He really has crossed the line this time though. Wilshere was the motm against the Brazil senior team ffs, asking for a player of that calibre is lunacy. What would Pearce do with Wilshere if he got him? Drop McEachran or Hughes who need development? Taking top players is one thing, but they also have to have a top coach, Pearce does not meet this requirement. He has been tactically beaten on many occasions.
Apparently there is going to be a recently retired international joining Pearce's coaching staff for the U21 finals according to this Henry Winter article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...retirement-from-playing-at-end-of-season.html There is also going to be change for the Under-20 WC: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...retirement-from-playing-at-end-of-season.html It's going to be interesting who this head coach will be. Especially as they are looking for someone from "outside the existing FA coaching structure".
Not sure I like the obsession with ex-pros, the most important thing is to get competent people, if they have caps as a player then great, but the likes of Dan Ashworth are a lot more valuable than Gareth Southgate.
I though the standard of play against Sweden was better than I anticipated - but the final ball/shot was too often poor, as usual. Shelvey should have been breathalised. He looked well over the limit. It seems an age since I saw Adam Smith as an overlapping full back in the Victory Shield for the u16s. Good to see Wickham looking the part at last. After he impressed as a sub against Man U the other month I thought he'd get much more of a chance, but he hasn't. His loan to Shef Wednesday will hopefully work out for him.
Sheffield Wednesday are delighted with him after his first appearance - http://www.owlstalk.co.uk/forums/index.php/topic/189874-wickham/ Season so far has been a disaster. Every time I've seen him get a chance he's done well. O'Neill's negative tactics mean few opportunities will be there all season.
Hodgson reportedly unhappy with Pearce - http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...916?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
This doesn't surprise me in the slightest. After dealing with the press post-Brazil Hodgson doesn't need Pearce creating problems.
Good to hear, he has all the talent, just needs time on the pitch. Much like McEachran, Chalobah and the other kids from that U17 team are now getting.
Daves Jones plays negative tactics most of the time at wednesday. He's been churning out 4-5-1 all season ,though we have played better in recent weeks.
Mowbray recently mentinoed giving Josh a "break" as the fixtures are starting to catch up with him. Wise move as Josh has not faced this amount of fixtures to date and it shows what some common sense and simple management can do to assist the progress of a player.
McClaren interested in the England U21 job after/if Pearce leaves - http://www1.skysports.com/football/...-working-with-England-s-U21-side-would-appeal
He's one that just keeps getting injured. Decision making always seems a bit rash for international level to me and dives into things too quick rather than staying on his feet.
Yeah I read this earlier in the day. It would certainly be an interesting appointment if he still wants it when Pearce leaves. He would probably be the most high profile candidates too. I know there will be fans out there will still hold a grudge against him, but we could do worse. In a way i'm fearing who we are going to appoint because Brooking will have a big say in it.
You would hope that with Ashworth now appointed that Brooking would now be taking a role like Bobby Charlton's at Man Utd. An ambassadorial role. Looking back it's quite amazing that Southgate would have had Ashworth's role with no experience just because of Brooking. Fair play to Southgate for rejecting it. McClaren would bring quite alot to the table for the role. With say another two younger coaches from English academies working with him.
Well it's a bit strange that part of his remit is working with the U16 to U20 teams and not working with the U21s... Brooking doesn't seem to recognise them as a youth team. So that's what lead me to believe it would be a Brooking call. Ashworth might have some say, we'll have to see. Anyway, Ashworth will be doing the following: http://www.thefa.com/News/2012/sep/dan-ashworth-appointed.aspx
http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-u20s/News/2013/peter-taylor-world-cup-appointment Two good choices to be our coaches at this tournament imo. I didn't notice Taylor was at FC Twente...
The coaches are going to be up against it because we haven't been playing any games at this at all. Other nations use the the U20 level but we only recognise it a couple of months or so off from the main tournament. So there is no time to be completely prepared.
Hope Chris Ramsey's inclusion in the U20 coaching set up will see Alex Pritchard selected. A coach that can't see the talent in Pritchard doesn't even deserve to coach 7 year olds.
Pearce picks a 28 man squad. No Michael Keane though. http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-under-21s/News/2013/squad-romania-austria