Branthwaite misses the cut for England's Euro 2024 squad

Weird decision to me given Maguire is also out and the other centre-backs aren't exactly very good.

Bringing along injured players (Shaw and Kane) as we did with Rooney before. Leaving out creative but out-of-form Grealish versus Gascoigne.

Then a handful of duds who you wonder why they were even under consideration to start with (Konza, Dunk etc).

I am sure if Branthwaite played for Spurs he'd be on the plane. And so would Tarkowski for that matter.

However, the defence is apparently the least impressive part of the England team so would have thought he'd have been a useful addition to the squad.

He'll be one for the furure.

They've relied on Kane for about 8 years, now bailing them out, and if he has a poor tournament, you can't see much happening.

Pope, Trafford, Butland

James, Chilwell, Branthwaite, Maguire, Tarkowski, Dier, Tomori, Lewis, Quansah

Henderson, Maddison, Loftus Cheek, Barkley, Longstaff, Tom Davies

Calvert-Lewin, Rashford, Sterling, Grealish, Abraham, Sancho, Greenwood, Wilson

Have a good holiday Jarrad, you deserve it. We love you and that's all that counts.

Tell ManUtd to do one too – you know it makes sense.

The sooner Southgate hangs up his dinky little waistcoat for a season at decrepit leaky Old Trafford the better.

Southgate/England feels a little like Dyche/us to me, except for the important distinction that we need Dyche at the moment and St George does not need the hapless Harrogate dull grey toad.

Mind you, Ingerlaund means as much to me as rice pudding ("The Final: Attack on Wembley" with its Shropshire and Essex mongs was the final nail in the coffin for me).

Jarrad Branthwaite, on the other hand, means everything.

Greenwood, Capello, Erickson, Wally, Hodgson, and now Southgate — all useless and cowards. Playing with their favourites even injured and out of position..

Like I said, we had the players, eg, Brooking, Robson, Curry, Hoddle, Gaza, Shearer and more recently, Lampard, Cole, Rooney etc… but bottlers at the helm.

I'd leave out Joe Mercer, Bobby Robson and Glenn Hoddle as our best managers since the World Cup win.

Jarrad's better off home out of view.

I am surprised Branthwaite isn't included but Dunk is, that is mind-boggling, but at least he won't get injured.

Seems the squad is being announced early.

On a football level, the decision is ridiculous. Comparing Dunk and Gomez to Branthwaite is like comparing the Chuckle Brothers to Morecambe or Wise.

Clearly Southgate has a cunning plan utilising one, possibly two quality centre-backs, one fit full-back, one who is injured and one who is past it.

Poor Jordan had better be on his mettle cos he is going to see a lot of the ball.

El Tel was a great manager and was robbed at the Euros ‘96.

I know I'm wearing blue tinted glasses, but the best pair of English central defenders in the Premier League this season is surely Branthwaite and Tarkowski? Hardly conceded any goals, never get injured, a menace in the opposing box, and they understand the idiosyncrasies of Pickford.

Imagine the spine of Everton's defence, with the likes of Bellingham, Rice, Saka, Kane and Foden in front of them? Title winners.

Taking both Joe Gomez and Ezri Konsa is just doubling up on a right-footed utility defenders who will never start a game unless there is a complete injury nightmare. It should have been one of those two and Branthwaite in the squad.

Cretin.

Watch him put Walker at centre-back so he can shoe-horn Alexander-Arnold (I refuse to call him 'Trent') in at right-back.

Plonker!!!

And seeing as Southgate selected Dunk and Guehi to start the other night I think the writing was on the wall.

I think seeing this was his first full season playing in the Premier League, he will benefit from going on holiday and putting his feet up rather than being an unused squad player.

Is Gomez there just to maintain the RS quota?

I would love Southgate to be the next Man Utd manager. I feel it would be a source of great joy.

Southgate, as we all know, is pretty useless and will be toast if he ever tries club management again, but at least there won't be a chance for other squad players to tap up Jarrad.

However, being selfish it's probably best for us.

Of course that useless get wasn't going to pick him.

Silver lining is they'll be fitter and ready for next season.

No need to ever call him Trent. Cunt is more appropriate.

I agree with Andy 100%.

I'd have said 110% but people who say that piss me off as well.

I'm seething Branthwaite is not part of the squad.

Southgate's a knobhead!

Southgate has not got a clue.

Just look at all the stick Pickford gets from the Ramsdale-loving pundits.

Anyone who watched Jarrad Branthwaite this season couldn't fail to see that he is England's left-sided centre-back for the next 8 years or more.

Only two players from Man City and three from Arsenal (if you include Ramsdale) tells you all you need to know about the standard of English footballers.

He picks Konsa, who has played at full-back in the last couple of months for Villa, Gomez who's a Red Shite reserve, Shaw hasn't played since February and Arnold who can't defend is now a defensive midfielder.

He said in his press conference now, how great they played against Bosnia, who are Bosnia again? Branthwaite and Tarkowski have had a superb season, and the only left-sided centre-back is Jarred and he picks Gomez who's played no games at centre-back for England.

Stones plays in midfield for Man City, and 4 centre-backs are right-footed, and the only reason Maguire isn't picked is because he's injured… enough said!

Alexander-Arnold is a good player and certainly an excellent option as wingback. Picking him as a midfielder is strange.

If Guardiola had never moved Lahm and others from full-back to midfield, this Southgate would not even be considering it.

Downside, he'll be gutted and (a big) if he is sold this month /or next (I hope not), knocks a few million off his price tag.

"Listen, we need you."

Jarrad: "Wha? You can fuck off, mate — I'm off me fuckin' trolley in Ibiza."

I'm confident (quietly) that Southgate's team will lift the trophy.

I look forward to the more difficult name-your-winner thread which I'm hoping will spring up next week.

Yet he's picked Wharton and Mainoo both of whom have had half a season in the Premier League plus he's kept Quansah from the shite as the back-up defender on standby even though he's even less experienced.

Gomez likely taken as he's filled in at left-back this season and they only have one injured left back.

Still surprised he's not been brought with him being left-sided.

Southgate is an uninspiring man and his selection of Gomez and Dunk is shocking.

However, at least we won't hear pundits hanging Jarrad out to dry.

Semi-final misery to come, as this team has poor defenders which will mean two holding midfielders.

Howard Kendall = 0 caps, Colin Harvey = 1 cap.

Watching the smoke rise from the crumpled hulk of Manchester United over the past couple of seasons has been a source of great pleasure to me, and Southgate would definitely continue the trend.

But what's the consensus here? Will Branthwaite's snub make it less likely that somebody big comes in for him? Or does it lower his value on the open market? Or both?

I was going to back Portugal until I was reminded who is the manager.

Southgate makes reference to players on the cusp, but then you look at who he does pick and laugh... Branthwaite is head and shoulders above Dunk, Gomez and the sickest joke of all, Quansah as backup?

Southgate has made some huge errors and frankly he is on his way out of the door. Totally uninspiring calls... is it any wonder why so many fans turn their back on supporting England?

It gave me pause for thought too lol

All the usual suspects are capable of winning it, and England, who have some great players and a goalscorer. A bit of luck and maybe win a shootout or two.

I've never liked playing players out of position and, if Shaw is not fit enough, that will be a big miss. Konsa has looked a decent enough defender but I don't see him offering much going forward.

Germany are due a run and, in their own backyard, will fancy their chances.

Shaw and Trippier are injury-prone. Dunk is a yard dog. Do me a favour, please.

Southgate does not have a clue how to be a winner. His team will compete and do well but the crucial final yard is not in his mindset.

Football is slowly being killed off by the money men and the re-emergence of the football thugs. The scenes at Wembley for the last final were a disgrace. The last three Champions League Finals have been awful in regards to security.

I still can't believe he has left one of the two best centre-backs this season at home… but our gain is England's loss.

Dunk is just a lower profile Maguire with much less experience. Konsa and Gomez are utility players.

Branthwaite will read this as meaning he has to leave Everton to get England recognition.

I agree our defence looks pretty weak. As they say, attacks win matches, but defences win tournaments.

So Branthwaite, who has had a stellar season this season for us and last season for PSV, who is a naturally gifted left-footed centre-back, and who could do a job at left-back if required, is dropped in favour of Dunk (garbage junk yard dog), Konza and Gomez (utilities at best) who are all far inferior players compared to Jarrad and all right-footed defenders.

The only left-footed defender is Shaw and he's not fit – nor any guarantee he'll get fit enough to play.

For fuck's sake, even Carragher has said it was a mistake to not pick Branthwaite – and that cunt never has anything good to say about Everton in any capacity.

I think Rob Halligan has a phrase for that!

Andy Crooks, you have fallen off the fence. I like your new Christening of Trent, but won't repeat it!!

Dave, these thing are always hard to predict. Denmark back in 1992, Greece in 2004. Just like the FA Cup, there can always be a surprise in tournament football.

England seem to be narrow favourites in many quarters, closely followed by France.

Despite not being the force they were 10 years ago, I wouldn't rule out Germany on home turf.

I could play left-back for England with the current tactics. Just shite!

I didn't watch the most recent game as I couldn't be arsed, but I recently saw Childwell (?) at left back receive the ball from his centre back eleven times, control it with his left (wild applause) feint to attack, then turn and play it back to his centre-back when the opposing winger got within 5 yards. Stephen Hawkin could do that!

Southgate is a tactically inept donkey.

There's some so-called defenderspicked who can't defend and a defender who's been hyped into a midfielder who can't tackle and is shit-scarred of heading.

It seems this was just a taste of the senior squad set up, for Jarrad. Hopefully this will board well for Everton.At least he can give his full commitment to Everton's preseason training.

I hope Pickford has a good tournament and stays injury-free.

My money is on France and Germany, a good bet being the home nation and they always progress beyond the earlier rounds in tournaments.

I’d love you to be correct Dave C, but they say fortune favours the brave, and I don’t think Southgate, is anywhere near brave enough?

We will see, but I thought France, were too strong physically for England, when they knocked us out of the World Cup, 18 months ago, and I’m not sure England, have improved since then?

I haven’t even thought about this competition, because I’m a lot more concerned about Everton, being sold, but I’m sure it starts a week tomorrow, so hopefully we have had some good news, regarding our club, before then🤞

All supporters, as well as Dyche, Thelwell, Woan, Stone, and the whole squad could certainly use some positive crystalisation of new, much better, much firmer financial footing for Everton Football Club.

The New Stadium being so close to being finished, we can't have the team lose its best players, especially in this crucial season to come, ahead of the stadium move.

Good, solid, concrete, positive news ASAP please 🙏

What's happening to Everton is what I am more focussed on.

Some interesting comments on Southgate. I wonder if he will eventually go back to club management or jump into punditry?

The nucleus of the squad picks itself but some of the others like Bowen, Wharton and Gomes are confusing selections.

Sorry to say that overall the squad will find it difficult to make the Semi's.

'... the best pair of English central defenders in the Premier League this season is surely Branthwaite and Tarkowski? Hardly conceded any goals, never get injured, a menace in the opposing box, and they understand the idiosyncrasies of Pickford.'

I think your last point about Pickford is particularly important. Like all goalkeepers, Pickford is 'interesting'.

Although, that would also put Tarkowski in the shop window, so both being overlooked is probably a blessing, from both an injury and poaching point of view.

He might well be now thinking "I would love to be a big part of this England thing but, lacking Jordan's experience, I need to get out of Everton for that to become a reality and go Sky-bound."

However, how Tarkowski fails to make this team, yet alone squad, not even provisional squad, I just can't fathom.

I watched The Final: Attack on Wembley. It is a big reason why I can't support England.

I can say they played well, deserved to win, were unlucky to lose etc but I cannot support them. I have always been like that since a small boy growing up in Stockport. Must be the Scouse and Celtic blood in me.

The only time I have instinctively cheered an England goal is when an Everton player has scored it. And we all knew what abuse the 3 lads would get after missing the pens.

My head is battered with all the lies, deceit and crazed speculation regarding our financial situation. I'm latching on to the Euro's as a distraction.

I cant wait for the season to start so we can talk about Everton in footy context again. I'm pretty sure you think the same.

On Branthwaite's exclusion; He's been brilliant. Those who have watched him closely, would expect him to go to the very top. However, I'm not surprised he has been left out. Dyches survival plan has seen us play with a back 8 or 9. I believe a conservative coach like Southgate would have preferred a player (like Dunk) because he has played all season in a back four or five. I suspect Jarrod will need to change clubs and England will need to change managers before we see him as an England regular.
On the subject of Tarkowski. (this is only my opinion) I suspect if you put him in a naked back 3/4/5 against some of Europe's quick footed elite, he would be ruined.

We badly need both of them fighting fit and ready help Everton survive again next season. I'm not sorry Neither of them is going to Germany

But I also want the season to start, so we can get back to Everton.

Although not glad the pre-season fixtures are out.

I think it is Englands loss and Jarred might gain from the experience especially the extended rest for the next month and comeback with renewed energy to play for the team I love—Everton.

So composed and calm both on and off the ball. Anticipates well and recovers when necessary.

The partnership with Tarkowski has been near perfect. And Tarkowski and Pickford have a good understanding too.

Watching him, you wouldn't think he was still 21. He plays like an experienced 30-year-old.

He would be the first Sheff Utd player capped in a while mind… nice one.

The other thing is that we expect England to be playing on the front foot, with the caveat being that we look to be set up for playing the break quickly, and our lads have been more used to deep block hold-the-fort football instead. So I understand not taking either of them tbh.

I do think I would have taken Branthwaite over Dunk though. The silly yellow card on Monday may have swung it? Tough calls.

If we can keep hold of him, let him go on holiday and come back to us fresh and injury free, that's the main thing now for us Blues.

He can't be blamed for any fuck-ups either when it all goes tits up over in Germany. I see England lost tonight as well, not exactly a confidence booster going into a tournament with another lacklustre showing at home!

He's not alone. Quite a few callers saying the same thing. A left-footed central defender who could also slip into the left-back mess that Southgate has created.

Wayne Rooney and even the RS Carra said the same.

I think Southgate has lost it. I realize Sterling has gone downhill but Southgate pretty much froze him out ever since he left the World Cup when his wife and family were victims of an armed robbery. I think he picked him just once after that even while he was still doing okay at Man City.

Then there is the weird Ben White situation. His refusal to pick any player (bar Kane and “Hendo”) who plays outside the Premier League. And I don't mean lower division Steve Bull types or North of the border Mark Hatelys – I mean one of his former favourites, Dier at Bayern, plus everyone who's followed Smalling to Italy.

Then having made himself look stupid saying it is all based on performance (which his non-selection of Branthwaite disproves), then he has some kid from the RS on standby while Jarrad with two very good seasons, one in the Premier League, another for a big European club, is “not ready” at 21.

Southgate just seems like an increasingly small-minded, cowardly, bitter middle-aged man.

I think that the Ben White thing (the only Englishman in the best defence in the Premier League) has a lot to do with White saying he doesn't want to be picked. But I simply do not get that and wonder if his relations with Southgate are the nub of the matter.

Southgate doesn't rock the boat. Loves his cup of tea and scones at Betty's in Harrogate. He would have picked Maguire if he was fit (and is in bits about that). And he should have had the acumen, decency, and dignity to leave after the Italy final (when his star was half high in the sky, despite playing five at the back and two holding midfielders against an aging side).

I hope against hope that he goes to leaky decrepit Old Trafford and is shown the door after one season.

He might actually be rather scared about dipping his toe in the cut and thrust of club management after a relatively soft and easy 8-year tenure as England manager.

Jesus wept, I just found out that him and me share the same birthday.

If that's not bad enough, his bullshit interview in which he appears to insinuate there are better players than Branthwaite and more worthy is cringeworthy at best, ignorant, ill-informed, and a lie at worst. He will be given the option of resigning I have no doubt when they don't get past the stages.

The two best centre-backs in the Premier League are Tarkowski and Branthwaite, yet neither good enough? He clearly doesn't want either. He should be sacked before a ball is kicked.

I may be being biased but there is a lot to be said for partnerships.

Pickford, Tarkowski and Branthwaite would have been a good option for England.

As I keep saying, I don't care too much for the England football team, so I'm just going to enjoy the tournament. I've no doubt there will be a few surprises.

Just bad decisions after bad decisions, or popular players chosen ahead of deserving ones, all equating to an underperforming squad bereft of results.

Absurd. Patently absurd. Southgate is a blind fool.

One word.

Mainoo.

Make that wo.

Fuckwit!

Oh yeah, I know, two words…..Red Shite!

Southgate this time… seems like a nice fella, tbh.

Dunk and Gomes from the RS, for fuck's sake!

And for England not winning the cup.

Guardiola knows nothing Southgate, That's why he wants Branthwaite.

However, from an Everton point of view, it may mean we secure his services for our last season at Goodison. As had he performed on the international stage, he almost certainly would have departed the club at the end of the tournament.

As it stands, the giants of world football may require another season observing him, before making their respective record breaking transfer moves.

The question will be whether he stays to play regularly or moves as he is frustrated with not being picked for England. I don't have an answer for that as I can't influence it. From what I've read, I think his Dad will be a big influence in that decision.

He is a great prospect. Mature ahead of his years.

Any points we may be deducted in the future for not balancing the books this summer would be dwarfed by the points loss we would get for not having these players in the team next season.

Dom is the bigger problem due to his receding contract but Jarrad and Jordan should be retained at all costs.

We will be bang in the relegation mix with these players but it is unimaginable to think what the future holds without them.

Take another 6-point deduction, or whatever, and move on.