With England manager Gareth Southgate announcing his side for the March international break last week, plenty of fans were again debating the lack of a call up for Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Conor Coady.
The 26-year-old has been in great form the last few seasons as we came up to the Premier League over the summer as Championship title winners and our £2million signing has continued to impress many with his performances this season in the top flight.
It’s not the first team he was spoken about as potentially gaining a call up this year and with Czech Republic and Montenegro on the cards later this month, many felt it would be more ideal opposition to see what he could do at that level.
It wasn’t to be though and with questions about Southgate’s selections, he was quoted by the E&S explaining this decision.
“I can’t say anything other than positive things from what I’ve seen, but the system we’re playing at the moment, it’s difficult to map him into and how would he be as a centre back in a four? He’s playing as a sweeper in a back three, so it’s very different to how anybody else in the Premier League is playing. He’s having an outstanding season and you can’t fail to be impressed. He’s very comfortable on the ball, but it’s quite difficult to put that into a back four. We’d been trying him in what even might be the only time he’s ever played centrally in a back four if we have him in. Yes, we could bring him in to train and have a look at that, but we wouldn’t really know enough.”
Southgate didn’t rule out a future call though and he said he was more open to a sitting midfield role for him as well, but again that’s not where he’s playing and impressing at the moment. He admits it’s ‘unfortunate’ for Coady but ultimately Southgate seems to imply that he doesn’t want to bring him in and then maybe damage his confidence at this stage by asking him to do things he’s less comfortable with, just so we can take a closer look.
Sensible perspective from Southgate I think and again he gives Coady plenty of praise in the interview, so maybe in the future.
Yet everyone was crying in my replies when i said this is why he wasn’t called up lol
— Cal (@Cal_757) March 19, 2019
Can’t argue with anything Southgate has said – the move from a three to a four by England was lousy timing for Coads
— Neild (@Hadenwoof) March 19, 2019
I completely hear what Gareth is saying here but CC has shown he is adaptable and knowing it’s Tarkowski & Keane ahead of him, he def deserves it more! It’s not one of World footballs top teams, far from it. Give the man his deserving shot, our defensive record states just that.
— Olly Stock (@olly_stock) March 19, 2019
The jury is out on Coady in a back 4 until anyone actually seems him perform the role. However if the best we can call on is Tarkowski / Keane… there’s an argument for playing a back 3 instead of those in a back 4.
— Martin Danks (@MartinDanks) March 19, 2019
most of us without the rose tinted glases already new that anyway.coadys having a great season playing sweeper in a back 3.england now play a back four and coady wouldn’t be as affective in that position/role so southgate is spot on in my opinion
— mark hill (@markhil65308466) March 19, 2019
No issue with his response. Predictable and honest. I may be in the minority but I want Conor back at Compton wrapped in cotton wool so he can play 95mins of every game for Wolves. #clubovercountry
— Shaun Smith ???? (@thewolfman6969) March 19, 2019
