Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Legion on July 05, 2010, 07:01:02 PM
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Congratulations to Nathan Baker and Nathan Delfouneso.
From Pravda (http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/FootballNewsDetail/0,,10265~2084905,00.html):
Nathan Delfouneso and Nathan Baker have been named in England's squad for the European Under-19 Championship Finals in France.
The Villa duo are in the 18-man party to head to the championships, as they look to go one further than last year when they were beaten by hosts Ukraine in the final.
Delfouneso, the Golden Boot winner at the 2009 tournament, is the most experienced member of the Young Lions squad, having scored nine goals from 21 appearances at under-19 level.
The striker's call-up comes on the back of an impressive 2009-10 campaign, which saw him score his first Premier League goal for Villa as well as netting on his England under-21 debut against Greece in March.
Defender Baker, who has six caps at under-19 level, has been part of the club's highly successful reserve team over the past couple of seasons and spent much of last term gaining valuable first team experience on loan at Lincoln City.
England will kick off their Group A campaign against Austria in Flers on Sunday July 18, before taking on Netherlands and France.
The top two nations from each group will progress to the semi-finals on Tuesday July 27, with the final in Caen on Friday July 30.
Group B will be made up of Spain, Portugal, Italy and Croatia.
The top six teams in the competition will also go on to be Europe's representatives at next year's FIFA U20 World Cup in Columbia.
Other players included in the England squad are Tottenham's John Bostock, Tom Cruise of Arsenal and West Ham youngster Frank Nouble.
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Lets see if the young lions can do us proud.
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I heard on the news this morning that Villa were one of the clubs which weren't going to allow any Under-19's in this competition.
Glad to see we are.
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My only worry is that last year, because Fonzie was not here pre-season, it took a while for him to work his way back into the managers plans. He didn't really have the chance to shine in the Peace Cup and push his way into Martin's thoughts more predominently.
I really hope Fonz gets given more game time this season. He's gonna be quality. Above all he's a young English forward with some technical ability and eye for a finish.
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Seems like a good idea to me......give the lads some competitive games they should come back ready to start the season flying but with MON's use of his squad/only picking his favourites the Fonz may see all his efforts wasted
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which numbskull in Fifa scheduled this at the time of pre season. Pre season for Nathan D this season is vital for his progress to the first team and not an under 18 team playing slow slow football
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Andreas Weimann's going, too, for Austria
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Is Ciaran Clark too old for this tournament then?
Think it's quite a good thing they're going as they'd only be playing friendlies.
If Fonz is top scorer for example in this tournament, he'll come back full of confidence which should benefit him and us.
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and Albrighton did get a chance in the peace cup, was probably our best player, but still barely got a chance (admittedly, he didn't look ready when given a chance in the prem)
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Would rather see Delfouneso start pre-season with us and giving Gabby a run for his money to start against West Ham.
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and Albrighton did get a chance in the peace cup, was probably our best player, but still barely got a chance (admittedly, he didn't look ready when given a chance in the prem)
He looked like a rabbit caught in headlights on his Prem debut but he impressed in the game in which he got injured.
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Albrighton should've gone out on loan in the early part of last season when he wasn't even getting into the 18.
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Yes, Albrighton did make it to the bench early on last season, but as said, he didn't look ready. He came on opening day didn't he? In the Wigan debacle. He quickly ended back in the reserves, and didn't appear till mid season I recall.
Fonzie though didn't really get his chance till the season was well under way. I'd have expected him to play earlier than he did. In part an early Euro exit was a factor of course. But Martin said as much last season, that he was not entirely happy about Fonzie playing in the championships because of missing pre-season.
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and Albrighton did get a chance in the peace cup, was probably our best player, but still barely got a chance (admittedly, he didn't look ready when given a chance in the prem)
He looked like a rabbit caught in headlights on his Prem debut but he impressed in the game in which he got injured.
Brighton wasn't it? He looked really good in the short while he was on the pitch.
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Tom Cruise of Arsenal. I've heard he's a bit of a Maverick. I wonder if he'll become a Top Gunner?
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You're dangerous. Dangerous and foolish.
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Do you reckon Baker can get me tickets for this?
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Andreas Weimann's going, too, for Austria
No Hofbauer?
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Do you reckon Baker can get me tickets for this?
Haven't got any left. Sorry.
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My reservation about Albrighton is whether he's a flat track bully. His directness excellent against teams in friendlies, youth team players or div 2, but not looked ready against prem teams.
Far too early to say that of course, but I wonder why he's not been given more chances
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Do you reckon Baker can get me tickets for this?
Haven't got any left. Sorry.
No worries.
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just to let people know all the england matches are live on eurosport, starting with austria this sunday, holland on wednesday and france next saturday 24th, all around 5pm uk time.
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just to let people know all the england matches are live on eurosport, starting with austria this sunday, holland on wednesday and france next saturday 24th, all around 5pm uk time.
Ta.
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and Albrighton did get a chance in the peace cup, was probably our best player, but still barely got a chance (admittedly, he didn't look ready when given a chance in the prem)
He looked like a rabbit caught in headlights on his Prem debut but he impressed in the game in which he got injured.
I don't remember which games he came on in unless I was there. I saw him against Brighton and he looked fab, but the next time I recall him coming on was in the home match against the Dogheads, which is not really a stage for a reserve team player looking for game time to look his best in.
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He came on against Liverpool at home, and one of the later games too. He didn't look at all confident or ready, though I wouldn't want to jump to conclusions
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just to let people know all the england matches are live on eurosport, starting with austria this sunday, holland on wednesday and france next saturday 24th, all around 5pm uk time.
I've just looked and it seems it's not on TV. Hopefully it's on the FA's website. I've not been able to confirm that but I seem to remember they don't really advertise the games. If anyone knows more please post.
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I really hope Fonz gets more a chance next season, he's old enough now.
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just to let people know all the england matches are live on eurosport, starting with austria this sunday, holland on wednesday and france next saturday 24th, all around 5pm uk time.
I've just looked and it seems it's not on TV. Hopefully it's on the FA's website. I've not been able to confirm that but I seem to remember they don't really advertise the games. If anyone knows more please post.
Eurosport 5:15pm
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just to let people know all the england matches are live on eurosport, starting with austria this sunday, holland on wednesday and france next saturday 24th, all around 5pm uk time.
I've just looked and it seems it's not on TV. Hopefully it's on the FA's website. I've not been able to confirm that but I seem to remember they don't really advertise the games. If anyone knows more please post.
Eurosport 5:15pm
Kick off is at 5pm and my online TV guide says they're showing either Tour De France or Super Bikes. Apologies if I'm missing something obvious, this is only my 2nd week having more channels than FreeView so I'm still learning my way around.
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Ok it's on tomorrow not today! <facepalm>
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England currently 1-0 up.
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2-0 now
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Live stream:
http://www.iraqgoals.net/10181-austria-u19-vs-england-u19.html
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Cheers Legion. Been trying to find a live stream.
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Finished 3-2 to England. Very impressed with the Austrian lad David Alaba. You'd like to think these are the type of players our scouts are watching.
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Finished 3-2 to England. Very impressed with the Austrian lad David Alaba. You'd like to think these are the type of players our scouts are watching.
We are. We have scouts at this tournament.
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have to say that apart from his first goal, which was a tidy finish, albeit under no pressue whatseoever, nouble was shocking... strong quick and powerful, but his first touch was shocking and so many times he lost the ball by either poor control, dallying on it too long, or ballooning a cross to the middle of nowhere... his second goal, i am convinced was an intended cross for delfouneso that skewed off his foot into the net...
thought delfouneso was a little under par... some good movement and got into some good positions that were wasted when nouble continuously lost the ball, but overall, he didnt really get into the game like he can... there were signs of his touch, pace, strength, and intelligence, but it wasnt the delfouneso that i know.... nice hold up in a tight area to set up cruise for the 3rd goal though....
baker for me did the simple things well, but was a little rash in some of his challenges at times... he must have upset the ref though, as he kept blowing up against him for not much... the free kick for their first goal in particular...
weimann did nothing all game...
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I think Weiman never had a chance playing in such a shit team, although he looked alot more interested than Delfouneso who just looked like he couldn't be bothered.
But when he did get the ball he looked good.
What baffles me is why the likes of Rodwell have been allowed too stay with their clubs.
This is why England will never be successful
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What baffles me is why the likes of Rodwell have been allowed too stay with their clubs.
This is why England will never be successful
I would suggest it is becase he will be one of the fresh faces hinted at after the World Cup.
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What baffles me is why the likes of Rodwell have been allowed too stay with their clubs.
This is why England will never be successful
I would suggest it is becase he will be one of the fresh faces hinted at after the World Cup.
He's had a cracking start to pre-season too down in Australia! Scored an absolute pearler yesterday!
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What baffles me is why the likes of Rodwell have been allowed too stay with their clubs.
This is why England will never be successful
I would suggest it is becase he will be one of the fresh faces hinted at after the World Cup.
I read how Germany try to evolve their teams in batches. Thereby they ensure that all the key players stay together through-out the various grades and then promote them - 3 or 4 players - in one go to the actual team.
I can see the logic in this as it means the team grows together. Rodwell may get a call up but Capello will discover that he is not yet as good as gerrard/lampard and he'll be discarded. See Walcott for a recent example.
Not sure of the ages of these players, but don't you think that right now we'd be better off if Gabby, Theo Walcott, Micah Richards, Adam Johnson and to a lesser extent Milner had all played lots of games (and tournaments) together. Whereas these players have jumped between the full squad and U21 (if they're not considered too good for the U21 by their clubs) losing continuity and the opportunity to build a team mentality.
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I just think that the beat players at each level should represent the country. Unless your a special talent like Rooney the likes of rodwell should be playing these tournaments!
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Second group game tonight against Holland, KO 6pm.
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England beaten by Holland 1-0. Fonz had a goal disallowed for handball even though he chested it down before putting it in. A shocking decision.
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what a load of rubbish....
hoofing it from back to front to a lone front man with no support is just piss poor tactics and just sums up the coaching and management rubbish we have in this country...
piss poor service from a midfield that were simply appalling, another shocking performance from nouble, and not to mention, an absolutely disgraceful decision from the referee to disallow delfounesos excellent goal was as bad as the england performance....
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Poor passing, poor movement, poor quality of passing.Actually looked a better footballing team when the 2 subs came on late on.Agreed about Nouble, works hard, can bully at this level, but poor with final ball/shot.
Not sure Blake is the right kind of manager, team seemed to play like he did.The 2 lads who came on at the end were much better footballers than the players they replaced.
Not looking too good for 10 years time is it?
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Poor passing, poor movement, poor quality of passing.Actually looked a better footballing team when the 2 subs came on late on.Agreed about Nouble, works hard, can bully at this level, but poor with final ball/shot.
Not sure Blake is the right kind of manager, team seemed to play like he did.The 2 lads who came on at the end were much better footballers than the players they replaced.
Not looking too good for 10 years time is it?
There's always Joe Cole, footballer extraordinaire. If he had played in the World Cup, we would have won it dontcha know. He really is that good...
Just like their seniors, they'll all develop into a bunch of over-hyped and over-paid average players...
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England were awful and it was mainly down to the midfield who were abyssmal.
Fonz should have buried the first chance he had, very unlike him, but that goal that was disallowed was a joke.
The officials all the way through were shocking. I think they found those linos in the same place as the England midfielders.
Still, there are a lot better England players in their age group that werent there. The likes of Wilshere, Rodwell etc.
The Fonz was the only player who could control a ball (when they got it to him). He looked very frustrated to be playing with such tripe.
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I got the impression richard, that some of them thought they "had arrived".Did'nt/Don't work hard enough at improving the game.
I'm a better player than the no 7, and i stopped playing 10 yrs ago.
The players who come on, show that we have better players, so maybe its just the psyche of the managers/coaches.
Both Austria and Netherlands played a better quality of football.
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Poor passing, poor movement, poor quality of passing.Actually looked a better footballing team when the 2 subs came on late on.Agreed about Nouble, works hard, can bully at this level, but poor with final ball/shot.
Not sure Blake is the right kind of manager, team seemed to play like he did.The 2 lads who came on at the end were much better footballers than the players they replaced.
Not looking too good for 10 years time is it?
How did he get the job in the first place?
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v France (http://www.iraqgoals.net/10389-england-u19-vs-france-u19.html)
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cheers. Delf does look to have a good touch. Nouble doesn't!
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Delf just missed a sitter - second of the tourney
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The commentary is so bad!
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I know, the co-commentator keeps on huffing and sighing like's he's had too much cheese and port at xmas
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(http://i29.tinypic.com/2m516yt.jpg)
From Italy v Spain earlier.
Anyone who follows Spanish football have any information on him? Eziqual Calevente I believe his name is.
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That's the best penalty I've ever seen!
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That's the best penalty I've ever seen!
Me too, it's brilliant.
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Oh, very nice.
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Much prefer Dwights against Arsenal.
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This one is technically more difficult though.
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It finished 1-1. Did we get through?
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According to the BBC yes, 1-1 was enough to play Spain in the next round.
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As good as it was and it was fantastic, this one is better than Dwight's IMO.
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Yes, better than Dwight's. And original,as far as I know
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JJ's gif thingy is in super slow-mo so I can't see it properly. Was it better than Uruguay's winner against Ghana?
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I think it's the most ingenious I've ever seen. He runs up to take it with his right foot, and his whole body movement and angle suggest he's going to tuck it to the keeper's right. As the keeper dives to his right, the player, without breaking his stride at all, tucks it the other way with his left. This was all at normal pace in run up terms, no stutter.
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Interesting take on the under 19s by John Nicholson at Football 365
Sub-standard kids play stupid football (http://www.football365.com/john_nicholson/0,17033,8746_6274497,00.html)
I cant disagree with much of it and similar could be said of most club sides managed by British coaches. Villa at least have a player in Ashely Young who is capable of beating a player with skill. It's hard to imagine Noel Blake being a proponent of the pass and move, ball retention school of tactics somehow.
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'Fannyless' he's dead right. The way they defended the goal against France was under 8s park stuff, a player bursts down the right wing and the entire defence go over to chase the ball leaving two French players completely free in the box for the winger to pick out and slot in easily. Having Noel Blake as a coach you would expect a lack of any flair but you would at least expect him to be able to coach defending after all his years of playing there (however shit he was)
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I agree it's hard to look at that team andbe confident about the future of english football. maybe the under 17s really are a step ahead of them. Spain will teachthat team a lesson in the semis I'd have thought
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2-0 down, the Fonse playing well, Baker gone off.
http://www.iraqgoals.net/10503-spain-u19-vs-england-u19.html
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2-1, good strike by Bostock
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Its a shame Gary Gardner isnt fit. He'd comfortably be the best central midfielder in the squad.
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Its a shame Gary Gardner isnt fit. He'd comfortably be the best central midfielder in the squad.
Is he that good? You seen him play much?
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Its a shame Gary Gardner isnt fit. He'd comfortably be the best central midfielder in the squad.
Is he that good? You seen him play much?
From what I've seen so far you don't need to be that good to get in the U19 side
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Its a shame Gary Gardner isnt fit. He'd comfortably be the best central midfielder in the squad.
Is he that good? You seen him play much?
1- The England U19 midfield (at thistournament, its not the full strength one) is shite.
2- Yes, he is a fantastic prospect.
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Spain outclassed us and fully deserved their 3-1 win.
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only clyne and delfouneso looked anything out of that whole squad...
and delfouneso was well below par...
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only clyne and delfouneso looked anything out of that whole squad...
and delfouneso was well below par...
His useless team mates must have got the ball to him about 5 times in the whole tournament.
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indeed... in particular, that donkey nouble...
not to mention neanderthal tactics from blake...
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We need to tear up the foundations and start again, not just on the kids, but young coaches too. Enough blood and thunder. Pass, move, control. A bit more technique needs to be taught. It'll take time to get it running as it should, and for those kids to come to the fore, but if we want to win something, its how it's gotta be.
If the FA aren't particularly fussed and would rather save the money, then so be it. But the England side will only get worse in years to come.
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To think that a donkey like Noel Blake is in charge at this level quite frankly beggars belief...
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I don't like to knock Noel Blake, as hes supposed to be a decent bloke, and i have met him, the week after he headbutted Steve McMahon, and he was quite a nice bloke;but you have to question why we played some many tall,cumbersome,skillless players.
The 2 CH's were both awful, as was Nouble.Can't think of 1 midfielder who was decent,poor football,poor ball retainment, and as Stewart Robson said poor knowledge of the game of football from both players and the manager.
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I don't like to knock Noel Blake, as hes supposed to be a decent bloke, and i have met him, the week after he headbutted Steve McMahon, and he was quite a nice bloke;but you have to question why we played some many tall,cumbersome,skillless players.
The 2 CH's were both awful, as was Nouble.Can't think of 1 midfielder who was decent,poor football,poor ball retainment, and as Stewart Robson said poor knowledge of the game of football from both players and the manager.
I think I might know why he played so many tall, cumbersome, skillless players. Remind you of anyone? But hey, what are you worrying about. We've moved on from how crap England are. All brushed under the carpet. Dontcha know the best league in the world starts again in a couple of weeks time, all those top teams crammed full of the cream of English talent...
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We need to tear up the foundations and start again, not just on the kids, but young coaches too. Enough blood and thunder. Pass, move, control. A bit more technique needs to be taught. It'll take time to get it running as it should, and for those kids to come to the fore, but if we want to win something, its how it's gotta be.
If the FA aren't particularly fussed and would rather save the money, then so be it. But the England side will only get worse in years to come.
You're right supertom, but what you've said there has been repeated ad nauseam since the early 70's.
I'm afraid it will never change. Why do I believe this?
1) Premier League, especially the big guns don't care about the national side. You could argue, why should they? Depending on priorities, it's either Champions League or staying in the division. Also, Clubs buy foreign players because they're generally cheaper. Now, I know there's a new squad rule, but all this is going to lead to is talented English players being snapped up by the big clubs to warm benches and play for the stiffs (James Milner anyone?)
2) From what we've seen in the World Cup and the U19's, the standard of players is generally poor. I don't care that the senior players earn a fortune. They are shit compared to the likes of Germany, Holland and Spain. The first touch of our players are atrocious and there is a chronic shortage of skilful play. This to me suggests that the players coming through are selected because they are big, strong and can put their foot in. They can get away with it playing with top internationals, but are woefully exposed for the average hoofers they really are when they play for England.
3) With the above point in mind, it's clear that the FA have really not got a clue, nor have they for donkeys years. Money spunked up the wall on foreign managers have achieved nothing in the long run. Also, why are the same old heads still lurking around in the background? Stuart Pearce, Trevor Brooking, Howard Wilkinson. Just what exactly have these people done to benefit the national game?
4) The FA themselves - Best part of a Billion pounds spent on a stadium that wasn't really necessary. Would the money have been better spent on facilities around the country? I really don't know what would be feasible in that respect, but I do believe that Wembley was a vanity project that London just had to have.