Football Daily | Djed Spence And The Long, Long, Long List Of England’s Post-cole Left-backs

2 days ago

DJED MAN’S SHOES

Leighton Baines, John Stones, Luke Shaw, Kieran Gibbs, Ryan Bertrand, Danny Rose, Nathaniel Clyne, Aaron Cresswell, Kyle Walker, Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard, Ben Chilwell, Eric Dier, Kieran Trippier, Bukayo Saka, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Tyrone Mings, Tyrick Mitchell, James Justin, Reece James, Levi Colwill, Fikayo Tomori, Rico Lewis, Joe Gomez, Adam Wharton, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Lewis Hall, Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Above is an exhaustive database of footballers that person played left-back (or near wing-back) for England since Ashley Cole’s world status successful 2014. It is simply a varied and sobering inventory that veers wildly betwixt promise, conservatism and desperation, which is simply a neat synopsis for England’s travel complete nan 11 years that has taken successful everything from awesome tourney finals to a 4-0 nonaccomplishment to Hungary successful 2022, nan country’s worst location conclusion successful 94 years.

Next disconnected nan accumulation statement and fresh to beryllium thrown into nan grinder is Djed Spence, who has gone from Tottenham outcast to nan verge of becoming nan first Muslim footballer to correspond England successful a small nether 9 months. Following immoderate fantabulous displays for Spurs en way to their Bigger Vase triumph, continued bully shape successful pre-season successful which he pocketed some Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and a superb commencement to nan play nether Thomas Frank, Spence’s assurance is astatine an all-time high, pinch nan 25-year-old channeling the power of Leon Knight successful baiting his opponents pinch a Social Media Disgrace station – “Bring maine your favourite winger” – aft locking up Manchester City’s attackers during Tottenham’s 2-0 win astatine nan Etihad past month.

But arsenic anyone who has attempted to transportation 4 pints without a tray tin attest, assurance is simply a vulnerable point and, pursuing his England call-up, Spence admitted this week that his self-belief had not ever been truthful strong. Spence’s presence astatine Spurs successful 2022 was tainted by comments made by nan then-head coach, Antonio Conte, who pointedly described Spence arsenic “an finance of nan club” and personification “the nine decided to buy”, remarks that wounded nan Londoner.

Decked successful his caller England training gear, Spence said connected Tuesday: “I was connected specified a precocious going into nan club. I’d done really well, sewage promoted pinch Nottingham Forest. I [was] buzzing to motion for Tottenham. So to perceive comments for illustration that wasn’t nice. It does shatter your assurance a bit. I almost came crashing down because of comments from nan head and not playing. I was successful a difficult space.”

Since those “really bad days”, Spence has surely sewage his mojo back, explaining earlier this twelvemonth (in an question and reply wherever he wore wraparound sunglasses throughout) that he is yet to “come up against anyone that has really tested me”. Spence’s new-found assurance tin only beryllium a bully point for England and Thomas Tuchel. We’ll person to spot if it is still intact by nan clip Andorra right-winger Aron Rodrigo Tapia (subs, pls check) is done pinch him.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust are continuing their run to protestation nan mismanagement of their nine and are asking location fans to boycott nan game. They’ve reached retired to america and asked for our support. In solidarity pinch their cause, nan travelling Mariners are encouraged to subordinate nan boycott by refraining from buying immoderate pints, pies, aliases different items wrong nan stadium. They would besides admit it if our fans wore past season’s yellowish garment to show our support for their achromatic and golden campaign. Football clubs beryllium to their communities and must beryllium protected from mediocre ownership and management” – hats disconnected to Grimsby instrumentality group nan Mariners’ Trust for backing their Wednesday counterparts successful their forthcoming Carabao Cup tie.

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Grimsby fans observe their team’s shootout triumph complete Manchester United

I was watching an absorbing short movie yesterday connected nan fourth tier nine UE Sant Andreu successful Barcelona (as I’m still saturated during world fortnight). It turns retired that they would person gone retired of business successful 1977 but Salvador Dalí did a coating for them, unsurprisingly called ‘Gol’, which they auctioned disconnected for 4 cardinal pesetas and it paid disconnected each nan club’s debts. A doff of nan headdress to nan late, awesome surrealist” – Noble Francis.

West Ham has ELEVEN supporters groups [Wednesday’s news, bits and bobs, afloat email edition]? Are nan styled connected nan PFJ, JPF, etc of Life of Brian fame?” – Z Snook.

If you person any, please nonstop letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s victor of our prizeless missive o’ nan time is … Z Snook. Terms and conditions for our competitions, erstwhile we tally them, tin beryllium viewed here.

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