Billy Dean
Player Valuation: £70m
I think it's just that they're not very well coached by Boothroyd mate. There were only 2 loaned out Chelsea players in the team unless I'm mistaken.
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.....if we are in agreement about Rossiter, then Ledson may have gone backwards at club and international level. These things happen. Kenny found spaces to get in behind but showed no appetite to go past an opposition player, he looks solid enough but it takes more to make that big step up.
I wasn't just referring to this tournament I've seen them fairly often across all age groups. You can understand though why a Chelsea academy player would prioritise individuality over team work when they're in competition with far more players to make an impression on the first team manager.
Yeah, Solanke, Abraham, Brown are really talented individuals and I'd take any of them for our u21s where that individual would have a good chance of eventually featuring in a 1st team squad. The chances of all three breaking through at Chelsea are low.
Yes they have many good English players in their academy but can't see any of them making it there now to be honest. If Rashford can break through now surely one of those can. Maybe Loftus-Cheek (whom I'd sign) was a freak accident.
mightymoyes
Player Valuation: £70m
chelsea are essentially a farm, they have no intention of giving most of those players any sort of chance in their own first team. they are at the club to sell on and profit off.
I think you're right, and it's a shame
To Chelsea supporters credit, a lot of them would like to see more of the youngsters given a chance
Maybe Conte will bring some through?
I also like Sandwich Loftus-Cheek
Bamford looked good as well for a while there, as did Mceachran
I think most young players will reach a point in their development where they need to be getting regular minutes to really improve
I think the reason Rashford has done so well is because he's had a reasonable amount of playing time
gaino92
Power level over 9000
What's he like filling in?
catcherintherye
Player Valuation: £80m
Both you and @blueloon are spot on. From what I've seen particularly the London clubs academies seem to produce quite selfish footballers who are not lacking in confidence but I would say have rather a large attitude.
I saw that Reece Oxford at an under 17's tournament a couple of years back and his attitude was appalling. He was what I would call an "attention seeker" and was carrying on yelling at his teammates as if he were Tony Adams. The real problem is, rather than the set up telling him to pipe down and worry about his own game the commentator (who is normally a fella like Clive Allen) goes on about what a "wonderful talent he is and the leadership he shows".
The same with that Edwards from Spurs. The lad has talent but wouldn't pass the ball and would constantly look for a dribble or shot when a better pass was on. It has caused me a lot of frustration when I have watched England youth teams that they are not developed to be team players at all.
Unsworth and before him Stubbs have been very good at grounding Everton's young players and teaching them the importance of team play. We generally shove our better players up through the ages better (very rarely do we ever face a younger team at youth level), most are a fair bit older. It means lads like Dowell, Kenny, Ledson, Davies etc aren't left to dominate an age group and become cocky with it. Some of the behaviour at times borders on bullying and youth coaches like Boothroyd just allow it.
The London based players seem to be overly represent at most youth levels. Chelsea lads in particular get a lot of representation. At under 18 level I never remember them beating us very often and were not one of the stronger teams we face, but most have an entourage and in truth I'm not sure FA Youth coaches are very good at standing up to it.
Unfortunately youth football has become big business. Chelsea and clubs like that look to sell on players so need them to get international caps to help bolster the price so pressure is placed on the FA to select their lads. Liverpool are a bit like that too. It leads to a different set up to when young lads were being prepared to play first team football and the landbanking needs to start being questioned more by journalists. Ultimately you can see in our system we keep the players grounded as they need to keep working hard. That is the opposite of a lot of the clubs.
Roberto's L-shaped sofa
Player Valuation: £150k
Watched the game, Ledson didn't get on and Kenny played full game. Whilst looking solid I didn't think he had the best game going forward, gave the ball away a few times, never looked like beating a man etc. But did put a few decent crosses in.
I remain a fan however and would argue beating players on the outside isn't his natural game, just as Italy sat in our full backs had quite a lot of ball.
I remain a fan however and would argue beating players on the outside isn't his natural game, just as Italy sat in our full backs had quite a lot of ball.
As mentioned above, Kenny was pretty solid and got some good crosses in. But he is not confident in his ability to beat a man (which is not necessarily bad in a full back) - he tends to pass sideways or back when challenged a bit like Galloway or Garbutt. He was motoring up and down the right (and often ignored) so tired towards the end of the match.
Ledson didn't play.
ggooggooggoo
Player Valuation: £8m
Ledson can pick a pass out from the 10 mins i watched the other night
He can be quite pickly I hear