Morgan Rogers

[Brazilian Villain]

I think the haircut helped him finally getting focused. Good effort and things will soon go his way when he puts the effort in like he did today.

I'm a great believer in players that have lost their way a bit getting a short back and sides.

And to think some people were suggesting that SJM should grow his hair out.

[N'ZMAV]

better today - he's a work in progress

[Drummond]

I think the haircut helped him finally getting focused. Good effort and things will soon go his way when he puts the effort in like he did today.

I'm a great believer in players that have lost their way a bit getting a short back and sides.

It's an odd one, but I feel better, clearer-headed etc when I've had a trim!

[Nelly]

Might be my imagination but I felt our crowd applauded every little good thing he did against Fulham. If so, I hope he picked up on it. I thought the ball he played out wide for Digne to pick up for Buendia's goal was great.

[Brend'Watkins]

A marked improvement but if there’s one thing that sums up his overall play in this rough patch is that simple ball he fluffed which resulted in Konsa eventually having to clear off the line. Even when he’s been very good there’s far too much of that sort of thing.

[eamonn]

Did he acknowledge the Holte after? An Onana, three cheers thing is probably too soon...

[LeeB]

He will get through this and be a better player for it.

[PeterWithe]

Did he acknowledge the Holte after? An Onana, three cheers thing is probably too soon...

Yes.

[eamonn]

Good lad.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I think the haircut helped him finally getting focused. Good effort and things will soon go his way when he puts the effort in like he did today.

I'm a great believer in players that have lost their way a bit getting a short back and sides.

I'm a great believer in shaving their heads if they have a bad game.

[Tayls_7]

I don't think Morgan Sansomn would have benefited from a hair cut.

[martin o`who??]

More than decent on Sunday and jeering him was massively out of order in my opinion.

[SaddVillan]

'This'll either double his value, or be the kiss of death.

NO EASY WAY BACK FOR BELLINGHAM AS ROGERS VINDICATES TUCHEL'S STRATEGY

Phil McNulty BBC Chief football writer

Thomas Tuchel may have expressed public displeasure with England's fans after the emphatic Wembley win against Wales, but the performance of his players will have left him feeling only the warm glow of vindication.

Tuchel delivered a highly-critical and unusually blunt verdict from any coach in the direction of his own "silent" supporters after a 3-0 stroll was effectively wrapped up inside the first 20 minutes.

It was, however, another message delivered by the German manager that will carry wider significance as England gather momentum towards next summer's World Cup.

Tuchel's words stretched way beyond the shockwaves that greeted Jude Bellingham's exclusion when he named his latest England squad.

He made it crystal clear that England's star system was over, that players in possession could cement their places by sheer weight of performances, the biggest names no longer guaranteed an automatic recall.

England victory in the Wembley friendly must be placed in the context of Welsh opponents with eyes seemingly fixed on their vital World Cup qualifier against Belgium on Monday, but this was still a night with a large measure of satisfaction for Tuchel's strategy.

Tuchel made it clear he is picking an England team, not individuals. He even stated: "We are not collecting the most talented players. We are trying to build a team. Teams win trophies, no-one else."

Bellingham's superstar status meant Tuchel's selection was laced with risk, even though it was shaped by common sense as he had only started one game for Real Madrid following shoulder surgery.

He may have wanted to be included, but on this occasion Tuchel was happy to do without Bellingham, keeping faith with the players who produced the best result and performance of his reign by winning 5-0 against Serbia in the World Cup qualifier in Belgrade.

And, to add further credibility to Tuchel's decision-making process, England's outstanding player against Wales was Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, excelling in Bellingham's number 10 role, as he did in Belgrade.

Rogers, on the evidence of England's past two games, is fast becoming the poster boy for the new identity Tuchel wants to create.

And if Tuchel's measure is applied, the England shirt is now Rogers' to lose, with a further opportunity to cement his place against Latvia in Riga on Tuesday.

Bellingham will, of course, go to the World Cup but he will be even more aware now that there is no guarantee he will walk back into the team.

He is not indispensable, but Tuchel will be increasingly convinced England can survive without him.

This was a win also achieved without the injured Cole Palmer, with Manchester City's Phil Foden left out of the squad, and with injured captain Harry Kane watching from the sidelines.

If Tuchel took a gamble, on this occasion it was rewarded.

If England had faltered, Tuchel will have known fingers would be pointed in his direction. They may well still be if they do not get the right result in Riga, but on this night his beaming smile at the final whistle was fully justified.

Tuchel must feel extemely self-assured to take aim at England's supporters for their lack of backing in his post-match briefing. It may be contentious, but it is also the action of someone increasingly comfortable in his own skin in this exacting job.

And in Rogers, he is getting a symbol for the way he wants to progress.

The powerful 23-year-old set England on the way with his first international goal after only three minutes, a neat finish swept in from close range. He then helped set up the second for Villa team-mate Ollie Watkins eight minutes later before Bukayo Saka completed a devastating opening burst with a spectacular third after 20 minutes.

Rogers also hit the bar in the second half before being substitute to a standing ovation after 69 minutes.

He played 24 passes, 19 successfully, creating two chances as well as scoring his goal.

Tuchel said: "Morgan is what he is. He is a number 10 and he is competing for his place. He is in a good way.

"We are ready for any team effort. Serbia was the next example of teamwork. We created a lot of chances. We could use Harry Kane all the time, but we need to play without Harry and Jude - the guys are injured."

'NOT TUCHEL'S JOB TO MAKE PLAYERS HAPPY

Former England defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live:

"Tuchel has been vindicated. The players named could start a match for England, but he has got big decisions to make.

"His job isn't to make players happy. His job is to come in and win a World Cup for England. That is the difficult job he has got to do. The difficult part is you're going to upset people. You're going to get people in the press asking about your decisions.

"So far, the big decisions he has made have paid off, and it is looking in really good shape for England so far."

He added: "At the moment it looks fantastic and they might be able to continue that against the best teams in the world. There will come a point when you need a Jude Bellingham, a Cole Palmer, to perhaps have an influence on the game. The great thing is, we've got the players."

Rogers told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Not a bad night for sure. It's a different team but it's the same idea. It's the same mindset. It's the same thought and the same way we want to play.

"The players that come in, the players that don't come in, we all know what we are doing and we are feeding off each other and it's a lovely place to be. It's a lovely environment and it's very nice to play for this team.

Nottingham Forest's Elliott Anderson is another beneficiary of Tuchel's willingness to look outside the usual inner circle of England stars, producing a third successive top-class display.

Anderson's constant demands for the ball, his ability to keep England ticking over, are hallmarks of his quality. He played 77 passes, 74 successfully, created two chances and regained possession six times.

Tuchel added: "Morgan and Elliot are humble players and very talented and that is a very good mix."

The German can now move forward from a position of strength, even stronger than after the win in Serbia. If he can engineer another victory in Latvia, then it will add weight to his conviction that will build a team.

And it will deliver a sharp reminder to Bellingham and others that Tuchel is determined to tread his own path towards next summer's World Cup. With or without the Real midfielder.



Is Tuchel channelling his inner Alf Ramsey in his treatment of Greaves and other big names in 1966?

[London Villan]

Rogers player well last night. Give him chance to turn or a yard of space then he is almost unplayable.

[brontebilly]

Lots of conclusions there, in reality little will be learned by England beating Serbia, Wales & Latvia. Bellingham is a tough one, a nightmare to manage I suspect off the field and on it with his lack of tactical discipline. I didn't realise, as per media reports, he was openly criticising Southgate from the pitch during the Euros final. He reminded me of Gerrard during that tournament, the odd spectacular moment while in general unbalancing the team.

Tuchel has shown some steel here leaving him out, the reasons given are watery enough, but in a WC squad it's surely better to be looking at him than for him. Would be some call to leave him out. Long road back for likes of Foden and Grealish who have started the season well. I'd always have Grealish in as he's a good sub if nothing else. Wharton is a very good midfielder too, there's only so much Henderson for example can bring.

Rogers has obviously done very well, club performances have been very patchy so far this season but small improvements in recent games. Same as Watkins their goals last night won't hurt confidence levels. But Spurs away will be a much tougher test.