Post by chrish on Nov 16, 2008 14:02:49 GMT
There was a time when England friendlies were all about Sven picking his best 11, pleading with club managers to let them play longer than 45 mins and us grinding out narrow wins just to appease the tabloid press.
You have to hand it to Fabio Capello. It's very refreshing in my opinion to see a manager who isn't afraid to try new things and experiment with new players in meaningless friendlies. The under 21 squad is there (or at least should be there) to act as a stepping stone to the full England team. Its all about picking the best young players England have and giving them exposure to the international game. It's great to see that players like Michael Mancienne getting a chance after performing well for the under 21 squad regardless of what club they are currently playing for and in which division. I've no doubt that he's getting a better schooling on loan at Wolves in the Championship under Mick McCarthy than being stuck in the reserves at Chelsea. I've seen some of the under 21 matches on Setanta and although he's a bit raw he has all the natural attributes to be as good as Rio Ferdinand. The quicker he gets exposed to better quality opposition then the better his progress will be. At the moment rather like the young Rio Ferdinand he's using his natural attributes to make up for a lack of experience in using his brain rather than pace.
My concern for a while is that not enough players have come up into the full England squad from the under 21 squad. A lot of them tend to stay there until they hit the age limit of 23 and are then consigned to a Bolton Wanderers or even lower and never play in a international shirt again.
Its good to see players like Joe Hart, David Bentley, Ashley Young and Gabi Agbonlahor who've all starred at under 21 level all getting into this squad. Its also right that Darren Bent is back in after player such a important part in Tottenham's mini revival. Personally I think that Scott Carson isn't the right choice in the nets. I would like to have seen Chris Kirkland's name in the squad as he seems in good form and in surprising good health.
Whatever the end result in Berlin I think its important that both the players and the manager learn from any mistakes. It might slightly grate losing to the Germans, but I'd rather lose now than chucking somebody in who's unproven in a World Cup quarter final and losing then.
The fact that Capello is prepared to do this marks him as being on a completely different level to the likes of Sven Goran Eriksson who in my opinion was the most overrated and overpaid manager in the history of football. A Swedish Ron Atkinson without the charm and the racism.
You have to hand it to Fabio Capello. It's very refreshing in my opinion to see a manager who isn't afraid to try new things and experiment with new players in meaningless friendlies. The under 21 squad is there (or at least should be there) to act as a stepping stone to the full England team. Its all about picking the best young players England have and giving them exposure to the international game. It's great to see that players like Michael Mancienne getting a chance after performing well for the under 21 squad regardless of what club they are currently playing for and in which division. I've no doubt that he's getting a better schooling on loan at Wolves in the Championship under Mick McCarthy than being stuck in the reserves at Chelsea. I've seen some of the under 21 matches on Setanta and although he's a bit raw he has all the natural attributes to be as good as Rio Ferdinand. The quicker he gets exposed to better quality opposition then the better his progress will be. At the moment rather like the young Rio Ferdinand he's using his natural attributes to make up for a lack of experience in using his brain rather than pace.
My concern for a while is that not enough players have come up into the full England squad from the under 21 squad. A lot of them tend to stay there until they hit the age limit of 23 and are then consigned to a Bolton Wanderers or even lower and never play in a international shirt again.
Its good to see players like Joe Hart, David Bentley, Ashley Young and Gabi Agbonlahor who've all starred at under 21 level all getting into this squad. Its also right that Darren Bent is back in after player such a important part in Tottenham's mini revival. Personally I think that Scott Carson isn't the right choice in the nets. I would like to have seen Chris Kirkland's name in the squad as he seems in good form and in surprising good health.
Whatever the end result in Berlin I think its important that both the players and the manager learn from any mistakes. It might slightly grate losing to the Germans, but I'd rather lose now than chucking somebody in who's unproven in a World Cup quarter final and losing then.
The fact that Capello is prepared to do this marks him as being on a completely different level to the likes of Sven Goran Eriksson who in my opinion was the most overrated and overpaid manager in the history of football. A Swedish Ron Atkinson without the charm and the racism.
