England - the future....

[Sanguine]

Archie Gray obviously the next big thing, so long as England can prevent him following relatives Frank and Eddie into the Scotland side - but he is a midfielder.

Philogene could be quite the player, and Madueke has potential, but there are no obvious out and out goalscorers on the horizon.

[6ft Kerplunk]

We need an Owen\Rooney type of emergence.

[Sanguine]

It's probably less of a shock than is being reported that Lille midfielder Angel Gomes is in Lee Carsley's first England squad - Gomes has been a regular in his U21s side. Likewise Madueke. So too was Gibbs-White before he got too old.

Surprised at no Adam Wharton, and no Toney - so Watkins clear understudy now to Kane.

Also surprised that Maguire has been recalled. Feels like we might have taken a chance to move on with the next major tournament two years away.

[Sutekh]

It's probably less of a shock than is being reported that Lille midfielder Angel Gomes is in Lee Carsley's first England squad - Gomes has been a regular in his U21s side. Likewise Madueke. So too was Gibbs-White before he got too old.

Surprised at no Adam Wharton, and no Toney - so Watkins clear understudy now to Kane.

Also surprised that Maguire has been recalled. Feels like we might have taken a chance to move on with the next major tournament two years away.

Think Toney will see his career disappear down the toilet if he signs for the Saudi League.

[Vision]

It's probably less of a shock than is being reported that Lille midfielder Angel Gomes is in Lee Carsley's first England squad - Gomes has been a regular in his U21s side. Likewise Madueke. So too was Gibbs-White before he got too old.

Surprised at no Adam Wharton, and no Toney - so Watkins clear understudy now to Kane.

Also surprised that Maguire has been recalled. Feels like we might have taken a chance to move on with the next major tournament two years away.

Been keeping half an eye on Gomes since that England u-17 winning team . He wasn’t in the first 11 for that tournament but impressed me immensely in the game time he did get. Think he’s made for international football.

[Sutekh]

It's probably less of a shock than is being reported that Lille midfielder Angel Gomes is in Lee Carsley's first England squad - Gomes has been a regular in his U21s side. Likewise Madueke. So too was Gibbs-White before he got too old.

Surprised at no Adam Wharton, and no Toney - so Watkins clear understudy now to Kane.

Also surprised that Maguire has been recalled. Feels like we might have taken a chance to move on with the next major tournament two years away.

Been keeping half an eye on Gomes since that England u-17 winning team . He wasn’t in the first 11 for that tournament but impressed me immensely in the game time he did get. Think he’s made for international football.

Need to move and tie him down asap as he can still play for Angola or Portugal if they get interested. Think he's ooc in 2025 so there could be a mad scramble for him next summer.

[Sanguine]

Think he’s made for international football.

Fwiw I think this is a good description of Mainoo, too. He's been good for United, sure - but he was totally overrun against Liverpool at the weekend. In the structure of the England side he looks top class.

[Ascotexgunner]

That is a brilliant second goal by England, and a fabulous move. Pleased Jack scored to shut up the Irish bigots.

[Royal Rother]

Not a great 2nd half but overall there was a far more positive approach than we’ve seen in recent times and TFFT.

I guess it could be said that Anthony Gordon had an axe to grind but I would imagine he was not speaking just for himself when he said:

"The expression, the freedom to express yourself was missing from Euro 2024. We controlled games but we werent dynamic. We weren’t relentless. We lacked dynamism and excitement."

Really quite excited to see Angel Kante (I mean Gomes) - I thought he looked superb.

[windermereROYAL]

All the melts calling for Carsley to be sacked for not singing an outdated national anthem, give me fucking strength.

[Sutekh]

All the melts calling for Carsley to be sacked for not singing an outdated national anthem, give me fucking strength.

Don't get it, who cares what he does when the stupid things are played. It's not as if England even has it's own anthem anyway.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Encouraging overall last night, but people getting carried away. Southgate's England routinely swept aside mediocre teams, and it's hard to learn much from Ireland. The Nations League is a mickey mouse contest, but at least being in the top tier gave you a regular chance to test yourself against the best.

Biggest positive was just the balance of the team, that was lacking at the Euros. I think Carsley needs to stick with Gordon for his running and movement, even when Bellingham, Foden and Palmer are back. Those 3 can compete with Grealish for a position where we must surely be the most stacked in the world. Angel Gomes looks encouraging too. Suddenly with him, Mainoo and Wharton we may finally be developing an England midfield who can match the top teams in possession.

[Carnabyswhiskers]

We have all the talent (except maybe at centre forward if Kane is as unfit as he was in the Euros). What we need are a) defenders who can pass accurately and in particular forward to midfielders on the half turn, and b) a mindset which is more consistently that of the first half of Saturday rather than the second. As in the recent tournament, the determination to play safe invited pressure onto the back 4 and chances on our goal. From what he has said, this change of mindset appears to be what Carsley has in mind. Good luck to him.

[Royal Rother]

MOTM was clearly Gomes.

[Sanguine]

It's been an excellent start for Carsley. We've seen in two games exactly what Trent can do in an England side with willing runners. Our movement between the lines has been excellent. Kane looks refreshed. I can't praise Angel Gomes enough, very impressed. The ball didn't seem to stay at his feet for more than half a second - agile, great first touch, ping it on. Lost count of the number of balls played through Finland's compressed banks of defenders.

Impressive stuff.

[Royal Rother]

It's been an excellent start for Carsley. We've seen in two games exactly what Trent can do in an England side with willing runners. Our movement between the lines has been excellent. Kane looks refreshed. I can't praise Angel Gomes enough, very impressed. The ball didn't seem to stay at his feet for more than half a second - agile, great first touch, ping it on. Lost count of the number of balls played through Finland's compressed banks of defenders.

Impressive stuff.

I thought Trent was a bit hit and miss tbh, but the fact he feels free to try things that will open up defences has to be a positive.

Apart from his goals (which yes, is what he's there for really) I thought he still looked a bit ponderous.

Gomes - just great. Apart from the attributes you outline, I just love the way that within a split second of laying the ball off, he's back into space. Early days I suppose, but he looks like a real talent.

There are going to be some major selection headaches (and a great bench of midfield options) moving forward.

[Sanguine]

Wolves' Mateus Mane was born in Portugal but grew up in England. He made his debut for England U18s last month, and is in the most recent squad announced yesterday. Today Portugal have also named him in their U18s squad, in an apparent attempt to turn his ahead. England insist he will line up for them next week - but maybe a battle in the future at senior level for his allegiance.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Wtf is tonight's line up? Even if it works against Greece, you'd never try it against a quality opposition in a world cup SF.

Another manager too scared to put the team first and leave big names on the bench.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Utterly gash performance by all accounts. When will England managers learn not to be scared of the press and just be vocal about the best players not always making the best team

[WestYorksRoyal]

England actually need injuries to have a chance of winning a major tournament. The last squad was without Bellingham, Palmer and Bellingham and looked great. Get them back and it's a mess of players shoehorned into a crap formation.

Or if we're really feeling revolutionary, we could find a manager brave enough to pick a system and not just a load of big names.

Angel Gomes looked great and was exactly what we missed at the Euros. But fcuk it, let's ask Palmer to play as a no.6 instead.