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

Discussion in 'England' started by england66, Jul 8, 2011.

  1. MrSnrub

    MrSnrub Member+

    Oct 7, 2018
    I didn't see the first half but the second half was very "England vs Greece" from last October....lots of talented players on the pitch but a real absence of structure, and a hole where a functioning midfield should be. It's nice to encourage dribbling, but at least some balance and common sense is needed, too many times a player lost it trying to run into a wall of players, often in silly positions where there was no real advantage to dribbling and losing it put us in danger. Barnett-Williams wasting a very decent breakaway at the end with a options to play in people on the left and right, and instead deciding to try and take on another defender, even though he still wouldn't have been clear through if he did basically summed it up.

    Obviously its a development tournament, so a good opportunity for these players to learn but you can see this was a group of players very much used to being the stars of the show, and a real need to include people willing to facilitate the play, and do the boring parts. Certainly a draw is an OK result in terms of escaping the group but I think its a case of going back to the drawing board, though it seems the management have the left the group short in non-attacking options.

    I did think the defence largely did well though in very trying circumstances, very difficult to be left one on one constantly against what was a pacey, physical Belgium attack with decent trickery.
     
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  2. horrisengleton

    horrisengleton Member+

    Arsenal
    England
    Jul 18, 2023
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    I think we're focusing too much on the last 20 minutes and forgetting the previous 70. We were a fair bit better than them in the first half and were largely better for the first 20-25 of the second imo. We lost our rhythm and structure when the subs came on and they were much better at the end but a game is 90 minutes.
     
  3. AJ123

    AJ123 Member+

    Man Utd
    England
    Feb 17, 2018
    I know it’s a bit of a trope when things don’t go well but they were a massive side physically, really tall. De Cat was an interesting player because he’s massive but looked a decent footballer too.
     
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  4. Inter Row Z

    Inter Row Z Member+

    Oldham Athletic
    England
    Mar 26, 2023
    I only saw the first half and it was exactly the same for me. Belgium should have gone into the break well ahead, as our porous midfield allowed them to attack at will.
     
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  5. AJ123

    AJ123 Member+

    Man Utd
    England
    Feb 17, 2018
    Why did Ridgeon go off, injury? I thought Page was quite anonymous.
     
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  6. horrisengleton

    horrisengleton Member+

    Arsenal
    England
    Jul 18, 2023
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Seemed tactical, looked absolutely fine physically. I thought Page was good first half but much like the rest of the team he faded significantly when Ridgeon came off.

    Ridgeon is one of the best midfielders I've seen play for England at this level though. Absolute monster physically with loads of quality on the ball. I'd expect him to make his senior debut for Fulham next season.
     
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  7. AJ123

    AJ123 Member+

    Man Utd
    England
    Feb 17, 2018
    I don’t know about ‘well ahead’ as we had a number of good chances too.

    Dowman’s highlights, I think the second action shows why he’s a step above. Few players even at this level can bring the ball down like that and then create a goal scoring opportunity from it so quickly. Ngumoha really should’ve scored the follow up.

     
  8. Regis Prograis

    Regis Prograis Member+

    Tottenham Hotspur
    Feb 8, 2020
    Didn't watch, but was following on flashscore, England were always well ahead in xG, so not sure its accurate to say Belgium should have been ahead at the break or at full time.
     
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  9. AJ123

    AJ123 Member+

    Man Utd
    England
    Feb 17, 2018
    Later in the game they had a couple of efforts cleared off the line. They were certainly carrying the most threat as the game went on.
     
  10. JRSG

    JRSG Member+

    Mar 25, 2015
    Club:
    Torquay United
    Lots of focus on England with the ball.

    Main issue was off it. No one moves off it and the front 4 gave absolutely no help out of possession. Poor Benamar.

    Ngumoha is a lot like Ndala.
     
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  11. ADM99

    ADM99 Member+

    Apr 28, 2019
    Italy beat Czechia 2-1 in the other game in our group. Although, their captain & vice-captain both went off injured.
     
  12. Port Vale Fan

    Port Vale Fan Member

    May 30, 2012
    Club:
    --other--
    He was handed an ice pack when sitting down on the bench.

    I think it was a case that we scored too early.
     
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  13. BarryfromEastenders

    Staff Member

    Jul 6, 2008
    I think Page and Ridgeon had only played together once this season before this game. I don’t think the coach knows his best team or system. This has seemed to be the case all campaign. When things seem to get worse when changes are made you begin to worry about the overall game plan.

    I would drop one of the wide options for a player to play a number 8 type midfield role. At least in theory we would then be more compact off the ball.

    Benamar might start the next game again but wasn’t even picked in the first squad.
     
  14. BarryfromEastenders

    Staff Member

    Jul 6, 2008
    The above sounds a bit negative. I don’t think we were bad or anything. With tournament football you want to try and win the games though. Think we made it harder on ourselves because the system is quite lopsided.
     
  15. Jimmy Skitz

    Jimmy Skitz Member+

    Leicester City
    England
    Nov 4, 2020
    from those that have watched Louis Page for our U18/U21 side they described him as a box to box midfielder he appeared to be sitting deep against Belgium and certainly didn't shine
     
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  16. AJ123

    AJ123 Member+

    Man Utd
    England
    Feb 17, 2018
  17. horrisengleton

    horrisengleton Member+

    Arsenal
    England
    Jul 18, 2023
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Agree on Rodriguez. Quite a few instances where he found himself in a fair bit of space running at the Belgian defence but didn't really know what to do with the ball. Great athlete and a sniper in front of goal but he doesn't seem that well rounded.
     
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  18. ht_hu96

    ht_hu96 Member+

    Middlesbrough
    England
    May 23, 2019
    The pitch was an absolute disgrace.

    Both sides deserve much better.
     
  19. Marcho Gamgee

    Marcho Gamgee Member+

    England
    Apr 25, 2015
    Somewhere in English Arrogance land
    Club:
    Manchester City FC
    How often we see this unfortunately, just seems to be every tournament we talk about poor pitches.
     
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  20. Regis Prograis

    Regis Prograis Member+

    Tottenham Hotspur
    Feb 8, 2020
    I don't mean to be disparaging to Albania but its bit of a waste of a place in these 8 team tournaments when the host is probably about the 30th best U17 side on the continent.
     
  21. MrSnrub

    MrSnrub Member+

    Oct 7, 2018
    Yeah it’s always an issue with these 8 team tournaments, they’re extremely competitive to qualify for then you often have a host well off the standard. Seems a waste for all involved.

    I don’t really see why there is a need to have a pre designated host in the first place for 8 team tournaments. It seems like it should be pretty straightforward to just select from one of the qualified teams, kind of like how the qualifying rounds work where one side gets drawn as the host.
     
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  22. Fireburn47

    Fireburn47 Member+

    West Ham United
    England
    Nov 5, 2021
    It’s quite unfair. But UEFA are committed to hosting these tournaments in the smaller countries. Next two are Estonia and Latvia.
    The Women’s U17’s was in the Faroe Islands earlier this month and the hosts lost 10, 9 and 9 -0. What a waste.
     
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  23. GermanBlade

    GermanBlade Member

    Sheffield United
    Mar 17, 2025
    The line-up doesn't give me much confidence. Looks like the same overly attacking approach like last time. Would have expected Gorman/Emenalo for Page and perhaps Williams-Barnet on the left instead of Ngumoha this time.
    Also, again no Howell on the bench. So maybe Brighton didn't want to release him after all?
     
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  24. Fireburn47

    Fireburn47 Member+

    West Ham United
    England
    Nov 5, 2021
    I bet he won’t be released until Sunday and for a possible semi only.
     
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  25. Marcho Gamgee

    Marcho Gamgee Member+

    England
    Apr 25, 2015
    Somewhere in English Arrogance land
    Club:
    Manchester City FC
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