@Farehamseagull This is how I understand it - with an added refusal to apologise to Holland and move on from it when offered the chance by Southgate. Obviously, all of this is from second hand sources but it seems to be the story you hear from people plenty more ITK than me.
It's a crying shame...
Was he supposed to not beat those teams cos they're deemed less than United? What a weird thing to say? They have factually had an upturn in league form, and it has coincided with Maguire's return to the starting XI. I'm not saying that Man United are back either, just that their league form has...
I think with there being two less spots in the squad, what used to be the experience spot no longer exists. So whilst Branthwaite has a long future with England, this tournament will come too quickly.
I think it depends on Dunky's season. If he gets fully fit we finish in the top 7 and go deep...
Perhaps, but also perhaps not. I'm one of those who is a bit more understanding of Southgate than most. He clearly wanted to build a side over the long term with a stable core over a long period of time and a back 2 of Maguire and Stones (with Pickford) is a key pillar to that idea.
The other...
Agree about Konsa - he's playing really well and has barely missed a minute this season. Also 26 so a great age to bed in with some of the other options starting to age... (A real shame we missed out on him when he went to Brentford tbh).
Think the Euros will come far too soon for Branthwaite...
This is probably right, although it depends on who else is an injury problem, has a good run of form, etc.
The pool of CBs is as below and Stones and Maguire, if fit, are probably "flying business class". With the squads being 23 instead of 25 for the Euros, does GS take 4 or 5 of those CBs...