‘What are you talking about?’ – Jamie Carragher and Ian Wright fume as Gary Neville names ‘undroppable’ England star
Gary Neville says there are two England players who will always play regardless of their form. However, one of his selections prompted a furious reaction from Jamie Carragher and Ian Wright. Stick To FootballNeville enraged his Stick To Football co-hosts with his England claim[/caption] Phil Foden should play regardless of his form, according to NevilleGetty The former Three Lions defender hailed Harry Kane’s importance to the team as their all-time leading scorer. Neville then went on to say that Phil Foden falls into the same category of players who will be picked regardless of performances for club and country. The Manchester City star has struggled for consistency this season after a stellar campaign in 2023/24. Meanwhile, he struggled to make an impact during England’s win over Albania last week. Explaining his argument on the Stick To Football Podcast, Neville said: “It’s the age-old thing with England – some players have to be in form to play and other players will get played irrespective of the club form. “Managers for England, for years, I’ve been to eight tournaments – I know how they think. “Ultimately, someone like Harry Kane, it doesn’t matter whether he hasn’t scored in his last five games for his club – he is going to be playing for England. “Alan Shearer didn’t score all the way up until the Euro 96, Les (Ferdinand) was never going to play, and (Robbie) Fowler was never going to play. It’s going to be Shearer because he’s Shearer. “Foden should be that player for me.” The mention of Foden prompted an exasperated response from the panel, notably Carragher and Wright. Stick To FootballThe panel erupted as Neville mentioned Foden alongside Kane and Shearer[/caption] Stick To FootballCarragher fumed ‘what are you talking about’ as he responded to Neville[/caption] A gasp of ‘what?!’ could immediately be heard from the former Arsenal striker. Wright then asked: “In front of (Jude) Bellingham? In front of (Bukayo) Saka?” Meanwhile, Carragher exclaimed: “Oh, what are you talking about? You are talking absolute rubbish.” As the shouting continued, Neville clarified he would play Foden as part of a midfield pairing with Bellingham. His former Three Lions teammate was having none of it, though, with Carragher adding: “So he’s going to play as a number eight, a position he doesn’t even play for Man City.” The shouting match then resumed before the ex-Liverpool defender was able to give his own thoughts on Foden’s woes. He explained: “You’re saying we keep moving him around, he gets moved around for City. He plays on the left, he plays on the right, he plays in the middle. Carragher explained how Foden created a selection headache at the EurosStick To Football “He’s lucky he gets moved around because in the summer, Gareth Southgate looked at Foden like ‘he’s the best player in the Premier League, I’ve got to find a place for him’. “But he’s not done enough in an England shirt better than Saka to play there (right wing), he’s not done enough more than Bellingham in an England shirt to play there (midfield). “So everyone’s saying ‘why are they playing Phil Foden on the left?’ They’re playing him there because they’re trying to get him in somehow.” Foden started all seven of England’s matches as they made the final of the Euro 2024 in Germany but failed to score during the tournament. His goal drought of 18 matches for the Three Lions has since continued and dates back to a friendly win over Scotland in September 2023. Last season’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year kept his place in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad, though, and started both of this month’s matches. The 24-year-old even provided an assist for Eberechi Eze after coming off the bench against Latvia on Monday. Foden has also struggled for City this season and is without a goal contribution in his last six league appearances. As a result, he remains on ten goals and six assists in 38 matches across all competitions this term.
Gary Neville says there are two England players who will always play regardless of their form.
However, one of his selections prompted a furious reaction from Jamie Carragher and Ian Wright.
The former Three Lions defender hailed Harry Kane’s importance to the team as their all-time leading scorer.
Neville then went on to say that Phil Foden falls into the same category of players who will be picked regardless of performances for club and country.
The Manchester City star has struggled for consistency this season after a stellar campaign in 2023/24.
Meanwhile, he struggled to make an impact during England’s win over Albania last week.
Explaining his argument on the Stick To Football Podcast, Neville said: “It’s the age-old thing with England – some players have to be in form to play and other players will get played irrespective of the club form.
“Managers for England, for years, I’ve been to eight tournaments – I know how they think.
“Ultimately, someone like Harry Kane, it doesn’t matter whether he hasn’t scored in his last five games for his club – he is going to be playing for England.
“Alan Shearer didn’t score all the way up until the Euro 96, Les (Ferdinand) was never going to play, and (Robbie) Fowler was never going to play. It’s going to be Shearer because he’s Shearer.
“Foden should be that player for me.”
The mention of Foden prompted an exasperated response from the panel, notably Carragher and Wright.
A gasp of ‘what?!’ could immediately be heard from the former Arsenal striker.
Wright then asked: “In front of (Jude) Bellingham? In front of (Bukayo) Saka?”
Meanwhile, Carragher exclaimed: “Oh, what are you talking about? You are talking absolute rubbish.”
As the shouting continued, Neville clarified he would play Foden as part of a midfield pairing with Bellingham.
His former Three Lions teammate was having none of it, though, with Carragher adding: “So he’s going to play as a number eight, a position he doesn’t even play for Man City.”
The shouting match then resumed before the ex-Liverpool defender was able to give his own thoughts on Foden’s woes.
He explained: “You’re saying we keep moving him around, he gets moved around for City. He plays on the left, he plays on the right, he plays in the middle.
“He’s lucky he gets moved around because in the summer, Gareth Southgate looked at Foden like ‘he’s the best player in the Premier League, I’ve got to find a place for him’.
“But he’s not done enough in an England shirt better than Saka to play there (right wing), he’s not done enough more than Bellingham in an England shirt to play there (midfield).
“So everyone’s saying ‘why are they playing Phil Foden on the left?’ They’re playing him there because they’re trying to get him in somehow.”
Foden started all seven of England’s matches as they made the final of the Euro 2024 in Germany but failed to score during the tournament.
His goal drought of 18 matches for the Three Lions has since continued and dates back to a friendly win over Scotland in September 2023.
Last season’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year kept his place in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad, though, and started both of this month’s matches.
The 24-year-old even provided an assist for Eberechi Eze after coming off the bench against Latvia on Monday.
Foden has also struggled for City this season and is without a goal contribution in his last six league appearances.
As a result, he remains on ten goals and six assists in 38 matches across all competitions this term.
