fabricsince1985
Player Valuation: £950k
I think their game intelligence was fine. They did struggle at first, but when they scored the goals they didn't show any inclination to drop too deep or turnover possession easily.
I think their game intelligence was fine. They did struggle at first, but when they scored the goals they didn't show any inclination to drop too deep or turnover possession easily.
Barnfred 55
Player Valuation: £80m
Yes we really are lagging. Seconds away from winning the U17 euros but for a poor keeping error and just beaten an extremely talented Argentina 3-0. We really need to go back to the drawing block abd start over. Sake!!
Barnfred 55
Player Valuation: £80m
In fairness tbey have some extremely talented players Eggs. I thought oyr dusciplune and concentratuin were excellent. Our boys did well too which always makes me proud. A goal, 3 assists and MOM. Job well done.
Billy Dean
Player Valuation: £70m
Not saying we need to go back, should've added that it's good that we're going in the right direction. But both teams were outplayed for long periods and looked less slick on the ball.
..totally agree, Fred. It was a contrast in styles, they are much more pleasing on the eye but as you say, there's more than one way to win a football match. Our lads were terrific, a real testament to what goes on at USM FF. it feels a bit like an Everton win.
I'd be surprised if some of Steve Walsh's staff aren't out there.
Barnfred 55
Player Valuation: £80m
Mate. Read your post again. "some way to go before we catch up with the rest of the world".
Last night was the FINAL of a competition we were pre tournanent faves for and were literally within seconds of winning. And we just beat the Argies 3-0.
Spain and Argentina have always priduced more technically gifted players and I suspect will cintinue to do so. The U17s had their poorest game if the toyrnament in the final but still nearly won. The U19s and U21s are also in tournaments this summer and we are putting a scratch sqyad tigether to defend the Toulon title.
We arent that far behind the very best and more tgan hold our own against the rest.
mightymoyes
Player Valuation: £70m
kenny excellent again, really wish koeman had of put him straight in the starting 11 instead of holgate when coleman got injured.
Billy Dean
Player Valuation: £70m
The "rest of the world" was the wrong way of saying it. I meant the best sides. Yes we came close and had good results but still think there's some catching up to do. I think the differences in how the sides played will become more apparent when it comes to senior level. Arg and Spa already have coherent systems of play whilst Eng seem to be relying more on individuals. I'm probably talking bubbles as I don't watch a huge amount of youth games but just my impression of what I've seen.
I didn't get to watch the game, but I see Kenny and Dowell getting plaudits. Good games from the young blues?
Barnfred 55
Player Valuation: £80m
Just checked and in the U19 tournament we actually knocked Spain out by beating them 3-0 in the elite qualifying round in March. France and Italy didn't make it through to the finals either.
In the U20s, some of our best (and most technically gifted) players didn't travel with the squad. Izzy Brown and Patrick Roberts would probably be our first choice wide men and Tammy Abraham our first choice striker (although he will probably end up in the U21 squad I imagine). Our own Liam Walsh would have also been there had he not been injured. Plus Dominic Solanke hasn't played any domestic football all season due to a contract dispute at Chelsea.
I can see where you are coming from mate in that you'd like us to dominate games playing sexy entertaining football like Argentina did today. But the fact is Spain and Argentina, along with Brazil, have a conveyor belt of those types of players coming through their systems. It could be in their genes, their coaching techniques, their grass roots football; who knows?. But we don't produce that type of player and, when we do, they usually fall by the wayside in the hustle and bustle of the English game. But we make up for it in other area's as you witnessed this morning.
I'm not having a go at you mate, I just don't think the state of our youth football is anywhere near as bad as you believe it is.
Barnfred 55
Player Valuation: £80m
Just done another post whilst you were doing this mate.
I think you are right in what you say about playing as individuals, and that is very much a Chelsea influence who seem to encourage this type of individuality. Compare that with our own youth set up which is very much built around hard work and team work. I thought Kenny today gave a perfect full back performance. He was solid defensively against some very tricky customers, but always made himself available and was continually looking for give and go's. He made one volleyed pass to the front man that Beckham would have been proud of. But there's no individuality or flare about his play. You can see the same type of attitude in Tom Davies.
On a slightly different note, I was in Cornwall recently and somehow managed to find myself sitting next to two RS in a pub in St Ives. We got to talking about our squads and he agreed that we probably had the better players but they played as a team and we didn't. The point he was making, which I conceded was in fact very astute, was that in the final third the Liverpool attackers would always be looking to see if a team mate was in a better position. We, on the other hand, tended to do the absolute opposite and held onto the ball far too long. Couldn't argue with the guy. That young Spain team last night were very similar and their movement off the ball was far superior to our lads.
billyblue80
Player Valuation: £70m
Is there a Dowell thread?Convinced he can be a first team player just needs to bulk up a bit and get some games on loan.
Barnfred 55
Player Valuation: £80m
You have to play the cards you're handed mate. Some of our more technical players like Brown and Roberts didn't travel, but that possibly worked in our favour as it turns out, as both our guys put in very hard working performances, DCL scoring and assisting and Dowell assisting twice.
Good start for the team. Hard match coming up against the hosts who beat us in a friendly last Autumn but we should now be able to get through what looks like being the hardest group. I'm really surprised brazil didn't get through the South American qualification as from what I had seen previously they were very good at this age group. Uruguay won that qualification and I imagine they will be string and hard to beat. Italy are very string defensively and knocked us out of the semi final in last years U19, but it was a game we dominated and could easily have scored 4/5. France appear to be the stand out team, but we beat them in the group stages of last years U19 (a competition they subsequently won) and again in a friendly a couple of months ago.
If Walshy doesn't have any of his team out there checking on the talent I'd want to know why. Be interesting what they thought of some of the talent on show in the Argentine team today. They really are a joy to watch, but at the end of the day it was our boy's 2 key passes that ended up as assists.
Barnfred 55
Player Valuation: £80m
Kenny was given MOM by the commentator and I thought he was excellent too. Very solid defensively against some very tricky players and tried to get forward a lot more than Connelly did on the left. also played an absolute beaut of a volleyed pass to one of our strikers that Beckham would have been proud of.
Dowell gave a typical Dowell performance. Worked his socks off and showed some terrific touches on the ball assisting twice. But he still had problems getting involved in the game enough for my liking. However the Argies dominated possession so it's hard to be too critical.
Both should be proud of their performances.
DCL also worked his socks off scoring, assisting, and could have got a couple more. Playing off that left hand side (where I don't particularly like to see him) he got himself into some good positions. However he did leave poor Connelly horribly exposed at times and he had a torrid time at left back. Not Connolly's best game but he was targeted by the Argies and didn't get the same cover from his midfield that Kenny enjoyed on the other flank. Plus when he did get possession, there never seemed to be the outlet ball for him. Not sure whether this was down to lack of movement on our part or a bi product of the Argies overloading that side of the pitch.
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