24 May 2021 23:41:12
England fans, who do we have as going in the 26 squad?

There are many fairly obvious shoe ins and a lot up for debate. Should it be based on this seasons form alone? Experience? A mix?

GK is nailed on to be Henderson, Pickford and Johnstone after Pope injury.

Full Back is where it gets really messy for me. Trippier, Walker, Shaw, Chilwell, James, TAA. I trust Southgate will find a way to take all (I can actually see him doing that) . Trippier and Walker are off the back of title wins, Shad has had a storming season and chilwell has been solid. Reece James has shown his worth for sure and TAA has had a mixed season. I reckon James will miss out. Just can’t replace TAAs delivery.

Centre backs we’ll see stones, Maguire, dier and mings. Tomori has had a great season and should be in over mings for me. And dier hasn’t been great but he can cover DM as well. Walker and shaw offers cover at CB if in a three.

Midfield I think is easier to pick than most people. Rice, Mount, Grealish, Foden all go without a doubt. Then I think Henderson will get the nod along with ward prowse. I’d round it off with Lingard. But he may opt for another holding in Phillips.

Forwards we will see Kane, Sterling, Rashford and DCL for sure. Sancho should get a nod too and I’d finish up with greenwood. Always has a goal in him and has been a very useful option off the bench for us this season as well.

That’s my 26, I don’t see the actual 26 being radically different but there’s a few up for grabs positions that could go either way.

1.) 25 May 2021
25 May 2021 09:08:21
To be honest my interest in international football has all but disappeared. The quality is often not even up to club standard, not even close to UCL standard and is becoming more pointless as each year passes.

2.) 25 May 2021
25 May 2021 09:37:41
Jesus Scooby every post i read from you is doom and gloom.

3.) 25 May 2021
25 May 2021 09:49:31
Whiskey, I'll give you two squads for the price of one. First the squad I expect Southgate to pick, then the squad I'd pick.

Southgate in my opinion will go with:

Pickford, Henderson and Johnstone (now Pope looks like he'll be out injured) .
Trippier, Walker, James, Maguire, Stones, Dier, Mings, Chilwell and Shaw.
Henderson, Rice, Phillips, Ward-Prowse, Mount, Grealish, Foden and Bellingham.
Kane, Rashford, Sterling, Sancho, DCL, Greenwood.

If it was me I'd go with:

Henderson, Pickford, Johnstone.
James, TAA, Walker, Maguire, Stones, Godfrey, White, Chilwell, Shaw.
Henderson, Rice, Phillips, Bellingham, Mount, Grealish, Maddison, Foden.
Kane, Rashford, Sterling, Sancho, Greenwood, Watkins.

I'd take TAA over Trippier, as TAA has more ability and is the future rather than one las throw of the dice on Trippier.

Godfrey and White over Dier and Mings, as neither Dier or Mings are good enough and both Godfrey and White are as good if not better currently and have brighter futures. At the end of the day Maguire and Stones will start every game if fit. So its only a back up role and to get some international experience under their belt.

Maddison over Ward-Prowse for me as I think Maddison offers more. With Watkins over DCL, I think this one is close, I just feel Watkins style is better suited to this England team. His experience playing wide means he can form a more interchangeable option to DCL who is only really a target man, which is something Watkins can do, but he can do so much more.

{Ed004's Note - Leaving Saka out is a massive shout I must say. Id almost drop Chilwell for him but that would be a very risky move. I think the emphasis should be on bringing the younger and more in form players. I wouldnt have Mings or Dier near the squad. If I was to pick a team I'd probably go for Henderson, TAA, Stones, Maguire, Shaw then Henderson, Rice, Mount followed with Foden, Kane and Rashford}

4.) 25 May 2021
25 May 2021 10:20:20
I've never understood why some international managers take 4th or 5th choice players who are deemed "established internationals". I appreciate sides want to win a tournament and will try to give themselves the best chance but how much difference are player 22 or 23 in the squad going to make?

There's surely more upside to taking a younger player like Saka, Greenwood or Tomori etc who may well be important players for the country moving forward? Especially with the larger squads available this year I can't see a reason for not giving a few younger players some tournament experience.

5.) 25 May 2021
25 May 2021 10:45:08
Sim, doom and gloom? A simple opinion? Don’t read, scroll by. It’s really easy.

6.) 25 May 2021
25 May 2021 11:04:42
I'd go for 3 keepers, two for each outfield position and then use the extra 3 places available to get greenwood, taa and Saka into the squad .
Pickford Henderson Johnstone
Walker, James
Shaw Chillwell
Stones maguire, tomori, mings
Rice Henderson Phillips Bellingham
Mount foden
Rushford grealish
Stirling sancho
Kane dcl

I think Southgate likes tripper coady, ward prowse and lingard so may get some of them in .
Other than keeper and cb it looks a strong squad available to Southgate and lots of positions in the first 11 have a number of good options.

{Ed004's Note - White for Mings and thats the side I would go for}

7.) 25 May 2021
25 May 2021 12:38:44
My team is:

Gks:
Johnstone
Pickford
Henderson

RBs:
Wan-Bissaka
Alexander-Arnold

CBs:
Keane
Stones
White
Coady (for a back 3)

LBs:
Shaw
Chilwell

CMs:
Ward-Prowse
Rice
Bellingham
Mount

RWs:
Sancho
Saka

AMs:
Foden
Grealish

LWs:
Rashford
Sterling

STs:
Kane
Greenwood
Calvert-Lewin

Preliminary squad:
Maguire - prove fitness
Henderson - prove fitness
Lingard
Maddison
Tomori
Ings

Henderson and maguire the extra 2 if they prove fitness if not probably maddison and tomori.