roversfan99

Fair too early to make such a judgement on potential to play in the Premier League. Going forward, he is not remotely a threat. He gets so far then seems to get a nose bleed and wants to turn back round. Crossing very, very poor and often doesnt make it off the ground. Technically not the best in general at all. That said, very powerful and quick and can see much improvement in his one on one defending and also his positioning and reading of play. Weak in the air so never a centre back however, where he has filled in once or twice.

Believe that tag would go to Ronaldo Vieira.

Made his England under 20 debut today, and missed a penalty.

Last season, the majority of our attacking players were only here or only available for half a season (Armstrong and Payne only joined in January and Chapman and Antonsson had lengthy injury spells) but I stand by my statement that at such a poor level, Bennett didnt contribute enough going forward last season. His goal drought obviously niggled at him hence his relief when he finally did score, as shown in his interviews. The season before he showed he could score goals. You say whether I think that is good enough but that is what the discussion is about. Whilst I appreciate that Mowbray had ideals of what he wants from a winger, and it is something I acknowledged but that doesnt mean that I have to agree with it. I feel we lack width and are slightly imbalanced in attacking positions. The point that I have always made is that even if a wide man was chosen partially for his defensive work rate, I would still expect him to make an attacking contribition in order to merit a place in that position. As you said, 2 assists in 6 isnt a bad return, Rothwells inclusion was a personal decision made based on very promising cameos, and his selection was baring in mind 2 tricky away games during the rest of the week that Bennetts more hard working aspects could be much more useful in. Villa have big defensive question marks and we are at home so I would like to see a positive approach.

7 goal contributions isnt enough especially at a low level. For me anyway. Makes no sense to move him from a position in which he thrived to one that doesnt suit his skillset.

Think they were very efficient and did go 2-1 down v Argentina thanks to a screamer and a lucky deflection and had the answers. Quality all over the pitch (even Giroud for all his limations was such a perfect foil for Griezemann and Mbappe) and all across the bench. Belgium were the best team to watch when it all clicked but had players like Chadli starting knockout games. Not the basket case of years gone by.

Well I have higher standards than you on what is considered sufficient from a winger. Weve done this debate before, I dont think he got enough goals or assists when played wide. The same amount of assists and one more goals than Derrick Williams who got 1 goal and 5 assists. You did. Agree to disagree. Whilst I agree that id start Palmer from the bench, he is a natural number 10. Playing him anywhere else is slightly out of position. I know, number 10 can be a second striker but either way Armstrong wasnt effective there. He was very effective wide last season is my point. Agreed. If hes fit and not in jail, first name on the teamsheet.

But I think even you would agree that if Dack is fit the 10 role is unavailable. Dack has to start. Centre back? Left back? Up front? In net? Obviously your point doesnt make sense. He has to warrant and justify a place in the specific position chosen. If that is out wide, he needs to contribute with goals and assists. Something surely everyone would agree with. And something he did v Hull from out wide. If that is what he thinks then id strongly disagree. He was superb from out wide last season and dovetailed perfectly with Dack and Graham. That was the performance level that made us all desperate to sign him permanently. He lacks the subtelty to play as a 10, and considering we have Palmer and Rothwell even in Dacks absence, and Bennett who was apparently very good as a 10, theres no need to play him there. Play him where he was so good last season, especially considering our chronic lack of width. To clarify, he was very much the 12th man when I picked that team, hes a player that every squad needs in terms of he can fill in various positions. But if his primary position is out wide then he needs to be judged on attacking output too like anyone else. He does have 2 assists so far this season and he will start v Villa, I would like to see Rothwell given a start and wanted to shake things up after the Bristol game when I felt Bennett was as bad as anyone, but I would understand if Bennett plays. Smallwood less so.

Scouting who and where? Theres not a hidden gem or 2 hidden away who can compete with Spains midfield. Henderson for all the grief you gave him is our only good central midfielder. He had a superb season at Liverpool, plays quite a lot of forward passes for someone in his position and had an impressive World Cup in which I felt the media started to appreciate him more. Southgate playing how he does, Henderson as a pivot with Alli and Lingard either side advanced of him is for me an admission that we cant control games in there so its him saying lets try and at least enforce our own strengths, playing between the lines, and giving Henderson at least the respite of a third centre back behind him. I do think he got it wrong tactically yesterday in that he needed to compromise on the above, play one number 10 and give Henderson a bit more help against 3 top class central midfielders, and Isco sat inside helping them. One way would have been to put Dier next to him, someone who basically would have been there to stop, without being able to impact the game on the ball. My choice would have been Will Hughes as I said, ticks all the boxes, good on the ball, technically good, fiesty, young, in excellent form. Shelvey is I think injured but for me he would have been shown up. Wilshire is in poor form and has done nothing to deserve a place, Lewis Cook isnt in Bournemouths team, Maddison is a number 10 so that wouldnt improve the situation, Delph hasnt played for ages either, Loftus Cheek hasnt warranted a place for me and again is more of a 10, as is Barkley who again struggles for game time. Foden is one who is always mentioned to be fasttracked but hes barely played senior football. Winks another with injury issues and hardly any experience of senior football. Mount maybe a bit more deserving after his spell at Vitesse. For all of these names though, Spain would still have dominated yesterday. Spain, like a few other teams, Croatia being one of them, have midfields far superior not only to our own but to most. When you play them its important not to play them at their game, you need to instill your own style on them. For me the frightening thing yesterday was the subs bench. Only Sterling really missing who may have been available and we try to change the game by bringing on Eric Dier and Danny Welbeck.

I was away on holiday for the Brentford game so cant comment on it but fair enough. I did hear that he played as a 10 on here which obviously is a no go with Dack returning, is that true? He was poor wide v Bristol, albeit he wasnt on his own with a poor performance, he was ineffective until being moved centrally v Reading, and didnt do much v Ipswich and Millwall. I feel like, with his versatility there is a bit of a question mark as to where he is best. Not doubting that he will be an important player but I feel like if he performs as he did wide last season, he wouldnt merit a place out wide as he didnt contribute nearly enough going forward, goals and assists, for all the credit he got about his character, personality, work rate, committment etc. Arguably his best spell of form was at right back, followed by central midfield. The reason I was particularly dissappointed was that the half season under Mowbray prior, he contributed quite a few brilliant goals. Armstrong was superb playing wide last season. Sadly we failed to address our lack of natural width in the summer and have no one with Armstrongs pace. He was really poor v Bristol but played a 10 role that didnt suit him, in fact hes not played wide from memory this season bar briefly v Millwall. My tactical discipline comment was based on Smallwoods comments about what he wants from his central midfielders. Bennetts natural instinct is to chase the ball round like a dog and his work rate is fantastic but that sort of performance would probably expose the centre backs too much.

How could Southgate have addressed it in the summer? How arent France anything special? World Cup Winners and quality in literally every position. And so much depth in every position. You wouldnt swap Varane, Kante, Mbappe and Griezemann for basically anyone in world football.

What hyperbole that is. Henderson was as good as anyone in an England shirt at the world cup. A key player to give experience to what is otherwise a young side. Didnt have his best game tonight but neither did anyone really, especially Kane. Which brings me on to your other point. It was a side that did well in the summer and is very young. Didnt we have one of if not the youngest sides in the tournament? And he brought in only Joe Gomez and Luke Shaw. Bottled it? Regressed? Pack it in. Our problem is in the centre of midfield, Henderson is the only natural central midfielder and for me the balance is slightly off. Against big teams I think we need only 1 of Lingard and Alli and someone next to Henderson. Dier is shite so id have someone like Will Hughes who is tidy in possession. But thats a problem area, Foden has done nothing to suggest picking him bar doing well at youth football so lets not get carried away. Either way, we simply dont have the personnel to dominate against teams like Spain centrally who have such resources. Busquets, Saul, Thiago, Isco etc all top top class. Pickford should have done better for the first, I dont think he is the best keeper, yes he made the save in the shootout v Colombia and hes excellent on the ball but he makes so many mistakes for all the hype.

No i know he wont but its the team I would pick, not the team I expect he will pick. Bennett would probably play in the 2 away games but at home against a team with defensive issues I feel like we should be on the front foot. I dont think he will drop Smallwood either. Surely the home game is the one that Graham is best suited to. For me, the shirt belongs to Graham for now, id consider rotating him midweek if need be.

I think youve misunderstood my point clearly. I defended him because you wrote him off as a "show pony" without end product, when he has already scored 3 goals. I also felt you were focusing on him too much in what was a generally terrible team performance. All that said, Id like to see Rothwell and Armstrong, who was at least as bad as Palmer but he gives us pace that no one can match. Why have you dropped Graham, who was far more effective against Bristol City? I disagree, thats Corry Evans. Maybe harsh but more a tactical change, and not convinced he has the tactical discipline in central midfield. Hes obviously all action, running everywhere.

Think Waggott has made it abundantly clear where he ranks supporter happiness as a priority in the grand scheme of things.

Going to be a game asking questions of both teams character after suffering similar thrashings and having to stew over them over the international break. Villa made some very eye catching signings such as Bolasie and Abraham who could really hurt us. As mentioned in the very good preview above they are really short in defence so we need to get at them from the off. Raya Nyambe Lenihan Mulgrew Williams Reed Evans Armstrong Dack Rothwell Graham Subs: Leutwiler, Downing, Bell, Davenport, Bennett, Palmer, Brereton Probably a tiny bit harsh to drop Smallwood from the squad but I feel like Reed and Davenport deserve a chance after his really poor spell of form. Left back choice is 50/50 but Williams is slightly more defensive, and with 2 shields in front of that defence, I dont think theres a need for a defensive winger as we are at home.

Looks like Southgate disagrees

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/16694134.smallwood-on-rovers-boss-central-midfield-expectations/?ref=mac Find this to be a very strange interview, and not one that suggests that Smallwood will be dropped any time soon. “I think me and Corry are playing quite well together at the minute and long may it continue.” Maybe he has different standards to us. Corry Evans as an individual has been as good as anyone this season, whereas Smallwood has been far, far below the standards his midfield partner has set, both on and off the ball. “He likes you to be in certain positions when we’re attacking to recycle the attacks and break up the play in case they try and break out." He also said this is what Mowbray wants, which is possibly why I don't see Rothwell playing that role any time soon. (That said, having 2 players of this ilk surely give you the freedom to not always have to use a "defensive winger" That said, Reed and Davenport had very productive spells at this level in this role last season, and this is where Rodwell made his name, albeit many, many, years ago, therefore there is no reason why Smallwood should start v Aston Villa. He will get his chance again but with the added quality we have in this position, its time for Smallwood to be removed for the time being.

He played Gomez a couple of times before he got injured and clearly rates him. As much as Walker and Trippier individually are 2 of our key players, you'd be disappointed to be on the bench behind a right back playing your position. Nations League games may be built up as more important than friendlies, even though the system is immensely confusing, but this has to be the time for slight experimentation, and Rose has been really poor in the last year.

More about his injury "frutration" so I presume the most relevant bit is to come about his court appearance.

Not sure that Southgate will break up the trio of Henderson as a pivot with Alli and Lingard slightly ahead. My main worry with that trio is a lack of ability to control and dictate, it is very progressive, but Dier certainly doesnt improve that.

The lack of depth is galling. As much as we would like to say, Rashfords not playing well enough, we cant turn our nose up on someone with his attributes when beyond him and Kane, we have absolutely no one of any quality. So I definitely agree that he needs to be involved, but I think id start with Alli and Lingard getting in support of Kane. The thing with international football is your dealt with the players you have. We have 2 top class right wing backs, so theres that temptation to stick one in an unfamiliar position. Whereas we have such a dearth of talent in other positions, notably up front. Fair enough on picking your team, rather than what you think will be played. Not sure I agree on Lewis Cook. Has talent and is neat and tidy but has not been in the first 11 for Bournemouth this season. Will Hughes is only 23, has played a key part in an excellent start to the season for Watford, and I find it baffling that, with such a lack of depth, that I've not seen his name mentioned.

Presume an explanation of his conduct leading to another court appearance is to come, rather than blissful ignorance.

Not sure what Marcus Rashford has done to deserve a place over Jesse Lingard, bar headbutt Phil Bardsley. If Rashford is to play as a direct Sterling replacement, then surely out of Dier, Alli and Lingard, the latter is the least deserving of removal from the starting 11. Views on Will Hughes potentially being in the squad?

Sickening? Talk about hyperbole. He chose a regular place at a club he professes to be his boyhood team, rather than a move to potentially be a squad player at a club wracked with history but very much a shadow of the club they used to be, albeit they have signed Higuain. How on earth can you enforce such a rule? As much as I appreciate @speeeeeeedie and his point about experiencing different cultures, mainly tactical for me, the situation has to be right, the club, the player. They need to be playing, the club needs to really want them and the player needs to believe in what he is doing too. From our 4 Champions League teams, but just like the big clubs across Europe, only the very best young talent will get a chance. City have Stones and Sterling playing regularly, Liverpool have Joe Gomez and Alexander-Arnold, and Chamberlain pre-injury, Tottenham have Kane, Trippier, Alli, and they had Winks semi-regular before his injuries, United have Shaw and Lingard, Rashford does need a move but I'm still unconvinced by him. Regarding tomorrow, I think Gomez and Shaw should come in, Walker to play v Spain and Trippier against Switzerland. Sterling's absence is a blow, and with an absence of other quality attackers, I would play Alli and/Lingard just off Kane, further forward than at the World Cup, and bring in another central midfielder. That would have been Will Hughes if he had been picked.