England U-17 Discussions Thread #3 (2008 born)

"This is getting better and better and better!"

 

I know it’s a big mistake to say this but this group is a really good one.

Black & Braithwaite really positive with the ball. Owusi looks composed. Ridgeon is something else and the three left footers behind the striker especially Howell are a pleasure.

Subs came on and no drop in standards.

Excellent viewing, thanks lads.

 

Lot of talent missing from this squad too, Gomes, Ngumoha and Ibragimov in the attacking positions.

 

Black?

 

Apologies, I watched the under 19s straight after. Leo Black I meant of course - he looks a real good lad. Really enjoyed his game vs Germany.

I think the under 17s game wasn't helped by hectic atmosphere of screaming kids for the first 30 mins. I had to watch it with the sound off as it too much. I was on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

 

Seth Ridgeon is very talented and pretty quick, he does look very small though, hopefully he grows a little over the next few years.

 

I'm hoping Ridgeon gets a chance either in the league cup or league trophy this week.

His size isn't a worry for me, look at Cole Palmer at that age.

 

His dad was an Olympic hurdler & his older brother is a sprinter I believe, so he's got good athletic pedigree.

 

Going by this he'll be the 3rd youngest player in the competition ever just ahead of Moukoko. Fair to say that list is yet to yield a true top player from the top 20.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/uefa-youth-league/juengsteaelteste/pokalwettbewerb/19YL

Moukoko is still yet to live up to anywhere near his crazy goal scoring at youth level. Transferred to Nice this summer age 19 and has made one sub app so far. Shoretire a notable one for England, now aged 20 and playing in Greece for POAK.

 

That’s if Moukoko is that age - plenty of stories that he is a couple of years older.

 

You’ve conveniently left out Yamal there who is number 22!

 

It seemed a logical cutoff point! Fair to say that plenty are still young enough to go on to great things.

 

There was a story last year about a birth certificate claiming that he's actually 24.

 

Downman gets on the scoresheet for Arsenal. Pulls a goal back to make it 3-1.

 

🔴⚪️✨ Arsenal gem Max Dowman has become the youngest goal scorer in UEFA Youth League history.

14 years, 8 months, 19 days old.

One more talent for Arsenal Academy. pic.twitter.com/TnbjxqBnTh

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 19, 2024

 

Arsenal lost 4-1 in the end. Not the best although Atalanta's squad looks to be older with 3 x 19 year olds in it to Arsenal's 0. Conceding goals seems to be a particular issue for their u18s with 15 conceded in their first 6 games of the season.

 

It's a complaint amongst Arsenal fans. Their youth teams have been crap defensively for a while but on the flip side they've been very good at producing high-quality attackers.

They need to try and strike a balance but you wouldn't want to neutralise what they do now too much because while they don't produce many defenders at all they seem like one of the better academies at nurturing X-factor talents.

 

They've not produced a England level CB since the days of Adams/Keown, which is pretty staggering.

 

Yeah it's crazy. It seems like a systematic thing more than bad luck because I can't remember many top CB prospects being at the academy either.

 

On the bench as Tommy Setford appears to be injured.