Boothroyd to give squad list out at 8.30am tomorrow and will discuss it an hour later on Talksport (it says in above DM article).
Our front 6 will be very dangerous. Ibe, Baker, Swift, Akpom, Wilson, Gray. Also Aarons is a tricky player. We should do pretty well since this team with these group of players are undefeated this season. Baker is probably one of the best free kick takers in the world for his age so if we have a free kick within 30 yards he's our man. Can't wait to see the boys in action!
Defence seems a slight concern. Surprised no Bishop or Mowatt though but going forward is pretty good. Personally would also of had Angus Gunn in there also.
Yeah I quite like Angus. Quick off his feet, good passer for a keeper, and has quick reflexes. How does Pickford keep getting called up (refuse to say picked)? The best thing he's ever done was save two pens against Argentina in the U17 WC. He's most know for being scored on by Canada's backup keeper from the halfway line.
Duncan Watmore in. eh. I hadn't given this squad much thought in anticipation but looking through the list it seems far more interesting than any previous u20 squad I can recall. History tells me though not to expect too much from a squad at this level. Looking forward to it.
Heard a lot of good things about Watmore even though not seen him much. Also heard he could count himself unlucky not to be part of the Sunderland first team. Hes been getting good reviews from the U21's.
What's wrong with our back 4? Tbf I haven't heard anything about anybody on the defensive side of things all season for the U20s.
The U20s should've done much better in the 2013 WC with Barkley, JWP, Pritchard, Kane (before who he is now), Coady, Potts, Dier, and Johnstone. This squad now is much better. I can see us winning the tournament.
I did too, and I'm a little surprised that Demarai Gray is the one who is there. We already have plenty of good wingers and forwards in the squad - Ibe, Robinson, Watmore, and Aarons for the wide positions alone. Would we not have benefited more from adding Galloway, Aina, or Chilwell to the slightly underwhelming defensive group? Or Alli or Colkett to bolster our midfield options, for that matter. Odubajo is the one that really confuses me though. He can't progress to the under-21s because he won't be eligible, and it looks like we won't be entering a team into the Olympics so he can't play in that either. The only reason to give him tournament experience is if they think he's likely to be called up by the seniors in due course, and I'd have thought that there were others that were more likely bets on that front. But then, what do I know.
I'd forgotten about Alli. Yeah that is strange why he didn't get a call up. Galloway hadn't been involved at all in the setup so I'm not surprised. Gray can lay as a CAM I believe.
Defence looks pretty shocking. Can put together a pretty good front 6 though. Would have liked to see Mowatt in there, we really don't want to lose him to Scotland.
Right back isn't out deepest position at the minute. Makes perfect sense to get to know one of the more viable future options already playing senior football in his last chance to play in an underage tournament. I think using Toulon as a way of checking up on some lads who have come into contention a little later than the lads who are in squads from U15s up and widening the pool of players that the coaching staff get to know is only a good thing. May also help some of these football league youngsters get more exposure and potential opportunities to make moves to Premier League sides when they prove they can compete v their peers from foreign countries.
I thought Reece Burke's break through into the West Ham squad alone would have earned him a place in this squad.
Ibe has been removed from the squad, have no idea why? http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/579874/Liverpool-Jordan-Ibe-Removed-England-U20-Squad
You know what Liverpool are like. If it suits them 1% more to have him at the club then they'll happily ******** over England if they can.
I suspect they are thinking about the possibility of a Europa qualifier, and/or a new manager who will want everyone in for start of preseason.
Toulon finishes on 7 June. Liverpool's qualifiers start on 30 July, seven and a half weeks later. That seems like quite a while to me.