Under 21 Euros 2019

do.ob said:
Pretty weird to bring up Burke, who simply wasn't good enough. I mean two years down the road he's playing for Celtic.

Hoffenheim's names in attack may not look like much, but Joelinton and Belfodil have been genuinely quality players this year and Kramaric for a few years now. I mean sure, Nagelsmann is probably one of the coaches who won't think twice about benching a player who can't follow his instructions, but I think this one was mainly about individual quality.
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Burke was a major prospect when they signed him, was producing similar stats to Daniel James in the championship for Nottingham Forest. Ultimately though that was a lot of just running and beating a full back for pace.

At top level you obviously need more tactical awareness and I remember Hassenhuttl commenting this was major problem.

His hard drive on working without the ball is completely empty. He had never heard about that,” highly-rated coach Ralf Hasenhuttl said in October last year, as reported by Goal.

Rae said: “Leipzig are the second best team in Germany this season and you don’t easily get into a team like that. He hasn’t always done himself favours playing from the start, he’s looked a little ill at ease.

“Listen to Ralph Hasenhüttl, the coach, and Ralf Rangnick, the sporting director, they both say that what they had to work on from the start was his work without the ball, which is very important when you analyse how Leipzig play. They are the masters of pressing and counter-attacking so the work without the ball is really quite typical to how they play
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Keeps It tidy said:
I think Schalke and Spurs are the only decent sides he scored against. I think the rest were against the likes of Oxford United, Rotherham United and Burton Albion
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Well, he hasn’t really played that many games against the top sides has he...

He’s always been a goal scorer and so far has stepped that up to every level he’s played at.
 
FootballHQ said:
Burke was a major prospect when they signed him, was producing similar stats to Daniel James in the championship for Nottingham Forest. Ultimately though that was a lot of just running and beating a full back for pace.

At top level you obviously need more tactical awareness and I remember Hassenhuttl commenting this was major problem.
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That does not make him a major prospect.
 
Anyways, I’m sure we can all agree that was classic England. Get in a good position and conspire to throw it all away.

That challenge by Choudhury was awful too. Could be a broken ankle.
 
Thought France were underwhelming tbh despite all the major talent they had in their 11, certainly lack the team chemistry any tournament winners need.

Would be surprised if the winner of this isn't Italy or Spain.
 
Classical Mechanic said:
I followed his season through stat sites and it seemed they were banging them in but also missing barely any games either.
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At the beginning of the season Amiri was injured and Belfodil was settling in, having just joined from Bremen. They also had CL games. But around winter Belfodil decided that it would be fun to be one of the best strikers in Bundesliga, European football was gone and Amiri returned to full fitness. Meaning they had one safe starter more, one attacking option more and less need for rotation. Bittencourt took a similar hit, he started ten Buli games before the winter break and just three afterwards. Had Nelson continued to bang them in like he did in October/November he probably would have played more, but I guess that was a purple patch and so he didn't and Nagelsmann mainly used him when Hoffenheim were desperate for a goal.
He still only had two matches where he was in the squad but didn't get any minutes, so it's not like Nagelsmann really put him aside, in that sense he even overtook Bittencourt.
 
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Classical Mechanic said:
Anyways, I’m sure we can all agree that was classic England. Get in a good position and conspire to throw it all away.

That challenge by Choudhury was awful too. Could be a broken ankle.
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Surely he'll get an extended ban ? There's no control whatsoever, like he tried to break a door down. Disgraceful challenge.
 
Carl said:
Dembele looks pretty shit though doesn't he? Hope we stay well clear of him.
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I actually thought his movement was really good and he looked very sharp - his finishing was a let down luckily. This seems to be an unusual game for him rather than the norm though.

Compare his movement to Lukaku and it’s night and day.
 
Classical Mechanic said:
You have

Harry Winks
Declan Rice
Maitland Niles
Ronaldo Viera
Reece James

The last three were definitely available as far as I'm aware.
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Yeah said Rice should've gone to fully intergrate him into England team. Reece James is a full back isn't he? Maitland Niles can play in midfield but he pretty much played all season for Arsenal as a full back, mainly RB after Bellerin injury.

Don't really think Ronaldo Vieria played much at Sampdoria if we're doing lack of minutes line.

England main team don't lack for DMs so think it's more important under 21s develop more tempo players in the midfield area.
 
duffer said:
James is out with a pretty serious injury annoyingly.
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He was injured playing for the u20s. He never would have played on that crap pitch and done his ankle if he was selected in the u21s.

FootballHQ said:
Don't really think Ronaldo Vieria played much at Sampdoria if we're doing lack of minutes line.
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He didn't play much this season but it was in a top 5 European league when he did and it was towards the end of the season when he appeared more.

He has 86 senior appearances as a pro and has been playing senior football for 3 seasons.

Reece James is a very talented player and was moved to midfield for Wigan later in the season after impressing in the position. He can play right back, centre back or midfield.

https://www.whoscored.com/Players/361330/Show/Reece-James

edit: regarding Maitland Niles, he can play in multiple positions which is all the more reason for his inclusion in the squad. He's played at a high level this season and was an u20 World Cup winner. James won every player award going at Wigan, he was winning their player of month every time and is another dexterous player in terms of position. The omissions of James and AMN was certainly curious to anyone that was following the development of this u21 squad through the season.
 
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Expecting Italy to outclass Poland today by a fair bit. Poland really fortunate to qualify imo. 2 draws with Faroes, fortunate wins against Denmark/Georgia (despite the scorelines). Italy should be a few levels above them. Think Spain should be a fair bit better than Belgium as well. Be interesting to see if Spain go for a big score, think it's GD 2nd place will come down to unless a group has two teams with 7 points.
 
Classical Mechanic said:
He was injured playing for the u20s. He never would have played on that crap pitch and done his ankle if he was selected in the u21s.



He didn't play much this season but it was in a top 5 European league when he did and it was towards the end of the season when he appeared more.

He has 86 senior appearances as a pro and has been playing senior football for 3 seasons.

Reece James is a very talented player and was moved to midfield for Wigan later in the season after impressing in the position. He can play right back, centre back or midfield.

https://www.whoscored.com/Players/361330/Show/Reece-James

edit: regarding Maitland Niles, he can play in multiple positions which is all the more reason for his inclusion in the squad. He's played at a high level this season and was an u20 World Cup winner. James won every player award going at Wigan, he was winning their player of month every time and is another dexterous player in terms of position. The omissions of James and AMN was certainly curious to anyone that was following the development of this u21 squad through the season.
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At the end of the 17/18 season we played Arsenal at home and I thought Maitland-Niles was outstanding as a CM/b2b midfielder. I think he can be a John O'Shea type for Arsenal and offer good cover for RB, CM, and DM. He didn't get to play in midfield much this season, but I hope he will be given the chance soon, just to see if my memory is fooling me on that one game!
 
My thoughts on the England - France game --

  • Foden is ridiculously good. He eases past challenges at pace, and can also hit quality, Carrick-ish longballs. There won't be much dropoff for City when D. Silva finally leaves.
  • AWB was solid, apart from the horror moment at the end and one poor pass in the first half. But he is good and I would still love for him to join us, just maybe not at the ridiculous fee.
  • Choudhury was excellent, up until his own horror moment. Has he been linked with any moves away? We should be interested in him instead of Rice! That is based entirely off 60 minutes last night...
  • Solanke looks the part, but just has no impact on the game.
  • Henderson did well, but how good is he with the ball at his feet? This is a modern need for keepers and I am curious to see how he does this next season. But his shot-stopping is very good.
  • England's substitutions were terrible. Made no sense.
  • Jonathan Ikone -- looked decent. Would he be worth a shout for a right winger? Doesn't have great stats from this past year with Lille, but can't be worse than Lingard and Mata as a right winger...
  • Disappointed by Tousart and Aouar. I think they were both outshone by England's CMs.
  • M. Dembele looks great right up until he shoots. But I thought he gave the England CBs more than a good fight.
Overall: Good entertaining game, ruined by Choudhury's tackle. I hope the French kid didn't suffer any serious damage.
 
I think Choudhury needs to leave Leicester. He’s second choice behind Ndidi so struggles for game time. He has impressed in many big games this season when they’ve opted for two defensive minded players.
 
Carlos Soler looks a class above everyone else on the pitch during Spain-Belgium right now.
 
Fornals with a thunder bastard of a shot seals it for Spain.
 
DomesticTadpole said:
Could be a really good signing for West Ham.
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He had as many assists as Messi the season before last and this season he had a lot of key passes though it doesn't show in terms of assists. He runs non-stop for 90 mins and is very versatile in terms of positions he can play. He can play central midfield and on both wings but imo he's at his best when he has a free role behind the striker. He will be linked to better clubs after his first season at West Ham. Bargain signing.
 
This Chiesa is a real handful.

I'd assume Juve bound?
 
Spiersey said:
Expecting Italy to outclass Poland today by a fair bit. Poland really fortunate to qualify imo. 2 draws with Faroes, fortunate wins against Denmark/Georgia (despite the scorelines). Italy should be a few levels above them. Think Spain should be a fair bit better than Belgium as well. Be interesting to see if Spain go for a big score, think it's GD 2nd place will come down to unless a group has two teams with 7 points.
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You clearly didn’t watched Poland in the playoffs.
 
JJ12 said:
They have outclassed them first half though
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I am talking about being lucky to qualify. I watched their 2 matches vs Portugal on the playoffs, they weren’t lucky at all.
 
Bielik should actually get a shot at playing for Arsenal next season, had a really good season at DM for Charlton albeit in league one but seems one of the best players at this tournament and also seems to be having a go at being top scorer.

Can't be worse than Elneny...
 
SCP said:
I am talking about being lucky to qualify. I watched their 2 matches vs Portugal on the playoffs, they weren’t lucky at all.
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Fair enough
 
Classical Mechanic said:
I think Choudhury needs to leave Leicester. He’s second choice behind Ndidi so struggles for game time. He has impressed in many big games this season when they’ve opted for two defensive minded players.
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He's only a young 'un. I first saw him on loan at Burton when they played Walsall in 2016 and he stood out (due to having afro back then!). Was only 18 then aswell.

Took a while for him to full break through at Leicester. He did start against Arsenal, Man. City and Chelsea in the run in so can see him being a regular next year.

Will be big moment when he gets called up for England senior team as obviously lack of British asians even playing the game so seeing one play for senior team is probably best encouragement for more to come through.
 
SCP said:
You clearly didn’t watched Poland in the playoffs.
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Yeah I watched both playoffs. Portugal missed chances first leg to kill the tie. Freak performance 2nd leg from Portugal with a horrendous start cost them the tie. If they play that 2nd leg 100 times I doubt poland win 3-1 again.

Besides, Italy should be ahead here anyway. Been much better side.
 
How come Italy have changed their front 3 already, Kean (who's just come on) and Zaniolo only on bench today.
 
FootballHQ said:
Bielik should actually get a shot at playing for Arsenal next season, had a really good season at DM for Charlton albeit in league one but seems one of the best players at this tournament and also seems to be having a go at being top scorer.

Can't be worse than Elneny...
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How has he looked so far in this game?

I'm extremely pessimistic about Emery bringing any young players through. Judging by some of their comments on him I'm genuinely worried we're going to lose quite a few talented youngsters
 
Mogget said:
How has he looked so far in this game?

I'm extremely pessimistic about Emery bringing any young players through. Judging by some of their comments on him I'm genuinely worried we're going to lose quite a few talented youngsters
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Surely it's a needs must with this 40m budget? Reiss Nelson can replace Welbeck as the back up to the front two and Bielik is decent enough as DM and I find Elneny a bit of a nothing player. When I've seen Smith Rowe in the cups he's looked promising aswell although maybe another loan is logical option up to January.
 
FootballHQ said:
Surely it's a needs must with this 40m budget? Reiss Nelson can replace Welbeck as the back up to the front two and Bielik is decent enough as DM and I find Elneny a bit of a nothing player. When I've seen Smith Rowe in the cups he's looked promising aswell although maybe another loan is logical option up to January.
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Ideally we'd sack off the Europa League group stages and play our youngsters in that and the league cup but I really don't trust Emery to do that. I think we do have a talented group of young players though
 
Mogget said:
Ideally we'd sack off the Europa League group stages and play our youngsters in that and the league cup but I really don't trust Emery to do that. I think we do have a talented group of young players though
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Saka is one to watch. Also Musah, although he's being linked with a move away.
 
Kean’s got something about him. Italy just constantly feeding it to him hoping he can do something
 
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