In the build up to the World Cup, the feeling, for once, is not one of optimism from the English contingent.
It’s an understandable standpoint, since Southgate’s selection has a confusing array of philosophies.
On the one hand, Southgate appears to be selecting players from the Premier League whom are bang in form. Indeed, I have to commend him for the inclusions of Nick Pope and James Tarkowski, whom as I mentioned previously, could have easily been overlooked.
However, there are several inclusions which seem to be based on…well, it’s not entirely clear what! Danny Welbeck, Jake Livermore and FOUR goalkeepers are all choices which have left fans of the national team scratching their head.
Trying to work out how Joe Hart, Joe Gomez, Danny Rose, Jack Wilshere, Adam Lallana and Welbeck have all been included in the England squad despite making just 5 combined Premier League starts since the start of February. pic.twitter.com/wLxDRJAkWD
— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) March 15, 2018
Everybody thinks they can manage the England squad from the couch, that it’s as simple as picking a team in form at any given time; which is rarely the case.
Those players then have to understand how to carry out the manager’s game plan, which means that at least a core group of players need to have trained together for a reasonable amount of time.