This is the same thing that kept Pearce in the role for so long. The excuse being he is bringing players through to the seniors and helping with the process of getting them ready to step up. It basically means anyone can do the role. Anyone who has watched qualifying will be cringing to see they have already extended his contract. It makes zero sense. Nobody will be interested in him. If the team crashes out in embarrassing fashion it becomes very hard to fire him.
The big flaw with this line of thinking is that it gives too much credit to the U21 coach and not nearly enough to the player or his club, which is where the real work is being done.
I really think the golden summer has done more harm than good, It's allowed the FA to get complacent in regards to coaching, luckily the talent is still there.
It’s idiotic and makes it almost impossible to lose the role. You don’t really have to put any thought into squad selection. Style of play can be lacking in areas and underwhelming. The demands from the FA are nothing more than pick a squad and don’t say anything remotely controversial. I’m still not sure Pearce would have left the role if he hadn’t turned on the players in the interviews after his last U21 finals in charge.
I'm pissed off at the Boothroyd news, but then again he could change his strategy come the finals and we play well, but I highly doubt that. I know nobody has said anything, but I bet if you had a private conversation with the players they would have negative things to say about him. Athletes aren't dumb and don't think like machines. They all have opinions, especially about their coaches.
Our #YoungLions are all set for this summer's #U21Euro. Best of luck in Italy, lads 👊https://t.co/1dKANs1GrV— England (@England) May 27, 2019
That would be my only major grumble. Glad to see Mount in there again though. With the addition of Gibbs White, that's a very attack heavy midfield. Personally, I'd have brought in Skipp to balance it out. Lookman, Davies and Walker-Peters miss out.
Is Tuanzebe really much if at all better than the other centre backs? I don't see much that suggests he's any better than those in the squad. The biggest surprise to me is no Lookman, but he can't really have any complaints given the competition and the non-season he's just had.
Not a bad squad, though with Choudhury is the only ball-winning midfielder, I'm afraid the likes of Dowell will play defensive midfielder again.
The squad offers a lot more balance than the past. So that is a positive. I still would pick KWP over Kenny every time but Boothroyd obviously has a preference with Kenny as a squad member. I don’t care where Maitland-Nile’s is playing at club level he’s one of our few players to be starting enough PL games. He can play the more defensive midfield role and other roles. It’s absurd that he’s not in the squad. We would have a good balance in the CM area if he was in there. With say Choudury starting we don’t even have a DM to bring off the bench if it’s required, which is ridiculous. I find it harsh on Lookman. It’s not as if Gray and Nelson have had amazing seasons and Nelson can come back again. Those would be my gripes.
Solanke is our best finisher. Can’t see how he can be dropped. I think the three forward roles were undroppable. Tuanzebe has been unlucky but that position has been quite strong. Annoyingly he just didn’t really get a chance to prove his worth.
Barnes and Gray have both had better seasons than Lookman. Nelson’s has been a bit stop-start but Boothroyd obviously prefers him to Lookman. It’s hard to argue with that choice.
I think Tuanzebe is better than Kosra and Clarke-Salter but they’re more embedded in the squad, so it’s not a straight forward choice. I don’t begrudge Solanke being in the squad at all, but he’s lucky in that his poor season hasn’t cost him as it might of done had say Brewster not been injured.
I would argue it. Lookman was one of our best players at the U20 WC. He offers more on the ball than others included. Saying that the competition for the roles is strong. I think Gray being able to play both sides has got him in.
Gray has been poor to middling this season, probably benefiting from being one of the two who is playing semi regularly
Can't believe they couldn't find a way to get Reece James in the squad, he'll play more PL football than most players in that squad next season
Can't think of a stronger England u21 squad. Could have done with Maitland Niles in midfield and I think Lookman was our best option on the wing. Other than that, I have no complaints, looking forward to it.