england - the next generation

[PlasticRoyale]

Another English player talked up for the future is Tom Cleverley. I've not seen much of him on loan this season but he was excellent for Watford last year.

Anyone seen much of him playing for Wigan? Thoughts?

Is he a Utd player on loan?

[Hoop Blah]

He is yes. They extended the loan for the rest of the season.

He hasn't played loads of games for Wigan but I think I read somewhere that he'd been injured for a while. I thought he was excellent for Watford but haven't noticed him at all for Wigan as yet, although I don't tend to watch a lot of them on the telly.

[Hoop Blah]

More encouraging performances from Sturridge now that he's getting first team football at Bolton. He's scored a good number of goals, and different types too which is good. Carroll still needs to prove he's got it for me. He'll get better as he settles in to life at Liverpool and regains his match sharpness but I'm not sure his partnership with Rooney has as much potential as it's made out.

Smalling may have been dropped as soon as Ferdinand was back but I still think he's looked pretty impressive for United.

[yappy]

More encouraging performances from Sturridge now that he's getting first team football at Bolton. He's scored a good number of goals, and different types too which is good. Carroll still needs to prove he's got it for me. He'll get better as he settles in to life at Liverpool and regains his match sharpness but I'm not sure his partnership with Rooney has as much potential as it's made out.

Smalling may have been dropped as soon as Ferdinand was back but I still think he's looked pretty impressive for United.

Agree with all that. Sturridge looked very impressive v West Ham, two very good goals he scored. With Drogba & Anelka ageing and Torres off form I hope Chelsea will give him decent game time when he goes back.

Smalling looks like a young Ferdinand, very composed on the ball and solid defensively, and he's only what 20/21?

[Hoop Blah]

A couple of cracking goals for Carroll tonight.

[cmonurz]

A couple of cracking goals for Carroll tonight.

That header was sublime.

[TBM]

A couple of cracking goals for Carroll tonight.

That header was an own goal.

[cmonurz]

Really? Fair enough, they didn't mention it in the match commentary or the news this morning. Didn't watch the analysis though.

[rfcjoe]

In all fairness, it was Carrolls goal.

[Hoop Blah]

I only saw it on the live coverage and it looked like a good'un to me. There was a little doubt in my mind on the way the ball went in but thought it was just the angle of attack.

I did see them ask him if it was his or not afterwards which was the first time I thought it might not've been a straight forward header from Carroll. He obviously said it was his...but then he would wouldn't he!

[Hoop Blah]

It think the preliminary squad for the U21s tournament is announced this afternoon.

It will be interesting to see how it shapes up and whether the likes of Wilshire and Carroll are included.

[Hoop Blah]

Provisional squad includes both Wilshire and Carroll (so expect Wenger to be moaning at some point) as well as McCarthy, Bertrand and Wickham with Reading interests.

Fielding (Blackburn), Loach (Watford), Steele (Middlesbrough), McCarthy (Reading), Bennett (Middlesbrough), Bertrand (Chelsea), Gibbs (Arsenal), Jones (Blackburn), Mancienne (Chelsea), Mee (Manchester City), Naughton (Tottenham), Richards (Manchester City), Smalling (Manchester United), Tomkins (West Ham), Trippier (Manchester City), Walker (Tottenham), Albrighton (Aston Villa), Cork (Chelsea), Cleverley (Manchester United), Davies (Bolton), Hammill (Wolves), Henderson (Sunderland), Howson (Leeds), Lallana (Southampton), Lansbury (Arsenal), McEachran (Chelsea), Muamba (Bolton), Rodwell (Everton), Rose (Tottenham), Sinclair (Swansea), Wilshere (Arsenal), Carroll (Liverpool), Delfouneso (Aston Villa), Hooper (Celtic), Rodriguez (Burnley), Sears (West Ham), Sturridge (Chelsea), Vaughan (Everton), Welbeck (Manchester United), Wickham (Ipswich)

Some decent players in there, and with Wilshire and Carroll involved it should mean we're looking to use this as a decent attempt at winning as well as giving the next generation a taste of tournament football.

[Big Foot]

What does the squad get trimmed down to?

[Super_horns]

I wonder if the Premiership players will be allowed to play?

BTW Based on this season your goalie must be ahead of Loach for the Number one spot!

[Tad Showbiz]

What does the squad get trimmed down to?

23

Can't remember the date but its after the Premiership season finishes.

[Hoop Blah]

First game for the U21s bs Spain this evening and some players involved who really should be looking to make the step up in the next couple of years including some that've gone to our top clubs for decent money.

Personally I'm quite excited by some of these and think it's sometimes refreshing to watch these tournaments with players who really are looking to prove something.

Fingers crossed players like Smalling, Sturridge, Jones and Henderson can make the most of this tournament to set themselves up for big things.

[FORSTERS_RIGHT_FOOT]

Couple of RFC fans in the crowd too.

[Kitsondinho]

Oh dear........where was the marking? Thought we had started well too.

[SpaceCruiser]

Handball!

[Royal Rother]

Well would you believe it - Spain making our bunch of overpaid, overrated youngsters look second rate.

Still, they're big lads.

Meanwhile back at home there's probably a bunch of young athletes who gave up the game having been overlooked in favour of the less talented but early maturing 6 footers we so crave.

Just how far are we going to fall before we catch on?