again.
Gareth Southgate’s last England squad before the World Cup should dampen any expectations for victory in Qatar.
As with every England manager Southagte said he wouldn’t pick favourites but those players who are fit, playing regularly and in form. As with every England manager this is a lie and he’s picking his favourites.
This latest group is a rime example. When searching out the stats it was amazing how far I had to go down the list for some of them… onto the second page… *cough* Maguire and Shaw *cough*.
So lets start with that pair. Yup they were fixtures for Man U under their new manager, fixtures as they started with two embarrassing losses. Maguire played both games, Shaw managed one and a half. In the league Shaw hasn’t been seen since, while Maguire has managed 10 minutes as a sub, in the last 4 games. I mean come on, the pair are a joke.
But knowing Southgate, Maguire will probably start, Shaw could but what odds on Southgate starting a right-back at left-back? As Chilwell hasn’t featured much for his club.
In midfield, Rice is suspended, while Phillips has featured in three of City’s nine games in all competitions, since his big money move, for a whole 14 minutes. He’s played one minute of league football and that was in their first game of the season, he wasn’t in the squad for four of their other five games. Mason Mount has done nothing but help his manager get the sack.
Up front Toney deserves his call up. Bowen didn’t exactly shine in his England games so far, and is he showing this season that last season was a one off, failing to register a goal or assist in the league so far. Grealish’s season so far has mirrored Shaw’s, a game and half at the beginning but not even making the squad for the rest of it and even with Haaland in there hasn’t managed an assist.
Sterling helped Mount get rid of Tuchel, while not exactly lighting things up at his new club. Oh they went ecstatic when he scored two against clueless Leicester. One a massive deflection, one a back post tap that was put on a plate for him.
What a group to go to a World Cup with…