Ollie Watkins

[Flamingo Lane]

I'm disappointed for Watkins, but he should be proud of the season he's just had, and boy will the rest do him good for next season, when his case for inclusion in the England squad will inevitably be all the stronger for having not taken part in this particular tournament.

[cdbearsfan]

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.

Good point here. His work-rate is incredible to the rest could help.

[algy]

I'm disappointed for Watkins, but he should be proud of the season he's just had, and boy will the rest do him good for next season, when his case for inclusion in the England squad will inevitably be all the stronger for having not taken part in this particular tournament.

Yeah, he's every reason to be proud of having already got to the fringes of the England squad in his first PL season. Must be a bit disappointing for him, but he's put himself in an excellent place for next season.

[SaddVillan]

Quote from Southgate:

"Those three (Lingard, Ward-Prowse and Watkins), I gave them the option of going home, but they were all adamant they wanted to stay and be a part of the group. I think Jesse will probably start tomorrow."

WTF?
Can anybody explain?

[richtheholtender]

Quote from Southgate:

"Those three (Lingard, Ward-Prowse and Watkins), I gave them the option of going home, but they were all adamant they wanted to stay and be a part of the group. I think Jesse will probably start tomorrow."

WTF?
Can anybody explain?

Nope, it’s beat me.

[Hockley Lion]

Quote from Southgate:

"Those three (Lingard, Ward-Prowse and Watkins), I gave them the option of going home, but they were all adamant they wanted to stay and be a part of the group. I think Jesse will probably start tomorrow."

WTF?
Can anybody explain?

Nope, it’s beat me.

Could be embarrassing for Southgate if he plays a blinder.

[exigo]

Quote from Southgate:

"Those three (Lingard, Ward-Prowse and Watkins), I gave them the option of going home, but they were all adamant they wanted to stay and be a part of the group. I think Jesse will probably start tomorrow."

WTF?
Can anybody explain?

Easy. The current England manager is an absolute tool.

[chrisw1]

Quote from Southgate:

"Those three (Lingard, Ward-Prowse and Watkins), I gave them the option of going home, but they were all adamant they wanted to stay and be a part of the group. I think Jesse will probably start tomorrow."

WTF?
Can anybody explain?

Is it because Mount played the CL final and he wants to give him a longer break and lingard is the most direct replacement?  Even so, it's nuts.

[Russ aka Big Nose]

Quote from Southgate:

"Those three (Lingard, Ward-Prowse and Watkins), I gave them the option of going home, but they were all adamant they wanted to stay and be a part of the group. I think Jesse will probably start tomorrow."

WTF?
Can anybody explain?

Easy. Lingard plays RB against Austria. As Gareth explained: "Someone suggested it in a team meeting and after I reminded them that it's OK to think the unthinkable, we agreed.

"That's what we have with this group, a real trust and a genuine bond - the laughter told me that.

"Anyway as Harry and Jordan H are clearly not fit, H, as I call him, will be between the sticks first-half and Hendo will take over for the second. It'll be good to give them some game-time in goal in case we are taken to penalties in the latter stages."

 

[jwarry]

Quote from Southgate:

"Those three (Lingard, Ward-Prowse and Watkins), I gave them the option of going home, but they were all adamant they wanted to stay and be a part of the group. I think Jesse will probably start tomorrow."

WTF?
Can anybody explain?

Is it because Mount played the CL final and he wants to give him a longer break and lingard is the most direct replacement?  Even so, it's nuts.

No a right back is his direct replacement obviously, come on

[olaftab]

I see a conflict with being given the option and being adamant but I am no linguistic expert🤔 I mean isn’t  it almost like wanting to hang around your work place after being sacked?

[Smithy]

Quote from Southgate:

"Those three (Lingard, Ward-Prowse and Watkins), I gave them the option of going home, but they were all adamant they wanted to stay and be a part of the group. I think Jesse will probably start tomorrow."

WTF?
Can anybody explain?

Is it because Mount played the CL final and he wants to give him a longer break and lingard is the most direct replacement?  Even so, it's nuts.

If Mason Mount isn't ready to play, then you play whoever would play in his place at the tournament. I'm completely baffled as to why any of those cut from the squad would get on the pitch.  And I say that as someone who would LOVE to see Ollie make another appearance.

[Hockley Lion]

It's becoming more like a Monty Python sketch every hour.

Why would you play someone who's not picked for the f'ing squad in place of someone who is?

[Hillbilly]

Southgate has gone 'full England manager'. Never go full England manager. It's the whole unfit Bryan Robson bollocks.

[OCD]

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.

Good point here. His work-rate is incredible to the rest could help.

If he had been part of the squad, he would have still had a rest afterwards. I think the bigger benefit for us is that he will get a full pre-season with us instead of coming back half way through it due to international players having an extended break. He can look back on the progress he's made and know that if he continues the way he's going, he can be involved in future tournaments. World Cup '22 won't be far away.