The on topic thread

[moomba]

England got a good 3-2 win over a good German side in U21 action last night. It's all well and good winning these games now but it's pretty damning that the German side had 678 top flight games between them compared to the English side's 232. Youth football isn't about results it's about player progression & pathways to the senior team, the German model is the way to go

And a lot of them are developing and progressing in the lower leagues at the moment. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[moomba]

Ah come on, it's not all bad. There's some good international matches there. I mean, I guess I can understand the point of view for the bigger clubs. What if your players get injured while on duty?

It's not so much worried about injuries, I was more worried about them when we had very few decent players and no depth.

Just find a lot of the games utterly boring and meaningless.

Holland need to get into 2nd to make the playoffs, and I'm watching every game they play. Now, they've been utter garbage, but will still make it fairly comfortably.

 

[jd2010]

And a lot of them are developing and progressing in the lower leagues at the moment. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

We'll just have to wait & see which XI progresses to be regular full internationals in a good side going forward.

 

[moomba]

We'll just have to wait & see which XI progresses to be regular full internationals in a good side going forward.

I think it's not even this group that we need to look at.

With EPPP kids in English academies are now trained (I can't remember the exact figures so I'll guess) three times more than they were previously. I'd be looking at U14's and above before we see the true benefits of that.

 

[Fryer Tuck]

And a lot of them are developing and progressing in the lower leagues at the moment. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

While it is not necessarily a bad thing, you want to hope that they are going to the right clubs that will develop them properly (You know, a club that will actually play them in the preferred position, getting 90 mins). Otherwise, they'll stagnate on that level, and just never make the step up. It doesn't also help that some players might be better at higher levels than the lower ones, so they might miss the chance to truly impress. (eg. Dean Hammond) There are some kids that kill it at U21 level that might tragically end up being regulars in League 2 (Sigh, Ashley Chambers).

It's a good thing that the English lower leagues are the strongest in Europe, but at the same time, you ideally want them to play at the highest league, where they can adapt to the top level.

That's one benefit for the German kids. They are playing against the best Germans (and other internationals in some cases) in the league. In England, they're not playing with that same level of experience. The thing that separates the good from the great. The experiance is there, the German kids are getting A-Grade international experience. The English kids... not quite.

It's not so much worried about injuries, I was more worried about them when we had very few decent players and no depth.

Just find a lot of the games utterly boring and meaningless.

Holland need to get into 2nd to make the playoffs, and I'm watching every game they play. Now, they've been utter garbage, but will still make it fairly comfortably.

Fair enough. I know that feel. When Mahrez was selected for Algeria, I was kinda hoping Algeria got eliminated early, so we could get him back sooner.

Fair enough. It doesn't help that internationals these days are not taken as seriously as they were in yesteryear, leading to some potentially brilliant teams under-performing since the players haven't played with each other all too often.

Mmm, now that I have doubts. While possible that the Czech Republic and Iceland could start to falter, The Dutch will also have to keep an eye on Turkey. While it has been a while since their heyday, they're still respectable enough opposition. Latvia have been doing alright in getting draws as well. Considering it's a two game gap between 2nd placed Iceland (who would automatically qualify) and the 3rd placed Dutch (who would go to the playoffs), I think the pressure would be on the Dutch. Could be an interesting battle there.

 

[jd2010]

I think it's not even this group that we need to look at.

With EPPP kids in English academies are now trained (I can't remember the exact figures so I'll guess) three times more than they were previously. I'd be looking at U14's and above before we see the true benefits of that.

Hopefully with the changes made that age group you are talking about develop well enough that when they are U21's they're good enough to demand top flight minutes. Mind you from the XI last night I'd say nearly all the ones outside the top flight could/should be playing at PL clubs next season (Lingard, Hughes, Redmond & Pritchard)

 

[moomba]

Also you could add in a fair few English players, currently playing in the top flight to that U21 squad if you were that way inclined.

Shaw, Barclay, Chambers, Ox, Berahino for starters. IIRC if you are eligible for the lower levels, Germany like you to play at the lower levels, particularly in tournaments. England goes the other way.

 

[jd2010]

Chambers played last night and Shaw & Berahino will be sent to the Championships. Ox & Barkley have been part of the senior squad for quite some time now so can see why they aren't taking minutes off other prospects

 

[Cruyff14]

For all the shit that was thrown at Beckham at various points, good to see he has morals and his making his kids earn their own money rather than just throwing it at them

 

[moomba]

New champions league distribution for next years comp. From the Fail. The market pool going up by 50% is roughly in line with the increase in prize money. I expected it would be much higher than that, so will be interesting to see.

FWIW I think Chelsea earned around €60m in total when they won it a few years back. So a big increase either way.

 

[undefined]

For all the shit that was thrown at Beckham at various points, good to see he has morals and his making his kids earn their own money rather than just throwing it at them

Becks is a tit for being associated with United, has shit tattoos & could do a lot better than Posh, but there's no doubting their parenting abilities.

 

[Bojan KantKick]

Becks is a tit for being associated with United, has shit tattoos & could do a lot better than Posh, but there's no doubting their parenting abilities.

Someones jelly

 

[jod23]

England got a good 3-2 win over a good German side in U21 action last night. It's all well and good winning these games now but it's pretty damning that the German side had 678 top flight games between them compared to the English side's 232. Youth football isn't about results it's about player progression & pathways to the senior team, the German model is the way to go

England have Sterling and Kane who could play for the U21's though couldnt they. Ibe too? Other players maybe im forgetting.

 

[glenferry23]

Can do better than Posh? Odd comment.

 

[jod23]

Can do better than Posh? Odd comment.

How is that odd. He is a sex symbol and all the chicks love him. Posh was alright in her Spice Girls days but let's be honest, he could be getting any girls he wants.

It's why I love DiCaprio. He realised that chicks want him so never got tied down. He just nails hot girl after hot girl after hot girl. Living the dream that man haha.

 

[Bojan KantKick]

How is that odd. He is a sex symbol and all the chicks love him. Posh was alright in her Spice Girls days but let's be honest, he could be getting any girls he wants.

It's why I love DiCaprio. He realised that chicks want him so never got tied down. He just nails hot girl after hot girl after hot girl. Living the dream that man haha.

What's wrong with being a family man?

 

[jod23]

What's wrong with being a family man?

Nothing at all. It's nice, good for him.

 

[NUFC Tiger]

A lot of April Fools day jokes on social media that Mike Ashley has sold the club. Too cruel.

 

[Bojan KantKick]

A lot of April Fools day jokes on social media that Mike Ashley has sold the club. Too cruel.

some flog said United had agreed a 70m pound deal to sign Pogba and quoted @DiMarzio.

Talk about sucked in

 

[ADL9798]

Re: the England U21 side to take to the Euros in the summer

For me you have to balance up sending your best team with rewarding the guys who have taken you there. The likes of Sterling, Wilshere, Chamberlain & Jones have played absolutely no part in helping this group qualify, and it wouldn't send a great message to the others coming through if they were to be shunted out at the last minute in favour of these guys who have already made the step up, had plenty of international experience at senior level and arguably don't stand to gain all that much from parachuting into this tournament. Kane, Shaw & Barkley on the other hand are either on the fringes of the senior team or have only just made the step up from the U21s, and would be served well by the experience of this tournament.

--------------Butland----------------
Jenkinson-Chambers-Stones-Shaw
-----------Ward-Prowse-------------
--------Barkley----Hughes----------
---Berahino---Kane-------Ibe-------

Bond, Flanagan, Garbutt, Blackett, Keane, Dier, Shelvey, Carroll, Chalobah, Forster-Caskey, Lingard, Redmond, Zaha, Ings, Bamford, Wickham

Southgate could easily take a side like this; stacked with quality young players, the vast majority of whom have top flight experience, and expect to do fairly well in the summer in my opinion while also giving international experience to the players that need it.

 

[moomba]

Most major medals won by players currently in a Premier League squad. From the Daily Mail.

15 - Valdes
13 - Terry
12 - Cech, Cambiasso
11 - Brown, Lampard, Ferdinand, Drogba
10 - O'Shea, Demichelis, Yaya Toure
9 - Rooney, Mikkel
8 - Navas, Fletcher, Silva, Carrick, Reveillere, Fabregas
7 - Joe Cole, Bojan, Gerrard, Balotelli, Ivanovic

 

[Zidane98]

Most major medals won by players currently in a Premier League squad. From the Daily Mail.

15 - Valdes
13 - Terry
12 - Cech, Cambiasso
11 - Brown, Lampard, Ferdinand, Drogba
10 - O'Shea, Demichelis, Yaya Toure
9 - Rooney, Mikkel
8 - Navas, Fletcher, Silva, Carrick, Reveillere, Fabregas
7 - Joe Cole, Bojan, Gerrard, Balotelli, Ivanovic

Mikel & Brown on that list prove there is hope for shit footballers.

 

[moomba]

Mikel & Brown on that list prove there is hope for shit footballers.

Sunderlands back 4 have won more medals than Chelseas according to the Mail.

In fairness to Brown he wasnt a bad backup, and I'm not sure how many of his medals he won as a legit starting XI player. O'Shite likewise.

Mikkel is garbage though.

 

[Buckleys Jocks]

Yeah to be fair to Brown and O'Shea they actually played their part in a lot of those titles, Brown got the assist for Ronaldo's goal in the 2008 Champions League final win IIRC.

 

[Redalert]

Mikkel was a role player, he did his job at Chelsea when called upon, even if he wasn't an amazing player in his own right.