Obviously one shouldn't take too much from the u16 level but as I say it would have been nice to have good results and performances as a portent for the future. Losing on pens seems so typically English. Still, another opportunity against the French.
Quite alot of the time with our youth teams the good results are gained by a poor style of play though. I know for a fact that if nobody had been at this tournament to watch it then the FA and staff would have just said we were very unlucky and played really well. I'm not saying the FA should come out and point out poor or even average displays at all but there is a delusion about alot of this because the approach alot of the time doesn't seem to change much regardless of players.
Agreed, have thought our defence is the weakest part of team this campaign, if new faces were going to be brought in for this tournament I thought it might have been for the defence tbh.
Having no Technical Director has not helped affairs. If we did have one then I think quite a few issues would be solved, given time. But obviously it would have to be the right person who can do a competent job.
We could have had a technical director ages ago but Brooking as usual has done nothing. Now it wouldn't shock me if he gives it to Southgate.
It's funny because when there was that parliamentary inquiry into how the FA runs Football, the question was asked why we didn't have one and iirc even a UEFA delegate was there asking the same thing. The FA retorted that Southgate working with Brooking is basically the equivilant. So it wouldn't surprise me if Southgate wanted it, he would get it.
This is why they give such titles that can be equated to a range of things/roles. So they can then say when asked this guy does this job and that job. Oh and he does that too Southgate couldn't have even been in that role too long at all at the time too.
arsenal u13s just won a tournament beating celtic, St Kevins, braga, and west brom i think a match here if anyones interested [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbqMhOx_BzY&list=UU2MM4Zcnxj7Q4YHBH6qyKWg&index=2&feature=plcp"]SC Braga vs Arsenal U13, Semi Final Part 1 - YouTube[/ame]
Some french friends of mine who were at the game told me that there was a very strong wind which didn't allowed players to show their technical abilities.France created more goals opportunities but they conceided on a defensive mistake.....anyway the best player on the pitch for the english was dan crowley . They told me ,he was very tidy and keep the ball very well controlling the game with great vision and composure.
Portugal beat Russia on penalties 0-0 final score. Not a bad tournament on reflection. Final Placings 1) Portugal 2) Russia 3) England 4) France 5) USA 6) Mexico 7) Japan 8) China 9) Morocco 10 Ivory Coast 11) UAE 12) FSA (Cameroon)
Mirror reporting that Barcelona want Ashley Smith-Brown from City. Juni, Mo0 and myself had a few words on twitter and its probably nonsense/agent talk. There has been Barcelona links with Loftus-Cheeks recently as well and the whole Arsenal story with Afobe and Aneke as well.
I'm not sure why Barca would want Brown. The Everton right back Birch looked particularly poor in the VS but for some reason he keeps turning up in squads.
You seem to spend an awful lot of your time on here writing off teenagers' careers based on little evidence.
If my having an opinion offends you sunshine, isn't it possible to put me on ignore? Some players I rate, some players I don't. That's normal, chuck. This is a site that you can give your opinions on players. If you don't like it you know what you can do! My opinion is often formed on a considerable amout of "evidence". In Birch's case not a lot, but in his case he did look particularly shit with little prospects. And I do wonder why they keep picking him.
Kasey Palmer u15 at Charlton Athletic looks a very promising young talent, i saw him feature for them in the fixture against Chelsea under 18s, which he started. I think he was born in 1996 am not too confident on that.I believe he is very highly regarded at the club having made several appearances for the clubs under 18s. Surely he is due his England u16 call up because he looks like he has a very bright future ahead of him or has he already had one , am not sure?
Yeah, I've heard of him. But haven't seen him play. He along with defender Joe Gomez are two club u15s playing for their u18s. They've also had club u16 Taariq Holmes-Dennis play for the u18s regularly. Thats not forgetting there other players. Charlton Academy is going to go places under Paul Hart.
i'm glad Hart found a place he can thrive in. derided at Pompey. likely out of his depth. but with CAFC, doing well. glad to hear of it.
Paul Hart is doing a fabulous job at charlton , quarter finals of the youth cup and are in and around the top of the league! & if you can get some more information about Kasey Palmer it would be very beneficial because i would like to keep up to date with his progress throughout his career. He is bound to be something special in the future.