Should Our 'Best' U21s Go To The U21 Finals?

[Guest ttfn]

why would we take full internationals to a youth tournament, give them no break, probably still not win, not that that's an issue because the tournament isn't really that important, the full internationals will definitely not see it as important so won't be playing 100% and then we'll all complain when we're shit in 2016 because our 19/20/21/22 year old players haven't had a break of any kind since 2013.

the players who have got us to the tournament will give their all, learn stuff they'll not have learnt before having the time of their lives playing for their country. let them go. what is raheem sterling going to learn playing an u21 competition? he's played and been a genuine main hope of our actual world cup squad, he's come very close to being a big part of a title winning side, he's played in the champions league. he's already knackered. he's 19. he will be, like it or not, our best player in euro 2016 if we let him. he won't be if we force him to play in a pointless u21 tournament he doesn't want to play in, his manager doesn't want him to play in and his body definitely doesn't want him to play in.

just my thoughts though.

Give them a break in the full international qualifiers.

These guys need experience of playing in tournaments, not of rolling up and beating San Marino 5-0.

[ScouseFox]

Give them a break in the full international qualifiers.

These guys need experience of playing in tournaments, not of rolling up and beating San Marino 5-0.

 

i'm not a professional footballer so i can't comment fully on their thoughts, but i doubt someone like jack wilshere sees an under 21 tournament he's played no part in qualifying for as much more of a step up than the emirates cup that he'll play in pre season anyway. 

 

and a week break is not the same as a summer of rest is it really. 

[Guest ttfn]

i'm not a professional footballer so i can't comment fully on their thoughts, but i doubt someone like jack wilshere sees an under 21 tournament he's played no part in qualifying for as much more of a step up than the emirates cup that he'll play in pre season anyway.

and a week break is not the same as a summer of rest is it really.

England have internationals in the summer too so it's not like they'd get a completely free summer regardless.

We've got 7 pointless qualifiers between now and October next year - that's at least 4 weeks of cumulative time off these guys can get.

It's not about what Wilshere thinks - we're debating what we as fans think about this and whether we think it's a good way to develop our players.

With nothing even remotely resembling a generation born between 1986 and 1990 this is a great opportunity for us to put together a group of young players and let them grow together, like Germany.

Surely it makes more sense that they do that in a competitive tournament environment than in completely uncompetitive qualifying games, where if the score stays down it's because the game is played in a manner which is completely unrepresentative of the way normal competitive football is played (unless you were playing Greece).

[Stadt]

I don't think throwing 6/7/8+ players into the starting line up would help even if they're better - the current U21 squad seems settled so uprooting that for Wilshere and co would probably be more detrimental than beneficial.

You could probably integrate 3 or 4 and let those 3 or 4 play with the U21s regularly but anymore than that would be counterproductive.

[sphericalfox]

If the club aren't trying to achieve this ultimate goal, then I'd be surprised. It'd be missed opportunity in helping recruitment, showcasing the club. As for the players, it will only turn them into better rounded players. The under 21s has a strong following, and is growing in stature with the media exposure and social media.

[Grandad.]

Sterling, Barkley, Shaw, Wilshire, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Stones (extra squad member) have all been away to a senior tournament, they have the feel and what tournament football is about, Sterling, Wilshire and the Ox all have tournament football experience from this season in the Champions League, is international football any different? Probably not, the standard is probably weaker. 

 

I think it would be good for them to go if we are being serious about winning the Under 21 tournament, but the year before a major international tournament why would you want your main hopes having a three summers of international tournaments then full seasons with their clubs? 

 

Let them have the summer off.