Gareth Southgate has opened the door for a potential return to the England squad for Chris Smalling ahead of Euro 2020 after being dropped in 2017.
Southgate explained his decision at the time saying: “We want to play a certain way. The players we’ve brought in we want to see using the ball from the back and building up in a certain way."
Speaking recently the England manager said he regrets the way he treated Smalling back then and has apologised to the player.
“I’ve never ruled anybody out," said Southgate. “I think that would be wrong. I think I said I probably regretted the way the message of . . . by praising others for certain attributes, there was criticism for Chris. It was my fault and it was unfair on him.
Southgate travelled to Italy to watch Smalling play for Roma in December and confirmed that the defender will be considered for England’s friendlies against Italy and Denmark this month as well as the Euro 2020 squad.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/apologetic-gareth-southgate-opens-door-to-chris-smalling-brwlcwc7d?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1583410882
Smalling Back In Contention For England
posted on 5/3/20
Chris Basham
Conor Coady
Eric Dier
Lewis Dunk
Joe Gomez
Rob Holding
Mason Holgate
Phil Jones
Michael Keane
Jamaal Lascelles
Harry Maguire
Ben Mee
Tyrone Mings
Jack O'Connell
Chris Smalling
Jack Stephens
John Stones
James Tarkowski
Fikayo Tomori
Axel Tuanzebe
Adam Webster
Ben White
Read that list, understand that southgate has to pick 4 of them and you realise why Smalling probably should go.
posted on 5/3/20
Can’t work out if cb or cm is the weakest area for England. The lack of talent in those areas is crazy.
posted on 5/3/20
I think midfield is still our biggest issue despite the lack of quality options at CB.
posted on 5/3/20
Given the importance of that area I’d probably agree. But in terms of actual talent and depth it’s a difficult one to choose.
posted on 5/3/20
The better English CB’s are Gomez & Maguire imo.
posted on 5/3/20
comment by Christopher (U20930)
posted 5 hours, 8 minutes ago
Chris Basham
Conor Coady
Eric Dier
Lewis Dunk
Joe Gomez
Rob Holding
Mason Holgate
Phil Jones
Michael Keane
Jamaal Lascelles
Harry Maguire
Ben Mee
Tyrone Mings
Jack O'Connell
Chris Smalling
Jack Stephens
John Stones
James Tarkowski
Fikayo Tomori
Axel Tuanzebe
Adam Webster
Ben White
Read that list, understand that southgate has to pick 4 of them and you realise why Smalling probably should go.
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Yes.
Now do the same list for midfield.
posted on 5/3/20
I'm not sure I have the mental fortitude to get through the truly depressing list of midfielders
posted on 5/3/20
posted on 5/3/20
Not including the number 10s, where we actually look pretty decent tbf
Hamza Choudhury
Nathaniel Chalobah
Lewis Cook
Jack Cork
Tom Davies
Fabian Delph
Eric Dier
Isaac Hayden
Jordan Henderson
Will Hughes
Jake Livermore
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Sean Longstaff
John Lundstran
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Ben Pearson
Kalvin Phillips
Declan Rice
Jonjo Shelvey
James Ward-Prowse
Ashley Westwood
Harry Winks
'Kin hell
posted on 5/3/20
comment by Christopher (U20930)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
Not including the number 10s, where we actually look pretty decent tbf
Hamza Choudhury
Nathaniel Chalobah
Lewis Cook
Jack Cork
Tom Davies
Fabian Delph
Eric Dier
Isaac Hayden
Jordan Henderson
Will Hughes
Jake Livermore
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Sean Longstaff
John Lundstran
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Ben Pearson
Kalvin Phillips
Declan Rice
Jonjo Shelvey
James Ward-Prowse
Ashley Westwood
Harry Winks
'Kin hell
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That's worse than our CB options.