My very quick two pennyworth

There is too much of a chasm between the different international levels. A huge fuss was made that Walcott was 'dropped' down to the u-21s last year. We seem to want to hive off the very best youngsters and move them straight to the senior team, then faff around with them a bit. Meanwhile, as per my references to u-19s last week, we have younger teams that aren't really reflective of what the international make up will be. I think that there is a lot to be said for putting players into the teams for their age groups - then there aren't unrealistic expectations of average players who think that being in the u-19 makes them the next Beckham (See Jarvis, R and Henderson, I) because they actually are playing with the best. HAve events where all levels are together - so this infamously bad team building stands a bit more of a chance - Rudd on the training ground with James eg. Then, as they prove that they can work outside their cushty home environment and play with a mixture of players we'll start to see how a senior side will form and evolve. At the moment we pluck off the very best, overplay and overhype them at 18, then start to question (see Walcott, T) and we end up with a phone call to Jamie Carragher.

In other words - a planned evolution and development.

Oh - and on the subject of England managers - that f**king shortlist is yet another collection of people who HAVEN'T WON A FUCKING THING.

I'm off now to teach brilliant people.

Posted By: camcan, Jun 28, 09:58:29