Wholesale changes are needed in the squad, a lot of them won't be any good to us come 2014 so we might as well get some younglings in now and give them four years and (hopefully) the Euros to bond as a team, kind of like ze Germans are doing now...
James will obviously be gone, but then there's Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Ferdinand, Ashley Cole and a few others who will be well into their 30s in four years time.
We do have some good young English players coming through. Kieran Gibbs could be Cashleys replacement if he comes back from his almost season long injury to the form he was in before.
And you know all about Super Jack Wilshere. I think it's a make or break season for Theo as well if he can stay fit.
I watch plenty of skillful young English Arsenal players who seem to have the qualities the pundits were crying out today and I'm sure that other clubs have them too.
I tend to think the problems are with the FA, they are abysmal. We've been promised the state of the art centre at Burton for donkeys years, they appoint useless managers and, apart from Trevor Brooking, I don't think they have a genuine footie person at senior level
And you know all about Super Jack Wilshere. I think it's a make or break season for Theo as well if he can stay fit.
I watch plenty of skillful young English Arsenal players who seem to have the qualities the pundits were crying out today and I'm sure that other clubs have them too.
I tend to think the problems are with the FA, they are abysmal. We've been promised the state of the art centre at Burton for donkeys years, they appoint useless managers and, apart from Trevor Brooking, I don't think they have a genuine footie person at senior level
Ah yes, I forgot all about Burton.
The thing is about Burton, they are basing that idea on the french equivalent. All well and good a few years ago, but now?
The thing is about Burton, they are basing that idea on the french equivalent. All well and good a few years ago, but now?
I think Ashley Cole is still pure class and will be at the next World Cup.
Owen Hargreaves being fit (hopefully) will be a huge bonus, he'll be 33 by the next world cup and the players who are young now will have developed a bit more by then hopefully like Milner, Rooney, Lennon, Adam Johnson, Hart, Walcott etc etc.
Then you have as mentioned the likes of Wilshere who will hopefully come through over the next couple of years.
Owen Hargreaves being fit (hopefully) will be a huge bonus, he'll be 33 by the next world cup and the players who are young now will have developed a bit more by then hopefully like Milner, Rooney, Lennon, Adam Johnson, Hart, Walcott etc etc.
Then you have as mentioned the likes of Wilshere who will hopefully come through over the next couple of years.
Fair point Crunchy. But it certainly helped the French.
Again a lot of their problems over the last couple of years can be laid at the door of the French FA and their choice of manager.
He chose players based on their star signs ffs
Again a lot of their problems over the last couple of years can be laid at the door of the French FA and their choice of manager.
He chose players based on their star signs ffs
Joe Hart
Micah Richards
Kieran Gibbs
Gary Cahill
Michael Mancienne
Chris Smalling
Fabrice Muamba
Tom Huddlestone
Lee Cattermole
Jack Wilshere
Jack Rodwell
Ashley Young
James Milner
Aaron Lennon
Adam Johnson
Theo Walcott
Gabby Agbonlahor
Wayne Rooney
That's almost a squad of players right there, and the oldest is about 24. They've all had experience at U21 level, some more than others (Muamba and Milner have over 70 U21 caps between them for example), and they're likely to be the future of their respective clubs. Add in a couple of players from the current squad for the immediate transitional period and any new 'next big things' that appear, and in a few years time you've got yourself a solid squad of players.
Micah Richards
Kieran Gibbs
Gary Cahill
Michael Mancienne
Chris Smalling
Fabrice Muamba
Tom Huddlestone
Lee Cattermole
Jack Wilshere
Jack Rodwell
Ashley Young
James Milner
Aaron Lennon
Adam Johnson
Theo Walcott
Gabby Agbonlahor
Wayne Rooney
That's almost a squad of players right there, and the oldest is about 24. They've all had experience at U21 level, some more than others (Muamba and Milner have over 70 U21 caps between them for example), and they're likely to be the future of their respective clubs. Add in a couple of players from the current squad for the immediate transitional period and any new 'next big things' that appear, and in a few years time you've got yourself a solid squad of players.
Excellent choices Disley, and names that I do hope appear in the England team and soon. We have to make changes that is obvious and quickly. How do a team manage to fly through the qualifying stages of a competition and then do so poorly at the actual competition? It was like watching the bad old days watching England yesterday, in fact I would say that was one of the worst performances I have seen for England and I'm 44 and have been watching the national team for a lot of years! We need to bring in younger players and stop depending on the same old faces. I felt so sorry for the fans out there yesterday, the amount of money they had spent to follow England and then the performance the "team" gave us was totally unacceptable. I'm now hoping for a Brazil win even though they have not been playing well so far, but through very gritted teeth, I'm congratulating the Germans and wish them luck in the further stages.
I noticed that a lot of journalists were saying that even though the Premier League is one of the greatest leagues in the world, it was difficult for young English players to make their mark there due to the amount of foreign players that play in the Premier League. Would others agree with this? I have to say in some ways I do agree, but at least there are teams that do seem to try to bring their younger players through, big seasons ahead I would imagine for both Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott.
I would also like to say well done to a Baggie baby here ~ Chris Wood of New Zealand. He is only 18 and to play at the World Cup for your national team even though only in the group stages must have been very special for him.... good luck for next season Chris and let's hope Di Mat gives you a chance in the first team again.
I noticed that a lot of journalists were saying that even though the Premier League is one of the greatest leagues in the world, it was difficult for young English players to make their mark there due to the amount of foreign players that play in the Premier League. Would others agree with this? I have to say in some ways I do agree, but at least there are teams that do seem to try to bring their younger players through, big seasons ahead I would imagine for both Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott.
I would also like to say well done to a Baggie baby here ~ Chris Wood of New Zealand. He is only 18 and to play at the World Cup for your national team even though only in the group stages must have been very special for him.... good luck for next season Chris and let's hope Di Mat gives you a chance in the first team again.
Just been looking at our babies page and am surprised how many of them have played for the U~19's, hoping that some of them will make the step up soon. Well done to the academy and especially Michael Appleton for the work they have put in over the past few years.
If anyone is interested in having a look then here is the site. (feel free to check on all the Baggie wonderfulness on there as well!)
http://www.wba.co.uk/page/Acad...0366~1023619,00.html
If anyone is interested in having a look then here is the site. (feel free to check on all the Baggie wonderfulness on there as well!)
http://www.wba.co.uk/page/Acad...0366~1023619,00.html
This was our last U21 squad
Scott Loach Watford 22
Frank Fielding Blackburn Rovers 22
Alex McCarthy Reading 20
Defenders
Michael Mancienne Chelsea 22
Micah Richards Manchester City 22
James Tomkins West Ham United 20
Kyle Naughton Tottenham Hotspur 21
Ryan Bertrand Chelsea 20
Chris Smalling Fulham 20
Kyle Walker Tottenham Hotspur 20
Midfielders
Fabrice Muamba Bolton Wanderers 22
Lee Cattermole Sunderland 22
Jack Rodwell Everton 19
Tom Cleverley Manchester United 20
Jack Wilshere Arsenal 18
Fabian Delph Aston Villa 20
Jack Cork Chelsea 21
Dan Gosling Everton 20
Henri Lansbury Arsenal 19
Forwards
Andy Carroll Newcastle United 21
Daniel Sturridge Chelsea 20
Danny Welbeck Manchester United 19
Nathan Delfouneso Aston Villa 19
We also have some good players at U19 level that could begin to come through
Scott Loach Watford 22
Frank Fielding Blackburn Rovers 22
Alex McCarthy Reading 20
Defenders
Michael Mancienne Chelsea 22
Micah Richards Manchester City 22
James Tomkins West Ham United 20
Kyle Naughton Tottenham Hotspur 21
Ryan Bertrand Chelsea 20
Chris Smalling Fulham 20
Kyle Walker Tottenham Hotspur 20
Midfielders
Fabrice Muamba Bolton Wanderers 22
Lee Cattermole Sunderland 22
Jack Rodwell Everton 19
Tom Cleverley Manchester United 20
Jack Wilshere Arsenal 18
Fabian Delph Aston Villa 20
Jack Cork Chelsea 21
Dan Gosling Everton 20
Henri Lansbury Arsenal 19
Forwards
Andy Carroll Newcastle United 21
Daniel Sturridge Chelsea 20
Danny Welbeck Manchester United 19
Nathan Delfouneso Aston Villa 19
We also have some good players at U19 level that could begin to come through
Sepp Blatter has apologised to Frank Lampard (BTW Frank if you want an older woman to console you, I'm available!!) about the disallowed goal in Sunday's match.
Well thanks Sepp, that makes me and I guess many England fans feel much better! I suppose some could say that it is karma for the goal back in '66, but that was just as much a goal as Frank's was on Sunday.. Oh well, we were rubbish and didn't deserve to win, but you do wonder if, had the goal been allowed, might we have gone on and made more of a fight for the game.
ION, rumours are flying around regarding an England footballer, but as yet nothing official has been said.
Well thanks Sepp, that makes me and I guess many England fans feel much better! I suppose some could say that it is karma for the goal back in '66, but that was just as much a goal as Frank's was on Sunday.. Oh well, we were rubbish and didn't deserve to win, but you do wonder if, had the goal been allowed, might we have gone on and made more of a fight for the game.
ION, rumours are flying around regarding an England footballer, but as yet nothing official has been said.
Getting back to the important stuff... i.e. club football... Coyle has apparently signed some 16 year old Mexican kid (son of the Mexican coach), he's got an 18 year old Bolivian striker on trial, and Marcos Alonso and Rodrigo Moreno are 'set to sign' from Real Madrid by the end of the week.
Oh fark .... now my backup team are loosing 
Come the fudge on Portugal!
Come the fudge on Portugal!
Maybe i should back the Germans ... they are bound to loose if i do 
Bog off Blatter 
Too Little, too late. Like Crunchy Nuts previously said, the officials that didn't see it shouldn't officate again!
Too Little, too late. Like Crunchy Nuts previously said, the officials that didn't see it shouldn't officate again!
I hung my England shirt on the line today......not happy some swine nicked the pegs
David Silva is set to sign a 4 year deal with Manchester City and is to have a medical once the world cup is over for him.
On Sky Sports News and the Official Site.
On Sky Sports News and the Official Site.
Reference: Onetoo
Too Little, too late. Like Crunchy Nuts previously said, the officials that didn't see it shouldn't officate again!
They've been sent home from this tournament but no doubt still allowed to officiate elsewhere.The 4th official at one of the games the other day was the ref who missed the Thierry Henry handball - you'd have thought they at least wouldn't have allowed him to officiate at this world cup
http://www.guardian.co.uk/foot...ld-cup-2010-referees
Apparently Robbie Blake will be unveiled alongside Martin Petrov tomorrow...
Yay.
Yay.
Disley, what do you make of Phil Gartsides devotion to Capello?
He's getting loads of stick on footie forums for it
He's getting loads of stick on footie forums for it
Plus Robbie Blake? I like him but he will get even more stick from the Turf Moor faithful than Sol did from the N17 lot
He probably would get a lot of stick... good job we won't be playing Burnley for a long time...
As for Gartside, I suspect there are other motivations for his comments other than him simply liking Capello. It'd cost a lot of money to get rid of him, and then if they were to look for someone with a similar track record it would most likely involve going for somebody already employed, thus adding to the expense.
I don't think Capello is the problem though, there are few managers in the game with a better track record, and the problems England had have been there since the Sven days. It gets to a point where you keep changing the manager, and the same problems keep occurring, and you realise that the manager isn't the problem, it's the players...
Of course Capello picked them, but then the question is how much freedom does he actually have there? There's no way that the FA would stand by and let some of the bigger players not go to a major tournament when they're worth millions in sponsorship. Could you see this FA allowing an England manager to do something similar to Dunga, with him dropping Ronaldinho, Adriano and Pato? I certainly couldn't...
I'd like to see what he can do if he does bring through the next generation like he's been talking about in the last few days.
As for Gartside, I suspect there are other motivations for his comments other than him simply liking Capello. It'd cost a lot of money to get rid of him, and then if they were to look for someone with a similar track record it would most likely involve going for somebody already employed, thus adding to the expense.
I don't think Capello is the problem though, there are few managers in the game with a better track record, and the problems England had have been there since the Sven days. It gets to a point where you keep changing the manager, and the same problems keep occurring, and you realise that the manager isn't the problem, it's the players...
Of course Capello picked them, but then the question is how much freedom does he actually have there? There's no way that the FA would stand by and let some of the bigger players not go to a major tournament when they're worth millions in sponsorship. Could you see this FA allowing an England manager to do something similar to Dunga, with him dropping Ronaldinho, Adriano and Pato? I certainly couldn't...
I'd like to see what he can do if he does bring through the next generation like he's been talking about in the last few days.
You've gotta love West Ham... masses of debt... so how do they respond? Yes, they try and sign an 18 year old for about £20million...
Genius.
Genius.
Reference:
Tom Cleverley Manchester United 20
Signed a new deal
, at Newcastle's disappointment LOL.Lmao Disley they are after Dorrans from West Brom, no chance
.Good luck to Roy Hodgson, he will need it
.
Afternoon all
posted this on the World cup thread - I love this video, great song and images
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/h...cup_2010/8780096.stm
Disley, I see your point re Capello but I would still like him to go. I do think though that your point about how much freedom he would have to drop the sponsor heavy stars is a good one. We've heard rumours over the years of managers not being allowed to drop players like Beckham regardless of how they were playing.
There's a lot more wrong with England from a footie point of view than just the manager imo but he didn't help one bit
posted this on the World cup thread - I love this video, great song and images
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/h...cup_2010/8780096.stm
Disley, I see your point re Capello but I would still like him to go. I do think though that your point about how much freedom he would have to drop the sponsor heavy stars is a good one. We've heard rumours over the years of managers not being allowed to drop players like Beckham regardless of how they were playing.
There's a lot more wrong with England from a footie point of view than just the manager imo but he didn't help one bit
Martin Petrov on SSN...
Sounds like sour grapes to me.
Sounds like sour grapes to me.
Whats he said Meaty?.
Bet you're excited about Silva and it looks like Yaya is coming too, operation defence next LOL
.
Bet you're excited about Silva and it looks like Yaya is coming too, operation defence next LOL
.
"It was frustrating, but not because I didn't play - I understand, because they are buying big stars now for so much money," Petrov said.
"Every time I played on the pitch I showed that I have a place in this team, but okay, the decision is the manager's.
"But the worst thing is that the communication in this club with the players who do not play is not professional.
"I am 31 years old and I felt like I was 13 there. Nobody spoke with me about my situation - they knew that my contract was finishing."
The guy simply wasnt good enough, both Bellamy and AJ were way ahead of him. It would of been even worse for him now that Silva is here.
"Every time I played on the pitch I showed that I have a place in this team, but okay, the decision is the manager's.
"But the worst thing is that the communication in this club with the players who do not play is not professional.
"I am 31 years old and I felt like I was 13 there. Nobody spoke with me about my situation - they knew that my contract was finishing."
The guy simply wasnt good enough, both Bellamy and AJ were way ahead of him. It would of been even worse for him now that Silva is here.
Ego clashes not surprised, it's going to take a while for the whole team to gel and develop the chemistry that they need...
We don't have time to gel, if Mancini doesnt make fourth he will be shown the door.
SSN "David Platt joins Manchester City"
Oh f*cking joy Thats two tossers at the club... Marwood and Platt.
SSN "David Platt joins Manchester City"
Oh f*cking joy
Thats two tossers at the club... Marwood and Platt.
Just as a matter of interest, earlier in the week and in a poll of German fans, this world cup was voted the worst of all time. Even though they are still in it they don't like the ball (after all that practice) They don't like the refs, the country or what they call "Uwe Seelers!" Meanwhile the World Cup went pretty much as I predicted, except that Italy, France, and England didn't make the last eight 
Please Football God! Not a Brazil v Argentina final! **gets down on knees and prays**
Please Football God! Not a Brazil v Argentina final! **gets down on knees and prays**
Reference:
if Mancini doesnt make fourth he will be shown the door.
Noooooooo
.
GJ seems like Mido wants to return to the Riverside.
I don't believe this for one second but it makes for an interesting rumour...
"Bolton are reportedly closing in on signing Argentine star Juan Roman Riquelme this summer.
The Premier League side are close to signing Brazilian striker Ilan on a Bosman from West Ham, but are also keen on Riquelme, who is also available on a free transfer.
The 32-year-old would be keen on a move to the Premier League and has also been linked with a move to West Ham."
"Bolton are reportedly closing in on signing Argentine star Juan Roman Riquelme this summer.
The Premier League side are close to signing Brazilian striker Ilan on a Bosman from West Ham, but are also keen on Riquelme, who is also available on a free transfer.
The 32-year-old would be keen on a move to the Premier League and has also been linked with a move to West Ham."
Arsenal are dropping out of the Reserve league like Spurs did last season
I enjoyed watching our babies at Underhill so I'm quite upset at the news although rumours were rife at the end of last season that changes were afoot.
Plus it was a good chance for kids who can't afford the Emirates to get involved watching the team
http://younggunsblog.co.uk/201...e-youth-development/
I enjoyed watching our babies at Underhill so I'm quite upset at the news although rumours were rife at the end of last season that changes were afoot.
Plus it was a good chance for kids who can't afford the Emirates to get involved watching the team
http://younggunsblog.co.uk/201...e-youth-development/
Reference:
Sol did from the N17 lot
hissssssssss boooooooooooooo Reference:
Arsenal are dropping out of the Reserve league like Spurs did last season
I think it's a shame, is it all about cost cutting,Reference:
Joe When yer coming home then?
I am home as from last night. Just been round to see the new Baby Pie-they're off to Turkey tomorrow!
Welcome home then Joe - congrats on the new grandling too 
RZB - not sure about the cost aspect tbh. That may play a part but I think it's more of a technical/playing decision.
They seem to want to rearrange the way kids are brought through into the first team etc and I know Neil Banfield (reserves coach) has said how unhappy they were with some of the pitches used for Reserves matches around the country. He said it was ridiculous to play on surfaces that were worse than parks when the pitches at training grounds were premiership quality!
Not sure I get his point really. The kids will not all play for Arsenal, some of them will end up at lower league teams with less good pitches and in any event most will have to play on bad pitches during cup matches.
That's before any of them get picked for England and have to play on the billiard table smoothness of Wembley
RZB - not sure about the cost aspect tbh. That may play a part but I think it's more of a technical/playing decision.
They seem to want to rearrange the way kids are brought through into the first team etc and I know Neil Banfield (reserves coach) has said how unhappy they were with some of the pitches used for Reserves matches around the country. He said it was ridiculous to play on surfaces that were worse than parks when the pitches at training grounds were premiership quality!
Not sure I get his point really. The kids will not all play for Arsenal, some of them will end up at lower league teams with less good pitches and in any event most will have to play on bad pitches during cup matches.
That's before any of them get picked for England and have to play on the billiard table smoothness of Wembley
Reference:
Arsenal are dropping out of the Reserve league like Spurs did last season
It doesnt surprise me with the murmurings last year from Bould and Banfield. They dont like the reserver format, neither do quite a number of teams. I would also imagine the teams in our group had an impact on their decision too. Some teams are wanting to use the reserve league to bring on youngsters and others to keep their reserves occupied it just doesnt gel very well the two arent compatible.I think the pitches comment was a distraction to the real underlying reasons but it does show for premiership teams if they dont care to prepare a reserve pitch better than a training ground then do they really care about the league anyway for some its just a way to get back to match fitness and thats it.