Ollie Watkins

[chrisw1]

Shame if he doesn't make it but it's probably just come a bit soon for him.  At least he's had a taste, got some good experience and will be in the mix for the WC.  He also knows he can achieve his international ambitions whilst at Villa.  Most importantly, he now gets a rest, which he must surely need after playing 90mins for an entire season.

[Brend'Watkins]

Greenwood is out so his chances are better.

[Russ aka Big Nose]

His chances of staying in the England have just improved with the withdrawal of Greenwood - either a genuine injury or a handy face-saving exercise for all concerned.

With 7 to be dropped, he still might not make it. Depending on the balance of the squad picked by an overly cautious Head Coach who keeps 'faith' with his favourites whatever their form and fitness (Henderson, Sterling, Lingard etc.)

[Dave]

His chances of staying in the England have just improved with the withdrawal of Greenwood - either a genuine injury or a handy face-saving exercise for all concerned.

With 7 to be dropped, he still might not make it. Depending on the balance of the squad picked by an overly cautious Head Coach who keeps 'faith' with his favourites whatever their form and fitness (Henderson, Sterling, Lingard etc.)

Isn't "form and fitness" an argument FOR Lingard rather than against him?

[brontebilly]

Ollie not going to make the cut for the final squad according to reports?
It’s a real shame if so.

I think it’s a bit of a bastard for players to be called into a provisional squad, join the training camp on Saturday and then be bombed out on Tuesday.

Agreed, bit of a nonsense fudge from Southgate particularly with squads of 26 allowed this time. Greenwood is out but DCL is surely ahead of Watkins as Kane's backup.

It's a particularly strong English squad this time around. Lots of very good players won't even make the 26. The spine of the first eleven is still the worry. Pickford is rash at best. Stones has a mistake in him and was hopeless in the ECL final I thought. Maguire can't be fully fit. No way is Henderson fit enough and replacements like Phillips/JWP are fairly average. Going to struggle to retain possession against the better teams I think. Guess that's where our man comes into his own but he didn't look fully fit either in those final league games.

Portugal look a good bet for me at 10/1. Must be the weakest Spain and Germany squads in a generation. France certainly the favourites but that Benzema decision seems a strange one at this late stage.

[Brend'Watkins]

His chances of staying in the England have just improved with the withdrawal of Greenwood - either a genuine injury or a handy face-saving exercise for all concerned.

With 7 to be dropped, he still might not make it. Depending on the balance of the squad picked by an overly cautious Head Coach who keeps 'faith' with his favourites whatever their form and fitness (Henderson, Sterling, Lingard etc.)

Isn't "form and fitness" an argument FOR Lingard rather than against him?

If form was a consideration Sterling and Rashford wouldn't make the cut.

[Monty]

Well Lingard apparently hasn't made it, which I don't agree with but hey, maybe good news for Ollie.

[London Villan]

Mason Greenwood has just pulled out of the squad, so maybe Ollie will make it.

[Dave]

His chances of staying in the England have just improved with the withdrawal of Greenwood - either a genuine injury or a handy face-saving exercise for all concerned.

With 7 to be dropped, he still might not make it. Depending on the balance of the squad picked by an overly cautious Head Coach who keeps 'faith' with his favourites whatever their form and fitness (Henderson, Sterling, Lingard etc.)

Isn't "form and fitness" an argument FOR Lingard rather than against him?

If form was a consideration Sterling and Rashford wouldn't make the cut.

It's obviously a consideration. It's just that it's not the only one.

And rightly so, if it were on form alone then Lingard would probably be going in Grealish's place.

[SheffieldVillain]

If Greenwood and Lingard are out, logic (yeah, I know, Southgate) would seem to suggest that a goalie, full back, 2 CBs and 1 CM would be the 5 others to miss out so Ollie might just have made it... hope so, it would be a well-deserved reward for him.

[Monty]

His chances of staying in the England have just improved with the withdrawal of Greenwood - either a genuine injury or a handy face-saving exercise for all concerned.

With 7 to be dropped, he still might not make it. Depending on the balance of the squad picked by an overly cautious Head Coach who keeps 'faith' with his favourites whatever their form and fitness (Henderson, Sterling, Lingard etc.)

Isn't "form and fitness" an argument FOR Lingard rather than against him?

If form was a consideration Sterling and Rashford wouldn't make the cut.

It's obviously a consideration. It's just that it's not the only one.

And rightly so, if it were on form alone then Lingard would probably be going in Grealish's place.

More like Sterling's. Jack's played about 10 minutes this year and has still contributed more than Sterling.

[Dave]

His chances of staying in the England have just improved with the withdrawal of Greenwood - either a genuine injury or a handy face-saving exercise for all concerned.

With 7 to be dropped, he still might not make it. Depending on the balance of the squad picked by an overly cautious Head Coach who keeps 'faith' with his favourites whatever their form and fitness (Henderson, Sterling, Lingard etc.)

Isn't "form and fitness" an argument FOR Lingard rather than against him?

If form was a consideration Sterling and Rashford wouldn't make the cut.

It's obviously a consideration. It's just that it's not the only one.

And rightly so, if it were on form alone then Lingard would probably be going in Grealish's place.

More like Sterling's. Jack's played about 10 minutes this year and has still contributed more than Sterling.

Jack Harrison's already replaced Sterling in this hypothetical "pick the players who did well in the last half-dozen matches" squad.

[Monty]

Ah right. Rashford then. He's been quite disappointing for a lot of this season.

[Dave]

Joe Willock is in his spot.

[Russ aka Big Nose]

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.