All things English Football & The England Football Team
After the high of a five-star showing at Wembley on Friday, there was always a danger of this trip to Podgorica being a case of after the Lord Mayors Show. England’s previous trips to Montenegro had ended in frustrating draws and injury doubts saw Southgate pick a much changed lineup. Dele Alli was passed fit
On another historically bad weekend for English numbers in the Premier League, which of the chosen few came up trumps? Winners Tammy Abraham A 4 goal salvo! Better still he managed 6 goals in 7 days. Abraham excelled two years ago on loan with Bristol City and is up to his old Championship tricks at Villa. Abraham
“I can only see a Spain win” predicted the oracle that is Paul Merson. For once most agreed, Spain came into this game unbeaten in 38 straight competitive games at home, a run stretching back to 2003, their last home game being a 6-0 hiding of Croatia last month. England meanwhile hadn’t won in Spain
That’s it the next time England get together their 23 man World Cup squad will have been announced. Gareth Southgate has opted to make his final squad early rather than naming a provisional squad and then whittling it down to a final 23. Southgate explained this was to make England’s training camp a performance camp
The first Monday Night Game of the season started with fireworks before kick off leading to a hazy smog around the Etihad Stadium. But the expected fireworks on the pitch gave way to a tactical chess match between ex Barca teammates Guardiola & Koeman, City as expected dominated possession with Guardiola bravely opting for Leroy Sane
The key department in the England squad, right now England’s senior team doesn’t have a central midfield unit to match the craft and guile of France, Spain or Germany. But the advanced midfielders and wingers provide a threat to worry the best with pace and skill. Dele Alli- A world class number 10 in the making