When Gareth Southgate named his England team this week for the World Cup in Russia, one oversight jumped out at plenty of fans…the lack of Ryan Bertrand.
Granted, as we all know, we’ve hardly had a fantastic season and Bertrand has been far from the only player who hasn’t managed to reach the standards he’d have liked, but with his continued involvement under Southgate despite our Premier League form in 2017/18, seeing him miss out doesn’t make a lot of sense. Especially when the assumption is he’s been replaced by Danny Rose, Ashley Young and possibly Fabian Delph for the left-sided defensive position.
Whilst some fans could more than understand why Southgate would’ve overlooked him for the summer’s adventure, plenty of others were certainly left with a confused feeling.
It is fair to say though, the assumption he would be involved probably says more about the left-sided choices available to England given his form this year. Whilst those who replaced him can certainly be questioned (Young aside maybe) as a player sometimes you just have to look at yourself.
Whether his omission intensifies talk of his future or shuts it down, Southgate skipping on Alex McCarthy may certainly have done us a favour this summer.
Bertrand has had an average season however how he has lost his place to danny rose who has hardley played this season is beyond me. Two make shift left backs in young and delph? Strange selection
— Tom Forder (@tomforder69) May 17, 2018
Rose over Bertrand is a big club bias. Bertrand's form had been poor but Rose? Come on!
— antineil (@antineil) May 17, 2018
He’s been poor – clearly it wasn’t just me who noticed.
— Ben Power (@bpower_official) May 16, 2018
It’s his perfect excuse to leave Saints. Absolute joke that Delph was picked over him.
— Lee Fielder (@leebrianfielder) May 16, 2018
Bang out of order
— Steve Mitchell (@SteveMi35635385) May 16, 2018
Bertrand not given a single toss all season. Thought he had his place nailed on, doesn’t deserve to go. As much as I like him
— Callum Bundy (@bundymann) May 16, 2018
there are selected players that are certainly no better than Bertrand.. has he had a standout season? no but the same could be said for others.
— Stuart Hack (@HackStuart) May 16, 2018
Bertrand was nothing short of poor throughout the season or can some one highlight even a couple great plays from him? I would have been very surprised to see him in this list.
— Jarkko Hårdh (@HardhJarkko) May 16, 2018
What do I think? Has he really justified a place? I know the same could be said others but his general persona over the closing season has been nothing short of terrible and he’s suppose to be captain. Maybe this is what he needs to buck his ideas up. That’s what I think.
— Stevie G (@Saintstepgar) May 16, 2018
