To late, I’m sure they’re on to it already. Lucky for us he’s already in our system however I would have thought Italy would be more of a threat tbh.
Joe Hodge with Ireland again. I think that pretty much confirms he'll be with them for the foreseeable future. With Fiorini also with Scotland, it could be a big loss. Scotland, Ireland + Wales have really sorted themselves out and will find it easier to entice players away now as there's only so many England can pick. Will be interesting to see how England balance the politics of it behind the scenes. France have experienced this, but the advantage they have is that the dual eligible players they have don't really have another outlet until they're senior players. There's no attractive U17/U19/U21 infrastructure in African nations or the confederation to pull players away at an early age. I think in a few years we'll look back and realise how difficult it is for England to get someone back when they've gone to someone else as an U17. Then on the flipside, players will find it easier to leave England to play elsewhere in the years after that.
This isn't aimed at Hodge, Fiorni or any dual national in particular, but do they really feel that much affinity to Ireland/Scotland/Wales because of one grandparent, when the rest of their entire family including themselves are all English? Fair enough if they're getting nowhere the England team, but when they're a top prospect it just seems strange to me.
It seems strange that people want to simultaneously argue - "they're only playing for them cause they're not good enough for England" and also "they're really good prospects, why aren't they choosing to play for England?" Like Juni says, they're all individual decisions and it's certainly not as black or white as 'but hes born in England + has English parents???'.
Regarding Fiorini/Hodge I think it's a case of them not getting enough appreciation for their talent at England youth teams for whatever reason and they just want to play national games in tournaments and feel important. Actually playing games is priority number 1 and whether they identify as English/Irish/Scottish doesn't matter as much (yet).
Fiorini's dad posted on here a few times, didn't he? I certainly got the impression that he didn't really feel that his son was valued by England. Hard to know if that was objectively fair, of course. Hodge's dad posted here too, but I don't think he gave much away.
Seems to be lining up for Spurs U18s today, unless it's a different Etete. Today's under 18 team v West Ham: Oluwayemi, Okedina, Statham, John, Walcott, Binks, Pochettino, Shashoua (c), Etete, Markanday, Clarke.Subs: Kurylowicz, Cooper, Pedder, Whittaker. #COYS— Lennon Branagan (@LMcCand) March 2, 2019
Reading first year scholar Michael Olise ( 2002) is on the bench again for Reading. His contemporaries at Reading are Pendlebury, Nevers etc
Former Chelsea (his brother I believe, is still there) & City (I think). Clearly has talent, but it’s about joking it together. Chelsea had some good boys in that 02 group, before the likes of Azeez and others left.
The comms guy said it'll be announced next week. But I suspect it means it may be announced as the team is announced for the game v Switzerland on Friday.
So we looking at a 20-man squad 2 GKs (Probably Moulden & Trafford) At least 6 DFs (Probably Livramento, Harwood-Bellis, Wood-Gordon, Mengi, Roberts, Cirkin) Peart-Harris Bate Musah Azeez Madueke Rogers Mighten Elliott Knight Gelhardt Greenwood *1 spare so maybe a 7th defender but more likely another attacker/attacking midfield which normally has been Carvalho but could be Sarmiento)