Seagulls’ start set to be snubbed by Southgate despite scoring form
With the Premier League season drawing to a close Brighton followers will allow themselves a minute of quite reflection to look back of the joys of 2017/18.
Promoted from the Championship following a second-place finish behind Newcastle – just a point off the Magpies’ winning tally – Chris Hughton has improved the squad to ensure the club were able to compete amongst the best English football has to offer.
A late run of draws gives Brighton every chance of beating the drop, taking points from Tottenham, Stoke and Southampton already this year. In the weeks and months to follow, fans will allow their attentions to wander towards this summer’s World Cup where England hope to end a 52-year wait for glory.
Source: Brighton Fanbase via Twitter
Regular visitors to the Sussex ground would be forgiven for expecting national coach Gareth Southgate to call upon a number of Brighton’s battlers who have, over the course of the season, proven their stomach for a fight and desire to achieve. Unfortunately, they’d be wrong, with chiefs at Wembley set to snub the club’s leading performers, including Glenn Murray.
Traders at bet365 allow punters with an interest in international football betting the chance to pick their perfect England squad by offering odds on who will be given a seat on the plane to Russia and who might miss out. Kyle Walker will be the first name on the team-sheet if the prices are correct with the Man City right-back marked up a 1/33 favourite. He’s joined by the likes of Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Dele Alli and Harry Kane who all share that price.
Casting your eye down the pecking order and there’s a whopping 40/1 available on Glenn Murray being called upon. This is a quote that suggests the experienced 34-year-old shouldn’t bother packing a case. That has shocked many in the game.
If Harry Kane is fit, then he’s guaranteed to lead the line for England and no one would grudge him that following the Londoner’s form for Spurs over the course of the season. However, the jury remains out on who best to partner Kane in attack and there are question marks hanging over the leading names in the frame.
Source: Glenn Murray to Russia via Twitter
Marcus Rashford is still very inexperienced for both club and country having scored just two goals in 17 call-ups, although he has banked a dozen for Man Utd this term. Vardy has had more success in the final third, chipping in with 17 for The Foxes despite an inconsistent season. Vardy is also a 1/33 poke with his boarding pass printed.
Glenn Murray netted 12 goals in the Seagulls’ first 35 outings. That’s the same number as Eden Hazard and Gabriel Jesus and, of course, Rashford. So why the difference in price? To hammer the point home further, 6ft 2inch forward Murray has scored more Premier League goals this season than Alvaro Morata, Sadio Mane and Wayne Rooney. No wonder fans are left scratching their heads. If England go to Russia and struggle for goals there’s no doubt questions will be asked of Southgate’s selection policy.
