Whenever the England squad is released there are sets of supporters annoyed and it’s no different today in the Transfer Tavern.
Considering fewer and fewer people claim that they truly care about the Three Lions, plenty have something to say when the team is made official and with Gareth Southgate not the most popular boss the country has ever had, this selection was always going to get scrutinised.
Here it is – the #ThreeLions squad for this month’s games against and ! pic.twitter.com/CpSFOmRwyQ
— England (@England) March 16, 2017
There’s the usual mix of regular England men in there along with a few left-field inclusions, but Jermain Defoe seems to be one that isn’t overly popular among Newcastle supporters over in their booth here in the Tavern.
The veteran forward has been decent for the Black Cats this term, but plenty decked out in black and white believe their man, Dwight Gayle, would have been a better option. With 21 goals in 27 Championship appearances there is an argument to be made that he’s a more potent forward, but the second-tier nature of his football with the Tynesiders this term is an unavoidable caveat, even if a few Geordies refuse to admit it.
The debate isn’t just limited to the Tavern, though, with fans on Twitter also reacting a bit angrily to Defoe over Gayle…
Southgate really is clueless… Give me Gayle over Defoe any day of the week! #NUFC #ENG
— Ian Rawlings (@ianrawlingsnufc) March 16, 2017
I mean this 100% seriously when I say I’d rather have Dwight Gayle in the England squad than Defoe
— Elliott Griffiths (@ElliottBCFC) March 16, 2017
@rp6805 Defoe is a better striker than Gayle but at the wrong end of his career, FA blinkered when it comes to players outside the PL #nufc
— M H-J (@Hope541) March 16, 2017
@ScfcBen look at the likes of Izzy Brown at H’field or Gayle at Newcastle. I Justin don’t get the point in calling Defoe up for a friendly
— Matt (@SCFC_Dalgarno) March 16, 2017
@timmyward Gayle has more chance of being an England international by the next tournament than Defoe
— Elliott Griffiths (@ElliottBCFC) March 16, 2017
@Hope541 fully agree. I think Gayle will struggle in the prem at first but has time to get better. Good luck to Defoe though.
— Richard (@rp6805) March 16, 2017
if your taking Defoe and Rashford you may as well take Dwight Gayle in the next England squad?
— Charlie Harkness (@charlieharkness) March 16, 2017
Some fans were also annoyed by Jamie Vardy getting in ahead of Gayle, while others have pointed at Defoe’s age showing a lack of forward planning…
Vardys had an awful season but gets an England call up ahead of Dwight Gayle
— Tom (@LUFC_Thailand) March 16, 2017
Jermaine Defoe gets a recall, whilst perhaps his goals deserve recognition not a great indictment on English football
— Mock (@mikeegee70) March 16, 2017
DEFOE??? WTF! OK, good player but not the future. This is just about Southgate keeping his job short term, not long term England success.
— AltheCal (@squirreljack500) March 16, 2017
