Your England XI

[Bruce Rioja]

The omission of Toney irks me somewhat.

And me. Bagged a couple more away at City today in Brentford's win, too.

Given that Southgate's league career spanned no higher a height than Palace, Villa and Middlesbrough, yet managed 50+ odd games for England, I'd have thought that as a manager he'd have no truck with the old 'big club' mentality. However, I can see no other reason as to why he's taking Rashford ahead of Toney.

[Worthy4England]

Well there's the current FA gambling thing he's being investigated for? Dunno if there's anything in it...

[Worthy4England]

^^ Update: Toney has been charged by the FA with 232 breaches of the gambling rules...I'd be very surprised if Southgate didn't know something was heading down the tracks on this, when he picked his squad...

[Bruce Rioja]

I'll bet

[TANGODANCER]

The England side always gives me the impression the players have just met and are picked hoping they'll click and become a unified team. The old style sides were more a team of regulars than individual ball players. Too many "wizards of dribble" and few coming from one address seems the norm, with a touch of Ian Evatt stubbornness on the part of the manager. Shaw, for me for instance, isn't even an Ashley Cole never mind a Marcello and too fond of hand-grenade receiving of the ball. A classic example of a full back rather than a wing back. Kyle Walker is much more the latter.

[Mar]

^^ Update: Toney has been charged by the FA with 232 breaches of the gambling rules...I'd be very surprised if Southgate didn't know something was heading down the tracks on this, when he picked his squad...

This could've been delayed surely till after the tournament.

[Worthy4England]

^^ Update: Toney has been charged by the FA with 232 breaches of the gambling rules...I'd be very surprised if Southgate didn't know something was heading down the tracks on this, when he picked his squad...

This could've been delayed surely till after the tournament.

Why would you do that?

[boltonboris]

Absolutely puts to bed, the argument that he should've gone to Qatar

[Mar]

^^ Update: Toney has been charged by the FA with 232 breaches of the gambling rules...I'd be very surprised if Southgate didn't know something was heading down the tracks on this, when he picked his squad...

This could've been delayed surely till after the tournament.

Why would you do that?

Doing it at WC kick off time sort of washes away public interest, as was the case with all the salacious news around previous major events (IIRC some news was aired during the world trade center attacks to achieve a similar goal).

[Bruce Rioja]

Thought Maddison or Wilson might have got a start ahead of Rashford.
Glad Foden's starting, mind.

[Worthy4England]

Not sure we're not at crossed purposes. Are you suggesting we should've ignored the fact we knew he had 280 betting irregularities charges and just took him anyhow? Or just that we didn't need to announce why he hadn't been picked? Don't see any upsides in either scenario...

In relation to 1) If he's broken the rules, and probably facing a hefty ban, it's right imo that he wasn't picked. Maybe more leeway if it was a "one off" but 280?

On 2) Better to give the explanation prior to leaving than get cut to ribbons should England have a goalless game as they did v USA...

[TANGODANCER]

A bit surprised at 3 goals up that Gareth really needed to bring subs on at all. I thought he would have saved some legs for a critical fixture in only five days. We're still at the foot of a tough mountain and there's a lot of danger out there. That said, we escaped any injuries, so maybe he had it right. Foden made a critical difference tonight and Rashford was fizzing. Credit to Harry Kane for his work and a great assist.

[BWFC_Insane]

A bit surprised at 3 goals up that Gareth really needed to bring subs on at all. I thought he would have saved some legs for a critical fixture in only five days. We're still at the foot of a tough mountain and there's a lot of danger out there. That said, we escaped any injuries, so maybe he had it right. Foden made a critical difference tonight and Rashford was fizzing. Credit to Harry Kane for his work and a great assist.

He brought subs on to save legs though….

[boltonboris]

Tidy second half, but slow out of the blocks last night

Some questions to be asked about who's in form and who isn't. Kane is a given, but I'd like to see Saka and Rashford flank Kane with Foden playing where the, quite frankly appalling, Henderson played last night

[Mar]

Not sure we're not at crossed purposes. Are you suggesting we should've ignored the fact we knew he had 280 betting irregularities charges and just took him anyhow? Or just that we didn't need to announce why he hadn't been picked? Don't see any upsides in either scenario...

In relation to 1) If he's broken the rules, and probably facing a hefty ban, it's right imo that he wasn't picked. Maybe more leeway if it was a "one off" but 280?

On 2) Better to give the explanation prior to leaving than get cut to ribbons should England have a goalless game as they did v USA...

Only just read your reply.

280 is a severe amount and shouldn't be taken lightly. The fact that the world cup is starting as it is announced pretty much hides the crime somewhat from public attention.

Had it been after the world cup the appropriate level of coverage could've taken place.

[Worthy4England]

Aye, at crossed purposes. I was saying that we didn't have Toney in the squad (which was what you and others were asking), because the likely charges, were known about by the FA/Southgate prior to the squad announcement. News of the charges prior to WC helped Southgate explain why he wasn't in the squad...