England fans want one player dropped after performance vs Senegal and have already named his replacement
England supporters were left frustrated and disappointed after their national team slumped to a 3-1 defeat against Senegal at the City Ground on Tuesday night — and they wasted no time pointing fingers at one player they believe should be dropped from future line-ups. The fans have also been vocal about who they think should replace him.
Coming into the match, there was a sense of cautious optimism among the England faithful. The Three Lions had just edged out a narrow 1-0 win over Andorra in Barcelona on Saturday, and new head coach Thomas Tuchel had spoken about wanting his side to play with more expression and confidence on the pitch.
Tuchel made sweeping changes for the clash against Senegal, rotating the squad heavily and naming ten new starters. Only captain Harry Kane retained his place from the previous starting eleven. The German tactician has made it clear he wants to foster a positive, attacking identity for his England side but acknowledged earlier in the week that the team was still in the early stages of development.
“I see us train with a smile, but not play with a smile,” Tuchel admitted before the game. “We need to improve, for sure — especially in the way we connect with each other on the pitch. We need more support, more interactions. Right now, it feels like we’re playing in isolation. I’ve seen promising things in training, but translating that into actual match performances is going to take some time.”
Despite the recent overhaul, the evening started promisingly for England. Just seven minutes in, Harry Kane capitalized on a dreadful error from Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, giving England an early lead and the home crowd a reason to believe. But that optimism quickly faded.
Senegal responded before half-time, with Kyle Walker losing concentration at a critical moment. The lapse allowed Crystal Palace winger Ismaïla Sarr to break through and clinically finish to level the match at 1-1 in the 40th minute.
The second half brought more misery for the Three Lions. On 62 minutes, Habib Diarra stunned the home fans by slotting Senegal ahead, exposing gaps in England’s defence and a lack of cohesion in midfield. England tried to rally, and substitute Jude Bellingham thought he had found the equaliser ten minutes from time, only for his goal to be disallowed after referee Stephanie Frappart consulted VAR.
Any lingering hopes of a comeback were shattered in stoppage time when Cheikh Sabaly netted a third for the visitors, sealing a famous win for Senegal and delivering a blow to Tuchel’s England project.
In the aftermath, England fans took to social media in droves to express their disappointment — and much of the criticism was aimed at Anthony Gordon. The Newcastle United winger started on the left flank but failed to make a meaningful impact throughout the match.
“It’s terrifying to think Anthony Gordon is picked for England when he’s not even the best left-sided forward at Newcastle,” one frustrated supporter posted on social media.
Another fan was even more scathing, writing: “Anthony Gordon looks like a non-league player. Shocking performance.”
A third added: “I never understood the Anthony Gordon hype — and now I feel justified. He offers nothing at this level.”
Others pointed to a pattern of underwhelming displays for the national team. “Anthony Gordon is absolutely awful,” one fan said. “It’s the same type of situation as it was with Foden — doesn’t matter how well he plays for his club, he just can’t replicate it in an England shirt. He shouldn’t be anywhere near the starting lineup.”
With Gordon’s stock falling among England supporters, attention quickly turned to who might replace him in the squad. One popular suggestion was West Ham United winger Jarrod Bowen, who has been in impressive form at club level and has previously earned praise for his work rate and direct attacking style.
“Don’t forget Jarrod Bowen,” another fan wrote. “It’s ridiculous how he isn’t in the squad. He’d offer much more than Gordon does on that left side.”
As England look to regroup and Tuchel searches for the right formula, it’s clear that fans are demanding more urgency, more chemistry, and better individual performances — especially from those wearing the Three Lions for the first time or trying to establish themselves as regulars.
With upcoming fixtures providing little room for error, the pressure is mounting — not just on Tuchel to deliver results, but also on players like Gordon to prove they belong on the international stage. Whether the England boss decides to stick with his current choices or bring in fresh faces like Bowen remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the debate among fans is only just getting started.