Disagree regarding his comments over the way we play. Troy has a reputation as a battering ram type centre-forward, which is actually only a very small part of his game. Southgate wouldn't know any of his other attributes, as he doesn't come to Vicarage Road to watch any of the players. Hopefully when Chalobah is back, that will change. Regarding Chalobah and Hughes - they're on his radar because of all the appearances they made in the under 21's, not because of the progress they've made here (especially in Chalobah's case, due to his lengthy time out). My gripe with Southgate is that he's ruled a player out regardless of how good a season they may have for spurious reasons. Troy certainly didn't deserve it last year, and probably doesn't on the back of 4 good games. But his statement confirms that he will never be part of the squad, irrespective of how good a season he has because of the way his club plays. It's nonsense. He should just admit that he doesn't rate him, rather than hide behind soft excuses. I interpret that kind of brush off as an indication he's heading down the same path as former England coaches - favourites picked irregardless of form, but the club that they play for holding a lot of clout. Luke Shaw is straight back in; in my opinion, identical appearances for a smaller club would have seen him overlooked. Southgate clearly has his favourites, and that was what I was hoping the England set up was moving away from. You're right that there needs to be a balance between form and continuity - but Loftus-Cheek doesn't deserve it. Southgate made a big thing about not being able to pick players that weren't getting first team football. Seems he'll bend that rule for those he likes. I don't believe he's anti Watford, but I do believe his latest selection is an early warning that form alone will not be enough to get you ahead of those from clubs higher up the food chain or who have already established some kind of affinity with him.
Whilst I am a big fan of Deeney and think he should have already earned a cap, it doesn’t make a great deal of sense to bring in a player in for their first cap when they will be 34 at the next World Cup.
Is Deeney good enough to be a regular in England squads? Probably not. But it rankles that shiiiite like Tammy Abraham got given a cap by Southgate when he can't even control a football or complete a simple pass along the floor. Had he just been a Swansea player he would never have been called up, but as he was a Chelsea player on loan at Swansea he was straight in.
I don't rate Abraham either but in Southgate's defence he had just finished a brilliant season as second top goal scorer in the Championship and started the season well in the Premier League so selecting him wasn't that strange.
His technique has always been appalling though, even in the Championship. His goals highlights from Bristol City are remarkable for how crap they all are. Ok, there's a skill of being in the right place at the right time but he's an archetypal Championship scorer who doesn't have the technique to score in the Premier League. Luckily his England debut brutally exposed his shortcomings as he kept falling over his own feet and passing the ball straight off the pitch so hopefully that should be it for him.
I feel your despair but I can’t fathom your initial optimism. The England Blazer Boys aren’t there because they turned down the City job. Exhibit 1: Boothroyd.
I agree. But he doesn't help the way he's regarded when he talks semi-ironically of being a big lump who bullies people. That reinforces a false image of his game. He does bully people but he does much more than that
It was a brief lapse of judgement, brought about by a combination of the hot weather, no club football and Three Lions being constantly played wherever I seemed to go. I shall endeavor not to make such a rookie mistake again. Any advice?!!
I think this was the show though not checked. 5 Live Sport between 7pm and 9pm. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bj37cl
