The Real French Showdown! Crucial qualifier for u17s!

[LSOE]

Well tonight's the night for the first elite qualifier against our so called betters, the French (interestingly enough we seem to have done far better than them at youth level for a while now) who are always used as an example of how far behind we are when it comes to youth football. And they've got that Chelsea boy wonder Kacuta? for starters.

If that wasn't enough to worry about, we've got the Russians as well (along with hosts Israel). We should be looking for three points tonight rather than hoping to fudge our way through. I think we have a stronger squad than the last lot that made it all the way to the Final for the first time ever. Squad:

Name
Club
Declan Rudd
Norwich City
Wesley Foderingham
Fulham
Matthew Briggs
Fulham
Kyle Bartley
Arsenal
Ben Gordon
Chelsea
Luke O'Neill
Leicester City
Jack Rodwell
Everton
Chris Solly
Charlton
John Bostock
Crystal Palace
Matty James
Manchester United
Jacob Mellis
Chelsea
Jordan Mutch
Birmingham City
Dean Parrett
Tottenham Hotspur
Jack Wilshere
Arsenal
Nathan Delfouneso
Aston Villa
Ryan Donaldson
Newcastle
Harry Forrester
Aston Villa
Cameron Stewart *
Manchester United

* Replaced Andros Townsend
* Replaced Tom Cruise

[Gazza]

Tom Cruise doesn't qualify for England. Or Under 17s!

I don't know much about any other English football other than U21s and the Senior Team but would be interested to know about how good the English team is. You seem to be in the know LSOE so could you answer a few questions.

Does the future look bright for England when looking at the senior squad (do they have the potential to be good enough as the players in the Senior squad?)

How does the U17 team compare to the other U17 squad?

Cheers LSOE, and am I right in saying LSOE means Lennon Saviour of England?

If it is, Lennon isn't!

[LSOE]

SH*T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lions dealt cruel blow
By Russell Staves. Tuesday, 25 March 2008.


England
1-1
France

Rodwell 58
Mezui 78


UEFA U17 Elite Round Tournament
Tuesday 25 March 2008
Rishon Le Zion, Tel Aviv

Click here to see the tournament schedule


England were just two minutes away from a crucial opening win in the Elite Round Tournament on Tuesday.

The young Lions looked set for a victory over France after Jack Rodwell's 58th minute goal but were left to rue a number of missed chances when Mfa Mezui scored courtesy of a wicked deflection.

"I'm philosophical," said U17 Head Coach John Peacock.

"It's the best this age group has played against France in three matches - we had some really good chances. We went 1-0 up and deserved our lead but unfortunately conceded a deflected goal two minutes from time."

Tottenham midfielder Dean Parrett squandered two openings, one a lob which drifted over the bar and another shot that went wide, while strikers Ryan Donaldson and Nathan Delfouneso of Newcastle and Aston Villa respectively also went close.

"If we had taken our chances and made it 2-0 then that would have been three points," said Peacock. "But I'm pleased with the way the lads played and how they approached the game."

Although the draw meant England's run of six clean sheets came to an end, Peacock had nothing but praise for the defence.

"In terms of defence, their discipline was superb," he added. "All the lads have done well. We passed it well and we will look at it as one point gained. It's important not to lose your first game."

In the other game which took place today, hosts Israel beat Russia 3-1 to take an early lead in the group. England meet Russia on Thursday.

"This was always going to be a tough group," insisted the England Head Coach. "It will go down to the wire."

England: Wesley Foderingham (Fulham), Chris Solly (Charlton), Luke O'Neill (Leicester City), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Matthew Briggs (Fulham), Dean Parrett (Tottenham Hotspur), Matty James (Manchester United), Jordan Mutch (Birmingham City), Harry Forrester (Aston Villa, Jacob Mellis, Chelsea, 75 mins), Ryan Donaldson (Newcastle, Nathan Delfouneso, Aston Villa, 79 mins), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).

Subs: Declan Rudd (Norwich City), Kyle Bartley (Arsenal), Ben Gordon (Chelsea), John Bostock (Crystal Palace), Cameron Stewart (Manchester United).

[LSOE]

Tom Cruise doesn't qualify for England. Or Under 17s!


I think you are mixing him up with that weirdo short-ars* actor.

[LSOE]

I don't know much about any other English football other than U21s and the Senior Team but would be interested to know about how good the English team is. You seem to be in the know LSOE so could you answer a few questions.

Does the future look bright for England when looking at the senior squad (do they have the potential to be good enough as the players in the Senior squad?)

How does the U17 team compare to the other U17 squad?

Cheers LSOE, and am I right in saying LSOE means Lennon Saviour of England?

If it is, Lennon isn't!

I think this side has more strength in depth than the successful last one, particularly in midfield with Bostock, Wilshire and Mutch. The squad really impressed me at the end of 2006 for the u16s, with the quality of play and skill. At the time I thought Bostock was the one - you will know him after his very impressive debut for Palace just 12 months later last year. And also Wilshire on his two sub appearances. As you will know he's coming along well this season.

There's a number of other likely lads who continue to do well and it will be interesting how they cope with the acid test of the finals - if we manage to make it after this blow.

Lennon has been a massive disappointment for England fans since his trajectory started to nose dive after the world cup. I'm surprised he (and I) haven't had more stick. How much is down to the loss of pace after the two knee injuries, too much time spent on his gameboy thing, or his "lifestyle", I don't know.

I can't help thinking of the David Rocastle puzzle. But let's hope it's not as serious as that.

[LSOE]

*****ng Hell!!! We're OUT!!!!!

Euro dream lies in tatters
By Russell Staves. Thursday, 27 March 2008.

England
2-3
Russia

James 45, Delfouneso 72
Kolkorin 35, Stolyarenko 39, Pugachev 66

UEFA U17 Elite Round Tournament
Thursday 27 March 2008
Rishon Le Zion, Tel Aviv

England's dreams of reaching the European Championships went up in smoke after they lost to Russia on Thursday.
The young Lions gave themselves a mountain to climb when Alexander Kolkorin and Alexander Stolyarenko netted before half-time. Manchester United's Matty James pulled one back on 45 minutes but Russia scored a third from Yuri Pugachev to all but end England's hopes.

Nathan Delfouneso, the Aston Villa striker, reduced the deficit with eight minutes remaining but Russia held on. With England having gleaned just one point from two games, it's impossible for them to progress as group winners.
"We're gone now," rued Head Coach John Peacock, who harboured ambitions of taking the U17s to consecutive European Championship Finals. "We are out of it. It might have been different if we had got a point but it's not to be. This team has real potential so it's a shame they won't be going to the European Championships."

In an ironic twist, it was England's slackness in defence that caused their downfall. Prior to the tournament, Peacock's seemingly impregnable defence had kept six consecutive clean sheets, a run that was eventually ended by France on Tuesday and even that came from a wicked deflection.

Having dominated possession against Russia, England conceded three times to end their hopes of reaching May's Finals in Turkey."We gave away some poor goals," said Peacock. "The two we conceded before half-time cost us dear."We got back in the game but conceded another bad goal due to poor defending. That killed us."

While Peacock had gripes with the defence, he added that the rest of the side could have offered more when in possession."We had to have a bit more patience and class when we got the ball into the last third," he added. "We need to be more professional when we are playing sides like this."

England's final Elite Round qualifier is against Israel on Sunday.

England: Wesley Foderingham (Fulham), Ben Gordon (Chelsea), Matthew Briggs (Fulham), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Chris Solly (Charlton), Jacob Mellis (Chelsea, Harry Forrester, Aston Villa, 72 mins), Matty James (Manchester United), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), John Bostock (Crystal Palace, Dean Parrett, Tottenham Hotspur, 41 mins), Cameron Stewart (Manchester United, Ryan Donaldson, Newcastle, 41 mins), Nathan Delfouneso (Aston Villa).

Subs: Declan Rudd (Norwich City), Kyle Bartley (Arsenal), Luke O'Neill (Leicester City), Jordan Mutch (Birmingham City).

[intotheforest]

hey you seen James Reid of late LSOE? How do you think he has fared this year as he is getting rave reviews Trent side

[LSOE]

hey you seen James Reid of late LSOE?

No. Didn't seem much cop when I saw him to be honest. He's been getting games then eh.

[intotheforest]

In reserves yes he has. He and a handful of other youngsters really look he job ATM. Although I am same as you he didn't look amazing against Notts County last season although, he could e something which we haven't noticed yet :nod McGugan's the future though. :D

[LSOE]

Just a cumb of confort in these depressing times, the u18s won their second and final friendly of the season:

England
2-0
Austria
Welbeck 10
Drinkwater 90

England U18s v Austria
7pm, Wednesday, April 16
Victoria Park, Hartlepool United FC


Daniel Welbeck’s first team experience at Manchester United this season paid dividends as England U18s finished their 2007-08 campaign undefeated with a 1-0 win over Austria at Hartlepool United.

The Old Trafford youngster has been mixing it up with the likes of Rooney and Ronaldo this term and was an unused sub against Roma in the Champions League last week.
http://www.thefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/5566A12C-AD4C-4673-85D0-848BD0CCB975/138075/small1.jpgBoth local lad, Jonathan Franks, and Colchester United’s Medy Elito got the crowd on their feet with a pair of mazy runs before Welbeck put England in front on the ten minute mark.
Spurs striker, Daniel Rose, proved too hot for the Austrian defence to handle when he skipped into the box before setting up Welbeck, who stabbed home from five yards.
Austria could have bagged an immediate reply when Ryan Bennett lost possession on the edge of the box to Krenn but England skipper, Jordan Spence, spared the Grimsby Town youngster’s blushes with a great block tackle.

And Welbeck almost doubled England’s lead on 20 minutes when he beat Lindner to Elito’s high through ball before curling the ball against the bar from the tightest of angles.
The visitors were relieved to escape with just a goal deficit at the break with both Welbeck and Rose keeping Lindner on his toes in the Austrian goal before Spence volleyed over the bar in added on time.
http://www.thefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/5566A12C-AD4C-4673-85D0-848BD0CCB975/138076/small2.jpgRose was still hunting down goal in the second half when he saw a left foot volley flash wide on the hour mark while England keeper Ben Amos got his hands stung in the Hartlepool cold with two long range strikes from Kelly.
Ashley Chambers then replaced Rose and saw a right foot volley go close while Drinkwater was twice denied in the space of ten seconds by the Austrian backline with Lindner eventually pushing the Manchester United midfielder’s scissor kick past the post for a corner.
But Drinkwater finally beat Lindner with a superb curling free-kick in injury time from the edge of the box to seal a fine win for Brian Eastick’s side.

The victory followed up last year's 2-0 win over Ghana at Gillingham.
England: 1 Ben Amos, 2 Gavin Hoyte, 3 Lee Hills (16 James Reid, 71), 4 Daniel Gosling (12 Richard Smallwood, 46), 5 Ryan Bennett, 6 Jordan Spence, 7 Jonathan Franks (17 Kyle Bennett, 46) 8 Daniel Drinkwater, 9 Daniel Welbeck, 10 Daniel Rose (14 Ashley Chambers, 71), 11 Medy Elito (15 Tom Elliott, 79).
Unused Sub: 13 Mark Oxley,