Super agent Rob Segal has given his verdict on why England supporters booed Harry Maguire during their recent match against Ivory Coast.
Some members of the Wembley stadium expressed their unhappiness with Maguire being called up to the England squad even after performing poorly for Manchester United.
England manager Gareth Southgate had earlier stated that players will be chosen on the way they perform rather than their fame. That has been the case for a number of players, including Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell, Conor Gallagher, and others, but Maguire continues to be selected despite his poor club performance.
Must Read: Gareth Southgate reveals Harry Maguire’s complicated situation
He wrote in an official column with CaughtOffside:
‘I think he got booed because fans realize that if you’re not playing well, you shouldn’t be playing for England and just because you play for Manchester United shouldn’t automatically entitle you to a cap.’
‘Maguire has played poorly all season. He’s always played well for England but I thought the checklist was that you had to play well for your club before being called up to represent your country but that appears not to be the case if you’re Harry Maguire.’
‘He never seems to take the game by the scruff of the neck, so why did he get booed? – Well, I honestly think fans are fed up with averaging players keeping their place in the England team.’
If players from Southampton, Crystal Palace, or West Ham are performing well, Southgate deserves credit for calling them up. Maguire, on the other hand, appears to be a player who is invincible in the eyes of England manager Gareth Southgate, despite the fact that players who are more deserving of playing time have been overlooked.
Fikayo Tomori is now one of Italy’s best defenders, with AC Milan leading the Series A standings. He was called up while still at Chelsea, however, he is no longer on the squad.
Harry Maguire’s performances for England have been outstanding but selecting him for the World Cup this winter might be a significant risk if his poor form continues.
There were reasons given for Maguire’s selection, but his performances have quickly deteriorated this season. There needs to be a time where Southgate admits Maguire isn’t the right person to help England win a trophy.
The England fans have every right to be frustrated, according to Segal, and Southgate must keep to the ideology he talked about when he took over as manager.
