Gareth Southgate announced the latest England squad and the lack of depth currently available to the national side become clear when skimming through the call ups. Newcastle stars Lascelles and Shelvey were hopeful of being included, both due to their good form and a lack of other options available. In years gone by, they would have been unlikely to have been considered but with our options limited it seems crazy to think the likes of Mawson and Livermore have been given the nod ahead of the NUFC pair.
Here’s how it could actually be a good thing for Newcastle though…
We need both fit for Huddersfield
After the win over Southampton, NUFC have a rare situation of 21 days before games, which may help Rafa prepare the game plan to overcome Huddersfield. It is a massive game for us and a win would put us on 35 points with 7 games to play and a great chance of staying up.
If Lascelles and Shelvey had been called dup, they would have no doubt been keen to impress and be busting a gut to impress Southgate in training ahead of the World Cup. It would have been our luck if they had picked up injuries.
Lascelles influence in the team is massive, with us tending to struggle when he’s missing, and after two assists last time out, Shelvey tends to be the creative force in our home games too.
Performing for England could attract interest from rival clubs
Especially for Lascelles, who has been linked with Chelsea. Selfishly for Newcastle, the less exposure they receive the less likely clubs are likely to bid for them.
We, of course, want the best for the players but we also need to be building a team around our best performers. Lascelles is our captain and if we can stay up and be taken over, he will hopefully stay on Tyneside for many years to come. A lack of England recognition could help us keep him at the club.
A distraction to the task at hand?
Rafa has consistently delivered the message all season to players and fans of ‘staying calm’. This strong mental attitude and togetherness has helped us overcome a lack of quality to hopefully pull ourselves clear of trouble come May.
Call up’s now may have distracted two of our key players at the most crucial time of the season. We still need more points and both will have a massive say in getting us over the safety line this year.
Missing out forces them to up their game even further at NUFC
In particular for Shelvey, he has been in and out of the side this season and with him finally finding form, maybe it’s a good thing to keep him motivated and knowing he needs to be more consistent and do more to get in the England side. He has the attributes to be a top player but consistency and attitude hold him back, so further incentives for him to improve can only help his form for Newcastle.
Similarly Lascelles knows he is behind Mawson in the pecking order now, which most Newcastle fans won’t agree with, but a snub like this can only drive him on.
Do you think they should be in the England squad? Or is this good news for Newcastle?
Don’t think England have ever had any plan have they ?, Sir Bobby got close but there’s always them Germans and Argies and Brazilians and Italians and Spanish and Dutch and French and oh them Icelanders don’t forget them Icelanders. 🙂
kimtoon(Quote)
Into the valley of death strode the light-weight brigade
Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die
With Mawson and Henderson and Dier, England shall surely be on fire
Into the valley of death strode the 22
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Question is, can England get past the Mighty Panamanians, Tunisians and Belgians to progress this time or will Putin have other plans for us.
kimtoon(Quote)
I just don’t get any of this. They know that FIFA was bought and the Russian and Qatari bids were corrupt but they let them have the World Cup anyway? There are alternatives. The USA and Britain have the infrastructure and stadiums to host it.
And, I will come back on in 3 months when they have Russian thugs trying to kill English fans on the front page of The Sun. We had 3 policemen there, because nobody could have expected violence!!! Said Putin.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Did you watch the last Euros or the WC in Brasil. Or South Africa? There is trouble brewing.
What genius had put England and Russia in Marseilles? Had anybody been to Marseilles? I have, and it is a port town that is kinda scary where if you walk down the wrong alley you are in big trouble.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
With their oddly shaped teeth leader ready for battle
Merson, Barton and G-Nev were ready to prattle
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Into the valley of mirth strode the 21 (Joe Hart doesn’t count)
Panama, Belgium and Tunisia will see them undone.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Russian ultras run military training camps, our fans will be lambs to the slaughter over there. You would have to be stark raving mad to go there .
My mates lad got caught in the middle of that stuff in France Eric, him and his mate had gone to a little shop to buy food as they walked out they walked straight into a running battle of Russians chasing England fans down the alley. He vowed that day he’d never follow England abroad again, said the police were useless standing back letting it happen.
kimtoon(Quote)
What Ultras, we are a peaceful people who want to watch football, it is the English disease said Putin.
kimtoon(Quote)
I hope people realise that I am referencing Tennyson’s Charge of the Light Brigade poem and how that is like the England football team going to Russia in June. Otherwise, you might think I have gone a bit mad.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Marseille is the only City I have been to where the Police routinely walk around in pairs, armed with automatic rifles as routine. Not guarding Embassies or responding to terror attacks. Just routine..
Shamrock(Quote)
it is madness. We all know what will happen and there will be a 6 page full colour photoshoot in The Sun, HateMail and Mirror saying how terrible it all is whilst reveling in close-ups of fans with their heads split open.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Shamrock: you are a cop and I think you said you are a trauma first responder. We all know what is going to happen. Trouble, and England out in the group stage with Southgate keeping his job until the next Euros.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2018/03/21/why-islam-slimanis-signing-could-be-worth-every-penny-even-if-he-doesnt-kick-a-ball-at-nufc/
An interesting angle from Simon here..
Olly Hawkins(Quote)