Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has accused England boss Gareth Southgate of overlooking James Maddison for ‘personal’ reasons.
England failed to win any of their four UEFA Nations League group matches during the most recent international break, losing to Hungary twice as well as drawing with both Germany and Italy. The manager can use the excuse that he was testing out his squad, opting to continually ring the changes as he looked to try out the cohesion between his players, but players such as James Maddison and Emile Smith Rowe were overlooked from the latest squad.
‘The one thing these games will have done for Southgate is that he’ll know his starting XI now for the first game of the World Cup, he will,’ Wilshere claimed live ontalkSPORT.
When asked if he thought that Maddison should have been included in the squad, Wilshere said: ‘It’s very harsh, especially on Maddison… More goals and more assists than Grealish, Foden, Ward-Prowse.
‘It’s got to be personal. Chances created as well, he’s sixth in the whole Premier League. Sixth!
‘We’re looking for a creative midfielder – I’m not saying none of them can create because I love Grealish and I love Foden. But you’ve got to put Maddison in that conversation at least!’
We were linked with a move to sign Maddison last summer, and while we certainly look to have made a good decision to sign Odegaard instead, I would love for us to return for the Leicester man this summer.
It does seem odd that he can’t get a look in for England however, although we are definitely stacked in those attacking areas, but there is still time for him to get that callup in time for the World Cup.
Patrick
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You say Maddison should be there on form….which I agree.
So Saka has been off form for months now, getting only 2 goals in his last 10 games for Arsenal….and call it odd that he’s been overlooked?? Seems a bit inconsistent….
Yeah it’s personal and i know why.it all started when maddison was called up to the nat’l team but claimed to be unwell and dropped out of the squad only to be spotted in a casino that night,so unpatriotic and unproffessional.HE’S A DISGRACE.
Soughgate will have factored in MADDISONS lack of discipline in his social life and how that meant he was left out of an England squad.
I do not sat THAT is the overriding factor but it is certainly A factor and not to recognise that would be to insult Southgates well earned reputation as aman to be respected for his humanity and also for his rightful insistence on the team coming before the individual.
I bekliev Maddison is afine player but that he is still learning the cost of that social mistake, . As will others, no doubt. And rightly so !
This is where Southgate and our own manager are very similar. They cut their noses off to spite their faces and pay for it. Footballers need managing and if you cant manage them because they have problems, you fail.
You think so,huh.maybe if you’re a manager you won’t mind shining ur player’s boots and doing their laundry just to get the best out of them and you tag that as ‘proffessionalism’.bright idea.
Do you actually read post or are you just trolling. I dont get your reply, it is just nonsense. Either reply with an actual answer, or dont bother.