If you are new to the England ladder then this is how it works – this is an approximation of Gareth Southgate’s thoughts on England. Not ours. But Gareth Southgate’s. Which is why Harry Maguire is not jettisoned.
Southgate will choose a 26-man squad in October that will then be finalised in November ahead of the World Cup. We list 50 players though it has to be said that anyone outside the top 35 is now unlikely to even have half a chance.
This is where we were in June, when we had a new leader. Now we are back to the usual…
1 (2) Harry Kane
In hindsight, we just wanted to feel something when we moved him down in June and pretended that Declan Rice was more important. Really it’s still Harry Kane. It’s always been Harry Kane. Poor Tammy Abraham. Poor Ivan Toney. They’re just (not) playing in Harry’s world.
2 (1) Declan Rice
We literally have no replacement for him. None. Seriously, if Rice is injured we are basically straight to Jordan Henderson pointing at positions he should be occupying. We usually don’t cry until we’re in the teens of an England ladder but this is already really f***ing depressing.
3 (3) Jordan Pickford
He could not have planned it any better. Aaron Ramsdale was a shambles v Hungary in June and then Nick Pope was a shambles v Germany in September. England’s undisputed No. 1 is an undisputed No. 3 here.
4 (5) John Stones
The worse Harry Maguire gets, the closer we move to some sort of John Stones prayer mat. And he’s not even that sodding good.
5 (9) Jude Bellingham
Started three consecutive England games. That coupled with Kalvin Phillips possibly being broken (and throupled with Bellingham being a quite excellent player) means the Borussia Dortmund man is very definitely IN. Small mercies and all that.
6 (4) Raheem Sterling
We have never been more convinced that Gareth Southgate would ideally just like to play that Euro 2020 final line-up again throughout the World Cup, though the man above has scuppered that plan. No goals or assists for Sterling in this disastrous Nations League campaign but that’s not an exclusive club.
7 (13) Reece James
Started and finished both Nations League games this week while Kieran Trippier sat on the bench so we think that’s one position that has been pretty much claimed. Can seamlessly play both right-back and wing-back, which will be essential in Qatar. Also, created more chances than any other England player in the Nations League, which makes him our…
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