Alex Mighten's hat-trick helped our #YoungLions start their campaign with a win last night!Well played, lads 👏https://t.co/c5k89usBq6— England (@England) September 7, 2019
Just like watching Brazil...England u18 v Brazil u18 @ Hednesford Town pic.twitter.com/YtItXTI0OD— jason ferraby (@jasonferraby) September 8, 2019
1-0. Brazil have been by far the better side but Gelhardt managed to nip infront of a defender to win a penalty. Musah slotted it away.
HT 1-0 to England: Brazil the better side overall and probably should've scored but since the goal it's been a lot better from us. Livramento the standout player for me. Defended very well & linked up nicely with Madueke down the right.
https://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/futebol-internacional/jogo/08-09-2019/brasil-inglaterra.ghtml You can watch the highlights even if you can't access the live stream.
FT 1-1: Not a great watch at all, so many sloppy errors trying to play out from the back. I don't think we had a single shot on target 2nd half. Livramento & Mengi probably the two best players but nobody was particularly outstanding.
Got a bit loose after all the subs after an hour, but England were great last night. Korea started super fast and looked dangerous for ten minutes, but then England took over. Bate + Musah super dominant together in midfield, taking the ball, playing forward really quickly. For about 20 minutes in the first half Korea couldn't get out of their half, was just England swarming them, winning it back, cutting through them and repeat. Musah in particular just hit a completely different level to anyone else on the pitch. XI was super balanced and everyone could play their natural games. Wingers cutting in for fullbacks to go outside, good balance of left and right footed players. Madueke, Mighten + Palmer using Gelhardt for wall passes to get inside the area. Palmer almost scored a ridiculous goal in the first half, just cut through their middle with a few feints and changes in direction. Their keeper, who had a good game (saved a penalty in 2nd half) kept it down to 2-0 at HT. Palmer missed a couple of decent chances but then opened scoring. The way he got into them 1v1 positions was overriding positive though, just playing through a packed box, mainly combining with Madueke. Mighten so good in situations when England just needed him to keep the ball or create space out of nothing. Really good pressure relief with his ability to win a foul or just turn Korea. 2nd goal he just stood the Korean defence still until they came out to him and then burned their right back before standing one up at the back post with his weak foot, for Madueke to bicycle in. Good stuff. Trafford saved a penalty in the shoot-out. Looks like he's grown a bit. Doesn't look like a kid like he did just a few months ago.
On his way back; did the full warm-up with the U18s in their last match but didn't play. Nearly there.
Forgot to mention it in my last post, but Bondswell won a penalty in the 2nd half with a really great run but then had a massive collision with the keeper. He didn't move for a long time and looked in serious distress. Looked like his ankle or shin and there was a lot of noise from the collision. With Cirkin also injured, left back spot is very open if he's not back for next month, which I wouldn't be optimistic about. Hope they try some new faces rather than just shuffling Roberts out there.
Cole Palmer v Ben Knight Would it be fair to say Knight is ahead of Palmer in the pecking order at City but the other way around for England ?
Femi Seriki, joined Sheffield United having been made redundant by Bury. Good pick up for them. Thierry Nevers of Reading Under-23s here, showing off some skills.pic.twitter.com/ibLhAhzthO— The Football League Paper (@TheLeaguePaper) September 18, 2019 Good goal by Nevers on Monday. All his class of scholars are 01/02s but some places including Reading have him listed as an early 01 which can't be right?
Both Haydon Roberts and Teddy Jenks made their first team debuts this evening, starting for Brighton and Hove Albion against Aston Villa in the 3rd round of the Carabao Cup. Roberts earned the Man of the Match award and scored Albion's goal in a 3-1 defeat.
The Squad Goalkeepers: Harvey Cartwright (Hull City), Louie Moulden (Manchester City), James Trafford (Manchester City) Defenders: Matthew Bondswell (RB Leipzig) Jeriel Dorsett (Reading), Luke Matheson (Rochdale), Teden Mengi (Manchester United), Haydon Roberts (Brighton & Hove Albion), Nathan Wood (Middlesbrough) Midfielders: Miguel Azeez (Arsenal), Nonso Madueke (PSV Eindhoven), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Cole Palmer (Manchester City), Dejan Tetek (Reading), Jensen Weir (Wigan Athletic), Morgan Rogers (Manchester City) Forwards: Alexander Mighten (Nottingham Forest), Fabio Carvalho (Fulham), Joseph Gelhardt (Wigan Athletic), Sam Greenwood (Arsenal), Jeremy Sarmiento (Benfica)
Wonder if it just a coincidence that the three Chelsea players from the last squad (Livramento, Simeu & Bate) are not included. Good to see Matheson & Sarmiento get more opportunities.
Tino hurt his shoulder/collarbone against Reading in the last U18 league match so I'm pretty sure that's what's keeping him out.