Thought Maguire looked solid again. I don’t watch much of him for Man U, but he has rarely played a bad game for England. Doesn’t deserve the abuse he receives.
Until he's named in the next squad and people lose their minds again, forgetting that we've been through this cycle repeatedly for the last four years.
Maguire was made a scapegoat, probably because he was captain, I'm pleased to see him keeping his cool and not letting these rabid Manure supporters get to him. He deserves to get the winning goal and a bit of recognition for a change.
Three City players, that's a new record (we have had two before, in the 1970s as well as in recent weeks).
Rosenior said yesterday he was almost fit enough to be named on the bench for tomorrow, but just missed out.
Gareth Southgate has handed first call-ups to Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis and Ezri Konsa after injuries prompted a glut of withdrawals from England’s squad for the Euro 2024 qualifiers with Malta and Macedonia.
I guess it make sense, bring in younger players who have features in the younger age groups. However, I would have given Ward-Prowse a go, his stats at West Ham are impressive this season and must feel unlucky not to be included.
It really is head scratching, Henderson seems to still get in, when someone like JWP who's dead ball skills can be invaluable in a tournament.
JWP seems to be the current focus of the ever-present clamour for someone different to be in the England squad. I really don't think it should be that surprising that isn't in though. There was a period where he was regularly making the squads as one of the backup midfielders, but he never really got further than that, and now other midfielders like Gallagher and Bellingham have come onto the scene and overtaken him. The Athletic did an in-depth article about him today. Essentially their point, demonstrated by various stats, is that his assist figures are good but it's all from set pieces and he's not that great in open play. It's easy to say England should include him for his set pieces, but he wouldn't be getting on the pitch enough to take any, and people like Maddison and Trippier are also set piece specialists but also offer enough in open play to be on the pitch in the first place and finally, England aren't West Ham, our game wont revolve around set pieces like theirs does so he probably wouldn't have the same success from them as he does at West Ham anyway. Reality is, whoever Southgate picks there will always be someone who people think should definitely be included but isn't. This has been the case for years and years.
