England Squad Selection

[My Blood Is Blue]

Who do you think should/will make the 26 man squad?

[My Blood Is Blue]

Balance is important, but with a squad of 26, we should be able to get a strong enough squad, allowing for a Plan B and C as well. Trying to ignore my Chelsea bias, my 26 would be:

Goalkeepers
Jordan Pickford
Aaron Ramsdale
James Trafford

Defenders
Kyle Walker
Reece James
Kieron Trippier
Luke Shaw
Ben Chilwell
John Stones
Jarrod Branthwaite
Joe Gomez
Levi Colwill

Midfielders
Jude Bellingham
Declan Rice
Conor Gallagher
Rico Lewis
Kobbie Mainoo

Attackers
Bakayo Saka
Cole Palmer
Phil Foden
Jarrod Bowen
James Maddison
Anthony Gordon
Harry Kane
Ollie Watkins
Dominic Solanke

 

For the majority of the games I would start:

Pickford

Walker/James - Stones - Branthwaite - Chilwell

Bellingham - Rice

Saka - Palmer - Foden

Kane

 

For the trickier matches against tougher opponents, I would bring Gallagher in to add an extra man in midfield.

 

Pickford

Walker/James - Stones - Branthwaite - Chilwell

Bellingham - Rice - Gallagher

Saka/Palmer -Kane - Foden

[My Blood Is Blue]

Rumours are…

Chilwell and Henderson not in provisional squad.

Wharton, Eze, Curtis Jones and Brantheaite expected to be in provisional squad.

[paulw66]

1 hour ago, My Blood Is Blue said:

Rumours are…

Chilwell and Henderson not in provisional squad.

Wharton, Eze, Curtis Jones and Brantheaite expected to be in provisional squad.

James is out. Phew

Rashford out. Bold. 

[My Blood Is Blue]

Gutted for Colwill, he's good enough to be in that squad, but his injury made it very difficult to select him.

Chilwell is out as well, so hopefully he and James can have a proper rest over the summer ahead of next season.

[My Blood Is Blue]

[Sciatika]

Just Gallagher and Palmer, Petrovic and Mudryck, Enzo and Caicedo. Many of our players have a chance of getting some rest before the tour.

[paulw66]

50 minutes ago, My Blood Is Blue said:

Some very fortunate names in that list; Dunk, Trippier, Toney, Grealish 

[Sciatika]

Apart from Conor and Rice, that midfield looks dodgy. Even with them, the defence is going to be busy. 

[Backbiter]

13 minutes ago, Sciatika said:

Apart from Conor and Rice, that midfield looks dodgy. Even with them, the defence is going to be busy. 

As are the dodgy keepers.

EDIT: Surely Bellingham and Maddison are midfielders?

Edited May 21, 2024 by Backbiter

[Mark Kelly]

Just now, Backbiter said:

As are the dodgy keepers.

EDIT: Surely Bellingham and Maddison are midfielders?

I get the impression Bellingham thinks he can play where he likes 

[blueandproud]

At least Rashford's not there, why do people like Andy Dunn question the decision to omit him?  He's done sod all for Man Utd this season.  I'm also glad Chilly and Reece are staying behind as well, we need them fit and ready for next season.

[Bob Singleton]

Cole Palmer starts in tonight's friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina

[Sciatika]

Watched first 40 minutes. Dull. No pace. Limited tactical plan. Eze, Palmer, Watkins OK. Pickford mistake waiting to happen as is TAA. Very slow

[chara]

3 minutes ago, Sciatika said:

Watched first 40 minutes. Dull. No pace. Limited tactical plan. Eze, Palmer, Watkins OK. Pickford mistake waiting to happen as is TAA. Very slow

Pretty much agree....waiting for the inevitable changes but with little hope of a change in pace.

Come on Sir Gareth..surprise me...

[Bert19]

My team for the first game would be: 

Pickford 

Walker Stones Slabhead Shaw 

Rice Gallagher 

Palmer Bellingham Foden 

Kane

With the group England have, Southgate should be prepared to be bold and blast through at least a couple of the games. 

If he needs to tighten it up later in the tournament, then he can revert to 3-4-2-1 or 4-3-3 

Pickford 

Walker Stones Maguire 

Trent Rice Gallagher Shaw 

Bellingham Foden 

Kane 

---------

Pickford 

Walker Stones Maguire Shaw 

Wharton Rice Gallagher 

Bellingham Kane Foden

[Sciatika]

Personally, I would prefer it if Palmer and Gallagher had a rest, but I am probably not getting into the spirit of the thing. 

[Bert19]

15 minutes ago, Sciatika said:

Personally, I would prefer it if Palmer and Gallagher had a rest, but I am probably not getting into the spirit of the thing. 

Well me too - not sure we're that lucky though. 

 

[paulw66]

Chalobah has got to be a better bet than some of the jokers England have got at the back, especially if Maguire is missing 

[My Blood Is Blue]

Maguire and Grealish out of the squad.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c988179wd30o

[paulw66]

No Spurs player in an England squad for a major tournament since 1992. 

[My Blood Is Blue]

20 minutes ago, paulw66 said:

No Spurs player in an England squad for a major tournament since 1992. 

Our chances of winning have just quadrupled!

[My Blood Is Blue]

Palmer and Gallagher will be going to the Euros, big summer for Palmer I sense.

[asvaberg]

Any comments on my choices for England opening game? 

 

 

[Mark Kelly]

4 minutes ago, asvaberg said:

Any comments on my choices for England opening game? 

 

 

I'm sure that Saint Jude the greatest living English man will demand to play off the striker for his own personal glory.