Shame Henderson is still ****ing there though. Over Ward-Prowse too. I think I'm done with England under Gareth.
At least Phillips is still training and part of a squad at the world's top club team. I'm happyish with Maguire and Phillips there, but JWP should now be in over Henderson. But if Southgate is more comfortable with Bellingham playing like he does at Real Madrid with Henderson and Phillips in the squad too, I can kind of get on board with that.
Realistically, a front 4 of Bellingham, Kane, Saka and one of Foden/Maddison/Grealish/Rashford, with a midfield of Rice and Phillips is good enough to win a tournament. Even with a slightly out of form Maguire alongside Stones in defence.
I can understand people being against it with him playing where he is now, but making out that it's a total outrage is over the top. On a football level, he's a very good player who has served club and country well for many years and still has plenty to offer. I think the moral argument against his inclusion is much stronger than any football one. If Southgate was to say I won't pick someone playing in Saudi because it legitimises them as a footballing league and therefore ultimately as a country too, then I'd find that quite agreeable. But on a football level, he's more than good enough.
It is good enough, but I think it's important to consider that the team with the best attack or who scores the most goals rarely wins tournaments. It's the team who can grind out wins in knockout games that wins them. Under Southgate we've been very close to being that team a few times and we need to continue to be that.
I agree with that. I also think that team is capable of that too. Its a good dynamic with Bellingham being able to play defensive and attacking in midfield and driving the team forward too. I think in the short-medium term Southgate needs to find the solution to who replaces Maguire and Henderson. Phillips is fine to me. I have no problem with Maguire still being in the squad, but now we have pretty much qualified I think there needs to be some experimenting at the back. I'd like to see Dunk and Stones together.
I'd rule him out on all levels, first for the moral one you've mentioned, second because he plays in a poor league, third because we've got better options not making the team. He'll be 34 at the Euros, he's had a good run, it's time to move on.
