Pickfords) last in the starting eleven.
I really think you're painting out Guehi to be better than he is. We're talking about a centre-half here who only wins around 50% of his aerial duels at PL level and, going right back his England youth days, has always struggled against more physical opponents. It's only my opinion, but l think we can find better.
Tuchel likes balance. I’m not sure he will be keen on two left footers together. Quansah is a Tuchel favourite so him and Colwill together is more likely.
Terry and Carvalho... Ferdinand and Vidic... Pique and Ramos... Baresi and Maldini... Adams and Keown... Stones and Maguire... Not one of them was a right-footer/left-footer pairing. And l'm pretty sure Tuchel could care less too.
Tuchel has been widely reported as hoping for a right left footing or at least a pair that can play at club level one right/left side. Colwill and Branthwaite both play on the same side of a two.
All managers prefer the luxury of a Symmetrical partnership, but the reality is majority of CB pairings in football are not I'm quietly confident Tuchel would ultimately prioritise the cohesiveness of a defensive partnership, before matching left foot - right foot.
Are you being anti left footist? Of course two left footers can hold the centre back positions together as a pair.
It always surprises me to see Van Dijk’s name among the best center-backs in the world. He was the best in 2019-2020, and he’s maintained a good level since then, but he hasn't been the best defender. This year, Guehi is head and shoulders above Van Dijk. By the way, the matches against Real Madrid were Guehi’s first in the Champions League—you could say he’s passed his 'baptism of fire.' For a center-back, he’s still very young and has plenty of time to improve even further.
During his best years at Liverpool, VVD was an elite all rounder - no weaknesses to his game really. But if someone can play next to Trent's bad positioning, awareness and still look elite, then they deserve respect just for that alone
VVD himself needs some cover this year; he makes positional errors in almost every game. I don't deny that prime VVD was the best defender in the world, but last year, in a squad with Trent, they won the PL and were knocked out of the UCL by the winners, PSG, in a competitive struggle. And this year, God help them if they even want to finish in the top five.
Anthony Gordon’s big summer. Report for @BBCSport on Bayern Munich’s accelerating interest in the attacker and how his summer with England is shaping up.https://t.co/D0uPglrHxt— Sami Mokbel (@SamiMokbel_BBC) April 15, 2026 Article says Rogers, Rashford and Gordon all competing to start on the left.
Jude was incredible yesterday, can hold his head high. Playing for an average coach in a 4-4-2 at one of the toughest grounds to go to in the world.
The 26 is like a blanket that's just not big enough to cover all bases once you've factored in Henderson and Burn likely going as regimental goats. The decisions over the bubble players - Bowen, Madueke, Eze are a minefield. Is there a consensus on what he may do with 4/5 CBs and 4/5 deeper CMs? Which would maybe have knock-on impacts on maybe Eze as the floating attacker in the squad? Presumably the March friendlies ended debate about us taking just Kane. And did Watkins' absence mean he's now zoomed back up to most likely back-up? I'd like to take 5 deeper CMs, but cuts have got to come somewhere.. Gun to my head, I'd probably guess at: Pickford Henderson Trafford - settled? James Livramento Hall O'Reilly - pretty settled now? Guehi Stones Konsa Maguire Burn - Having to pick Burn complicates things although 5 makes sense with Stones? Rice Anderson Henderson Garner - same with Henderson. But just got a feeling he likes Garner's solidity more than Mainoo and Wharton who he doesn't really talk up, with O'Reilly and Bellingham able to play there at a push too? Bellingham Rogers Palmer Eze - can't see him leaving Eze out? Saka Gordon Rashford Bowen - Bowen over the increasingly spluttering Madueke although he's naturally more drawn to his profile? Kane Watkins - Watkins back in as deputy by default?
Unfortunately I am not convinced Hall and Livramento are both settled. Jsut get this feeling 1 at Kent will miss out. Maguire was below Chalobah according to Tuchel. He might jump above him y the time the squad is elected but he might not. 5uchek seems to really like Madueke. I think he will go. Nit sure Watkins will get back. It could be Welbeck! Or Solanke or Calvert-Lewin might sneak in.
I don’t think we learned much at all from the last meet up. Maybe Garner looking worthwhile as the off the bench option. Other than that everything is still up in the air. Pretty terrible international break looking back on it. Tuchel has wasted a lot of these breaks. I still can’t see how he can take Jordan Henderson and Burn even in a 26 player squad. Would be absolutely absurd.
To me it very much seems like he wants a hybrid CB/RB profile. Possibly because it's hard to trust Reece James to stay fit. I think Quansah is quite likely to go if fit. I also refuse to believe he's only going to take four pivot options. I've accepted Henderson is going but he'll have to take four more on top of him.