England V Bulgaria – Euro 2020 Qualifier Saturday 7th 5pm – ITV 1

[Editor]

Mak, that “proper team” Germany were crap in the World Cup and got battered by the Netherlands in their own back yard in their last game. Not sure what definition you use for a proper team but it’s different to mine!

England clearly aren’t the finished article but, aside from probably France, have one of the best batch of young players coming through. England have won loads at youth level in recent years. Whether or not they go on to win something remains to be seen but they’re well on their way to becoming a side capable of competing with even “proper teams” ?

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[Hightown hope]

Ed, I agree. I think this England team is steadily improving. I would hope Joe Gomez can be Maguire’s centre back partner, but he has to get back in the Liverpool team first, and that won’t be easy. As for Rice, well he’s far far better than Dier, and is only young and will continue to improve hopefully. Also agree with you about Sterling – he was brilliant. I remember when Liverpool sold Sterling, we as Liverpool fans kidded ourselves saying he’ll never be truly top class and Jordan Ibe is better than him anyway!!! Well I will finally admit officially that I think Raheem Sterling may have a future in football!!

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[Hightown hope]

And how much better was it watching England at St Marys rather than Wembley. A third of the attendance, but three times the atmosphere

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[sean the sailor]

Sterling has improved big time under pep

Proper player now

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[sean the sailor]

I think a fully joe Gomez is a better player then maguire.

He’s been ok nothing great for 80m but it’s very early days.,

Not sure what he was at for palaces 1st goal well him And lindolf

Rash tackle for pen last night aswell

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[Anonymous]

Ed, I don’t think I watched much of the last WC, I was speaking generally though, from times when I used to watch most games. As for winning things in the youth, it’s kinda meaningless man. I think Ireland either won or made the finals of one of the youth WC’s and those players grew up to generally be average.

England though have usually had a host of quality players to choose from. They’ve just never looked like a cohesive team. A hodge-podge of talent do not make for success.

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[steveosnakeeye]

i think we have improved a huge deal in an englans sense, still a long way to go but the approach is decent from southgate, the football is better, we score more goals thats never a bad thing…more players are now playing well for England consistantly as they do for their clubs so all in all we are going the right way….

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[Anonymous]

“I think a fully joe Gomez is a better player then maguire.”

I’ve not really taken much notice of Maguire, or at least he’s never stood out for me. Maybe it’s not something you’ll really see from a CB anyway, besides the very best.. but Gomez is probably the most under-rated player that I am familiar with in the PL. Maguire would have to be bloody good to be compared to him. I know this sentence is going to set off all sorts of commotion because of the sale figure involved with Maguire, so know that I’m being a little humerous here 😛 … but I do mean what I say about Gomez (as a CB, not a RB).

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[steveosnakeeye]

blimey i think Gomex has had one decent half season and been plagued by injuries….he does look good but many young players look good for bits and never kick on, if he cant displace matip and others then he honestly cant be that good! and Klopp sees more than you, it might just be a fitness thing though…i think HM is decent, not WC but very decent and will likley get better unless the “curse of Manchester United” hits and he tanks and regresses!

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[Anonymous]

Well for 1, he didn’t just have a good spell. He was every bit as good as Van Dijk in that time and our defensive stats for the spell where Liverpool had the 2 of them in a pair are almost unmatched in the PL, ever.

It’s also not a simple situation regards to Matip because for 1, it can be hard for players in general to get back into the team when they come back from injury, right? Well, the thing that makes it difficult for someone as good as Gomez is that Matip has been an absolute monster for us since he’s come in. We wouldn’t have won the CL without him. So, when you say this, I know you’re basing it on the previous image/performance level of Matip and not his recent form. You’re not a Liverpool fan though and this is totally understandable, especially if the media aren’t having a field day about it. Ask any Liverpool supporter just how good Matip has been though and I bet they will sing very high praise.

I still maintain that even now, Gomez is the better player. I just rate him extremely high and nothing will change my opinion. Not you, not Klopp.

Watch this space though. If he can stay injury free, he’s got an incredible career ahead for him.

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[steveosnakeeye]

im not going to disagree as im not as close, but for me a short spell (all be it record breaking) maybe counting your chicken before they are hatched, of course only time will tell and if he does come back as good and continue to grow you will have gone form the worst defeence to the nest wioth plenty of cover…..wouldnt mind some of that at my team 😉

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[sean the sailor]

Stevo Gomez is playing for us since 2015

Started at left full at the age of 17 and hugely impressed. He’s had to many injuries but when fit he’s been excellent

He’s injured to much Stevo. I just think he’s a better player then maguire as he can cover the space behind him better. Maguire is a bit slow on the turn. Gomez speed of recovery is excellent. Just my opinion.

Didn’t southgate say he was his best centre back?

Also Matip has been one of our best players since Napoli in the cl in December. He’s improved no end and fully deserves his place at this time. He’s been absolutely rock solid for months now

Your right time will tell with Gomez.

This England team has a very exciting attacking options. Pace on the flanks

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[threeps]

Purely hypothetical and a bit daft question,if England played in the premier league where do people think they’d come? Assuming England players would just be cloned if they played against their parent team and that England’s current ability would remain as it is.

I would say bottom half. This isn’t saying they they have bad players, far from it, but generally I feel international football is a lower level than domestic. This is due to players that rarely play together having to maybe adapt to a new system so it all looks a bit disjointed. Unless it’s that great Spanish team from a few years back that had players from 2 teams that played in a similar way.

International football just doesn’t do it for me. The only skill or decent play seems to be individual and generally it all looks a bit disjointed. Or it could be that I’m originally from N Ireland and so usually have no vested interest in the competitions!

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[steveosnakeeye]

id say the would fight for top 6, they would play regularly and be far better eventually…

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[threeps]

“England’s current ability would remain as it is.”

So no getting better, I’m asking to see where people rate the current England team or International football in general against our domestic league teams.

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[Anonymous]

“maybe counting your chicken before they are hatched”

Half a season against PL opposition is a large enough sample set on whether or not someone is of at least a certain standard. That is only of course the great spell, as Sean said though, we got glimpses of him before then here and there, often at RB though, which i remember campaigning for him to start at CB as his previous club fans raved about him in that position (I looked up forums when we signed him).

“Gomez speed of recovery is excellent. Just my opinion.”

Ya, the guy is super fast. He’s been great at mopping up for us (off the line a few times), He’s also very strong. I think he’s been a bit unlucky with the injuries and am reasonably hopeful that he can shake them, as they are likely unrelated.

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[Anonymous]

I found a video on youtube that shows off some of his good moments. Excuse the typical editing. Skip in about 45 seconds … as always but you’ll maybe get a better idea of what this guy can do.

Remember, at the time everyone was thanking Van Dijk for our defence. Of course Robertson and Gomez deserved huge credit for it, I think Trent was still a bit defensively raw in my opinion. But I think it was 14 PL games , conceding 6 goals. everyone knows about Robertson and Van Dijk now but our rate of conceding goals essentially doubled when Gomez got injured.

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[Anonymous]

Threeps, in my opinion England would be in the bottom half also. Imagine what Leicester would do to England? They’ve wipe the floor with them.

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[sean the sailor]

Ah lads that’s a bit harsh. England have improved and they try and play the right way

I think southgate has done a good job

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[Chucky McChuckface]

Kloop for Engerland!!! 🙂

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[Author]

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