Leicester City manager Claude Puel sees a deadly partnership if Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur combine with Jamie Vardy. England manager Gareth Southgate prefers a lone wolf to lead the attack and Kane is the likely man for the job. However, Puel insists that Kane and Vardy can combine in attack at the forthcoming World Cup. Vardy has been on a decent goal streak this season even though Kane has been on a much more impressive one, currently leading the chart in the Premier League.
Sky Sport pundit Phil Thompson is surprised by Gareth Southgate’s decision to choose Danny Welbeck and Jack Livermore for the England’s upcoming international friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy. The pair have struggled to make any significant influence during the Premier League campaign with Livermore, in particular, having not featured in a victorious West Brom side since August.
Continue reading Sky Sports Pundit Surprised By Welbeck, Livermore’s Inclusions In England Squad
Arsenal favourite Thierry Henry believes Marcus Rashford should consider his long-term future with Manchester United after finding himself limited to a bench role in recent months. The England international started the campaign as the preferred attacker in the left-wing position, but this role has now been occupied by Alexis Sanchez with Anthony Martial rivalling him on the other flank.
Gareth Southgate has been appointed as the permanent manager at the England national team and he has been able to get some positive results. However, there is a sense that he would be judged a lot upon the performances at the World Cup 2018 – a tournament that England have been able to qualify for in style. England have been unable to make much of an impact at major tournaments in the past. Hence, the consensus is that Southgate will be judged on the performances at this World Cup in order to make a decision with regard to his long-term appointment, but FA chief executive Martin Glenn has rejected those suggestions.
He claims that Southgate will be in for the long term irrespective of the results at the World Cup. It is likely that Southgate will be in a similar situation to that of Roy Hodgson, who took over just before the Euro 2012 only for a disappointing tournament. Hodgson went on to last as the England manager until the World Cup 2014 when he was replaced by Sam Allardyce, whose reign at the national team lasted only for the one match. England have long-term issues and Glenn believes that keeping Southgate for the long-term will ensure consistency even after the World Cup. Under the management of Southgate, England have achieved successes at the under-17 and under-20 levels.
Continue reading Gareth Southgate in for the Long Term
England head coach Gareth Southgate has insisted that Jack Wilshere is unlikely to get a reckoning in his squad unless he earns regular Premier League action with Arsenal. The 25-year-old has earned 13 minutes of top-flight football this term with manager Arsene Wenger preferring to utilise him in the League Cup and Europa League outings.
Wilshere has always been regarded as one of England’s finest midfielders, but his constant injury concerns have hampered his chances of earning a regular call-up. The playmaker last featured for the Three Lions during the European championships in France in 2016, and Southgate has now suggested that he will have to gain more game time to the Premier League to knock on the national team door.
Continue reading Southgate explains Wilshere & Smalling absence
Manchester United legend-turned-pundit Phil Neville has heaped praise on Marcus Rashford following his man of the match performance against Burton Albion on Wednesday night.
The Red Devils forward has shown vast improvement since his first-team debut for United back in February 2016, and Neville believes that the 19-year-old is on the same page as Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe, who made the headlines with their moves to Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain respectively this summer.
Rashford looked to have faded in his first full season under Jose Mourinho last term as he managed just 11 goals across all competitions. However, the Englishman has since bulked up by a few kilos and he has started the 2017/18 season in prime fashion with five goals in just over a month.
He has also performed with a similar vigour for the national side after he produced a brilliant showing in the 2-1 victory over Slovakia. Rashford was at fault for Slovakia’s opener at the Wembley, but he therein followed to score a goal and provide an assist to cap up a strong performance. Continue reading Phil Neville – Marcus Rashford as good as Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele
Former Manchester United and Everton striker Louis Saha feels Wayne Rooney will help the Toffees end their long wait for silverware.
Speaking exclusively to TalkSPORT, Saha is confident that the Toffees will return to their glory days with Rooney capable of providing a performance despite his trailing age. The former England international has lost some of his physical attributes in recent seasons, but he is nevertheless considered a valuable Premier League player after having netted twice in six outings for Everton this term. Continue reading Louis Saha backs Wayne Rooney to end Everton’s trophy drought
Watford midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah admits that he holds no grudges with former club Chelsea, where his playing time was marginalised.
Speaking at a press conference, the enforcer refused to get carried away with his first England call-up as he will be in the focus of media, who will look to take advantage of any flaws in his game, he said: “Everyone feels pressure in some way, but for me it’s just about keeping my head down and staying focused. Things are going to be said, you’re going to be praised, the media might try and kill you sometimes, but it’s part and parcel of football.”
Chalobah has become the first Hornets player since John Barnes in 1983 to earn a Three Lions call, and he is determined to stay focused in order to maintain his spot in the national side, he added: “Things are going well at the club for me at the minute. I’m just trying to keep my head down and stay focused and hopefully try and get many more call-ups.” Continue reading England new boy Nathaniel Chalobah elated with call-up
England coach Mark Sampson has been cleared of any wrongdoing after EniolaAluko complained of “bullying and harassment” to the Football Association, according to the BBC.
Aluko said she was not selected for the team as she was “undermined and belittled.” The Chelsea star complained of the negative bias that affected her while in the team. The FA set up an independent investigation into the matter which has not cleared the staff of any wrongdoing.
The BBC claims the confidentiality agreement that the FA and the player in question agreed earlier this year is higher than the speculated £40,000. The FA claims the settlement was a “mutual resolution” to avoid disruptions to the England squad preparations for the Euro 2017 – which the Lioness lost in the semi-final to hosts the Netherlands – and not a sum thrown to stop the player from speaking about facts of the matter. Continue reading SAMPSON CLEARED OF BULLYING CHARGES
Ronald Koeman has given his backing to Wayne Rooney to make a return to the international side, after recently losing his place in the England national team.
Since the appointment of manager Gareth Southgate as the replacement for Sam Allardyce on a permanent basis, Rooney has been sidelined. However, it has largely to do with his lack of regular first-team football with Manchester United, while he also do not score too many goals at the Red Devils last season. Manager Jose Mourinho preferred using Rooney in the midfield, but it is widely expected that he will make the switch back to the striker’s position at Everton.
Rooney joined the Merseyside outfit as part of the deal that took Romelu Lukaku to Old Trafford. The England international joined a free transfer to his former club and he is expected to be the face of the team going forward. Manager Ronald Koeman has expressed his happiness at being able to possess a player like Rooney in the first team. Still only 31 years old, Rooney has the ability to make a difference for several years to come. Rooney’s first major task will be to help Everton progressing to the latter stages of the Europa league, as they take on Ruzomberok in the qualifying rounds.
“First of all, if you play really good football and produce great performances for your club it is possible that he will come back to the national team. But it always starts with the club, his performances for the club and then it’s reasonable that he will go back to the national team,” said Koeman. “The great thing for Rooney is that he will probably be playing more regular football, so it’s as simple as that,” said Southgate when enquired about the possibility of recalling Rooney to the national team.