Leicester did get one player called up to the full England squad this week, James Justin, but few recognized this the most as the leaving out of James Maddison grabbed the headlines.
This massive call up was overshadowed of James Maddsion being left out again, and of course not the best way to cover such a massive message almost being overlooked.
Continue reading “James Justin call up makes strange headlines as Leicester again have a player in the England squad”Brendan Rodgers and Leicester have seen a bit of dip in form this season but that have no impact when Sky Sports names a number of our players part of their England prediction.
Surprised to see Luke Thomas and James Justin both mentioned as possible in’s, and also talking of a chance for Harvey Barnes to be named after showing form lately.
Continue reading “Sky Sports with excting news on Leicester trio surprisingly leaving one name out of their England prediction”Andy Dunn, Sunday Mirror’s chief sports writer, has made his comments about the recent retirement of Jamie Vardy, quitting England.
Claudio Ranieri and Claude Puel have also commented on the news about Vardy and believe it is a loss for England and for Vardy himself, deciding to step down, despite as Andy Dunn describes him, just five months older than Messi, younger than Ronaldo and Luca Modric.
We all remember a certain Alan Shearer who also decided to retire from international duty at the age of 30, a year younger than Vardy. This has happened before and with the lack of great strikers with an English passport, it is a strange act, but again both Shearer and Vardy are entitled to their own decision making.
Vardy has not said “no, never” but told Gareth Southgate a hint that if he is short and injuries happens, he can come in as emergency help. Personally Tcf, would have liked Vardy to be playing until the finals of the 2020 Euro’s.
If England manage to get through to the Euro 2020final, it will be played at Wembley. England can reach that final, would be no surprise.
Dunn continues in his column to really say why he believe Jamie Vardy’s retirement has come too early. On the first day of pre-season training this summer, Vardy’s running speed was 9.4 metres per second.
That extrapolates to a 10.63 second 100 metres. Vardy scored 20 Premier League goals last season – only Mo Salah, Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero scored more.
In the top 10 scorers – only one was from a club outside the top six, Jamie Vardy. Since Vardy made his first appearance in the Premier League in 2014, he has scored against Manchester United four times, Arsenal six times, Chelsea twice, Spurs four times and Liverpool seven times.
He scored the 2017/18 Goal of the season. He was teh 2015-16 Footballer of the year. And to all intents and purposes, he is finished with England.
Dunn asks the question, was he pushed or did he jump?
His comments seem to make it abundantly clear it was his decision, but, in the England manager’s first media engangement since Russia 2018, Gareth Southgate seemed to suggest there was a mutuality about it.
Dunn continues, if that is the case it can only be described as bizarre. Vardy stepping down from England duty seem to have almost brushed over by many, including Southgate.
Yet to lose a player of his quality is a huge blow for England. The irony at St. George Park was stark on Thursday. Southgate arriving on a mission to highlight the dwindling number of English players starting in the top flight, while waving a cursory goodbye to one who will be an automatic choice for his Premier League club for several seasons to come.
It is not as if Southgate is blessed with a plethora of striking options. Aside from Kane this squad has only Danny Welbeck, Marcus Rashford and, if you categorise Raheem Sterling as a forward.
One struggles to a get a start at Arsenal, one struggles to get a start at Manchester United and the others last England goal – against the mighty Estonia – was the one soon after Vardy’s debut.
And the youngsters are hardly knocking the England striking door down. Southgate is blameless if Vardy has indeed has made his own decision to quit. But, if that is the case, the decision was probably influenced by the player’s belief that he has not had a totally fair crack of the whip.
With such an immense amount of credit in the bank after unexpectedly reaching the World Cup semi-finals, Southgate is immune from negativity. Canning 33 year old wing-back Ashley Young a key figure during England’s campaign in Russia, has barely raised an eyebrow. But, self inflected or forced upon him, losing Vardy is a rare setback for sainted Gareth.
Tcf believe that Vardy should have been given more starting options from Gareth Southgate and follows Dunn 100 % in this article. This Retirement is probably worse for England than it is for Jamie Vardy. Gareth Southgate might pick up his phone if Vardy continues scoring 20 + goals season in and season out.
