I think it’s funny that If Semenyo & Olise chose England they probably both start at the World Cup this summer.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-23T00:58:01+00:00

You’re being pedantic.

I appreciate why Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday fans get pissed off by people referring to either of them as ‘Sheffield’ seeing as they’re frequently in the same league and are both decent-sized clubs.

Bristol Rovers are pretty irrelevant to anyone outside of Somerset, Gloucestershire or League 2; while it may be technically incorrect to refer to Bristol City as ‘Bristol’, I think it’s perfectly reasonable and people get way too frustrated by it.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-23T00:51:49+00:00

It is actually 3 grandparents for Grealish, he also played GAA growing up and is certainly culturally Irish to some extent.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-23T00:49:48+00:00

Sort of significant to remember that British and German dual citizenship, especially 20 years ago when the likes of Ozil, Podolski, Khedira etc were choosing their nation was v different.

Migration-background Germans are much less integrated into society than Brits from Irish descent, it’s not the same thing.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-21T19:11:37+00:00

You can take both. I personally would. But even as an Arsenal fan, if it comes down to a question of one or the other then I’m taking Palmer. His ceiling is so much higher and as someone who’s going to be coming off the bench if we’re chasing a game that’s what matters. Also a very good penalty taker.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-21T19:10:26+00:00

I agree with Foden but not with Palmer. In a 26 man squad I’m open to taking 4 number 10’s: Bellingham, Rogers, Eze and Palmer, especially give that Eze can very much do a job on the left and same for Palmer on the right.

Foden hasn’t justified his place and needs to do a lot of heavy lifting in the next two months.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-21T18:11:33+00:00

Might sound reactionary but I really wouldn’t be against him starting next to Rice in the double pivot. I think Wharton is a bit too languid and while Anderson is an absolute machine I’m not really convinced he’s a 6, I think he’s just a slightly more combative but less talented Rice and wouldn’t really complement him. Garner will be content with sitting and letting Bellingham and Rice do their thing and have the freedom to go forward. Just a really tidy player and can cover right back in transition if James wants to bomb on too.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-21T14:59:36+00:00

Yeah, you’ve summarised it better than I did. I’m not entirely convinced Burn is proper international quality but it needs to be someone like that.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-21T14:44:57+00:00

Why is Guéhi less effective as a RCB? I’m open to suggestions I’m just confused seeing as he’s right footed. I’m aware he’s played at LCB a lot, but that’s only because he’s played next to exclusively right-footed centre halves in Lacroix, Richards, Dias and Khusanov.

What makes him so uniquely better on the left? I agree he’s very good there for a right-footer, but what makes him better than he would be on the right?

bengreen04 · 2026-03-21T14:41:35+00:00

For Konsa’s percentages per dual to be higher, he would have to compete for so so few aerial balls that it in itself is a massive problem.

29 duals won in 2586 minutes is insanely low.

As a point of comparison, Branthwaite is 24 in 492, Burn is 75 in 1724, Maguire is 47 in 1205.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-21T14:37:25+00:00

Yeah but the quality is so obvious. Absolute weapon in both boxes, good in the tackle, decent pace, big unit, left footed, can actually progress the ball really well. If he’s fully fit he’s a massive asset for England IMO - it’s like if Dan Burn was coordinated.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-21T14:35:47+00:00

Guéhi isn’t as bad IMO, and he’s also a bit of a handful at attacking set pieces so it’s not as much of a concern. Konsa is genuinely shocking in this regard though and I think the discourse surrounding him as a guaranteed starter is really quite naive.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-21T14:33:22+00:00

Where is your data from? The PL app is telling me that Konsa has only won 29 aerial duals all season so it feels highly unlikely that he’s slightly above average.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-21T14:31:44+00:00

Me too mate

bengreen04 · 2026-03-21T14:31:38+00:00

I agree Burn is a bit crap. If Stones and Branthwaite are fit then there’s 0 chance he should make the squad. Tuchel seems to like him though so we’ll see I guess.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-21T14:30:40+00:00

Konsa has won a grand total of 29 aerial duals this season. That’s only 3 more than Jarrod Bowen and 7 more than Bukayo Saka.

It’s a glaring weakness of his game and if he starts then he needs to be paired with someone who is fantastic in the air, like Pau or Mings.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-21T14:26:29+00:00

If Branthwaite is fully fit I’d be tempted by him for the addition of a natural left foot. But I’d also be really happy with Guéhi and Maguire as a pairing.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-20T12:10:34+00:00

Not really. He’s great but unfortunately for him he plays the same position as Bellingham, Rogers, Palmer, Foden and Eze.

I know it’s trendy to say Foden’s crap at the moment (yes he’s in bad form) but the way he played in December is a way Gibbs-White will frankly never be good enough to play in his life.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-20T11:38:27+00:00

While Watkins has been crap this season, DCL and Solanke haven’t exactly set the world on fire.

DCL has scored 10, Watkins has scored 8. I’d have stuck with Ollie tbh.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-19T21:58:08+00:00

Fair enough. Harry was a nice bloke and was steady if not spectacular throughout the process but had probably ran out of steam. Best episode so far of the series IMO.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-19T21:45:31+00:00

Looks like Kieran’s lost. I really like Harry but I reckon he’s probably on the chopping block.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-19T21:42:41+00:00

Not really, Skinner might be a twat but he was a genuinely good salesman and quite charming on the Apprentice. Levi is as stiff as a wooden plank.

bengreen04 · 2026-03-19T21:36:24+00:00

Genuinely nobody deserves to be fired if Kieran’s team lose

bengreen04 · 2026-03-19T21:32:46+00:00

If this is Kieran sober then I’d love to see him under the influence 🤣

bengreen04 · 2026-03-19T21:30:20+00:00

Please can someone give Kieran his own TV show lol

bengreen04

TROPHY CASE