England U21 vs Norway

Anybody watching it? Sordell has been dropped what a surprise. Dawson looking a little shaky.

Currently 0-1 Norway (against the run of play)

0-2

They're shit.

Wow just checked the score, 3-0 down. This is what amazes me with the England set up, Stuart Pearce has been in the set up for years now and seems unaccountable for any failures. In the last Euro under 21 tournament England were just shocking and yet Stuart Pearce keeps his job. They are heading out after 2 games this time round and just watch Stuart Pearce will keep his job. I bloody hate the FA.

1-3 Dawson!

Official, Englands future is fucked up, well done Pearce you incompetant twat.

I'm sure the FA keep this prick on as the under 21 manager because he is a yes man for the FA.

Plus I think he doesn't resign because he will never get another job as a club manager.

Isn't his contract up after this tournament?

Bernard Dennis Park wrote:Isn't his contract up after this tournament?

It fucking should be, what a useless prick, he makes Coyle look like Fergusson.

I'd sack the useless bag of shite.

Can't say i've been watching them in this euros...are we out of the competition now?

Or maybe the players just aren't good enough?

Haven't we learnt from the first team, it's usually not the managers fault.

aaron_bwfc wrote:Can't say i've been watching them in this euros...are we out of the competition now?

Yes out after two games. lol

Hipster_Nebula wrote:Or maybe the players just aren't good enough?

Haven't we learnt from the first team, it's usually not the managers fault.

My personal take on it is that the players don't give a shit. These lads are millionaires, they probably can't wait to be with their mates living it up, going on their luxury holidays, driving their fast cars. Do your really think these lads want to be in Israel playing in this tournament? They don't give a shit.
Maybe for this reason it may be harsh to blame Pearce afterall.

I believe the same is true for the full England team. Remember players like Pearce, Gazza, Adams, Butcher, Lineker, Shearer - playing for their country meant everything. When has the likes of Rooney ever looked interested at international level? He seems to think he is doing the country a favour by playing.

These players are all a bunch of overpaid twats.

This is a worrying sign for when and if they actually break into the main team and is another reason why the likes of Lampard and Gerrard have yet to be replaced.

Our youth set up is fucking terrible.

The Under 21 competition is treated seriously by all of the other nations apart from England, if that is the attitude of the FA, the England manager and club mangers then how can we complain when it goes pear shaped.

How can it be more beneficial for young players, eligible to play in this tournament to be off playing a friendly in Brazil or on holiday /can't be arsed. They should be getting tournament experience that will benefit them in later years, Hodgson of all people should recognise this.

Dawson was terrible today - playing like that he'll struggle to get into WBA first team, I think he missed Knight bailing him out.

With England’s U-21s eliminated from their group with a game to spare in this year’s European Championships in Israel, MSN Sport looks at the main reasons behind the team’s failings.

1. The tournament isn’t taken seriously enough
   

There’s a feeling in English football culture that age-level competitions are only in place for those not yet good enough to play for the national side. Between them England’s squad has only nine full caps, whereas the Dutch have twelve full internationals in Israel and Spain will field players of the calibre of David De Gea, Iker Munian, Isco and Thiago Alcantara. Surely Jack Wilshere, Phil Jones, Jack Rodwell and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would have bolstered England’s bid and gained valuable tournament experience at the same time. Norway, by the way, had fourteen senior internationals.

1. Little first-team playing time
   

Many of England’s players spent last season in the Championship, either on loan or because that’s the level at which their clubs play. Last season, no English player under the age of twenty-one appeared in the Premier League for Chelsea, Man City, Stoke, Swansea or Wigan and in eight seasons we have seen the total number of minutes played by this age and nationality halved. It’s a worrying trend that can’t help the national set-up.

1. Lack of national playing style
   

The way the Dutch, Spanish, Italians and Germans play is always pretty clear and this means that each player coming into a team automatically knows his role. England U-21 captain, Jordan Henderson, by contrast, has played for Liverpool this season in central midfield, on the right of midfield, on the right of a front three and behind a lone striker, arguably leaving him uncertain of what his natural position is. After the game last night Rio Ferdinand tweeted: “if Spain or Germany threw an u18 in he would know his role as these countries have an identity.”

1. Poor coaching
   

It’s been pointed out regularly that the number of qualified coaches in England lags far behind those in Spain and Germany. This means that children are coached by those with a limited understanding of player development, which in turn results in fewer prospects realising their potential. The building of St George’s is one thing, but coaches across the country need to be better qualified so they can hand over more technically proficient children to this finishing school.

1. Blame Stuart Pearce
   

Few would argue that Stuart Pearce is Rinus Michels when it comes to being a tactical visionary, but to place the blame on the manager seems a little harsh. Pearce has been pretty successful in the past, reaching the final and semi-final of this tournament with his two previous efforts. In the aftermath of last night’s defeat, Pearce commented: “The team that comes with their best players will win the tournament, the teams that don't go home early.” England did not have many of their best players in Israel.

1. A poor generation?
   

For all the fanfare that accompanied the team’s record as they steamrollered their way to the finals, there are few players in this side that really look like they could be world class. Zaha is still raw – and did little to impress in Israel – and while players like Caulker and Henderson will probably have careers in the top half of the Premier League, Ledley King and Steven Gerrard they most certainly are not. Up front is of particular concern, with the triumvirate of Nathan Delfouneso, Marvin Sordell and Connor Wickham all with plenty of work to do to make a mark at this level.
It’s unlikely that only one thing needs to be put right for England to start succeeding at youth and full levels, but what is clear is that the current formula simply isn’t producing the desired results.

Michael Bolton wrote:

Hipster_Nebula wrote:Or maybe the players just aren't good enough?

Haven't we learnt from the first team, it's usually not the managers fault.

My personal take on it is that the players don't give a shit. These lads are millionaires, they probably can't wait to be with their mates living it up, going on their luxury holidays, driving their fast cars. Do your really think these lads want to be in Israel playing in this tournament? They don't give a shit.
Maybe for this reason it may be harsh to blame Pearce afterall.

I believe the same is true for the full England team. Remember players like Pearce, Gazza, Adams, Butcher, Lineker, Shearer - playing for their country meant everything. When has the likes of Rooney ever looked interested at international level? He seems to think he is doing the country a favour by playing.

These players are all a bunch of overpaid twats.

Fuck me I must be more hungover than I thought,I actually agree with you !!!

Michael Bolton wrote:

My personal take on it is that the players don't give a shit. These lads are millionaires, they probably can't wait to be with their mates living it up, going on their luxury holidays, driving their fast cars. Do your really think these lads want to be in Israel playing in this tournament? They don't give a shit.
Maybe for this reason it may be harsh to blame Pearce afterall.

I believe the same is true for the full England team. Remember players like Pearce, Gazza, Adams, Butcher, Lineker, Shearer - playing for their country meant everything. When has the likes of Rooney ever looked interested at international level? He seems to think he is doing the country a favour by playing.

These players are all a bunch of overpaid twats.

The modern footballer is an overpaid ponce, not just at international level, but at Championship level and lower. Below average players earning huge amounts of money they don't deserve. It's like paying your binman the Prime Minister's salary.

But this is all down to the fans. If they stopped forking out for season tickets, stopped buying the shirts, boycotted Sky Sports etc things would be very different.

You paid for Zat Knight's last Ferrari, until you wise up nothing will ever change.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

Michael Bolton wrote:

My personal take on it is that the players don't give a shit. These lads are millionaires, they probably can't wait to be with their mates living it up, going on their luxury holidays, driving their fast cars. Do your really think these lads want to be in Israel playing in this tournament? They don't give a shit.
Maybe for this reason it may be harsh to blame Pearce afterall.

I believe the same is true for the full England team. Remember players like Pearce, Gazza, Adams, Butcher, Lineker, Shearer - playing for their country meant everything. When has the likes of Rooney ever looked interested at international level? He seems to think he is doing the country a favour by playing.

These players are all a bunch of overpaid twats.

The modern footballer is an overpaid ponce, not just at international level, but at Championship level and lower. Below average players earning huge amounts of money they don't deserve. It's like paying your binman the Prime Minister's salary.

But this is all down to the fans. If they stopped forking out for season tickets, stopped buying the shirts, boycotted Sky Sports etc things would be very different.

You paid for Zat Knight's last Ferrari, until you wise up nothing will ever change.

I agree they are all overpaid, look at Rooney one of the better players on 240K a week, its fucking mental.