I'm not so convinced by Walker yet, but Stones and Maguire are incredible. Sure they have defensive flaws, but the mistakes they make are the kind that they make less with experience. We have two potentially world class centre halves there, I'm excited. Now if Walker can step up to their level, or someone else emerges, then we have a decade of awesome.

The problem here is that England are not used to seeing defenders playing out from the back. It's normally hoof it up and see what happens. Occasionally, especially when the players are relatively inexperienced, mistakes will be made, and they will look horrendous and often result in a goal. But how often do we give away possession by hoofing it forwards, only to concede a goal? How is that any better than giving the ball away trying to keep possession at the back? It's equally as disasterous, except when defenders fuck up it looks uglier. But it probably results in a goal less often.

Our defence will get better, much better. There's a reason Pep rates Stones. And any club would snap up Maguire if we were available.