Yeah thanks, just saw on Englands twitter page, hopefully I can find it on YouTube to save me watching it on my computer, IPad is easier.
I see Scotland are 2-0 up against the Dutch with only a few minutes left, really good result for them which I didn't really expect as thought the Dutch were a good side against us, maybe I underestimated the Scots.
Well that was a walkover really. They didn't put up much of fight so it's difficult to know how pleased to be with our performance, but we didn't really put a foot wrong. After the first couple of games, this is an eleven that I'd like to see: I think writing at length about the rationale would be boring and self-indulgent, so I'll just say that I'd have liked to include five midfielders and two or three strikers, and I really have no strong basis for choosing one keeper over the other. If Loftus-Cheek gets a senior call-up, which I hope he will, then I'd probably go for Onomah over Winks. Or not. There's certainly no lack of options.
I was thinking whilst watching that game, we shouldve played KWP v Holland and Chilwell tonight. I love KWP, but it seems dumb to have him at left back v a minnow when he's always going to struggle off his left compared to a natural like Chilwell.
I know the opposition was not up to much but there was a lot of good performances out there all through the team and it is nice to see we have some quality strikers on show because it's been a long time since we have had a group as good as Solanke, Abraham, Rashford and Calvert Lewin coming through at the same time IMO.
Finished 3-0 over Latvia. Gray, Abraham, and Palmer scored. We're in second place as Ukraine has a better goal difference.
Take out Davies and replace him with Onomah. I rate Davies, but think Onomah has just as much quality and is more physical. I'd like to see Henry over Chilwell, but something tells me Chilwell will be perform better.
This is the age group that were a game away from playing us in the 2014 U17 finals, but a lot has happened since then. Notable ex-England players, eligible are Ollie Burke and Ruben Sammut. There's also that tall midfielder from United that can play for Scotland as well.
I'd have said the same before tonight but Davies really was brilliant. He's more of a dynamic sort of player too, which might better balance Loftus-Cheek's laconic style.
I'd play Onomah too but I'd drop Cook and not Davies. Pretty sure Boothroyd will manage to play the only midfield three I don't want to see though.
It was Latvia U21s. Of course he's fine at this level. But i'd still rather he be first choice in the U20 tournament we have. I also don't think he was particularly great, he did decently, but didn't stand out really. If you'd read + processed my whole post it's not simply about whether he has the quality to contribute at this level.
I thought he did stand out and deserves a chance to show whether he can do it against stronger opposition. If he isn't going to be a regular starter, I agree with you that he'd probably be better off starting for the under-20s, but if Loftus-Cheek does get promoted to the seniors then Davies could be one of four key central midfielders competing for two or even three spots, and he'll get plenty of starts that way. Davies himself could even get a senior call-up at this rate. Alexander-Arnold, though, might be better off with the under-20s. Not that he didn't do well last night - he contributed plenty going forward - but on the balance of his defensive and attacking work I think I'd currently have him behind both Kenny and Walker-Peters. He could make very quick progress though, so I guess we'll see.
He would probably play stronger opposition in more demanding situations for the U20s? Italy, Czech Republic + Germany are the U20 games left in 2017. Being expected to lead the midfield in them three games will tell you more about him then being a member of a really strong side coming up against Scotland, Andorra + Ukraine.
Davies was good enough to play for Everton in the Premiership last season so I think it perfectly reasonable to consider him suitable to play u21 football this season.