Just hoping Pato plays in the second half.
Full Version: [INT] Under 23 And Below Thread
Thanks acid.
Just hoping Pato plays in the second half.
Just hoping Pato plays in the second half.
QUOTE (Mook @ Aug 22 2008, 04:45 PM) 
Just hoping Pato plays in the second half.
I've got a feeling he will.
Well after the 60th minute mark.
QUOTE (Mook @ Aug 22 2008, 04:15 PM)
Just hoping Pato plays in the second half.
And he didn't...
Anyway, Brazil 3-0 Belgium. the Selecao underachieved in this tournament despite the Bronze, no doubt. I hope Argies do the same in the final (wishful thinking
).It was not Pato's tournament either but no surprises as he's not even 19 yet. he lacked experience and a few seasons of football in highest level. now there are two seasons to go before the 2010 World Cup. hopefully that'll be his tournament. I just hope Dunga (
) is sacked before the 2010 World Cup and someone like Zico is brought in. the rest will take care of itself.
Ha..Pato sucks..he is to Brazil was Yoann is to Milan
*sneaks back under the fish tank*
*sneaks back under the fish tank*
Based on what I saw of Brazil's games, I can honestly say that I wasn't particularly impressed with Ronaldinho's form or fitness. No legs on the guy at all, very little speed even in small bursts. Nice passing from time to time, but nothing overly spectacular. I hope he takes it up a notch when the season starts.
QUOTE (Jack Sparrow @ Aug 22 2008, 04:43 PM)
Ha..Pato sucks..he is to Brazil was Yoann is to Milan
*sneaks back under the fish tank*
*sneaks back under the fish tank*
Why behind the fish tank?
QUOTE (Tennie @ Aug 22 2008, 04:48 PM)
Based on what I saw of Brazil's games, I can honestly say that I wasn't particularly impressed with Ronaldinho's form or fitness. No legs on the guy at all, very little speed even in small bursts. Nice passing from time to time, but nothing overly spectacular. I hope he takes it up a notch when the season starts.
He has played in every minute of Brazil's games if I'm not mistaken, every three days. that must be exhausting... hopefully he'll do better in once-a-week games.
QUOTE (zdrossoneri @ Aug 22 2008, 10:03 AM)
Why behind the fish tank?
Another fish tank.
QUOTE (Tennie @ Aug 22 2008, 07:06 PM)
Another fish tank.
Vintage Ten.
Vintage.
QUOTE (Jack Sparrow @ Aug 22 2008, 01:13 PM)
Ha..Pato sucks..he is to Brazil was Yoann is to Milan
*sneaks back under the fish tank*
*sneaks back under the fish tank*
I think he's a great player, but Dunga didn't know how to use him...
Either way, Ronaldinho was in better form against Belgium, and seems to be improving despite being upset about losing against Argentina.
^^ Dunga wasn't patient enough with Pato. Carlo (surprise, surprise) was. if he had substituted Pato in his debut before that goal, maybe Pato wouldn't have scored 9 goals until the end of the season. he felt the coach's trust from the day one, so he could be able to play with more confidence in the next games. Dunga never showed him that trust. heck, he even criticized him for being unpolished, i.e. young! 
Carletto too left Pato out in some games towards the end of the season and I still don't know why.
Maybe he can't handl so many games at his age? Or maybe they don't want to burn him out too quickly.
QUOTE (kurtsimonw @ Aug 23 2008, 02:58 AM)
Maybe he can't handl so many games at his age? Or maybe they don't want to burn him out too quickly.
Maybe. Maybe not.
You never can be sure with Carlo. He could easily have benched him for a short period of time.
QUOTE (kurtsimonw @ Aug 23 2008, 12:58 AM)
Maybe he can't handl so many games at his age? Or maybe they don't want to burn him out too quickly.
This is just a hypothesis but... I think Carlo has this not-so-strange stand towards his players: if you're doing what he asks you to do, even if you do it bad, he's going to stand by you while if you're not doing what he expects from you, no matter if what you do works, he's getting frustrated... I think Pato might have done just that.
Or maybe it's simply what you said...
edit: And that's what might be irritating Dunga too. Pato's game is a bit "flimsy" in my opinion...
QUOTE (zdrossoneri @ Aug 20 2008, 08:40 AM)
Any reliable links to back up that statement??
my neighbor is brazilian and she was visiting when she saw that.
QUOTE (dst @ Aug 23 2008, 12:02 AM)
Carletto too left Pato out in some games towards the end of the season and I still don't know why.
It's no secret Carlo loves/prefers to have old players in his team. besides, he's a defensive minded coach... he barely fields two strikers. Pippo was on fire those days, and on the other hand Pato was suffering from 'mysterious injury' (= BS). that's why, I think.
QUOTE (Habitant @ Aug 23 2008, 05:54 AM)
my neighbor is brazilian and she was visiting when she saw that.
Well, we were talking about Brazilians and whether they are arrogant. I don't think what some stupid people did by selling Selecao shirts with six stars on it can be attributed to the players.
QUOTE (zdrossoneri @ Aug 23 2008, 07:14 AM)
Well, we were talking about Brazilians and whether they are arrogant. I don't think what some stupid people did by selling Selecao shirts with six stars on it can be attributed to the players.
these guys dint do it as a joke, they did it because it sells, because this is how brazil see itself and they believe the world cup belongs to them. i'm not criticizing them or anything this is what i see from brazil fans time and time again. it's just the way they are when it comes to football. and i know your going to go on about how the have 5 titles, the success and so on well italy has only one less title and they dont have the same outlook at all. again i'm not bashing but Brazilians just have this arrogance about them, more often than not they have the best team but they also believe it's their right.
England U21s vs Portugal U21s about to start.
A draw or England win will win England the group. A defeat could still be enough to win the group, but we're almost guaranteed a 'best runners up' position. Portugal need a win, a draw may not be good enough for even a best runners up place.
A draw or England win will win England the group. A defeat could still be enough to win the group, but we're almost guaranteed a 'best runners up' position. Portugal need a win, a draw may not be good enough for even a best runners up place.
Penalty England!
Milner! 1-0!
Milner! 1-0!
Portuguese U-21 are sh!te. FACT.
The fish doll offers you both a cookie? (it'd be more, but Gabby didn't get the goal).
Italy's U21 are playing against Greece. It's still scoreless (as of the 33d minute).
Italy's U21 are playing against Greece. It's still scoreless (as of the 33d minute).
Goal Italy.Score one for the team's token merda player (Balotelli).
2-0! Gabby! Both Villa players on the score sheet!
Both Villa players on the score sheet!
Yay Gabby!
(And gr at the Azzurrini. Greece just equalized.)
QUOTE (Tennie @ Sep 5 2008, 09:17 PM)
Yay Gabby!
(And gr at the Azzurrini. Greece just equalized.)
Is Italy's game a friendly or a qualifier? If the latter, how does their group look at the moment?
It's a qualifier, Kurt. Italy are already through. It's a matter of whether they or Croatia will go through as group leaders.
The defense is not paying attention. GRRR. No cookies for them.
The defense is not paying attention. GRRR. No cookies for them.
QUOTE (Tennie @ Sep 5 2008, 09:24 PM)
It's a qualifier, Kurt. Italy are already through. It's a matter of whether they or Croatia will go through as group leaders.
The defense is not paying attention. GRRR. No cookies for them.
The defense is not paying attention. GRRR. No cookies for them.
If Italy already qualified, they usually leave their striking shoes at home in any additional game.
They're playing Balotelli and Osvaldo (er. or were. Osvaldo - who sucks when playing for the U21s and should go back to FLorence - was just subbed out for Lanzafame). Acquafresca would've been there but is hurt.
QUOTE (Tennie @ Sep 5 2008, 08:36 PM)
They're playing Balotelli and Osvaldo (er. or were. Osvaldo - who sucks when playing for the U21s and should go back to FLorence - was just subbed out for Lanzafame). Acquafresca would've been there but is hurt.
Acquafresca has scored something like 5 goals in the qualifiers... so he could have a major influence. Him not being there could have something to do with the lack of scoring.
FT England U21s 2-0 Portugal U21s
Milner (pen) and Agbonlahor with the goals.
25 games unbeaten now for our Under 21s, only 2 defeats in the last 34 games and 15 games unbeaten at home. The future of English football is in huge trouble? Think again.
Milner (pen) and Agbonlahor with the goals.
25 games unbeaten now for our Under 21s, only 2 defeats in the last 34 games and 15 games unbeaten at home. The future of English football is in huge trouble? Think again.
QUOTE (kurtsimonw @ Sep 5 2008, 09:39 PM)
FT England U21s 2-0 Portugal U21s
Milner (pen) and Agbonlahor with the goals.
25 games unbeaten now for our Under 21s, only 2 defeats in the last 34 games and 15 games unbeaten at home. The future of English football is in huge trouble? Think again.
Milner (pen) and Agbonlahor with the goals.
25 games unbeaten now for our Under 21s, only 2 defeats in the last 34 games and 15 games unbeaten at home. The future of English football is in huge trouble? Think again.
Okay I'll hand that to you.
But with regards to the regular national team. You bet it is in trouble.
(The fish doll advises Capello to trade teams with Stuart Pearce.)
QUOTE (Giancarlo @ Sep 5 2008, 09:40 PM)
Okay I'll hand that to you.
But with regards to the regular national team. You bet it is in trouble.
But with regards to the regular national team. You bet it is in trouble.
Yes, the first team isn't in the best of shape. I'm not all too pleased with how Capello has started with things, but he deserves his fair chance. IF we got anything out of the Croatia game, regardless of how ugly the performance, that'd be a very good result for us.
QUOTE (Tennie @ Sep 5 2008, 09:40 PM)
(The fish doll advises Capello to trade teams with Stuart Pearce.)
It wouldn't be the worst idea in the World!
QUOTE (kurtsimonw @ Sep 5 2008, 11:46 PM)
It wouldn't be the worst idea in the World!
When is Capello's next game ? tomorrow ?
Yep. Against Andorra, I think.
QUOTE (Rossoneri7 @ Sep 6 2008, 12:55 AM)
When is Capello's next game ? tomorrow ?
Yes, away to Andorra. If he does well in this game, he deserves the credit. Last time we played these away, we won 3-0, but the performance was terrible and it was only a moment of brilliance from Gerrard than opened the scoring. So if Capello wins it with a good performance - regardless of the scoreline - I'll be happy. I need to start giving him a bit more credit I think (You watch him go F it up now!
).
QUOTE
The ten group winners and four best runners-up from the group stage will meet in play-off to determine the seven qualifying nations. The play-off matches will be held in October 2008.
I just read this about the qualifying. I wonder if you get an easier game depending on how many points you get in your group? I'd be real annoyed after having won our group easily we have to end up playing Holland or something, then lose and not qualify even though we had better qualifying results than any other country.
QUOTE (kurtsimonw @ Sep 6 2008, 01:04 AM)
Yes, away to Andorra. If he does well in this game, he deserves the credit. Last time we played these away, we won 3-0, but the performance was terrible and it was only a moment of brilliance from Gerrard than opened the scoring. So if Capello wins it with a good performance - regardless of the scoreline - I'll be happy. I need to start giving him a bit more credit I think (You watch him go F it up now! ).
).I think it's about time the overrated players took some of the blame for these poor performances. The English managers constantly get criticism for poor performances/results/etc yet we're constantly reminded about how great the players are. If they're that good then they surely don't need a manager to raise their performances? The badge on the shirt should be enough!
I would love to see some of the 'superstars' dropped and forced to fight for their places - perhaps this is the only way we will ever get a good performance out of them, although this will never happen!
QUOTE (I_Rossoneri @ Sep 6 2008, 04:35 PM)
I would love to see some of the 'superstars' dropped and forced to fight for their places - perhaps this is the only way we will ever get a good performance out of them, although this will never happen!
This does seem to work, but the managers keep giving into the fans. Lampard was dropped for a while, then whenever he played he was fine. But because he made the ever so lovable Steven Gerrard look shite, he got all the stick again.
Beckham is a big problem for the squad, he's an okay squad player, but the fact the he keeps starting despite not even being the best player in a very weak league is disturbing. This is Capello's fault though, I can't defend him here, either 1) He needs to stop picking Beckham or 2) stop doing what the FA are telling him to do - if that's the only reason Becks is playing.
Here's the playoff draw for the U21 European Championships:
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-off draw
First leg: 11/12 October
Second leg: 14/15 October
Germany v France
Denmark v Serbia
Turkey v Belarus
Austria v Finland
Wales v England
Italy v Israel
Switzerland v Spain
The games will be played over two legs (home and away). The 7 winners join hosts Sweden this summer for the tournament proper.
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-off draw
First leg: 11/12 October
Second leg: 14/15 October
Germany v France
Denmark v Serbia
Turkey v Belarus
Austria v Finland
Wales v England
Italy v Israel
Switzerland v Spain
The games will be played over two legs (home and away). The 7 winners join hosts Sweden this summer for the tournament proper.
Wales.. Fantastic, couldn't have hoped for a better draw.
Hide yer sheep, Kurt.
I think the 8 finalists will be..
Sweden
Germany
Serbia
Turkey
Finland
England
Italy
Spain
There just seems a lack of top nations, what happened to Holland, they won it last time.
Sweden
Germany
Serbia
Turkey
Finland
England
Italy
Spain
There just seems a lack of top nations, what happened to Holland, they won it last time.
They were knocked out, Kurt. By....Switzerland.
Very surprising. 
I was just looking back at our results in the past few years, the last time we lost was 21 to Poland in November 2005, that's incredible.
I was just looking back at our results in the past few years, the last time we lost was 21 to Poland in November 2005, that's incredible.
QUOTE
England at Villa Park
England under-21s will face Wales at Villa Park in the second leg of their tough Euro 2009 play-off next month.
Stuart Pearce's side were drawn against Brian Flynn's Welsh under-21s in the draw in Malmo - with a place at the finals in Sweden up for grabs.
The second leg takes place on Tuesday October 14. Kick-off is at 7.45pm, with tickets priced at £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s.
The away leg will be played at Ninian Park on Friday October 10, with the victors progressing to the eight-team finals tournament in June.
England secured qualification for the play-offs courtesy of a 2-0 win over Portugal at Wembley earlier this month, winning their group and dropping just two points in eight games.
Meanwhile Brian Flynn's Wales topped a group that also included France and Romania, winning six matches and losing just two along the way.
Villa will be well-represented with James Milner, Gabby Agbonlahor and Craig Gardner all in the squad, with Milner and Agbonlahor full of confidence after notching the goals that saw off Portugal.
The other play-off ties are Germany v France, Denmark v Serbia, Turkey v Belarus, Austria v Finland, Italy v Israel and Switzerland v Spain
AVFC
England under-21s will face Wales at Villa Park in the second leg of their tough Euro 2009 play-off next month.
Stuart Pearce's side were drawn against Brian Flynn's Welsh under-21s in the draw in Malmo - with a place at the finals in Sweden up for grabs.
The second leg takes place on Tuesday October 14. Kick-off is at 7.45pm, with tickets priced at £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s.
The away leg will be played at Ninian Park on Friday October 10, with the victors progressing to the eight-team finals tournament in June.
England secured qualification for the play-offs courtesy of a 2-0 win over Portugal at Wembley earlier this month, winning their group and dropping just two points in eight games.
Meanwhile Brian Flynn's Wales topped a group that also included France and Romania, winning six matches and losing just two along the way.
Villa will be well-represented with James Milner, Gabby Agbonlahor and Craig Gardner all in the squad, with Milner and Agbonlahor full of confidence after notching the goals that saw off Portugal.
The other play-off ties are Germany v France, Denmark v Serbia, Turkey v Belarus, Austria v Finland, Italy v Israel and Switzerland v Spain
AVFC
Yay! I'll get to see the Under-21s own Wales!
England U21s 2-0 Czech Rep. Under 21s
-A free-kick scored by Villa's Craig Gardner to make it even better.
The young lions are now 37 games unbeaten, spanning over 3 years.
-A free-kick scored by Villa's Craig Gardner to make it even better.
The young lions are now 37 games unbeaten, spanning over 3 years.
QUOTE (kurtsimonw @ Nov 19 2008, 09:25 AM)
The young lions are now 37 games unbeaten, spanning over 3 years.
That's quite an achievement.
Maybe they should play more matches against both Brazil and Argentina?!
QUOTE
England Under 21 squad for upcoming Championship
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Joe Lewis (Peterborough), Scott Loach (Watford)
Defenders: Martin Cranie (Portsmouth), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Michael Mancienne (Chelsea), Nedum Onuoha (Manchester City), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Andrew Taylor (Middlesbrough), Steven Taylor (Newcastle), James Tomkins (West Ham)
Midfielders: Lee Cattermole (Wigan), Andrew Driver (Hearts), Craig Gardner (Aston Villa), Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough), James Milner (Aston Villa), Fabrice Muamba (Bolton), Mark Noble (West Ham), Jack Rodwell (Everton)
Forwards: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Frazier Campbell (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United).
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Joe Lewis (Peterborough), Scott Loach (Watford)
Defenders: Martin Cranie (Portsmouth), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Michael Mancienne (Chelsea), Nedum Onuoha (Manchester City), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Andrew Taylor (Middlesbrough), Steven Taylor (Newcastle), James Tomkins (West Ham)
Midfielders: Lee Cattermole (Wigan), Andrew Driver (Hearts), Craig Gardner (Aston Villa), Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough), James Milner (Aston Villa), Fabrice Muamba (Bolton), Mark Noble (West Ham), Jack Rodwell (Everton)
Forwards: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Frazier Campbell (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United).
That's a pretty strong squad. Quite a few players who have had alot of first team experience in the EPL in Hart, Onuoha, RIchards, Taylor, Cattermode, Gardner, Johnson, Noble, Rodwell, Walcott and Agbonlahor.
Group A: Serbia, Belarus, Sweden and Italy
Group B: Spain, Germany, England and Finland
Maybe Italy will get out of the group stages this time.
England U21s 7-0 Azerbaijan U21s
All I care that Craig Gardner scored and we took the piss towards the end by playing a goalkeeper as a striker.
All I care that Craig Gardner scored and we took the piss towards the end by playing a goalkeeper as a striker.
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