England U-21 Discussions Thread #6 [R's]

Highlights (For UK only though unfortunately) -

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBJ-qLCtcxY[/ame]

With regards to mceachran he looked lost and isolated playing for a team that could barely play a 1-2, which does not bode well for a potential england career. He played as the commentator put it "in the hole" but i think he needs to play deeper so theres at least a chance his teammates might be able to give him the ball.

Ameobi was very skillful but ended up becoming a battering ram from goal kicks in one of stuarts more subtle tactics.

AOC was very bright and skillful and got motm, but he needs to sharpen up at times when he dallies on the ball.

England as usual ended up bludgening a weak opponent into submission with henderson as chief bludgener

I don't watch much of the U-21s but from what I have seen that was a typical Pearce display. I know the team won 5-0 and is cruising in the group but there still doesn't seem to be any real shape or direction. At times it is like watching kids on a playground, each player trying to do their own thing. It seemed like our chances and goals came from either a set piece, forcing the opposition into a mistake or a piece of individual brilliance (usually from Oxlade-Chamberlian). It was to me, the same bullying performance that the full England side do on every weak nation in qualifying only to find themselves outclassed once they reach a tournament!

I watched with interest to see how Sammy got on. It was a typical display of his. Some really silky touches at times but he is clearly raw and also naive to the defensive side of the game (one occasion where he was megged by their substitute in particular). Like above poster mentioned it became very, very dull watching him become the target for the long ball simply because he is tall. It is not his game at all!

Yeah there was no real fluid play at all.

A bright spot is that Gardner's goals were class, he looked like he could be very effective in the hole behind the striker. The individual talents are there, just need proper coaching and to be playing regular club football.

Decent game but the scoreline massively favoured us. We were typically solid and well organised defensively but Pearce again proving he can't set up a midfield. Lowe and Henderson were playing the deep roles with McEachran pushed up off Sordell. No one was looking for him in the hole so he drifted a lot looking for touches and was out of the game for long stretches.

Dropped too deep at times looking for the ball to feet only to watch it sail over his head to Sordell or the wings. Looked like Pearce asked him to play the role the way Lansbury does (latching on to knockdowns, arriving in the box, etc). Without intelligent passers from deep, he'll never look half decent in the 10 role for England. I'd like to see Carroll given a go in place of Lowe and see how they'd link up.

The game plan, as ever, was based around getting it to the wings for Chamberlain and Ameobi to take on their full back. Chamberlain had lively moments in the 1st but got better in the 2nd half as the game went on. Should have scored on a couple of occasions and played in Keane on another chance.

Noticed that Butland kicked it long at every opportunity too which was annoying. Think it was a Pearce tactic because the defence rarely split to open up passing options.

Ameobi was lively when he came on. There was a period, in the 1st half, when a lot of the play went down his side, and Chamberlain actually drifted out a bit. He beat his fullback a fair bit and had some decent crosses. He's a big lad and has decent pace. Good quick feet but looks a bit gangly and awkward. He used his feet decently a couple of times but relied more on power and pace to beat his man than anything else. I imagine he'll be a powerful lad when he fills out.

Should call up Townsend for the Belgium game though. More fluid player than Ameobi at this stage.

Keane didn't have long to make a contribution. Could have had a tap in if AOC didn't go into greed mode towards the end. Agree with Sharpovic in that what little he did, he did it with composure and class.

The thing with Ameobi is, like I posted when he was announced in the squad, he's had a bit of a meteoric rise over the last year. He's never been involved in any international youth set-up over here and has really burst onto the seen at NUFC towards the end of last season and during a very good pre-season. In terms of gametime at the top level he's had very little experience and it shows in his game.

I'm also not entirely sure he's a winger in the way Pearce tried to utilise him today. Same goes for Ox on the other side. I think both are a bit more versatile and can work in a fluid team if the midfield is set up right. I'm not sure Pearce can do this and I'm still not sure what the idea is with McEachran playing so advanced. Wasn't it Ancelotti who likened him to Pirlo last season?

It's strange when the team has won 5-0 and maybe I'm not best qualified to judge as I'm not a regular viewer but when I do watch the U-21s I'm always left feeling underwhelmed and frustrated by a number of different things.

and all the fans that dont bother watching see the scorelines and presume everything is rosey and the manager is doing a great job, today is a prime example of that

Very true. I guess my musing on here are like groundhog day for those who watch and post regularly.

I think there's a genuine problem with a results obsession. Results at this level in terms of scoreline really don't mean anything, really. The real results come from a) producing players for the full team and b) making sure they're playing in a system that can transfer to the the full level. I mean, generally if you get b right the results should flow but it should be way down on the priority list really.

Thanks for the info. Shame about AOC getting greedy towards the end as it would have been nice to see Keane score on his debut.

This is the first full U21 match that I've not watched in years so thanks for everyones views.

This happens all the time. During the last tournament Pearce moaned that people were criticising his team when they hadn't watched them all through qualifying. Claiming that it was good in qualifying. Which is a complete delusion.

Unfortunately it is not Pearce's fault. He isn't a development coach. He's a results coach and only knows one way, which is a defensive and direct style of play. He is then left with free reign by the FA to do what he wants.

Agree but a.) will happen regardless. Our most talented players will always be promoted eventually regardless of how they do.

The examples are endless. Andy Carroll had a big row with Pearce and Pearce 'dropped' him. Only then did Carroll hit a great run of form at club level to make his senior debut. So his U21 career was pretty irrelevant.

Same with Wilshere who was played wide a few times and barely played centrally and when he did it wasn't well because Pearce doesn't know how to set a midfield up to play the right way.

We will get the players coming through but on the whole it's pretty much a waste of time at this level.

Delfouneso has pulled out injured. We seem to get so many hamstring injuries at this level. Bizarre.

http://twitter.com/#!/jamiebradbury/status/136153327913275392

http://twitter.com/#!/jamiebradbury/status/136153407114313728

No Carroll on the bench. Shame.

I assume Joe Bennett has picked up a knock but no signs of that being true atm

Three hoofed balls already after not even 3 minutes.

We score from a set piece again 0-1 England. Martin Kelly the scorer.

3 of them could have scored that. No marking of the runners at all by Belgium.

Kelly at 6ft 3 is always going to be a threat in the air from corners/free-kicks.

I cannot think of another full-back who is so tall.

Yeah, some of the marking from teams at set pieces in this groups has been woeful.

What type of pass is that by Lowe?

That was some decent football for a change, Ameobi and McEachran.

So frustrating to watch. Since Lansbury's injury Pearce is just expecting McEachran to do the exact same role

Too much hoofing from the centre backs and Lowe and Henderson as a partnership is never going to work. Put McEachran deeper or drop Lowe for Carroll.

When Josh gets the ball he looks good but he gets too isolated by these tactics.

If he's going to play Henderson, then he needs him further up the pitch. It should be McEachran dictacting play, not being the spare man.

Typical Pearce half of football.

Barnes has a it right there, really need a 2nd McEachran - one to pick the ball up off the back 4 while the other one plays off the front man to make the final pass.

Barnes is saying we need better technical players deeper like McEachran to collect the ball off the defence. Pointing out the obvious basically, something Pearce cannot understand.