England - the future....

[BRO_BOT]

Would actually start Palmer, he has something about him. Strikes me a born winner.

Would go with Rice, Bellingham and Foden as a midfield 3 and have Saka on the right wing and Palmer on the left wing.

Mainoo will be knocking on the door shortly as well, very composed player

Yep agreed, should definitely be in the squad. If someone like Henderson got in over him I'll be furious.

Depends on what you want. Henderson is a very experienced leader, Mainoo has played 16/17 adult professional games

Also, this is Southgate we're talking about...Philips, Henderson and Rashford will all be on the plane

[NathStPaul]

Mainoo will be knocking on the door shortly as well, very composed player

Yep agreed, should definitely be in the squad. If someone like Henderson got in over him I'll be furious.

Depends on what you want. Henderson is a very experienced leader, Mainoo has played 16/17 adult professional games

Also, this is Southgate we're talking about...Philips, Henderson and Rashford will all be on the plane

Yeah I expect Henderson to go but Mainoo has to go over the likes of Phillips. Phillips wouldn't even get in the Reading squad on current form.

[Sanguine]

I'm as big a fan of Southgate as anyone, but I really am beginning to think that Jordan Henderson has pictures of the boss naked with a farm animal, or something.

Good to see Branthwaite in the squad, but Harvey Elliott can feel harshly overlooked. Mainoo arguably too, given how many injuries we have.

[Sutekh]

I'm as big a fan of Southgate as anyone, but I really am beginning to think that Jordan Henderson has pictures of the boss naked with a farm animal, or something.

Good to see Branthwaite in the squad, but Harvey Elliott can feel harshly overlooked. Mainoo arguably too, given how many injuries we have.

Southgate is a pillock. This is two utterly meaningless friendly games coming up, the likes of Elliott and Mainoo should be in there but no we'll get the same tired old starting XI with Konsa or Tomori ending up coming on in midfield in the 2nd half or something "experimental" like that.

[BRO_BOT]

I'm as big a fan of Southgate as anyone, but I really am beginning to think that Jordan Henderson has pictures of the boss naked with a farm animal, or something.

Good to see Branthwaite in the squad, but Harvey Elliott can feel harshly overlooked. Mainoo arguably too, given how many injuries we have.

Southgate is a pillock. This is two utterly meaningless friendly games coming up, the likes of Elliott and Mainoo should be in there but no we'll get the same tired old starting XI with Konsa or Tomori ending up coming on in midfield in the 2nd half or something "experimental" like that.

KaLOLvin PhiLOLips won't have booked his summer holiday just yet!

England only have Rice who's a dedicated CDM the rest are all 8s or 10s

Mainoo continues to impress, could be in with a shout

[Winston Biscuit]

Really don't like people's reaction to Ben White asking to not be selected.

Lots of insults and accusations going his way without anyone knowing anything about why he has done this.

[Winston Biscuit]

Those goalkeeper names

[Hendo]

Sure Oliver never got teased at school...

[Silver Fox]

The defenders look like someone doing a bad job of Latin conjugation

[ayjaydee]

The defenders look like someone doing a bad job of Latin conjugation

And I can still conjugate it, having not thought about it in the last 50+ years. Quite a thing the human brain.

[Sutekh]

Sure Oliver never got teased at school...

Oliver Harrison?

And is Spike Brits an instruction?

[BRO_BOT]

Harry Amass close to getting first team debut at Utd due to lack of fit left backs

[Winston Biscuit]

There I was chuckling at the GK names and completely misses that former Royal Luca Fletcher was in the squad

[ayjaydee]

There I was chuckling at the GK names and completely misses that former Royal Luca Fletcher was in the squad

Doing alright - 12 appearances for Citeh U18's, 8 goals 2 assists. Wonder if we have a sell on clause.

[Sutekh]

Another outstanding defensive performance last night. Maguire proving again that he should be nowhere near an England squad. Bellingham was getting a bit of attention though

[URZZZZ]

Maguire proving again that he should be nowhere near an England squad

In this case, who would be your four CB’s you’d choose instead?

Southgate is constantly criticised for not choosing players on form (some of it justified IMO). Maguire has had a relatively decent season club wise and has consistently been one of England’s top performing CB’s since Southgate took the job

[Sanguine]

Those goalkeeper names

Refuse to believe these isn't a squad of regens from Football Manager season 2054/55.

[6ft Kerplunk]

In this case, who would be your four CB’s you’d choose instead?

1. John Stones
2. Not Maguire
3. Not Maguire
4. Not Maguire
Problem is that in the last few years when Maguire's not really been up to it, nobody else has been given a proper run of games to put forward a claim to the place. Can see us having to revert back to back 3 with Walker's pace in there to help recover Maguire's mistakes.

[Franchise FC]

In this case, who would be your four CB’s you’d choose instead?

1. John Stones
2. Not Maguire
3. Not Maguire
4. Not Maguire
Problem is that in the last few years when Maguire's not really been up to it, nobody else has been given a proper run of games to put forward a claim to the place. Can see us having to revert back to back 3 with Walker's pace in there to help recover Maguire's mistakes.

I am convinced that Southgate's general conservatism is based around the fact that we have a plethora of attacking talent but the defence remains a major concern. Despite the fact that Maguire is not world class, I'm struggling to come up with a list of replacements. There just doesn't seem to be a line of CB's knocking on the door
That, in a large part, is why I think Southgate persisted with two defensive midfield players.

I'd be delighted to be proved wrong if someone can post up the list of potentials

[Franchise FC]

Shame the defensive options are so meagre and we're screwed for a striker if Kane gets crocked.

CB: Stones, Ben White, Konsa, Tomori, Maguire, Colwil, Dunk, Branthwaite
FB: James, Chilwell, Shaw, Trippier, TAA, Walker

ST: Kane, Toney, Watkins, (Greenwood*)

Goalkeeper is the position we lack in, decent enough but no-one outstanding

I presume you've listed that lot to prove Sutekh's point
White has ruled himself out of selection
Konsa, Tomori, Colwil & Branthwaite aren't setting the world alight
Dunk is steady but no more and is probably on about par with Maguire
That leaves Stones