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

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Why did Ridgeon go off, injury? I thought Page was quite anonymous.

 

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.

 

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.

Max Dowman, the only 2009 born player on the pitch, born on the last day of 09, brushed off defenders like flies in England's opening match of the u17 Euros. He showed a little bit of everything that makes him so special. Preseason loading...

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— Will Balsam (@willbalsam) May 20, 2025

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Italy beat Czechia 2-1 in the other game in our group. Although, their captain & vice-captain both went off injured.

 

He was handed an ice pack when sitting down on the bench.

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

 

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

 

Full stats below. I think @horrisengleton was right that overall England edged the game, although a draw was a fair result.

https://www.sofascore.com/football/match/england-u17-belgium-u17/IbjsZbj#id:13715410

I was a bit disappointed with Rodriguez leading the line too, he doesn't seem that type of player. When Harry Gray came on, although a very small sample you could see that he is more the type to receive the ball with his back to goal and hold it up.

 

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.

 

The pitch was an absolute disgrace.

Both sides deserve much better.

 

How often we see this unfortunately, just seems to be every tournament we talk about poor pitches.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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?

 

I bet he won’t be released until Sunday and for a possible semi only.

 

Your #YoungLions to take on Italy in our second game at the #U17EURO finals! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/rrvTXSDqrq

— England (@England) May 23, 2025