England U 21s

[glass half full]

Through to the semi-final with a confident 3-0 win.

Keep up the good work, Aidy and the lads!

[Stranded]

Play Germany tomorrow, so probably ends there.

[BR0B0T]

Play Germany tomorrow, so probably ends there.

2-1 up at the mo

[BR0B0T]

out on pens

[glass half full]

out on pens

It had to be.

Never mind, they have shown huge potential. Let us hope that they can progress and achieve senior success.

[Hoop Blah]

out on pens

It had to be.

Never mind, they have shown huge potential. Let us hope that they can progress and achieve senior success.

Huge potential? I'm usually just about the most positive poster re England but are you sure?

It's great that there is a bit more positivity about them as they made it out of the group but having watched most of all their games I haven't seen a lot more to get excited about than previous Euro's.

There's some decent players in that squad, and I quite like Chambers, Ward-Prowse, Hughes, Baker and Redmond, but they don't have a player with the x-factor that makes you think they could become a mainstay of the senior side in the future.

There's no Sturridge, Wellbeck, Jones, Stones, Rodwell, Zaha, Clyne or Gibbs (players that have, IMO, looked like genuine talents in previous generations) that really look like they could force their way into the side in the future. Loftus-Cheek wasn't there through injury, and he's probably their most talented player, and perhaps I'm being harsh on Abrahams, but if we think the likes of Chalobah, Swift or Murphy are going to be pushing for the senior team then my England positivity will be seriously dented.

[glass half full]

out on pens

It had to be.

Never mind, they have shown huge potential. Let us hope that they can progress and achieve senior success.

Huge potential? I'm usually just about the most positive poster re England but are you sure?

It's great that there is a bit more positivity about them as they made it out of the group but having watched most of all their games I haven't seen a lot more to get excited about than previous Euro's.

There's some decent players in that squad, and I quite like Chambers, Ward-Prowse, Hughes, Baker and Redmond, but they don't have a player with the x-factor that makes you think they could become a mainstay of the senior side in the future.

There's no Sturridge, Wellbeck, Jones, Stones, Rodwell, Zaha, Clyne or Gibbs (players that have, IMO, looked like genuine talents in previous generations) that really look like they could force their way into the side in the future. Loftus-Cheek wasn't there through injury, and he's probably their most talented player, and perhaps I'm being harsh on Abrahams, but if we think the likes of Chalobah, Swift or Murphy are going to be pushing for the senior team then my England positivity will be seriously dented.

Together with players from u18s and u20s there is potential but what needs to be done is fostering that talent and ensuring that players show progression. I hold onto the hope that the England Management/coaching teams, together with those of Premier League and academies etc. encourage developing talent. All too often in the past the flame has flickered only to fade owing to lack of oxygen, to use a metaphor.

Anyway, let us hope that there is something more out there.

[Hoop Blah]

Totally agree, it's all about taking good youth players and training them on to become top end Premier League, Champions League and International players.

We might've won a few more tournaments of late but personally I don't see much difference in the quality of the players or teams we're producing through the age groups now as opposed to 10 or so years ago.

Hopefully we do get better at turning those 16/21 year olds into the sort of players England and the English clubs need to succeed.

[glass half full]

Germany 1 Spain 0. No penalties needed.

Yellow cards like confetti.