MANCHESTER UNITED DEFENDER Chris Smalling’s international future is in doubt after England manager Gareth Southgate said he had been overlooked for the latest squad due to concerns about his passing.
Southgate on Thursday included uncapped Liverpool defender Joe Gomez in an experimental 25-man squad for England’s friendlies against Germany and Brazil later this month.
Chelsea’s Gary Cahill, Manchester City’s John Stones, Harry Maguire of Leicester City and Smalling’s United team-mate Phil Jones also made the cut at centre-back, but not Smalling, who has been capped 31 times.
Asked if he felt Smalling was incapable of playing the ball out from the back correctly, Southgate replied: “No, I think he can. We have players like Stones and (Eric) Dier and Maguire who are even better.
“Chris has got 30 caps, he plays for Manchester United, so I know what he can do. The other guys I want to see and want to look at and that’s an important part of how we want to play, building from there.
“That’s probably the toughest call I’ve had to make because of the team that Chris is playing for and the fact he’s playing and keeping clean sheets.
“We had the best defensive record in Europe in qualifying. But we’re nowhere near the highest scorers and so we’ve got to address that. Part of that is being able to build and create chances.”
Southgate also handed out first call-ups to Chelsea youngsters Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham, who are on loan at Crystal Palace and Swansea City respectively.
But there were some high-profile absentees, among them Smalling, Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere and the Liverpool pair of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Daniel Sturridge.
Southgate said midfielder Oxlade-Chamberlain, who joined Liverpool from Arsenal in a €39 million transfer in August, would not easily fit into the 3-4-2-1 system he wants to adopt.
- Champions League effect -
“He suffers slightly from the change of system because of the way we want to go,” Southgate told reporters at Wembley on Thursday.
“He becomes a possibility at wing-back, but I think (Kieran) Trippier was outstanding last night (in Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-1 win over Real Madrid), Kyle Walker excellent (in Manchester City’s 4-2 win at Napoli).
If we play him as one of the players just off the forwards, we’ve got (Dele) Alli, we’ve got (Marcus) Rashford, we’ve got (Raheem) Sterling. So there’s real competition for places in those areas of the pitch.
“I like Alex. He’s a good player. He’s having to adapt to new training and a new way of playing at Liverpool and I’m sure he’ll come through that.”
Tottenham Hotspur are adept exponents of the 3-4-2-1 formation, as demonstrated by their stirring 3-1 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Southgate was an impressed observer and believes the English clubs’ strong showings in the Champions League — with Spurs and Manchester City already through to the last 16 — could have positive benefits for England.
“Those teams have obviously also got good foreign players around them, but they’re absolutely the nights that we want our players involved in,” said Southgate, whose team finished top of their World Cup qualifying group.
“It’s a great grounding for them to be playing in big Champions League matches. It looks like they’re all going to go into the knockout stages now.
“If you go back to our teams that have done well, over a period of years they were in Champions League semi-finals, finals, winners.
“That’s only going to build their confidence and benefit us as a country.”
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Jose plays too much defensive football to adapt to that style of play. Football has moved on if Jose doesn’t win a major cup this year( CL or PL ) it can be seen as a failure as Jose has always won either or if not both in his first two seasons at a club ( respective league where he managed not necessarily PL )
@Jamie Smith: obsessed
@Jamie Smith: football can be played in different ways. You’re going on as if United are battling relegation and not in the champions league. I think Jose not winning the PL is more of a sign of how shite most of the man united players are as opposed to his management style. He’s literally the best manager of his generation by a hefty distance. It’s not even debatable. Recency bias is the only thing saying otherwise.
@Brian: it’s either him or pep, both a long way down from fergie
@Brian: to say it’s not even debatable is crazy it’s most definitely debatable.
@Gary O’Hanlon: only argument here is … pep was handed money and big squads .. Porto winning champions league has to be biggest achievement any of them have ever had
“Wayne Rooney believes Manchester United will struggle to catch Manchester City this season.”
Let it never be said that we’re living through an era of too much football coverage when we’re still getting riveting takes.
Have to agree with Rooney. City and Liverpool play some of the best ball ever seen in England. Put them up there with Dalglish team of 88/89. Both clubs are going to be evn better next season. Mourinho has to change. That football is not what United are about. Valencia at RB tells you all you need to know. Ultra defensive.
@England’s Envy:
No mention of the Pool in the article.
Though I agree Jose is more conservative/pragmatic in his approach, playing Valencia at right back, one of the best wingers in the premiership who breaks forward at every opportunity and scores good goals cannot be classified as defensive minded.
@Niccolo Saccho: I know it’s madness. And he is played at RB. And coupled with donkey Smalling and The Next Duncan Edwards (jones). Sad and blind and Rojo can’t get in.
@England’s Envy: but they didn’t cost 75m !! Even combined hahahahahaha plus I think they have actually won some trophies
@England’s Envy:
Best defensive record in the league though. 1 less goal conceded than City, 13 less than the Pool, 17 less than Arsenal. Hard to argue with that.
Having the best keeper in Europe probably helps too.
Eric Bailly is sorely missed though. A rock at the heart of the defence.
@Mr Nimziki: No i suppose so, but Poggers cost twice that and couldn’t get a game the weekend. Even after another man of the match award at Wembley. And I’m hoping you will keep it nice this time. Ok !
@Mr Nimziki: different times
City are playing well and nobody will catch them go down to the bookies and collect your dosh now but they’re not as good as Wenger’s Invincibles and can’t see them winning The Champers no way much better teams around Europe right now Barcelona, Real, PSG, Juventus, Bayern they’ve a long way to go to catch that lot anyway please God Pep doesn’t start that Tiki Taka nonsense styled upon Dutch Total Football which resulted on the worst World Cup in living memory when Spain lifted the trophy a few years ago as one commentator remarked: Like watching a boa constrictor slowly strangulating a rodent to death.
#LeaveEnglishFootballAloneIt’sGrand.
@Niccolo Saccho: City are probably better than all the teams you just mentioned. In fairness to you, you’re doing a great job at keeping up the pretence that you know what you’re talking about. I wouldn’t even know how much of a lunatic you are, if I hadn’t seen the nonsensical drivel you constantly spew on the journal.
@Coner Willis:
Come back to me at the end of the season, if Man City win the Champers I’ll eat my hat.
@Niccolo Saccho: how will he find you when you change accounts every couple of weeks?
@Niccolo Saccho: I won’t be able to find you by the end of the season because by then you’ll have been banned and forced to change your name a good 6 or 7 times. Just do yourself a favour and turn off your computer and go for a walk. Buy a dog. Find some meaning in life other than constantly rambling about nonsense on internet comment sections.
@Coner Willis:
‘Find some meaning in life other than constantly rambling about nonsense on internet comment sections’
**IRONY-ALERT**
@Niccolo Saccho: Please don’t tell me that Niccolo is Alan B/Marcus?
@An Observer:
Never heard of the guy.
@Coner Willis:
‘start talking to someone because face to face communication is much more fulfilling than embittered arguing with random strangers on the internet’
You sound quite angry there. Actually I find that amateur psychologists are usually the most angry people in society.
Just an observation.
ps
Seeking solace in alcohol is not the solution, you’ll end up with an alcohol problem.
Try AA.
@Niccolo Saccho: Okay Niccolo, keep running away from your problems if thats all you know how to do. For both our sakes I won’t reply to you anymore.
@Coner Willis:
Have you tried the argument clinic? Special offers currently.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y
@Coner Willis:
‘ For both our sakes I won’t reply to you anymore’
Your 5 minutes was up in either case.
(special offer on 10 minute arguments today)
@Coner Willis:
Before you go…any opinion on the article? Would love to hear your assessment of Rooney’s appraisal of the Man City situation?
Feel free.
@Peter:
Peter, I only have time for a 5 minute argument right now.
OK, let’s get started……………..
Peter, you are a footballing ignoramus.
(awaiting your reply)
@Niccolo Saccho: the villa fan who never comments on villa
@Gary O’Hanlon:
A Villa article on the Journal?
As rare as a hen’s tooth.
@Niccolo Saccho: one here two days ago and not sight nor sound of you lad, but an article about pep or man united and you’re all over it, funny that
@Gary O’Hanlon:
More substantial matters.
@Niccolo Saccho: that’s a very stupid comment .describing yourself there . gets pathetic after your first account gets blocked ..you will prob be banned again for talking about mental illness in an alcohol problem
@Niccolo Saccho: no no no cmon the 42 better sign up proof .. My god that’s not an argument with Peter .. that’s a very lame attempt of an insult . “Ignoramus” and you don’t really have arguments on a forum imo ?? would either be debated or even a heated discussion .. that’s if your not an imbecile and too childish .. know I shall block you .good day to you sir .
Take note Jose, you’re even boring your players to death!
@Caoimhin O’Murchadha: Rooney plays for Everton
@FPL Thommo: You do remember he played for Utd when Jose was the manager yeah? I mean that is mentioned in the article…or are you just ignoring his comments and burying your head in the sand?
@Caoimhin O’Murchadha: lads the league table doesn’t lie…. United are second. Not 18th
@Teddyzigzagbigbag: https://twitter.com/paddypower/status/960540678093668354 sums em up brilliantly
@Teddyzigzagbigbag: That’s a question that will be answered when the seasons over I suppose, I’d agreed it doesn’t lie though…6th last season wasn’t it?
‘I think Guardiola is putting the foundations in place of trying to emulate that Barcelona team’
Don’t know about that. Players such as Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Pique, Mascherano don’t pop up in the January window that often.