[scrapbook]

What amazing effort by the England U21 team and in particular these three. I hope David Bentley was watching and hanging his head in shame.

Bloody frustrating result though, another 'glorius' defeat

Definately a tactical error taking your best striker off with 5 mins to go (surely you never do that do you?) but other than that Pearce looks right for the job. Hopefully they will give it to him on a full time basis.

Just out of interest is there a World U21 cup?

[KevD]

That single match has completely changed my opinion on Milner, thought he was amazing. And Taylor, what a bloke, he had no right to be on the pitch let alone take a Pen in those circumstances. Thought Asley Young stood out and deserves a mention aswell

Indeed Bentley should hang his head, if we had got through we would have been struggling for a midfield in the final. Reo Coker should too hang his head, I thought he had a good game and a decent torurnament, but as Captain he should be prepared to set the example and have the balls to step up and take a pen ahead of the defenders and goalie, NOT last man (barring Taylor)

Just out of interest is there a World U21 cup?

Dint think so, think they just have the Olympic U23 as the Junior world competition

[scrapbook]

Originally Posted by KevD

That single match has completely changed my opinion on Milner, thought he was amazing. And Taylor, what a bloke, he had no right to be on the pitch let alone take a Pen in those circumstances. Thought Asley Young stood out and deserves a mention aswell

Indeed Bentley should hang his head, if we had got through we would have been struggling for a midfield in the final. Reo Coker should too hang his head, I thought he had a good game and a decent torurnament, but as Captain he should be prepared to set the example and have the balls to step up and take a pen ahead of the defenders and goalie, NOT last man (barring Taylor)

I thought Milner's effort was amazing in backs against a wall way...plus his pens were top class. As a class player never been to sure about him.

Yeah that NRC issue with the pens was amazing. I can't believe he didn't take one. I thought he was having an excellent game right up to the moment he was booked and then he disappeared...unlike Noble that seemed to raise his effort even more.

[RMCF]

KevD

You make a good point about Reo-Coker.

I have always found it strange how many players chicken out of taking pens and force crap defenders to take them, when they should obviously be better finishers than them. I think too many big name forwards and midfielders are afraid of ruining their image by missing penalties and force the defenders into doing it.

Any forward afraid to take a pen in a major shoot-out should hang his head - they are meant to be the main men in front of goal, so if they can't do it from 12 yards with just him and the keeper they may as well pack it in.

I always had a solution to this whole problem, and the fact that 1 individual was always labelled with the important miss that cost his team, make EVERY player (bar goalkeeper) still on the pitch at the final whistle take a penalty each. Then if someone misses the 1st or 2nd, their team still can win it and they won't be castigated in the press.

I realise that this will take more time than 5 penalties, but why not do away with extra-time, which is generally a total waste of time for the spectator anyway. Or else cut it to 10mins each way.

Go on FIFA - you know it makes sense.

[KevD]

It just really bugs me when players wont step up when they should. I know it doesnt count as a goal in a shoot out, but its can be as important for the team and so as captain, I would want to take the responsibility.

I understand players can get nervous and may not want to take one, I am pretty sure Hoyte didnt really want to take one at that stage but at least he went up.

Sounds like a good idea with the shoot out, more penalties is always a good thing

[Abbeygoo]

I thought there were a number of stars in the tournament for England - Taylor, Noble, Milner, Young as mentioned and I also thought that David Nugent and Leroy Lita looked good up front at times. Nedum Onohua also looked good at the back with Scott Carson in fine form between the sticks - shame he couldn't save some more penalties!

[kourosh]

i think thats an excellent idea,all ten outfield players to take a pen and then see who has scored the most at the end.................back on NRC
i bet if there was a pen in a prem match he would defin love to take it

[Abbeygoo]

Like the idea about penalties ..... it would also be a good idea if the referee / linesman made sure the keeper stayed on his line until the ball was kicked

[Tsunami]

They were all fantastic, some more so. The equaliser was completely down to the fact that Taylor was injured and perhaps England should have put the ball out (I think Noble gave it away when he could have kicked it out).

The final may have been an anticlimax given the suspensions & the injuries so in a perverse way it may have been better to go out this way.

I'd just like to mention the disgraceful behaviour of the Dutch manager. Not only did he run onto the pitch to protest about Taylor taking a penalty he then gave a completely unnecessarily smug interview about how England had been outplayed & should have lost 3 or 4 golas to 1

Taylor & Pearce were both top class in their interviews.

[dc007]

I thought Stuart Pearce in interview afterwards was superb.

I don't really know much about his abilities as a manager, but as a plain and honest speaker, he represented his country with great dignity.

Stuart Pearce makes me proud to be English

[rio1981]

I know it's the same old scenario (a "brave" effort, defeat on penalties) but the future does look brighter than the present senior squad.

As for NRC, I think I'm right in saying he's the oldest and most experienced player in that squad. He is captain for his club and has been since he joined, he's captain of the under-21's... my personal views on NRC do not cloud the fact that to not stick his hand up for penalty until after the goalkeeper is unbelievable.

Apart from the fact that it's perfectly believable and in character. As a West Ham fan I think I saw the past (NRC) and the future (Noble)... and the future looks brighter than the past.

On a sidenote, who else thinks we should just get rid of the senior squad and let this lot loose?

[JohnG]

I can't believe that the Dutch keeper was allowed to come off his line before every penanlty was taken, he'd gained a full yard for most of them

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by JohnG

I can't believe that the Dutch keeper was allowed to come off his line before every penanlty was taken, he'd gained a full yard for most of them

I can't believe Carson stood there, saw it happening, saw he could get away with it & didn't do it himself!

[JohnG]

Originally Posted by DJT75

I can't believe Carson stood there, saw it happening, saw he could get away with it & didn't do it himself!

I never thought about it that way !

[Tsunami]

Apparently the Dutch coach called Taylor a coward & a cheat before he took his penalty. Class Act.

Taylor has torn ankle ligaments & played for more than 30 minutes in that condition without ducking out of any challenges. He also scored his penalty.

The Dutch Coach must have pretty high expectations judging by that standard. He could also just be a t**t.

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by Tsunami

Apparently the Dutch coach called Taylor a coward & a cheat before he took his penalty. Class Act.

Taylor has torn ankle ligaments & played for more than 30 minutes in that condition without ducking out of any challenges. He also scored his penalty.

The Dutch Coach must have pretty high expectations judging by that standard. He could also just be a t**t.

It was the best penalty out of 30 too....

[la gran siete]

gr8 effort but when are we going to start producing players of the standard of a Ronaldo or Ronaldinho?real class!

[mrtbag]

Originally Posted by la gran siete

gr8 effort but when are we going to start producing players of the standard of a Ronaldo or Ronaldinho?real class!

Naturaly we won't produce players like that as we play a different style of football over here. You'll only see that in players who play their early careers in Spain or South America.

[scrapbook]

Originally Posted by la gran siete

gr8 effort but when are we going to start producing players of the standard of a Ronaldo or Ronaldinho?real class!

It is not like teams with such players with everything anyway.

[la gran siete]

Sorry but I dont buy that. There have been several foreighn players like Cantona, Ardiles, Henry etc with quite clearly superior technical levels who have addapted to the rigours of the premiership/old first division.There is absolutely no reason why we shouldnt produce similar players, indeed sometimes one or two like Gazza or Hoddle do appear but too often they are branded "luxury players"This current mob dont appear to haver anything one would call specially skillfull , just donkey work rate merchantswhich augurs badly for England in the near future.You need to have two or three players that can produce unexpected flashes of brilliance.