Sterling? Find that a really odd comment. I thought he looked a rose amongst thorns in the LFC reserves and nextgen team.
He looked like someone who needed to sharpen himself up. At that age you are supposed to improve the following year (like say, Nick Powell did) but Sterling seemed to go backwards and if he succeeded doing something it usually seemed more by accident than design. Hopefully he'll buck his ideas up this year.
In a second half appearance for Arsenal this afternoon Afobe aptly demonstrated why he'll never get anywhere to speak of. He was put clean through with only the keeper to beat (who had come out a fair way) and the best he could do was pathetically and tamely tap it into the arms of the keeper.
After Man U had a shock 2-0 defeat in the Milk Cup they responded in the next game winning 8-0. Can't read much into it (of course) but that interesting lad, the very good dribbler Harrop scored 4 (wilson 2) and Ashley Fletcher looks interesting (I saw a little bit of him last year) scored 2 when he came on. Has an elongated looking body and an odd style about him.
I must admit, that was indeed a shocking miss. From what I've seen so far of Afobe, his all-round game is very good--good movement, good work-rate, decent technique, decent passing, even the odd trick... but when it comes to finishing, the one area where it would really make that difference - that is, give him a chance of being an excellent striker - he doesn't seem nearly instinctive enough. Any striker worth his salt would have gone for even a dummy or a chip there. Still, I remain hopeful that he can improve on this deficiency, or find a way round it. He is still young, after all. What's your opinion on Aneke, Guardian?
Aneke? Can't say I've ever thought much of him since he first turned up for England u16s as a skinny 14 year old.
Surprised by that. I think (and hope) he'll prove you wrong. I've rated him highly for some time, to the extent, even, that I was quite saddened when it came out that he might defect to Nigeria. Admittedly, there are areas of his game that need improvement (defensively, and perhaps mentally).
He's highly rated by most Arsenal fans it seems - even now. Like others he needs to get a move on now if he's going to do anything. I would expect Loftus-Cheek to be playing for England seniors by the time he's his age.
I guess at least he's cut out the swearing. At the previous U19 tournament we went to they had to cut the microphones close to him because you could hear it all. All ridiculous and I don't see any other nation doing it at these levels. Pearce also does it and was swearing alot at the last U21 tournament.
Afobe missed another two very good chances when he came on today for Arsenal. The sort of chances you'd expect a good striker to put away no probs.
With us not making the u17 finals I'll be interested to see how the u18s do in their couple of friendlies this coming season. At one time Sky used to televise the ocassional game (not anymore though - ball bags). Jordan Ibe has some potential - with his close control dribbling in tight situations. He reminds me quite a bit of The Ox. And Liverpool's new signing Dan Smith has looked a good little attacking midfield player in pre-season.
The Premier League is ready to bring forward its overhaul of youth-team football and introduce a revolutionary Champions League-style competition at under-21 and under-18 levels for the coming season. Representatives of 23 clubs — 17 from the Barclays Premier League and six from the npower Championship — will meet at the Emirates Stadium next Thursday to rubber-stamp the proposals, which will introduce the two new competitions, the Barclays Under-21 and Under-18 Premier Leagues, to replace the longstanding reserve-team structure. Queens Park Rangers, Swansea City and Wigan Athletic will not take part in the inaugural campaign, having not been in a position to apply for “Category One” status in the forthcoming grading of English clubs’ youth academies as part of the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP). The six Championship clubs that have applied for “Category One” are understood to include Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The new competitions will consist of two group stages. For the first, which will run until December, the 23 clubs will be split into three groups — two of eight teams and one of seven teams — and will play the other teams in their group at home and away. At the end of this process, depending on where they finish, they will either go into the elite group stage, for the best eight teams, or qualification group tier one or two. The idea is that all 23 teams will still be playing competitive matches as they look to qualify for the end-of-season knockout stage. While the EPPP is primarily designed to raise standards in youth development, it was felt essential that a new league was introduced to replace the traditional reserve-team structure, which is regarded by many managers and academy directors as lacking the competitive edge needed to help development. Three over-age players will be allowed, plus an over-age goalkeeper, but the idea is that elite youngsters such as Josh McEachran, of Chelsea, Raheem Sterling, of Liverpool, and Will Keane, of Manchester United, will play regular competitive football against players of a similar level. Terry Westley, who has been on the EPPP youth working committee, has laid out the thinking behind the changes in the new Premier League Yearbook. “The Barclays Under-18 and Under-21 Premier Leagues have been designed to offer an alternative,” the former Birmingham City and Derby County youth academy director said. “The vision is for the best young players to compete against each other in a ‘best versus best’ scenario, which can only enhance their development and take them closer to the competitive nature of first-team football. “The games will be structured to complement the Premier League match weekend. So, as a first-team manager there is a great benefit in knowing that you can have your under-21 player on the bench for the Premier League, but if he doesn’t play then there’s still the option for him to have high-quality football that weekend in the Under-21 League. A competitive situation, where fans are coming along to watch the next generation of talented young players, is what we must aspire to.” The initial plan was to introduce the new format for the 2013-14 season, once the various youth academies have been categorised, but there was an overwhelming feeling among the clubs that they should accelerate the process and base the first campaign on the projected categorisations. Provisions will be made for QPR, Swansea and Wigan to join the other Category Two clubs, which include most of the Championship, at a secondary level next season while they strive to attain Category One status. Champions of the future • At both under-21 and under-18 level there will be three groups: two groups of eight teams (National Groups 1 and 2) and one group of seven teams (National Group 3). These will not be regionalised. Clubs play each other home and away. At under-21 level teams will be allowed to play up to three over-age outfield players plus an over-age goalkeeper • At the end of the first group stage, the top three teams in National Groups 1 and 2 and the top two from National Group 3 will proceed to the Elite Group stage. The remaining teams will be in Qualification Groups 1 and 2, depending on where they finished. The idea is that the best players and teams will be playing against each other in the Elite Group, competing for three of the five places in the knockout stage. The clubs in the second and third tiers will also still have the opportunity to reach the knockout stage • In the knockout stage, the teams finishing top of the two Qualification Groups will play each other to decide who makes the semi-final against the winner of the Elite Group Stage. The teams finishing second and third in the Elite Group Stage play in the other semi-final. The winners contest the final for the right to be crowned Barclays Under-21 and Under-18 Premier League champions
Hopefully Blake will call them up and give them a chance as they are very good players who need looking at. I just wish we arranged more games per season, we don't seem to utilise U18 level as well as other nations.
Certainly when (as in this case) we don't go to the u17 euros we could do with a couple more games - say a mini tournament. I still think this group year could come up with a good side.
Might as well put it in the u19 section still. 16-minute hattrick last night for Benik Afobe for Bolton. Jamaal Lascelles hs signed a new 4-year deal with Forest.
Will also be interesting to see what happens for this new campaign. Chalobah will be captain. Hopefully a few 1995 born players are promoted to plug a few gaps that we have with the 1994 group.
New squad for friendly away against Germany on the 6th September - The Squad Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Sunderland), Jonathan Sutherland (Manchester United). Defenders: Tyler Blackett (Manchester United). Eric Dier (Sporting Lisbon),Adam Jackson (Middlesbrough), Daniel Potts (West Ham United), John Stones (Barnsley). Midfielders: Nathaniel Chalobah (Chelsea), John Lundstram (Everton), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Nick Powell (Manchester United), Nathan Redmond (Birmingham City), Forwards: Chuba Akpom (Arsenal), Jack Barmby (Manchester United), Max Clayton (Crewe Alexandra), Adam Morgan (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Blair Turgott (West Ham United).
Sterling made his first competitive start for LFC. It was a Europa League tie at Hearts. Sterling looked lively. LFC fielded lots of English players during the match - Carragher, Robinson, Kelly, Shelvey, Spearing, Henderson and Sterling started. Downing and Morgan came on too as second half subs. Compilation vid of Sterling from the match is here
