England - The Southgate Years

[Colly]

The BBC will do their part by broadcasting Mrs Brown Boys in full at the same time.

[Bobfoc]

England v Croatia from Euro 2004 is being shown on the BBC Red Button today.

[Lineker]

Quote

Nikita Parris has apologised to Eni Aluko for the moment in September 2017 when she led her team-mates in a controversial race to embrace the former England women’s manager Mark Sampson. 

Parris had just scored the first goal in a 6-0 win against Russia at Tranmere’s Prenton Park in what would prove Sampson’s last game in charge. By then Aluko, a former England striker, had made allegations of racism and bullying against an outgoing coach popular with the majority of his players and Parris’s gesture both hurt her deeply and divided public opinion.

On Wednesday night the Lyon striker posted an open apology to her one-time fellow Lioness on twitter. “I take full responsibility in my part, Eni,” wrote Parris. “I am sorry that my thoughtless actions caused you hurt, never is it in my conscious intentions to make another human being feel devalued.”

Sampson, currently Stevenage’s assistant manager, was subsequently sacked by the Football Association for an unrelated matter and later won a significant unfair dismissal settlement. A separate inquiry into Aluko’s allegations found that, on the balance of probability, he had made racially discriminatory remarks to Aluko and her fellow former England player Drew Spence in the form of ill-judged jokes but the inquiry emphasised it was not concluding Sampson is/was a racist.

“A few years ago in what was meant to be an example of solidarity I caused a division,” conceded Parris. “I didn’t consider objectively how my actions could have affected others. At the time I focused more on what I believed was showing unity when, in reality, it did nothing of the sort. It showed a lot of understanding, empathy and ignorance by singling out a voice who needed an ear to listen and a support system to help. 

“I’m aware this should have been addressed sooner and it’s not about clearing my name but acknowledging that we can’t just cover up our wrongs with good intentions and ‘hope’ people understand.”

The former Manchester City striker continued in similar vein. “After a lot of growth, maturity and education I am now able to understand how I am part of the problem which I aim to fight and eradicate,” wrote Parris. “In order to grow we must have difficult conversations with ourselves to understand where we have gone wrong for so long.

“During the current climate and state of the world I’ve been doing some real reflecting internally. I am a proud black woman. I understand I have a social responsibility to help create change.”

[Lineker]

Harry Maguire has been named in the England squad, despite his ongoing legal situation in Greece.

[FLiam]

Wow, that England squad is all sorts of weird. 

No left-back and four strikers. 

Genuinely surprised that Bukayo Saka hasn't been given an opportunity. 

[TCO]

That's not a good squad. Spineless decision to include Maguire and has no left backs for some reason

No Jack Grealish is a bit of a joke at this point too. Southgate must not like him for some reason or another. Still wonder what if for him. He'd have 50 caps, played at the Euros, potentially a World Cup and would likely be our next captain. 😭

 

[Adam]

I like the squad, some of these young players just coming in could be vital by the time the Euros roll around.

I hadn't noticed the lack of left backs mind, guess with Chilwell injured he's a bit stuck for options. Maybe he'll go with a back three in these games or play someone like Walker or Gomez out of position?

Anyway, I don't see any glaring omissions. Grealish perhaps, but then he is quite a focus-taking player by which I purely mean on the pitch, Southgate may feel he has to build his team around him if he plays him and he'd rather fit Mount or even Foden in to his usual set-up instead. Plus, with Henderson and Maddison injured he has to rethink midfield pretty much entirely.

Nice to see Ings called up too, he had a storming season.

[Lineker]

Here is the squad in full:

Quote

Gareth Southgate has named Harry Maguire in his England squad for the Nations League ties against Iceland and Denmark early next month despite the defender’s involvement in court proceedings in Greece.

Maguire has been at the centre of a scandal since last Thursday night after he was arrested and later charged following a violent argument outside a bar in Mykonos, which also involved police officers. He has vigorously denied all charges.

Maguire’s trial got under way in Greece on Tuesday morning – he was not required to attend and was represented by his legal team – and Southgate had to reach a difficult decision over whether to include him for the games on 5 and 8 September.

The manager has stood by him in a 24-man squad that also features first call-ups for Manchester City’s Phil Foden, Maguire’s Manchester United teammate Mason Greenwood and the Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

On Maguire, Southgate said: “It is clearly a decision that is not straightforward and a decision that in the end I could only take on the information I have. I have spoken with Harry, I have the insight to the story which is very different to what is being recorded. You can only make decisions on facts you are aware of.

“If facts or information changes I will have to review that decision, but I have a fantastic relationship with the boy, he has been a fantastic character for us – he has my support at this moment.

“I’m not going to get into hypotheticals of what might happen, but I have got to reserve the right to review if further information becomes available. You always make decisions to the best of your ability given the information you have. People may agree or disagree with those decisions, but it is a position where every manger finds himself.

“Harry regrets the fact he has brought that sort of focus and attention to the team - he apologised for that – but also has his own side of the story.”

Southgate has called up City’s Raheem Sterling, who attended Usain Bolt’s birthday party in Jamaica last Friday. Bolt has subsequently announced that he is self-isolating after taking a Covid-19 test.

There are recalls for Kyle Walker, Eric Dier, Michael Keane, James Ward-Prowse and Danny Ings but no place for any specialist left-back, with Danny Rose overlooked and Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw injured.

Addressing the first-time call-ups Southgate said: “We are a year away from a European Championship and let’s see if they can start to break into that team, that squad. It gives us great competition for places.”

A clutch of other players have been overlooked, including John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, James Maddison, Jack Grealish, Jesse Lingard, Dele Alli and Callum Hudson-Odoi. The absent Ross Barkley is injured.

 

[FLiam]

3 minutes ago, Adam said:

I like the squad, some of these young players just coming in could be vital by the time the Euros roll around.

I hadn't noticed the lack of left backs mind, guess with Chilwell injured he's a bit stuck for options. Maybe he'll go with a back three in these games or play someone like Walker or Gomez out of position?

Anyway, I don't see any glaring omissions. Grealish perhaps, but then he is quite a focus-taking player by which I purely mean on the pitch, Southgate may feel he has to build his team around him if he plays him and he'd rather fit Mount or even Foden in to his usual set-up instead. Plus, with Henderson and Maddison injured he has to rethink midfield pretty much entirely.

Nice to see Ings called up too, he had a storming season.

This is why I don't understand why Saka didn't get a callup. The guy notched 12 assists last season, a lot of it playing as a left wing-back. 

[Cymbols]

Just leaving this here.

I also remember that Grealish wasn’t picked last year because he wasn’t playing in the Premiership, and yet Kalvin Phillips is in. No disrespect to Phillips, but Southgate is a bit of a clown really.

[The Lusophone]

There's at least three perfectly serviceable left backs that come to mind even with both Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell injured. Any of Brandon Williams, Aaron Cresswell and Bukayo Saka could've been called up.

No idea why Eric Dier is in there. Kalvin Phillips is a 'get him a cap before Jamaica does' call up.

[METALMAN]

Maybe I'm just an out of touch old man, but I've never even heard of Kelvin Phillips.

[Rich]

3 minutes ago, metalman said:

Maybe I'm just an out of touch old man, but I've never even heard of Kelvin Phillips.

Dirty Leeds player

10 minutes ago, MadJack said:

There's at least three perfectly serviceable left backs that come to mind even with both Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell injured. Any of Brandon Williams, Aaron Cresswell and Bukayo Saka could've been called up.

No idea why Eric Dier is in there. Kalvin Phillips is a 'get him a cap before Jamaica does' call up.

Except the rules are likely changing on the capping part

[FLiam]

As much as I dislike Jack Grealish, he really is the one midfielder that England should be building the team around to be honest. He's everything Jack Wilshere was supposed to be. Those two are the closest England have had to natural heirs to Paul Gascoigne in my opinion, and obviously it didn't quite work out for Wilshere.

[Colly]

11 minutes ago, Rich said:

Except the rules are likely changing on the capping part

Isn't that just for caps before you're 23?

[FLiam]

Not one of these England players was born in the 80's. 

[TCO]

20 minutes ago, Rich said:

Dirty Leeds player

Except the rules are likely changing on the capping part

They don't apply to Kalvin Phillips. Only applies to players who were capped at most 3 times before their 21st birthday. Any competitive game after the age of 21 does the trick.

It's definitely a case of getting him cap-tied I reckon.

Ironic thing is that Southgate was the U21 manager when Grealish made the switch and likely would have played a key part in getting him to declare for England. I'd imagine that waist-coated wanker is coming for Will Smallbone next.

[Rich]

2 minutes ago, TCO said:

They don't apply to Kalvin Phillips. Only applies to players who were capped at most 3 times before their 21st birthday. Any competitive game after the age of 21 does the trick.

It's definitely a case of getting him cap-tied I reckon.

Ironic thing is that Southgate was the U21 manager when Grealish made the switch and likely would have played a key part in getting him to declare for England. I'd imagine that waist-coated wanker is coming for Will Smallbone next.

Would you want another plastic Irish player to play for you?  Given the lad is born and raised in England?

[TCO]

24 minutes ago, Rich said:

Would you want another plastic Irish player to play for you?  Given the lad is born and raised in England?

His mother is Irish and he's a citizen, if he wants to play then of course I want him to play for us. 

The Irish dispora is massive in England in particular and I wouldn't be for telling anybody whether they are or aren't Irish. I especially wouldn't call them plastic. There's going to be a lot of players playing for countries they either weren't born in or aren't of ethnic origin there and that's great. 

Southgate et al. promising the world to youngsters isn't helping anybody. Marcus McGuane is another one who was happy playing for us, played well against England at u17 and had his head turned. He's now ineligible to play for us and will likely never play international football again.

[Adam]

34 minutes ago, TCO said:

They don't apply to Kalvin Phillips. Only applies to players who were capped at most 3 times before their 21st birthday. Any competitive game after the age of 21 does the trick.

It's definitely a case of getting him cap-tied I reckon.

Ironic thing is that Southgate was the U21 manager when Grealish made the switch and likely would have played a key part in getting him to declare for England. I'd imagine that waist-coated wanker is coming for Will Smallbone next.

He's not a "wanker" though, is he? I know you're obviously not an England fan but he's our best manager since Eriksson, I think that is not even in question at this stage.

I get the call for Grealish to play. A lot has changed since he first declared for England - he has played much more football, developed into the type of player he is where he's a real focal point #10, and he has also had a few off-field incidents too. Not saying that should disqualify him but to be honest I think this may be more down to the tactical set up Southgate is wanting to try. He may want to sample Foden in one game at #10 and Mount in the other, plus he has Maddison for that role too. Perhaps he wants to see how Grealish starts the new season, who knows? There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes that we don't see or know about.