Tommy Tuchel's England squad | Nov '25 (p17)

[bridgeno1]

Problem with Foden is no bugger in an England shirt passes to him. The front players are pretty greedy whereas Foden relies on link up play between the lines. He'd probably be amazing if he played for Spain for example.

 

[super_city_si]

Squad seemed mental. But I listened to his press conference and I think his reasoning for keeping it as close as possible to the last one is very fair actually. Media will slaughter him for it though at the first chance of anything going slightly tits up.

Yes for once we have a coach who isnt picking based on reputation. Last team won a tough away game 5-0 so he's stuck wiht them. We've been crying for chemistry over names for ages and hes giving that a go. Cant argue really.

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

One of Tommy Turtle's better squads. Would have been so much better had Johnny Boulders been omitted.

 

[paulchapo]

Barring a major implosion England have already qualified for the world cup. The team that thrashed Serbia looked fluid and balanced so I guess he wants to look at that lineup again, maybe with the odd tweak.
I'm wondering if the players behind the scenes have expressed some discontent with Bellingham's attitude upsetting the squad which is why he's been omitted.

 

[mexico1970]

Barring a major implosion England have already qualified for the world cup. The team that thrashed Serbia looked fluid and balanced so I guess he wants to look at that lineup again, maybe with the odd tweak.
I'm wondering if the players behind the scenes have expressed some discontent with Bellingham's attitude upsetting the squad which is why he's been omitted.

The **** even wins awards when he's not playing :)

 

[mattcity5]

Or a competitive qualification group. Doesnt matter who he picks, he could choose a 11 from League One and still qualify from this group.

They don't exist any more, and there are talks if expanding the finals to 64 teams, which would make it even easier. They're at the point now where they should make about 30 countries qualify automatically, but then smaller countries would complain about missing the money from playing the better countries.

 

[TonyM]

Problem with Foden is no bugger in an England shirt passes to him. The front players are pretty greedy whereas Foden relies on link up play between the lines. He'd probably be amazing if he played for Spain for example.

True but the real problem with Foden imo is that he is not a master yet of the one position that he seems perfect for...the number 10.

You could see in the Monaco game that he was given license to play that role. Some things worked and others didn't. At international level you need certainty in every role.

So he's neither here nor there on the pitch and players play around him because they don't trust him to be the master that he may someday be.

Ideally I'd not even have him in the squad. But England don't have anyone else really who's proven better I think. Just shows the mediocreness of today's football. A number 10 for any international team should be magical.

 

[discopop]

Agreed, but I do think that we're over thinking his exclusion. He's just coming back from injury. For all we know he could have asked to be left out until he's fit and firing.
TBH, hope he never picks Phil again. Don't think this group is winning the lot this summer. That way Phil doesn't get shit on being part of Team Bellingham.

Bellingham told Herr Director that he was fit and wanted to play.

 

[cheekybids]

Just Trafford and Stones in the squad, so Foden gets a rest. Assume O'Reilly will be in the 21s.

Henderson over Wharton is a choice.

No Bellingham though is a correct choice.

That squad looks fuck all like a golden generation to me, very underwhelming.

 

[cheekybids]

Problem with Foden is no bugger in an England shirt passes to him. The front players are pretty greedy whereas Foden relies on link up play between the lines. He'd probably be amazing if he played for Spain for example.

Nailed it Bridgey…… Foden gets in all the same positions he did with City & never got the ball. I can’t believe the coaches weren’t aware. When you’d picked a lad who’s just been voted best in his league & had scored 27, most from shots from edge of the box you surely would make it a tactic.

 

[blue_danube]

That squad looks fuck all like a golden generation to me, very underwhelming.

Who cares?

We had a supposed golden generation 20 years ago and they were very underwhelming when it mattered.

Who knows, maybe he can build a team that is better than the sum of its parts.

 

[give it to gordon]

Problem with Foden is no bugger in an England shirt passes to him. The front players are pretty greedy whereas Foden relies on link up play between the lines. He'd probably be amazing if he played for Spain for example.

Agree 100% ' he see's things they never see'. Phils footballing brain works on another level to his English team mates. How many of City's signings take a season to get Pep and City. Phil has no chance playing for England.
Bellend wants it to be all about him. Kean doesn't play like Haaland, Rice doesn't play like Rodri etc. Phil makes loads of runs and asks for the ball but no one passes to him. The positions that Phil ask for the ball is foreign to his English teammates who would dream of passing into a 'dangerous' position, at City its normal.
I dont think England will ever see the best of Phil.
Im still pissed of with the way southgate treated him, plus I fucking hate Bellend.

 

[cheekybids]

Agree 100% ' he see's things they never see'. Phils footballing brain works on another level to his English team mates. How many of City's signings take a season to get Pep and City. Phil has no chance playing for England.
Bellend wants it to be all about him. Kean doesn't play like Haaland, Rice doesn't play like Rodri etc. Phil makes loads of runs and asks for the ball but no one passes to him. The positions that Phil ask for the ball is foreign to his English teammates who would dream of passing into a 'dangerous' position, at City its normal.
I dont think England will ever see the best of Phil.
Im still pissed of with the way southgate treated him, plus I fucking hate Bellend.

I remember watching Messi in his early years play for Argentina & at times players were afraid of giving him the ball with 3 players marking him.

 

[MCFC1993]

Until we get close to putting something like this out, we've no chance:

-------------Pickford
TAA--Stones--Guehi--MLS
----------Rice--Wharton
Saka-------Foden--------Eze
----------------Kane

Replace Wharton/Rice with Palmer when going all out.

- Gordon could start on the left move Eze inside.
- White would have a better chance of playing at right back if he was starting.
- Grealish would be good to see games out.

 

[big gaz]

I remember watching Messi in his early years play for Argentina & at times players were afraid of giving him the ball with 3 players marking him.

Sure that wasn't Merlin ;-)

 

[ysmsa]

John Stones ffs

Has he got the key for the board game cupboard or something?

Fucking madness.

 

[ysmsa]

Until we get close to putting something like this out, we've no chance:

-------------Pickford
TAA--Stones--Guehi--MLS
----------Rice--Wharton
Saka-------Foden--------Eze
----------------Kane

Replace Wharton/Rice with Palmer when going all out.

- Gordon could start on the left move Eze inside.
- White would have a better chance of playing at right back if he was starting.
- Grealish would be good to see games out.

Can't be arsed with England anymore but that is a decent side tbf.

None of these boring yes men managers would ever pick it.

 

[andthesunshineband]

Agree 100% ' he see's things they never see'. Phils footballing brain works on another level to his English team mates. How many of City's signings take a season to get Pep and City. Phil has no chance playing for England.
Bellend wants it to be all about him. Kean doesn't play like Haaland, Rice doesn't play like Rodri etc. Phil makes loads of runs and asks for the ball but no one passes to him. The positions that Phil ask for the ball is foreign to his English teammates who would dream of passing into a 'dangerous' position, at City its normal.
I dont think England will ever see the best of Phil.
Im still pissed of with the way southgate treated him, plus I fucking hate Bellend.

Foden had a difficult season last year but seems to be on the way back. Confidence is higher and he looks to be enjoying his game again. Personally, I think the last thing he needs now is to land back in this shitshow system where he never gets the ball despite running his nuts off all match. England lose, the media hacks do the usual hatchet job on any City player involved. England win when ball goes in off Bellingham's arse in 90th minute, praise the Lord for giving us St Bellend. Stay away Phil, it's not worth it.

 

[blue_danube]

I dont think England will ever see the best of Phil.
Im still pissed of with the way southgate treated him, plus I fucking hate Bellend.

How did Southgate treat him?

He picked him in every game in the Euros, even brought him more central towards the end of of the last euros, and had a good game vs Netherlands but largely didn't deliver.

All Southgate is really guilty of in the eyes of City fans is not making Foden nailed on man in the "10" role but let's be real, Pep isn't exactly consistent in terms of Foden's starting position either

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

True but the real problem with Foden imo is that he is not a master yet of the one position that he seems perfect for...the number 10.

You could see in the Monaco game that he was given license to play that role. Some things worked and others didn't. At international level you need certainty in every role.

So he's neither here nor there on the pitch and players play around him because they don't trust him to be the master that he may someday be.

Ideally I'd not even have him in the squad. But England don't have anyone else really who's proven better I think. Just shows the mediocreness of today's football. A number 10 for any international team should be magical.

"The master that he may some day be"?
Did I miss the poty, or the saka and Bellingham obsessed media who would rather ignore Foden.
Or him being central to the best team in the world at the time.

I'm under no doubts, he's a generational talent and would be the first in ANY team sheet no matter which country it was. No matter which position.

He's going to get better but his achievements already tell me he's already at the top of the game. That the media don't like to recognise City shouldn't cloud our judgement of our players.