The England Thread

[werty]

I think we are soon going to find out about the intestinal fortitude of Gareth Southgate.

If the Kane saga drags into the season - which I think it already will - then Southgate should be leaving Kane out of the squad for the September international window. Setting aside Kane's fitness as a captain, Southgate should not be calling in a player who has been this disruptive.

Why? It has nothing to do with England or Southgate.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Why? It has nothing to do with England or Southgate.

Its an unnecessary distraction to the National Team - for starters.

2nd, he would not be fit, or in form, if he has not played since July.

3rd, his behavior is hardly befitting a national team captain - and the easiest way to move him out of that role, temporarily, would be to not call him in to the squad for a single international break.

 

[LSUY]

The only way Kane isn't getting selected is if he somehow becomes so unfit that 1998 Gazza looks like a triathlete in comparison.

 

[fridgemagnet]

The only way Kane isn't getting selected is if he somehow becomes so unfit that 1998 Gazza looks like a triathlete in comparison.

Until Kane returns and does all the baseline fitness tests etc, ECG and all the other things that goes into the first days back I think we could refuse to release him on international duty as he won't have done all the stuff I'm guessing needs to happen for the clubs insurance to cover him.
I don't see how any player let alone a £200 million asset would be released by a club for International duty without it!
So Southgate may not get a say in it!

Maybe I'm wrong in what I thought happened each pre-season, they don't just hit the pitch straightaway. If someone knows better then feel free to correct me on this.

 

[nailsy]

I think @Trix mentioned that the FA and the England sponsors aren't happy with Kane's behaviour.

 

[Barmby Army]

Its an unnecessary distraction to the National Team - for starters.

2nd, he would not be fit, or in form, if he has not played since July.

3rd, his behavior is hardly befitting a national team captain - and the easiest way to move him out of that role, temporarily, would be to not call him in to the squad for a single international break.

It isn't a distraction to the national team at all.

If he's not fit then of course he will be left out. However there is no evidence that this is the case.

His behaviour is pretty mundane in the grand scheme of things. Bear in mind that previous England captains in recent memory have included Steven Gerrard (battered a DJ for not playing Phil Collins), Rio Ferdinand (banned for nine months for missing a drugs test), Tony Adams (went to jail for drink driving), Wayne Rooney (loves brasses that were on the game during the battle of Flodden Field) and John Terry (rap sheet longer than Manute Bol).

Take the Spurs specs off and there's really no reason for Kane to be dropped at all. Particularly given Grealish, Maguire and Foden will all be in the next squad despite much worse behaviour.

 

[TheTanguy]

 

[mark87]

Four right backs and one left back. Classic Gareth.

 

[DJS]

Four right backs and one left back. Classic Gareth.

I think Alonso has been playing over Chillwell, but still seems odd to leave him out.

Especially as Lindegard is still in there and he hasn’t been playing for Man U.

I’d have taken Chillwell to have a second left backin squad.

Hope Bellingham starts playing more as he looks an exciting talent!

 

[Marty]

I think Alonso has been playing over Chillwell, but still seems odd to leave him out.

Especially as Lindegard is still in there and he hasn’t been playing for Man U.

I’d have taken Chillwell to have a second left backin squad.

Hope Bellingham starts playing more as he looks an exciting talent!

You realise Lindegaard was the old Danish keeper United had for a spell and Lingard is the England player?

 

[nailsy]

It's pretty much the Euros squad isn't it? That's pretty much what you'd expect after two games of the season. I guess Chilwell is out because he hasn't played a minute yet this season. Rashford is injured so he's out too.

 

[DJS]

You realise Lindegaard was the old Danish keeper United had for a spell and Lingard is the England player?

 

[Shadydan]

Do people still complain about England squads these days? Well whatever floats your boat I guess...

 

[Saoirse]

I must admit, the sooner there's some kind of overhaul to international football, the better. I love it in general, the tournaments are brilliant. But England playing glorified friendlies against Andorra is, frankly, not very novel or entertaining for either side at this point and increasingly difficult to justify in the calendar. Play some 'pre-qualifying' knockout rounds to reduce the number of teams, have more groups for qualifying with fewer teams in each, there's plenty of ways to reduce the number of utterly meaningless fixtures and potentially even introduce at least a bit of jeopardy for the top sides. And then you can use the space created to give players more rest, play the World Cup every two years, expand the Champions League, whatever - any of the above would be much more useful than these fixtures are.

 

[cwy21]

I must admit, the sooner there's some kind of overhaul to international football, the better. I love it in general, the tournaments are brilliant. But England playing glorified friendlies against Andorra is, frankly, not very novel or entertaining for either side at this point and increasingly difficult to justify in the calendar. Play some 'pre-qualifying' knockout rounds to reduce the number of teams, have more groups for qualifying with fewer teams in each, there's plenty of ways to reduce the number of utterly meaningless fixtures and potentially even introduce at least a bit of jeopardy for the top sides. And then you can use the space created to give players more rest, play the World Cup every two years, expand the Champions League, whatever - any of the above would be much more useful than these fixtures are.

The top European teams having to play only 10 games in qualification is already on the low end compared to many other regions. I honestly don't know how much more you can simplify it.

Otherwise you're just going to get to a point where you have groups of five and the top four teams qualify. If you want to talk about meaningless games that would be them.

 

[Delboy75]

Didn’t realise Balogun was eligible for England. That U21 squad is ridiculously good.

 

[Marty]

The top European teams having to play only 10 games in qualification is already on the low end compared to many other regions. I honestly don't know how much more you can simplify it.

Otherwise you're just going to get to a point where you have groups of five and the top four teams qualify. If you want to talk about meaningless games that would be them.

I'd like to try to use the Nations League for what it's worth and do all qualifying for both WC and Euros through that. That way they play a serious tournament and the qualifying is just an added bonus.

 

[Yid-ol]

I'd like to try to use the Nations League for what it's worth and do all qualifying for both WC and Euros through that. That way they play a serious tournament and the qualifying is just an added bonus.

How would that work though? As all the top teams will be in the top or 1st and 2nd groups and then all the lower teams.

So you would either just say top groups all go, or end up missing a good few too teams to let lower ones in?

 

[Marty]

How would that work though? As all the top teams will be in the top or 1st and 2nd groups and then all the lower teams.

So you would either just say top groups all go, or end up missing a good few too teams to let lower ones in?

Depends on which of WC and Euros, I'll admit it's a lot harder to make it work for a WC where 14-15 European sides are in than for a 24 or even 32 team Euros.

 

[TheTanguy]