England

[speeeeeeedie]

Full provisional squad;

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Sam Johnstone (West Bromwich Albion), Nick Pope (Burnley), Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield United)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Ben Godfrey (Everton), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Ben White (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (West Ham United, loan from Manchester United), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), Declan Rice (West Ham United), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)

Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Mason Greenwood (Manchester United), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Good luck culling that down to 26.

I think that barring injuries Southgate sees Ramsdale, Godfrey, White, Watkins as first out.

Then cut 3 from; TAA, James, Trippier, Greenwood, Saka, Sancho.

I'd leave out the first 4 plus James, Greenwood, Saka.

 

[benhben]

There are a lot of defenders picked in that squad. I'm hoping that's not an indication Southgate is going to revert back to a cautious 5 at the back. Its one of the most talented attacking pool of England players I've seen. To go cautious and play 5 at the back would be a huge waste of talent. Id also pick TAA every day of the week over the other full backs if hes fit. 

Very difficult to pick a front line as each player has a strong case to start. Good problem to have providing Southgate doesn't bottle it. 

My line up (if all are deemed fully fit):

                     Henderson

TAA         Stones           McGuire       Shaw

                 Henderson   Rice

Sancho             Foden         Sterling

                         Kane

Id even play mount as a CM against weaker oppositon. 

Edited May 25, 2021 by benhben

[speeeeeeedie]

I've changed my mind. Trippier out Greenwood in. Southgate doesn't need 3 right backs.

 

[roverandout]

When u look who isn't in. Ali ings Bamford winks Pope awb tomori konsa. Just shows the strength in depth 

[speeeeeeedie]

31 minutes ago, roverandout said:

When u look who isn't in. Ali ings Bamford winks Pope awb tomori konsa. Just shows the strength in depth 

Add in the Leicester trio - Maddison, Barnes, Justin.

Plus Gomez and Oxlade-Chamberlain (a stretch this one but prior to his bad injury 2 years ago he was in the starting 11) from Liverpool.

[TruRover]

I’m so surprised that people have sterling over rashford. Sterling is incredibly overrated. My starting xi would be:

4-3-3

Henderson 

Walker Stones Maguire Shaw

Mount Rice Bellingham/Grealish (depending on opposition)

Foden Kane Rashford 

[K-Hod]

1 hour ago, TruRover said:

I’m so surprised that people have sterling over rashford. Sterling is incredibly overrated. My starting xi would be:

4-3-3

Henderson 

Walker Stones Maguire Shaw

Mount Rice Bellingham/Grealish (depending on opposition)

Foden Kane Rashford 

I don’t get this argument at all. Sterling has consistently scored more goals than Rashford until this season. Even then, Rashford has a whopping one goal more than Sterling in the league (from seven more appearances)....

[RoverDom]

1 hour ago, TruRover said:

I’m so surprised that people have sterling over rashford. Sterling is incredibly overrated

Agreed there, wouldn't have him starting in my england xi

Edited May 25, 2021 by RoverDom

[K-Hod]

I don’t imagine Southgate would ever be ballsy enough not to play both Rice and Henderson all the time, but for me, this would be our strongest XI. 
There would certainly be a case for Rice for Mount and James for TAA against the better sides, I’ll give you that....

             
                 Pickford

TAA   Stones   Maguire   Shaw

                 Henderson

     Mount                    Foden 

 

Sancho        Kane       Sterling

[RevidgeBlue]

1 hour ago, TruRover said:

I’m so surprised that people have sterling over rashford. Sterling is incredibly overrated. 

They're both incredibly over-rated in my book but Rashford has earnt virtually Canonisation like status due to his activities off the pitch recently.

As with Rovers under Mowbray, can't help but feel it doesn't really matter who's in the squad, we'll get nowhere under Southgate.

[Silas]

10 minutes ago, K-Hod said:

I don’t imagine Southgate would ever be ballsy enough not to play both Rice and Henderson all the time, but for me, this would be our strongest XI. 
There would certainly be a case for Rice for Mount and James for TAA against the better sides, I’ll give you that....

             
                 Pickford

TAA   Stones   Maguire   Shaw

                 Henderson

     Mount                    Foden 

 

Sancho        Kane       Sterling

I seem to remember you disagree,  but I'd like Grealish in for Sterling. Scare the hell out of teams that attack.

Use Raheem the last 20/30 mins, his pace against a tiring defence more effective. 

I just wanna get Grealish in the team basically, really rate him. Don't think Southgate will though, too maverick for him. 

[RoverDom]

For me 

 

Pickford

Tripper Stones Maguire Shaw

Mount Henderson Foden

Sancho Kane Grealish

 

Or if he's going  3 at the back

 

                     Pickford

         James Maguire Coady 

 TAA                                     Chilwell

            Henderson  Mount 

Foden           Kane          Grealish 

 

 

[roverandout]

6 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

They're both incredibly over-rated in my book but Rashford has earnt virtually Canonisation like status due to his activities off the pitch recently.

As with Rovers under Mowbray, can't help but feel it doesn't really matter who's in the squad, we'll get nowhere under Southgate.

Cant agree with both being overrated.  Rashford has tons of ability.  He has scored 20 plus goals in the last 2 seasons from out wide.  Sterling has had a poor season by his standard but he scored 30 plus goals last few seasons, yes he's in a great man city team but hes also been playing well for England in the last 2 years. I agree with Southgate being useless 

[TruRover]

11 hours ago, K-Hod said:

I don’t get this argument at all. Sterling has consistently scored more goals than Rashford until this season. Even then, Rashford has a whopping one goal more than Sterling in the league (from seven more appearances)....

While I can defo respect the opinion of sterling > rashford imo rashford is streets ahead of Sterling. He’s more powerful, direct and quick and importantly hits the ball a lot more cleanly than sterling. While there’s no doubt sterling is a talented player I don’t think he has hit the heights of a couple years ago in the previous seasons. The real issue with Sterling is when he comes up against quality defensive opposition, he goes missing and often lacks the composure to put crucial chances away. Rashford is far from the finished article but he’s above sterling in the pecking order, esp if we are looking to hit on the counter. I think there’s a case for playing sterling against teams that will sit back as I think he’s better at playing in tight spaces, however in those kinds of games I’d rather Grealish or Sancho.
 

it’s also worth nothing that sterling has been in his prime the last couple of season while rashford has just been breaking into becoming a focal part of United attack. In that time Sterling has played a lot of games upfront while rashford has been on the wing, which may affect the appearance of their stats. 

[K-Hod]

11 hours ago, Silas said:

I seem to remember you disagree,  but I'd like Grealish in for Sterling. Scare the hell out of teams that attack.

Use Raheem the last 20/30 mins, his pace against a tiring defence more effective. 

I just wanna get Grealish in the team basically, really rate him. Don't think Southgate will though, too maverick for him. 

Nah, I really rate Grealish tbh. If he were to play, I’d want him centrally over Mount.

Though to be fair to Mount, I think his recent form and Grealish’s lack of activity makes him the man to pick tbh!

[Dreams of 1995]

I think Southgate will go with 5 at the back. The number of defenders points towards that anyway. We have such a bad midfield that it probably needs a more solid defensive base to accommodate it. An injury to Henderson or Rice and you don’t have a ball winning midfielder left. Phillips isn’t the answer. 
 

Id like to see him take Trippier at right back. I think he’s our best defender and has had the benefit of Simeone defensive training. A league winner at Athletico and an unbelievable dead ball specialist. He’s my go to right back. 
 

I think you need to get Foden, Kane and Rashford on the pitch with Sancho, Sterling and Grealish ready to come on. That’s a deadly forward line.

The problem will come in midfield but Rice and Henderson will be good anchors. The problem is Southgate loves Mason Mount so you’ll have him shoe horned in there over a better quality player imo. 

[Ewood Ace]

The 7 I'd cut would be Ramsdale, James, Coady, White, Ward-Prowse, Lingard and Watkins.

The best starting 11 for me would be.

                             Pickford

Trippier      Maguire         Stones    Shaw

                                Rice

                  Mount             Grealish

Greenwood           Kane                Foden

[pick32]

Henderson

Walker Stones Maguire Shaw

Henderson   Mount

Foden

 Sterling Kane Rashford

One of the worst England squads I’ve seen going into a major tournament, Apart from Walker, Kane and Sterling I don’t think any would get minutes on the pitch in the 2004 squad 

 

[Admiral Nelsen]

1 minute ago, pick32 said:

One of the worst England squads I’ve seen going into a major tournament, Apart from Walker, Kane and Sterling I don’t think any would get minutes on the pitch in the 2004 squad 

 

 

Think you're right on the 2004/2006 team, but I think that really just shows how we underachieved in those tournaments. A defence including Campbell/Terry/Ferdinand/Cole was exceptional, as should've been a midfield with Beckham, Gerrard, Scholes & Lampard.

 

I'd take this squad over any we've had in the last 10 years though, and I think it's miles ahead of some of those going a bit further back before the Sven era.

[roverandout]

10 minutes ago, pick32 said:

Henderson

Walker Stones Maguire Shaw

Henderson   Mount

Foden

 Sterling Kane Rashford

One of the worst England squads I’ve seen going into a major tournament, Apart from Walker, Kane and Sterling I don’t think any would get minutes on the pitch in the 2004 squad 

 

Bull. This is our best squad since 06

[roverandout]

Grealish foden mount kane rashford trent Sterling stones Shaw would walk into that England team

[Kie_BRFC]

20 minutes ago, pick32 said:

Henderson

Walker Stones Maguire Shaw

Henderson   Mount

Foden

 Sterling Kane Rashford

One of the worst England squads I’ve seen going into a major tournament, Apart from Walker, Kane and Sterling I don’t think any would get minutes on the pitch in the 2004 squad 

 

Worst squad you've seen? It's better than the one we took to the last world cup for a start. If that front 4 played for any other country we'd be envious

[roversfan99]

9 minutes ago, roverandout said:

Grealish foden mount kane rashford trent Sterling stones Shaw would walk into that England team

No chance of some of them! You think that Luke Shaw would dislodge Ashley Cole, and that Stones could dislodge 2 from Campbell, Ferdinand and Terry?! Gary Neville was as reliable a right back as you could wish to see too, none of the current crop would get in over that back 4.

I would agree with those who think that Rashford is overrated, ive never been his biggest fan, I prefer Sterling although hes been poor for a number of months, neither would start the tournament in my opinion. Mount has grown on me but there is no way that he dislodges Lampard, Scholes or Gerrard in an already overcrowded central midfield back then.

Going back, that England side was mainly lacking in goal and out wide, and Pickford is certainly no upgrade. I would put Sancho and Foden in who would be my first pick in those roles this summer.

Kane would obviously have a very good shout of starting, with Rooney and Owen it wouldnt be a guarantee but I would agree on Kane.

The 2004 England side also lacked depth in a few areas.

[LeftWinger]

13 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

No chance of some of them! You think that Luke Shaw would dislodge Ashley Cole, and that Stones could dislodge 2 from Campbell, Ferdinand and Terry?! Gary Neville was as reliable a right back as you could wish to see too, none of the current crop would get in over that back 4.

Absolutely agree.

I always thought that G.Neville, Campbell, Ferdinand, A.Cole was as good a back four as any in the world at their peak. 

Not a chance you'd pick any of the current crop over the centre backs and full backs. I think Gary Neville would also have a strong case for a place.

[Admiral Nelsen]

7 minutes ago, LeftWinger said:

Absolutely agree.

I always thought that G.Neville, Campbell, Ferdinand, A.Cole was as good a back four as any in the world at their peak. 

Not a chance you'd pick any of the current crop over the centre backs and full backs. I think Gary Neville would also have a strong case for a place.

 

I was going to say the same in an earlier post, but then I was thinking about Maldini, Cannavaro, Nesta & Panucci. Some defence. Even then it's not obvious to me which was better, which goes to show how well stocked we were, especially thinking of some of the players we had the likes of Carragher, King and Woodgate as 4th, 5th and 6th choice. 

 

I know the settled opinion on the Sven era was that we badly underperformed, and that's understandable given the players available, but I think the manner of our getting knocked out gets brushed under the carpet slightly too much in my view. Portugal in 2004, Campbell won that game fair and square in the 90 minutes before the goal being disallowed. They go on to reach a very winnable final vs Greece. Even in 2006, we came pretty close to winning that game with 10 men if I recall. People rightly talk about how we should've got more from a midfield that good, or were too mentally weak when it came to pens etc., but we were seriously unlucky at times too.