Unraveling the Future: Decoding Gareth Southgate's Solution for Harry Maguire and England at Euro 2024

Why has Southgate stopped picking his England squad on form?

I asked Southgate this exact question during the previous England camp.

The message being conveyed by the England manager is concerning. His current strategy, where players like Maguire and Kalvin Phillips are selected despite not receiving sufficient playing time for their respective clubs, sends a negative impression to other players in the Premier League and other leagues who are currently in excellent form.

They are doing all they can to force their way into the England squad but are being overlooked for Southgate's 'old reliables'.

However, I do totally understand Southgate's reasoning for this.

After being appointed as the permanent England manager in 2017, Southgate expressed his stance on selecting players based on their form rather than reputation. However, in his response to my question in March, he seemed to retreat from those statements when questioned about including players who were not active in their respective clubs.

Southgate further emphasized that solely relying on form would result in frequent alterations to the squad during every international camp. This lack of consistency could hinder the formation of a cohesive and communicative team leading up to the upcoming Euros in Germany next summer.

Is it open season on Maguire? Will the booing stop...or is it now in fashion?

Is there a history of Maguire being jeered?

There is also a problem with the selection policy as it has created a significant imbalance within the England squad. Out of the current squad, eight members have accumulated more than 40 caps, while another nine players have only four caps or fewer. This lack of balance is not ideal. (Rob Dorsett)

Scotland fans, in a peculiar twist, amusingly applauded Maguire for each pass he made. Curiously enough, our live blog aptly encapsulated the situation. Initially a substitute in England's 3-1 victory against Scotland, Maguire was substituted in at halftime due to Marc Guehi's injury. The Scottish fans mockingly cheered for his every successful pass.

This isn't the initial occurrence of such an incident. One week back, Arsenal supporters warmly received Maguire as he entered the field. According to Peter Smith's report, Arsenal fans initially booed Rasmus Hojlund but then broke into cheers when Maguire made his appearance, with some even chanting his name. Maguire has now become a target of mockery for fans supporting rival teams, both at club and national level.

Not only opposition fans, but even cheers came for Maguire when his name was announced before England's match against Ivory Coast at Wembley in March 2022, and once again during the game against Germany later that year.

The boos have also been audible at the club level. In July, during the pre-season victory of his then team, Manchester United, over Crystal Palace in Melbourne, the captain was booed before kick-off and continuously throughout the game. He faced a similar response in Dublin for Manchester United's friendly match against Athletic Bilbao.

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The jeering of Harry Maguire was bizarre. It was loud, persistent, and something I have never seen in a football stadium before.

Rob Dorsett, from We News, reporting at Hampden Park. The 30-year-old has been facing a growing issue, with the most significant worry being its increasing popularity and regularity. It has become fashionable and may even become an expected occurrence whenever he makes appearances in the upcoming weeks.

Has Southgate inadvertently added to the pressure on Maguire?

England under Southgate is synonymous with Maguire, as he has been an integral part of the team throughout Southgate's tenure, earning a remarkable 59 international caps. Southgate's unwavering loyalty towards Maguire is unquestionable.

But has that loyalty gone too far? Is Southgate now inadvertently helping to intensify the scrutiny upon his player?

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"He has proven to be an exceptional player for the England team, contributing significantly to the success of one of our most triumphant squads.

"The fact that we permit him to face criticism for his contributions is utterly outrageous, bordering on absurdity. It infuriates me completely."

"I don't have any issues with the Scotland fans; they are simply enjoying themselves. However, it is our fellow countrymen who provoke such unrest. This leaves other players wondering: 'Is this what we can expect?'" - Gareth Southgate discussing Harry Maguire.

While Maguire may not receive as much attention at Manchester United due to his position as the fifth choice in the defensive lineup, Southgate holds a different perspective. To him, Maguire is a key player and would be one of the first names on the teamsheet. Nevertheless, this assurance of regular game time also means facing consistent scrutiny and criticism if performances do not meet expectations.

Maguire is not a poor player, but his decline in performance in recent years can be attributed to a diminishing sense of confidence. However, it raises a concern as to how he can regain that confidence if he only has the opportunity to do so while playing for England, in front of a national audience, despite lacking sharpness.

Although Maguire's ambition to represent his country is commendable, it may be time for Southgate to grant him the chance to rebuild his form and confidence outside the intense scrutiny of international football.

Where does Maguire stand in the Man Utd pecking order? Could he yet revive his career at Old Trafford?

Despite the opportunity to rejuvenate his career, Maguire declined the opportunity to join West Ham during the summer transfer window. It has been reported that the reason for this decision was his inability to reach a settlement regarding financial compensation with Manchester United.

The potential move appeared to be an ideal resolution for all parties involved, presenting Maguire with a chance to showcase his undeniable talent, which prompted United to invest £80m in him back in 2019.

Maguire's decision seemed peculiar as he began this season as either the fourth or fifth preference for Erik ten Hag as a centre-back, trailing behind Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, and even Luke Shaw, who took over Maguire's spot last season during injury setbacks.

Luckily, injuries may grant Maguire a starting position against Brighton on Saturday. However, to climb the hierarchy, he must deliver a nearly flawless performance. Once United's injury crisis subsides, it becomes challenging to envision Maguire as anything beyond a rotational choice.

Could a series of impressive performances alter this situation? Perhaps. However, despite Ten Hag's compliments towards Maguire, there appears to be a discrepancy between the manager's statements and his actual behavior.

If Maguire can reclaim his position at United this season and prove his skeptics wrong, it would be an incredible reversal of fortune. He does not merit the criticism he receives from certain factions of the United fanbase - whether in person or online. Nonetheless, it is difficult to ignore the notion that an opportunity was overlooked during the summer transfer window.