Subject: [u21] WC Qualifier Vs Vietnam, USA Flame War :)...

This week sees the England U21 team taking on Viet Nam. A win could see us qualify, depending on other matches. I'm using the match as an opportunity to try out a new formation for me at NT level, and to offer some decent 20 year olds a chance to figure in the squad of 16.

Show your support for England by predicting the score in the TV Studio

The other games see a crunch match between Switzerland and Moldova. Moldova have the best overall rating of all the teams in the group, with an "excellent" rating, but have been caught at the back too easily by other competitive teams. If Moldova win they could compete with USA for second, while a defeat would see them all but out of the competition.

In other news, the pressure to qualify seems to be getting to the USA manager, fla21667. Telling me recently that he would win all his remaining games to qualify, after I suggested he wouldn't beat England, he told me "Don't get cocky, you were outplayed by us in the first leg, and you got a lucky break on one of your goals.". Them sounds like fightin' words missy - expect something special for the USA game ;)....

Show a different kind of support for England by flaming the USA coaches guestbook :)...

League table

1. England U21 7 6 1 0 31-8 19
2. Schweiz U21 7 4 2 1 26-7 14
3. USA U21 7 4 1 2 25-10 13
4. Moldova U21 7 3 2 2 16-12 11
5. Lëtzebuerg U21 7 1 0 6 7-45 3
6. Viet Nam U21 7 0 0 7 3-26 0

Average rating

56.4 England U21
56.2 Schweiz U21
55.3 Moldova U21
53.3 USA U21
48.4 Viet Nam U21
39.7 Lëtzebuerg U21

This weeks matches

Lëtzebuerg U21 - USA U21
Viet Nam U21 - England U21
Schweiz U21 - Moldova U21

Final 16 - if they stay fit tonight...

Bruce Banks
Del Bradridge
Gubby Butts
Faraz Follows
Ricky Ganderton
Kirk Hoddinot
Josh Kilvane
Bill Lucy
Luke Moggs
Leo Pell
Fraser Smerdon
Troy Seccombe
Louis Sully
Vince Wenden
Tim Wint
Riley Woods


(edited)

In case anyone cares, the game kicks off at 13:29 SK time.

i will be watching the first 2 minutes....maybe till the end if a certain keeper starts the game :)

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I'd be fascinated to know what you deleted :). A 4-0 win, with 10 men. We hit the woodwork about 5 times too.

i know :)

i deleted....firstly: "+274mins!!"
and secondly: "n/m its changed".....if u check the time was b4 the start of the game

as far as comments after the game.... i would say the tactic was a lil negative, if there was a second striker there would have been someone there to get the rebounds (there were numerous)...however, it was definatly nice to see a new tactic and the score should have been more considering your stiker hit the bar/post about 25 times. Overall good job, well done!

It's a tactic I've been using in my league matches, and it seems to work well, albeit with older / stronger players in my team. I'm not sure whether to go 1 or 2 up front for next week, as the major flaw is "what happens if the only striker gets sent off"... pleased with the clean sheet though, we managed to concede twice last time we played them.

hmm can always set an order for a mid with decentish striker to go up if the str gets sent off :)

nice win, would of being nice to see Lucy score a few more though :/

there aren't that many at 21 year old level. that would work for my club side though, ta ! ;)...

And yes, it would have. 23 shots on goal, 4 goals, battered goal-posts. what can you do ?
(edited)

I must say that I am disappointed by the lack of guestbook flaming occuring in the USA coaches' guestbook. How am I supposed to play stupid and childish Fergusonesque mind-games with him if nobody ups the pressure on him ?

I just got involved, albeit a bit late.

Not at all ! More of this over the next 2 weeks.would ne great !

Congrats and amazingly helpful of Moldova to take a point from the Swiss too. Thats it now, surely we are through?