Ollie Watkins

[Monty]

Joe Willock is in his spot.

Too far, that run is obviously a fluke.

[Dave]

Lingard has had his best season in years, but then he has been poor for years. With 9 goals and 4 assists in a team that finished 6th he gets rave reviews.

By comparison, AEG with 10 goals and Traore, 7 goals and 6 assists, have comparable stats but nowhere near the same hype.

A heady mix of playing for the kit-stealers (the team lots of football writers follow) and being a Man U player, means Lingard was always going to be tipped to be in final squad. He's not worth a place IMO.

I wouldn't take him either. But you can't really make the argument that you should only pick players on form and then argue that Lingard shouldn't be included because it's only his current form that is good.

[chrisw1]

Lingard has had his best season in years, but then he has been poor for years. With 9 goals and 4 assists in a team that finished 6th he gets rave reviews.

By comparison, AEG with 10 goals and Traore, 7 goals and 6 assists, have comparable stats but nowhere near the same hype.

A heady mix of playing for the kit-stealers (the team lots of football writers follow) and being a Man U player, means Lingard was always going to be tipped to be in final squad. He's not worth a place IMO.

For a purple patch of 10 games or so Lingard was playing brilliantly and dominating games.  He deserved the credit he was getting.  He tailed off towards the end of the season though.

[manic-road]

Ollie can put his feet up for the summer now and recharge ready for next season, it will certainly help Villa.

[chrisw1]

Ollie not needed but they find places for Saka and 4 right backs.

[jwarry]

Ollie not needed but they find places for Saka and 4 right backs.

Utterly bizarre.  Smacks of Gareth’s mates

[eamonn]

He says he sees them as four very good footballers rather than RBs and some can play elsewhere.

Ollie was always a long-shot. How much training did he do with England in the end - a day or two?

I actually think the Southampton pair, Ward-Prowse and Ings (not even in the 33) are the unluckiest to miss out. They both have something different about them.

[sid1964]

Shame for Ollie but not surprised that he missed out on the squad

[robleflaneur]

He says he sees them as four very good footballers rather than RBs and some can play elsewhere.

Ollie was always a long-shot. How much training did he do with England in the end - a day or two?

I actually think the Southampton pair, Ward-Prowse and Ings (not even in the 33) are the unluckiest to miss out. They both have something different about them.

Totally agree about Ings and Ward-Prowse.Ings is our best finisher after Kane.Ward-Prowse is the best passer of the holding mids and great delivery from set pieces is a very useful asset.
4 RBs and 4 holding mids suggests that Southgate is unsure about his formation.I would opt for the media darling TAA as a midfielder.He ,like Kyle Walker,shouldn't be anywhere near a starting place as a RB.

[Villa Lew]

Ollie can put his feet up for the summer now and recharge ready for next season, it will certainly help Villa.

That's my feelings, but obviously feel for the bloke.

[chrisw1]

He says he sees them as four very good footballers rather than RBs and some can play elsewhere.

Ollie was always a long-shot. How much training did he do with England in the end - a day or two?

I actually think the Southampton pair, Ward-Prowse and Ings (not even in the 33) are the unluckiest to miss out. They both have something different about them.

This is great news, so if Kane gets injured any of these 4 can be back up to DCL right?

I guess it probably points to 3 at the back with Walker on the right of the 3?

[jwarry]

He says he sees them as four very good footballers rather than RBs and some can play elsewhere.

Ollie was always a long-shot. How much training did he do with England in the end - a day or two?

I actually think the Southampton pair, Ward-Prowse and Ings (not even in the 33) are the unluckiest to miss out. They both have something different about them.

Totally agree about Ings and Ward-Prowse.Ings is our best finisher after Kane.Ward-Prowse is the best passer of the holding mids and great delivery from set pieces is a very useful asset.
4 RBs and 4 holding mids suggests that Southgate is unsure about his formation.I would opt for the media darling TAA as a midfielder.He ,like Kyle Walker,shouldn't be anywhere near a starting place as a RB.

Agreed, on current form James is the best RB

[Lastfootstamper]

He says he sees them as four very good footballers rather than RBs and some can play elsewhere.

Ollie was always a long-shot. How much training did he do with England in the end - a day or two?

I actually think the Southampton pair, Ward-Prowse and Ings (not even in the 33) are the unluckiest to miss out. They both have something different about them.

Totally agree about Ings and Ward-Prowse.Ings is our best finisher after Kane.Ward-Prowse is the best passer of the holding mids and great delivery from set pieces is a very useful asset.
4 RBs and 4 holding mids suggests that Southgate is unsure about his formation.I would opt for the media darling TAA as a midfielder.He ,like Kyle Walker,shouldn't be anywhere near a starting place as a RB.

I don't think he is. Back 7, Mount, Kane, +1.

[Olof's Beard]

Ollie more than deserves a place but England will play with one centre forward and we all know who it will be as long as he isn't injured. Calvert-Lewin got in the squad six months earlier and earned his place with his performances, so he was unlikely to miss out as Kane's deputy. Rashford is the 3rd option if both get injured, with Sterling 4th but they can play out wide.

We should protect our own but it's understandable and Ollie wouldn't have played anyway. Hopefully this just motivates him even more for next season and it's only a year until the next major international tournament.

It's midfield where we look a bit light overall, the four right backs makes no sense in the context of Ward Prowse AND Lingard being jettisoned. If Henderson and Phillips were to break down, we'd be very low on numbers there.

[Toronto Villa]

Other than SJM I don’t think any player ran as much this season. The break will absolutely do him good and he will come back raring to go for the WC qualifiers. It’s not altogether bad he missed out.