England U-21 - Norway U-21

[MattyRangers]

It's not surprising though is it? Apart from 1 world cup what has England ever done on the international stage? Only once in a blue moon do we produce a player with any natural ability (I've only ever seen Gazza in my life time), before that maybe Hoddle? That's the problem with English football we don't seem to appreciate that sort of player. If you work your b0lloxs off and run around a lot you're seemed good enough! We have that problem at QPR, we have one player with bags of ability in Adel but people moan about him etc, but the people that moan about him will be raving about Mackie. The only reason why the premiership is as good as it is, is because of the foreign talent we have playing here. If you name the top 10 or 20 outfield players in the premiership none of them will be English imo. As a nation we are a million miles away from the likes of Germany, Spain, even bl00dy Belgium now! We all need to face it that we will not compete at the business end in a major tournament for at least another 20-30 years, imo we are at the same level as Ireland, Scotland, etc.

Couldn't agree more here pal.

The comment you make regards overlooking natural abilility, IMO, stems from grass roots. In my experience, the tricky player that dares to try new things and be creative is lambasted if it doesn't come off (from an early age). Such skill should be encouraged as I am sure it is in other nations. Yet over here we seem to enoucrage just lumping the ball to the lad up top that hti puberty at 9 years old so he can bulldozer through.
How many times do we hear of talented lads being released by clubs at 16 because they're "too small"? I know a few lads myself that have suffered exactly this. If we want to ever have a national team that can even think of competing for major trophies, the whole philosopgy and way we view football needs reviewing, right from the bottom.

[Robsondinho]

Couldn't agree more here pal.

The comment you make regards overlooking natural abilility, IMO, stems from grass roots. In my experience, the tricky player that dares to try new things and be creative is lambasted if it doesn't come off (from an early age). Such skill should be encouraged as I am sure it is in other nations. Yet over here we seem to enoucrage just lumping the ball to the lad up top that hti puberty at 9 years old so he can bulldozer through.
How many times do we hear of talented lads being released by clubs at 16 because they're "too small"? I know a few lads myself that have suffered exactly this. If we want to ever have a national team that can even think of competing for major trophies, the whole philosopgy and way we view football needs reviewing, right from the bottom.

Exactly that at all levels from Kids, to sunday pub, to non league. I know players on the non league circuit who have the ability to play pro football easy, but because they don't get stuck in or work their socks off most of them are not even starting for their teams! At non league level there is this myth that you will only do well if you fly into tackles, ping a 50 yard pass to the big man up top and work of his flick on's or awful touch. I have never played a game in 10 years of non league football where a team can get a ball down and knock it around for more then 15 passes before either losing it or lumping it forward.

[MattyRangers]

Exactly that at all levels from Kids, to sunday pub, to non league. I know players on the non league circuit who have the ability to play pro football easy, but because they don't get stuck in or work their socks off most of them are not even starting for their teams! At non league level there is this myth that you will only do well if you fly into tackles, ping a 50 yard pass to the big man up top and work of his flick on's or awful touch. I have never played a game in 10 years of non league football where a team can get a ball down and knock it around for more then 15 passes before either losing it or lumping it forward.

Yep.

My best pal was at Spuds from8 to 16 then released for "being too small". Quality little player (albeit I am obviously bias to an extent ) and bangs in goals for fun in non-league playing for Godalming Town but isn't a big lump so didn't get a look in. Funnily enough, Andros Townsend also got released with him, but apparently Townsend's old dear went in ranting & raving and got him another chance

Spot on ref non-league football though, when my side won the Surrey Elite league it was full of decent passing football, now we're in the Combined Counties it's woeful, just hoof ball to big lumps up top.

[Robsondinho]

Yep.

My best pal was at Spuds from8 to 16 then released for "being too small". Quality little player (albeit I am obviously bias to an extent ) and bangs in goals for fun in non-league playing for Godalming Town but isn't a big lump so didn't get a look in. Funnily enough, Andros Townsend also got released with him, but apparently Townsend's old dear went in ranting & raving and got him another chance

Spot on ref non-league football though, when my side won the Surrey Elite league it was full of decent passing football, now we're in the Combined Counties it's woeful, just hoof ball to big lumps up top.

I agree with releasing small players though, I mean look at Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, Pirlo, to name a few, they are bl00dy awful little players

[Shania]

To be fair, your team or teams for that matter are always exhausted after a tough season. No wonder, why England fails to make a real impact on the international stage. I should believe that how you league is organized must be rectified if England can challenge for a title like you obviously did back in 66.
But what is also alarming is that too many foreign players are playing in your teams. Personally, I can now see how important it is that QPR this season already tries to recruit young english players. That´s the way forward for team and country both.

[lymehoop]

attitude, apparently they showed little interest in the competition, losing to countries as small as Norway and Israel is unacceptable. Personally would'nt consider any of the shower for full International honours ever

[Shania]

No reason to slate them totally. Experts on fotball worldwide supports what I´m trying to say. It also alarming that the same experts, have noticed that coaches on your youth level actually pay less attention to possession minded fotball than what sucessful teams like Italy, Spain and Holland do.

IOW, bad attitude is not the only answer to why your team failed. I would also strongly suggest that the way your league is played just have to affect a player´s attitude.

[James1979]

stick a german in his national team shirt and he grows about 10 foot and plays at 100%.......put an england player in his national top....and well we all know what happens then. Pearce is **** manager and should be no where near england coaching set up but mentality of players has also to be questioned.

[Factamondo]

'multi millionaires' at 20 years of age= unhungry players!

[Shania]

'multi millionaires' at 20 years of age= unhungry players!

That´s true!

[lymehoop]

'multi millionaires' at 20 years of age= unhungry players!

exactly, had their minds on some exotic beach