Next England Manager

[KC Royal]

Pulls out of the squad injured. Burnley's Michael Keane (me neither) called up to replace him

That's slightly odd. I don't know much about him (apart from he's one of a pair of highly rated twins that came through the United youth system) but I'm sure he's a centre half. Maybe Dyche has been playing him at right back for Burnley (wouldn't surprise me and I've not watched anything of Burnley this season) but this is an example of Southgate's muddled thinking for me.

If he just wanted to call up a defender for the sake of it why call up Johnson in the first place? If he wanted to bring in a specialist right back (ie Johnson) then why replace him with a make-shift one in Keane when there are a number of young/youngish right backs who it might've been better to look at.

I quite like a lot about Southgate, and I like a lot of what he says, but his decisions often baffle me.

Only just seen this. I thought it was odd at first too, as you say Keane is a centre-back, but then came to the conclusion that Southgate thought that Stones could cover at right back if necessary (IIRC he made his England debut at right-back).

[Hoop Blah]

Another slightly odd call up to the squad by Southgate as Aaron Cresswell replaces the injured Drinkwater.

I think Cresswell is a cracking little player, and worth a place in the squad in many ways, but Drinkwater is central midfielder and Cresswell a left back. Now one of 3 in the squad. Now maybe they really want to have a look at Cresswell, or perhaps Rose or Bertrand are also carrying niggles that might keep them out of the team, but it just seems like a bit of muddled thinking to bring in a full back for a midfielder at this stage (much like the Keane was last time around).

We again look a little light in the middle of the park with just Henderson, Dier and Wilshire as the front line options for, presumably, two starting places in central midfield.

[Sanguine]

The Guardian pulling no punches on Sammy Lee/Allardyce.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... -standards

When the FA’s newly chosen manager was filmed covertly, breaking no rules but being a bit of an embarrassment, the FA rolled over in a day. Trying to look strong, it sent Allardyce on his way with £1m, for stuff he said over drinks in a fictitious situation. Meanwhile the FA took on, pays and retains his assistant, who was found to have lied in court about a real life transfer scandal. This week Sammy Lee is working with Gareth Southgate to prepare the England team for the World Cup qualifier against Scotland, poppies proudly on sleeves in roared-on defiance of Fifa, the world governing body disdained for its record on corruption.

[Hendo]

Another slightly odd call up to the squad by Southgate as Aaron Cresswell replaces the injured Drinkwater.

I think Cresswell is a cracking little player, and worth a place in the squad in many ways, but Drinkwater is central midfielder and Cresswell a left back. Now one of 3 in the squad. Now maybe they really want to have a look at Cresswell, or perhaps Rose or Bertrand are also carrying niggles that might keep them out of the team, but it just seems like a bit of muddled thinking to bring in a full back for a midfielder at this stage (much like the Keane was last time around).

We again look a little light in the middle of the park with just Henderson, Dier and Wilshire as the front line options for, presumably, two starting places in central midfield.

Did Rose pick up a slight knock in the Arsenal game? Possibly cover for this.

Agree we are looking a little light in CM area, although who else would there be to bring in for that position? We aren't blessed with too many options in this area.

[Hoop Blah]

Did Rose pick up a slight knock in the Arsenal game? Possibly cover for this.

Agree we are looking a little light in CM area, although who else would there be to bring in for that position? We aren't blessed with too many options in this area.

It may well be a bit of cover for Rose yeah, but it just seems an odd situation where we've lost a central midfielder (who's not then been replaced) and gained a left back as back up for a player who hasn't pulled out and already has a natural replacement in Bertrand.

I guess we are missing Alli, Delph and Drinkwater through injury and then the likes of Noble, Carrick and Barkley haven't been included. Apparenlty it's given a chance to a few of the U21s like Ward-Prowse (who I'm a big fan of) and Chalabah to get involved with the senior side in training, but there does seem to be a lack of English holding midfielders playing at the moment (and I'm still not 100% convinced by Dier in there to be honest).

[Hoop Blah]

So, Southgate has finally been confirmed as the new manager.

I like a lot about the appointment and the things that Southgate stands for and says. However, I'm not overly enthused by him getting the job having not really agreed with a fair number of his decisions with the under 21s over the years.

Good luck to him though, as ever I hope he'll have success at getting our talented players to perform as a proper team free of the fear and inhibitions that seem to have held them back for the last 20 odd years.

[Stranded]

He's a decent appointment for where England are at the mo and the circumstances of the job becoming available.

Were some promising signs of the way he wants England to play in his 4 games, so let's see how he goes.

[Hoop Blah]

Southgate is naming his squad for the Germany friendly and the qualifier against Lithuania today. Quite a few players* are missing so there could be one or two surprises including rumored returns for Ross Barkley and Andy Carroll, both moves I'd agree with.

* at least Rooney, Kane, Henderson, Sturridge, Rose, Shaw, Oxlade-Chamberlain from what I've read.

[bcubed]

Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Torino, on loan from Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Michael Keane (Burnley), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Michail Antonio (West Ham United), Ross Barkley (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Nathan Redmond (Southampton), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Jermain Defoe (Sunderland), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

Shaw and the Ox included
Barkley in but not Carroll

[Hoop Blah]

Oxlade-Chamberlain and Shaw obviously not quite as injured as I thought then.

Surprised by the inclusions of Defoe and Livermore but good to see Ward-Prowse get a call up. No Wilshire though!

Even if we're only 1 through the middle, taking only 3 forwards seems a bit light considering they're Defoe, Rashford and Vardy. I thought Wellbeck might've got the nod as well, and Carroll of course.

[BR0B0T]

Fraser Forster (Southampton),
Joe Hart (Torino, on loan from Manchester City),
Tom Heaton (Burnley),

Ryan Bertrand (Southampton),
Gary Cahill (Chelsea),
Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool),
Phil Jones (Manchester United),
Michael Keane (Burnley),
Luke Shaw (Manchester United),
Chris Smalling (Manchester United),
John Stones (Manchester City),
Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur),

Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur),
Michail Antonio (West Ham United),
Ross Barkley (Everton),
Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur),
Adam Lallana (Liverpool),
Jesse Lingard (Manchester United),
Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion),
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal),
Nathan Redmond (Southampton),
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City),
James Ward-Prowse (Southampton),

Jermain Defoe (Sunderland),
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United),
Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

That really doesn't look great, does it? The defense looks especially
bad. Not sure you could rely on any of the CB's.

As said, very light up front.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Would love to see Redmond get some game time.

[Hoop Blah]

That really doesn't look great, does it? The defense looks especially
bad. Not sure you could rely on any of the CB's.

As said, very light up front.

I think that's probably the state of defending these days, and not just an English thing. Stones, Cahill and Smalling are all decent enough Premier League centre halfs, and Keane has had a pretty good season for Burnley, but like most they have a ricket within them and they're not in the class of Ferdinand, Terry, Carragher and King etc.

If Stones learns when to defend and when to ponce about he could be in that class, but he's a long way to go.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Says something that Rooney getting dropped* from that not great looking squad hasn't really created that many headlines.


* reports say he's available for selection

[double d]

That really doesn't look great, does it? The defense looks especially
bad. Not sure you could rely on any of the CB's.

As said, very light up front.

I think that's probably the state of defending these days, and not just an English thing. Stones, Cahill and Smalling are all decent enough Premier League centre halfs, and Keane has had a pretty good season for Burnley, but like most they have a ricket within them and they're not in the class of Ferdinand, Terry, Carragher and King etc.

If Stones learns when to defend and when to ponce about he could be in that class, but he's a long way to go.

Stones should have learnt to defend years ago seeing as that's his position and it is supposed to be his job.

This whole team just upsets me. Compared to years ago it is ridiculously weak.

[exileinleeds]

Southgate is naming his squad for the Germany friendly and the qualifier against Lithuania today. Quite a few players* are missing so there could be one or two surprises including rumored returns for Ross Barkley and Andy Carroll, both moves I'd agree with.

* at least Rooney, Kane, Henderson, Sturridge, Rose, Shaw, Oxlade-Chamberlain from what I've read.

Would LOVE Antonio to make it....the timing was so out for him here, but he, (despite where he works), is an exciting, creative, player....he's done the odd good goal too.

[Hoop Blah]

Stones should have learnt to defend years ago seeing as that's his position and it is supposed to be his job.

He's still only 22 and 120'odd games into his senior career and he's basically had 4 seasons of his managers not worrying about defending as much as possession and playing out from the back.

There are plenty of good defenders who are still learning their trade at that stage. I think he just needs a manager or coach to guide him a bit more, but it looks like that isn't going to happen.

[Ian Royal]

Decent performance there from England, if a little toothless. Germany did their typical friendly thing of never really getting out of 2nd gear, treating it very much like a training match. Once they scored they moved into the protect the lead and see out the game training session.

[genome]

So like

Is Podolski dying or something?

[Pepe the Horseman]

I'm going to the game on Sunday. Only my second ever England game, first one being a 2-0 defeat against Chile in 1998. Hopefully it will be a thrilling goalfest.