The right side of our defence is struggling with the ball and it's entirely self inflicted. With the seniors and U21's if I were to pick out a player or two who I feel is lucky to even be in the squad they end up in the starting team because they merely offer some type of solidity.
Thought that was a reasonable half in an away game, but we do lack the control in midfield that Onomah might have given us. Cook, Tomori, Solanke all doing well. Gray looks a little below his usual high level to me, but at least he's getting involved.
Fair half that. Ukraine have looked most dangerous down our left channel and getting most joy. We do need to step it up.
Not been able to see all the game but everytime I get in and have a look, always seems like Ukraine is the team attacking and look better. We can't get a hold of the ball from what I've seen, Maybe it's just the bits I've seen and that's not a reflection on the game.
We started nicely. We were pinging it around with Dowell linking the midfield and forwards. But as the first half grew on it was definitely Ukraine with the upper hand. That should seal it though ! Good work by Gray.
I'm really not sure Onomah has proven that he can control a game from central midfield or calms things down and plays constant easy passes. It's what was missing at the WC and during this qualification it's all been a bit passive and open through the middle. Tuanzebe is a class act though. Just a no brainer that he'll end up at an elite level. Such a smooth athlete. The 2nd half was rough for us. Individually and when we're in 1v1 situations, we're so much better than the sides we've played, but we just struggle a bit as a collective. Our qualifications are usually the opposite and we end up with too many predictable and one dimensional players.
Onomah probably is our best bet at this moment though. But that is why I mentioned Joe Williams of Everton. With such a strong contingent of Everton players already he could fit into the group quickly. Barnsley tend to try play decent stuff too.
It's not so much "easy passes" as intelligent positioning out of possession, which some of the others don't do as well, Cook included. Can't say I was overly impressed with Maitland-Niles today - I prefer him out wide. Agreed about Tuanzebe. Obviously good in defence, but I wouldn't mind seeing him start at the base of midfield in a 4-3-3 some time. Especially if Loftus-Cheek ends up staying with the seniors.
Cook has always struck me as more of an '8' - Likes to make little runs with the ball and little give and goes. Not really disciplined enough or skillful or powerful (got to have at least 1 of 2) to create space for a pass from a standing start from deep.
I'm trying to think of an England youth team that has looked competent as a unit under Boothroyd? It's always at least a bit messy unless we are playing a team that is truly limited. I know we have had issues with pull outs and promotions to the seniors but as far as I'm concerned he's still picking the wrong options from the squad available. We are in a strong position in the group now but I have zero confidence in Boothroyd getting the squad into a position to truly play well as a collective when it matters.
i dont agree. kenny is a really good right back, whos been playing every week now for everton. taa is in and out of the liverpool side. both are good young players.
I wonder if Cook and Onomah might fit better in a 3-4-3. I like them as a pairing but neither is a pure defensive midfielder. It seems to fit the rest of our personnel too, especially now that the under-21 midfielders are split fairly evenly between this squad and the seniors: some good attacking full-backs, five or six good centre-backs who are mostly good on the ball, attacking players who all like to come inside... Obviously it would make the transition to the seniors smoother too, assuming that that's Southgate's preferred formation.
depends what your definition of controlling a game is but Onomah has great ability to keep the ball under pressure which is one of the things you need to control the midfield. We wouldn't have won the world cup without him, can't do it on his own tho.
Phil Foden will be considered for an England Under 21 call-up next spring as FA plot his best path to the top 🦁 https://t.co/gDj668StdS— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) November 12, 2017
We only have one competitive U21 game left this season. Whereas the U19's have the elites and hopefully a finals. Not sure why it's even in Boothroyd's thoughts. If they sit down as a group and consider it there is surely only one decision they can logically make.
It may be that they're hoping he'll be a senior by 2020 and asking themselves whether they'll be able to take him to five tournaments in four years. If not, then there's a choice to be made between next summer's under-19 Euros or the under-21 Euros in 2019. The only other logical reason that I can think of is that there's a bit of an excess of talent in those positions at under-19 level, and they may be considering how to spread it around and get the best talents more pitch-time. But that would be predicated on someone like Foden getting ahead of the under-21 wingers, and if Patrick Roberts isn't even making the squad then that seems a stretch.
Would be a short sighted decision. He should be with the U19s. No reason to clog up the U21s when there's plenty of players with shorter eligibility windows who would be better off for the experience. There's every chance he'll put himself into the conversation in 18/19 anyway. Would probably rather see him at the U20 WC to be honest. Similarly with Sancho. If they're really bothered about burnout for Foden, then just give him the first 6 months of 2018 off England duty. We know it's inevitable that once he gets in the U21s, he'll be there to stay. It's the same with premature promotions to the Seniors, there's no fluidity. These elite talents will rely less on their development in these next few stages anyway and their club level will be where the real strides are taken. It's a handful of Roberts, Palmer, Brown, Dowell, Gray, DCL, Maddison, Ojo and the other 96-98s who are more desperate for the Euros in '19. No matter how many senior caps they all have by then, Foden + Sancho should be with the U21s at the Euros in 2021 anyway. Hopefully this summer will finally have convinced the FA about the importance of keeping strong teams together to get that winning experience. Way too many players have just completely missed that stage to sit on the bench for the seniors in random friendlies + qualifiers. Winks, Barkley, Rashford, Loftus-Cheek (as a starter), Alli, Chamberlain, Sterling, Shaw have never played in an U21 Euros or likely will never and it's a massive shame.
I'm worried for Roberts. Ever since I saw Foden play against Romania in the U17 qualifyers last year I thought that he could overtake Roberts because Foden would have quite a lot of momentum if he and England kept progressing. I mean they play almost the same game and unless Foden plays as a CAM then Roberts can still get in as a RW. Hopefully Roberts can regain his form and can be considered for a call up. I think Foden doesn't need to be fast-tracked to the U21's because we got a lot of great potential talent in his position with Dowell, Ojo, and Roberts. The U19's for him is good enough.
Loftus-Cheek has in 2015. Winks was going to play, but had that injury not far from the tournament starting. Rashford could still play in the competition, but I highly doubt it after he gets selected for the World Cup (if fit). I think Sterling was going to play in the 2013 finals, but pulled out due to an injury, same with Shaw. Barkley, Chamberlain, and Dele were simply at the senior level and maybe felt like they were above the U21s or just the team needed them for qualifyers.