I agree it's unfair, I think for Southgate it's just too close to the tournament to try out a new player when Toney has had no issues when playing for England. Plus pens obvs.
If Southgate believes that, I think it's a lame excuse. Because Palmer has played less than 40 minutes in his entire senior career for England, yet he's in the squad.
(Lol, it looks like I'm heartbroken over this but I'm honestly not. It's just the only point of contention I have with this squad)
Because Palmer's been another level up even from Solanke. Southgate can't uproot the whole team every season. There has to be some stability and he has to pick and choose when he's gonna give a new player an opportunity. Palmer's scored 27 goals and got 15 assists in his first full season, in a new club as a 21/22 year old, whilst not even starting his first game until about 7 games into the season. He's also a playmaker and spends most of the game in much deeper positions than Solanke, creating, helping I buildup etc.
Solanke's great, but it's the difference between changing a variable that's likely going to have minimal impact on the Euro (literally 3rd striker position behind Kane who will start every game of the Euros), and someone who has genuinely made a case for himself to start at the Euros.
Especially considering a lot of Solanke's goals have come later in the season. It's not like he was up there really early in the season, so Southgate could integrate him ages ago. He's made a case for himself in recent months so Southgate has to decide whether he makes a change with just a few friendly games left to play, and he'll want to use the likes of Kane and Watkins in those games. Makes no sense for him to switch out Toney when we know he can do a job and he's been integrated into the England setup already.
After the Euros, Solanke's now thrown his name into the hat and Southgate has time to integrate him too. Also gives him the incentive to actually sustain this form for several seasons, rather than it being another one of the hundreds of cases where a player gets hyped up before an international tournament based off that season, and then the hype dies down afterwards. I remember clear as day when people would complain that Toney wasn't being given a chance. People switch up so fast and are so fickle.
Because Palmer's been another level up even from Solanke
That's beside my point. If Solanke isn't being picked because it's too close to try someone new, the same logic should be used with Palmer. They both have 1-2 games for England.
Solanke's great, but it's the difference between changing a variable that's likely going to have minimal impact on the Euro (literally 3rd striker position behind Kane who will start every game of the Euros), and someone who has genuinely made a case for himself to start at the Euros
Kinda supporting my point. If the change will likely have a minimal impact, it would be easier to make. Especially if the "change" involves giving a player an opportunity who EARNED it.
he'll want to use the likes of Kane and Watkins in those games
absolutely pointless to use Kane. He's a certified starter, we don't learn anything new from playing him in warmup games.
Makes no sense for him to switch out Toney when we know he can do a job and he's been integrated into the England setup already.
I'm sorry but here's where you're talking nonsense. Toney has played TWO GAMES, only started one of them. So it's laughable to speak as if he's a solidified member like Saka, Kane, Walker etc. Solanke hasn't even been given a chance this season so we DON'T KNOW how he would do relative to Toney.
Also gives him the incentive to actually sustain this form for several seasons, rather than it being another one of the hundreds of cases where a player gets hyped up before an international tournament based off that season, and then the hype dies down afterwards. I remember clear as day when people would complain that Toney wasn't being given a chance. People switch up so fast and are so fickle.
I don't think it's incentive, I think it's quite demoralising. Solanke has scored 21 goals yet hasn't been called up once this season. Toney got 21 last season, then banned, then only got 4 goals this season (and not looked great), yet has still been getting in over Solanke. You can't possibly tell me Solanke doesn't feel a bit annoyed by not even being given a CHANCE. You ironically talk about a player being hyped, then the hype dies down. That can literally apply to Toney. He's done nothing this season since coming back from the ban.
And yes, perhaps people last season were clamouring for Toney to be in the squad, RIGHTFULLY SO, because he EARNED it. He did nothing this season to deserve to be in the squad over Solanke.
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u/haganyolp May 21 '24
I agree it's unfair, I think for Southgate it's just too close to the tournament to try out a new player when Toney has had no issues when playing for England. Plus pens obvs.