The England Football Team Thread

[Mr. Gayle]

Micah Richards is u21 for ages lol

[Agony]

Gareth Southgate reveals FA youth football initiative

Southgate is helping implement the FA youth development review

The Football Association has unveiled plans that could revolutionise youth football in England.

Under the proposals, children will not be allowed to play 11-a-side games until under-13 level.

"In 11-a-side matches there are fewer touches for players," said FA head of elite development Gareth Southgate.

"If we go to that format too young then it becomes much more of an athletic-based game. We have huge pitches that kids can't get around."

This and other proposals, such as games being played on smaller pitches and with smaller goals, are the result of an 18-month investigation of grassroots football.

Any changes will need to win support from 75% of the FA's voting shareholders at a vote in September.

The FA has highlighted that three of the most successful countries in recent years - Spain, France and Italy - do not allow 11-a-side games until under-14 level, and Southgate said he felt there was an appetite for change in the English game.

"People have seen the way that the likes of Barcelona have played this year and they're asking: 'Why can't our kids play that way?'," said the former Middlesbrough manager.

"We want them to play that way. We feel that what we are proposing will give them the environment to develop those skills.

"We have down the years produced some technically gifted players but we want to increase that pool of talent so that if our best one or two players get injured, there is a bigger talent pool to come in."

Research shows that children who are slower to mature physically are being forced out of the game before they reach their potential.

Factors such as the pitches they play on being too big means smaller more gifted players tend to lose out in favour of more athletic players.

Southgate stated: "It benefits the physically stronger players but there's a real danger that we lose the smaller, more technically gifted ones.

"There is a high drop-out of players in that nature."

These changes should have been made years ago

[Drift]

playing for a top 4 club>>>>>>>>

[MrJibbles]

SMH at dropping Bent

[Young £]

thats what happens when you choose a club like villa

no weight

january soon come for him anyway

[HangTheDJ]

England's number 9 has a knock and Villa contacted the FA to ask for him not to be included, tbf.

Shoulder injury, hopefully it's not too serious and he's OK for Saturday.

[Young £]

didnt bite

[Michel Kane]

I was just about to...

[HangTheDJ]

[TF S4DK]

Three players from The Championship.

[Goddaz]

SMH at dropping Bent

[HangTheDJ]

DarrenBent Darren Bent

Gutted I had to pull out of the England squad, the shoulder has been bothering me and wanna make sure I'm fully fit for the big KO next week

Our Darren>

The Villa>

Club before country>

[JOHN DOE]

SMH at dropping Bent

from his twitter he had a shoulder injury didnt want to aggravate it

[Guest M12 Part 2]

SMH at dropping Bent

from his twitter he had a shoulder injury didnt want to aggravate it

He's chatting sh*t. He just got boyed off again and is trying to cover it up. My sources say hes fine

/

Unless people are injured I guarantee he won't be in the nxt squad either.

[Young £]

FFS

FA jumped on the bandwagon quickly... i was hoping it would happen a bit later down the line...

but hopefully if he impresses for Eng more & keeps on getting called up it forces Fergies hand somewhat to play him more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYL_vEF_vLk&feature=player_embedded

[HangTheDJ]

SMH at dropping Bent

from his twitter he had a shoulder injury didnt want to aggravate it

He's chatting sh*t. He just got boyed off again and is trying to cover it up. My sources say hes fine

/

Unless people are injured I guarantee he won't be in the nxt squad either.

Do you want to bet?

[Guest M12 Part 2]

What do you propose my friend?

[HangTheDJ]

£20, payment via paypal that he's in the next squad providing he's fit.

He went off early on Saturday, Peter Crouch and Danny Welbeck are in the squad and he's confirmed himself that he withdrew - in a similar situation that would clarify him not being fit.

[Mr. Gayle]

lol @ our fave ginger

"Wenger is stopping Jack's England career"

"Getting in his ear"

[TF S4DK]

I'm listening and the way he is t.rolling me right now is REALLY tempting me to ring in, but I ain't gonna bite and I aint gonna text, getting tight tho...

[HangTheDJ]

Worth noting that the Champions League clubs currently have the following on their books:

Man Utd: Smalling, Jones, Cleverley, Welbeck, Ashley Young

Man City: Hart, Richards, Johnson, Milner

Arsenal: Gibbs, Jenkinson, Frimpong, Lansbury, Wilshere, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain

Chelsea: McEchran, Sturridge

Then you've got Albrighton, Delph, Gardner, Walker, Huddlestone, Henderson, Carrol, Rodwell, Wickham who'll all be playing their part at big clubs this season too.

It is what it is about the talent level of these players compared to the top nations young players, but there is no doubt that the home grown quota has improved the amount of young English players playing at the highest level.

*not sure if Frimpong or Jenkinson will play for England

[Michel Kane]

Frimpong said he wants to play for Ghana.

Jenkinson captains the Finnish U21 or U19 side, can't remember.

[TF S4DK]

U19 side, but he said he is open to either the other day...