1.) 17 Nov 2017
17 Nov 2017 13:46:29
Interesting one Eds. Agree with all statements made.
Just wanted your opinion on some more of the English players in our squad currently. You've touched on Bertrand and Forster which makes sense because they're known players that have made the squad before. But what about other players, I know that they haven't really had a chance this season, but do you think he could give the nod to the following players if they start playing regularly and have a good season.
- Charlie Austin (if he starts playing regularly I could see him easily scoring 10+ goals before the end of the season, although is injury prone)
- James Ward Prowse (strange one, he just can't seem to hold down a place in the starting 11, brings a lot with his delivery but that is it)
- Nathan Redmond (it'll be hard for him as his competition is the likes of Sterling and Rashford. He also needs to improve his decision making massively and he often plays out of position, but he does have a lot of talent)

I would include Jack Stephens, but the likelihood of him playing is slim as he is 4th in the pecking order, which is a shame because he does a great job when he plays. He stepped up when he needed to last season. I can think of a number of games where he was outstanding.

{Ed001's Note - it was actually MK Scouser who wrote it. For me though I would only take Stephens of them. Austin has a terrible lifestyle which affects his fitness. Redmond is cack. Ward Prowse just hasn't made the improvements yet and players like Winks are ahead of him centrally and Sterling on the right. Central defence is a weak are for England with a donkey like Maguire and average tat like Keane as the options.}

2.) 17 Nov 2017
17 Nov 2017 14:56:10
I went to Wembley last Tuesday with my son. We watched Dyer win the ball in midfield and then fall over, pass to Brazil shirts, run into two players at once and lose the ball, fall over again, panic kick the ball too hard for a throw on - etc .

Plus he only seems to be able to use his right foot - and when on the ball looks at his boots, doesn't look up at all. Pressure I guess.

He looked Sunday league against Brazil - he is no Pirlo.

I was really surprised - before I saw him live I always thought he was a solid player. Its amazing the difference between live vs TV and I suppose the time on the ball Deli Ali gives him.

That said Marcello was playing a different game - his first second and last touch were sublime, I think he lost the ball twice the whole game.

3.) 17 Nov 2017
17 Nov 2017 16:25:41
Hi lads. Firstly, thank you for reading! It's really appreciated.

Addressing your point first saintjay, I did consider Redmond and Ward Prowse but decided against it as they just haven't even looked like getting a call up recently.

Redmond is just a poor mans Raheem Sterling/ Jesse Lingard. His direct style of play is exciting, but his end product is constantly found wanting.

Ward-Prowse I actually like. He's a good player but I don't think he knows who he is just yet. He needs to settle into a role and make it his own. He can play for sure, but he isn't as good as other attacking options, and as a midfielder he is too offensive for a Southgate team. That leaves him in no mans land internationally.

Austin is okay, but if England wanted a player like him, Carroll and Crouch are both in better form of late. I don't think any of them have done enough to deserve a call up in truth though.

The 4th guy you mention, Stephens, is very unlucky to not have been called up at all. Like Burnley's Mee, he is a victim of his own reliability. Because he makes everything look easy, he never catches headlines. You could build a pretty strong case for him to be picked and I wouldn't argue it.

To address your point FU2, I completely agree. I don't like Dier in midfield. He plays the way he is facing, is slow on the ball, and plays it safe too often. His lack of mobility hurts him too. I think if you play 4 at the back with wing backs, Dier is perfect as he can drop in between the centre backs when the others push forward. Against Brazil though, there was no gaps for him to drop into with Southgate playing a back 3. Without that gap, Dier was about 20 yards further forward than normal and he looked like a rabbit in headlights. If Southgate plays a back 3, Dier should be in the defence and not in the midfield. It made him look painfully average.