The paucity of English opportunity thread

Yeah, sort of, but nor Gomez or Cook have had an outstanding campaign so far. They are good and playing, but it's not the same as was the breakthrough of Alli, Kane or Rashford in recent years.
As for Mount, I think he's clearly more talented than Baker ever was, also he is younger than Baker was when he played at Vitesse. I try to be not too optimistic, but if someone, Mount can break the Chelsea-curse of youngsters.

 

On the same subject (of pathetic one-footedness) did we all see that shocking effort from Salah last night. Not one of the many commentators criticised his "technique".

 

Not much important loans on TDD, but Ejaria at Sunderland or Davenport at Burton could be interesting.

 

Oh yeah, forgot, and that Phil Jones own goal, the other night (because he insisted on using the wrong foot) . Even the pundits criticised that one. I saw a couple of similar embarrassing goals conceded in a youth match today. Players just needed to boot the ball away with the left foot. Easy you'd think. But I wonder if the coaches even mention it when reviewing performances. They'll no doubt be banging on about all manner of other aspects of the game.

 

Following Liverpool u18s losing their third match on the run (to Stoke) Steve Gerrard was really miffed at his players, criticising them (especially the defenders) for not being men, warriors, and not having any bottle. Taking defeat far too lightly.

I was interested listening to the Man U coach who was at pains to stress how much work they have put in to warn their players that they will probably not have a career at united, and to educate them about their options - with the possibility of going down the divisions. I couldn't help wondering if it was a reaction to the recent documentary that painted a bleak view of the academy system, with the false hope of making it big.

 

Thought this was a good read on why more and more English/British kids may look to the Bundesliga:

https://www.footballwhispers.com/blog/bundesliga-new-home-young-british-talent

 

The three biggest stars of the U17 WC winner squad are injured: Foden, Sancho and Brewster. Also there is a lot of serious injuries among young English players though some of the foreign stars in the Premier League are injured as well. Is the English game more dangerous? It is just accident? Or the referees are the culprits?

 

They all got ankle injuries too. Foden's was off a bad tackle, Brewster's was a bad fall, and I missed Sancho's but think it was fairly innocuous. These things happen.

Also, I'll hotly dispute that Hudson-Odoi wasn't as much of a star as anyone.

 

I knew someone would be upset about is But it would have weakened my point to write "3 of the 4 biggest stars"!

 

I doubt the dangerousness of the English game had much to do with Sancho's injury.

 

It was just a thought, maybe it wasn't right. Still find it frustrating that a lot of English players (not just youngsters) getting injured, especially in this part of the year.

 

All the ex-players and coaches at clubs seem to claim academy football is inadequate for preparing young players to be professionals, yet clubs like Liverpool, Man U and Arsenal won't even put a team into the Checkatrade Trophy competition, where they would get more competitive and demanding matches.

Chelsea went out on penalties to Lincoln in the semi final last night. It was a proverbial "baptism of fire". For most of the first 35 minutes they were grimly defending and hardly making any headway into the opposition half. Still it was good experience for them.

Sterling may be on £750,000 a year but he still doesn't look like he's pushing for the top:

The Mail previewed the game.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...dy-wants-Chelsea-lift-Checkatrade-Trophy.html

 

Almost every single english player I enjoy watching gets frequent injuries, maybe dribblers get more knocks in England than anywhere else. Schedule is crazy too. Or maybe just a curse. Wilshere, Loftus Cheek, Dozell, Sturridge, Winks, Hughes, Lallana, Barkley etc etc. Foden did his ankle following a very strong tackle from Maguire.

 

For anyone interested: There is a child abuse special on tonight, with the ex City and Crewe youth coach, who has just been convicted, in mind, on Ch4 at 11pm (Thurs). Gary Speed was apparently one of those abused.

 

It’s absolutely dreadful. I will say the Gary Speed connection whilst compelling is conjecture.

 

For what it's worth:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-43077179

"Former Wales manager and captain Gary Speed told police that he was not abused by disgraced football coach Barry Bennell, his family has said.

"Mr Speed's family has asked for the 'unwarranted speculation to cease'."

Better to leave that thread alone.

 

No one see the documentary then? Understandable really.

For what it's worth: a witness said he was in the same bed as Speed and the paedo. Also, it's worth noting that some of those who have now come out and given evidence of what went on, previously denied anything of concern happening.
Understandable really.

And Speed's family still can't for the life of them think why on earth he would kill himself.

 

My uncle was the secretary for Midlands ABA when CRBs came in to force. He used to love to go on about how safe boxing was for children and the statistic he used was how many swimming coaches (several hundred) never applied for CRB's in comparison to the handful of boxing coaches who didn't apply.

 

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/43115781

Tom Davies and Ryan Sessegnon are in the top 10 of most promising prospects aged under 20 in European football. (Before anyone says Foden or Future England International Curtis Jones, they only look at senior league experience.)

 

Tom Davies, 5star & TAA only a 3star?!? I'm not sure about that to be honest. Also Mason Mount isn't anywhere on that list. I'm always dubious about these kind of lists even though they are fun to look at.

 

Here's the list fwiw:

965593390162292736 is not a valid tweet id

 

Heads up: Football focus has a feature tomorrow (Sat) about young English players, particularly with those going abroad in mind. Sancho is interviewed.

 

Interview with Lewis Cook, on winning the World Cup:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5424229/Lewis-Cook-lifting-World-Cup-England.html