U-21's European Championship

[Marty]

If we are looking for a young GK to understudy Lloris then the Norwegian Orjan Nyland Haskjold looks a good affordable option. Apart from De Gea he's been by far the most impressive GK in this tournament. At 6'4" he's a good size and very quick off his line which would suit the way we play under AVB.

He literally just signed for Molde in the winter, this is his first season in the Norwegian top flight and although he's looked pretty good he's made a couple of hilarious clangers. He had a very good tournament but I'd like to see how he does in the CL qualifiers and the rest of this season before I'd even consider making a move.

 

[nightgoat]

Pearce gone. Thank fuck.

 

[gilzeantheking]

Not before time, he's a dinosaur

 

[Blackcanary]

Pearce gone. Thank fuck.

But possibly Southgate to come in.

Sigh.

 

[Azazello]

But possibly Southgate to come in.

Sigh.

out of the frying pan and into another frying pan.

 

[tototoner]

Heads Up - Final is 5pm KO UK time today

 

[tobi]

Thiago scores for Spain, nice goal, poor defending though.

1-1, great goal.

 

[Syn_13]

Verratti gives away too many free kicks, disappointing.

 

[tobi]

Verratti gives away too many free kicks, disappointing.

He looks like he's starting to believe his own hype.

 

[nicdic]

How can I watch this? What channel is it on?

 

[tobi]

Its on Sky Sports 1.

 

[Syn_13]

Awful defending. Can't see us getting the better of Spain, just too good.

 

[Syn_13]

He looks like he's starting to believe his own hype.

He's an excellent prospect but right now he's overrated. He gets compared to Pirlo all the time, but he's got so much work to do. I do think he can make it but he needs to learn when to keep the ball and when to give it.

 

[werty]

Italy's captain was very poor for both goals.

 

[Syn_13]

We're really missing Marrone, and Insigne just isn't in the game.

That wasn't a pen, got the ball. Poor decision.

 

[Syn_13]

Well, this has been bitterly disappointing but I can't say I'm surprised. The pen for the 3rd goal wasn't a pen, but I'm not sure how well we'd have been able to get back into the game. Verratti and Insigne have flopped, they haven't even turned up for this game and, apart from against England, have had a relatively poor tournament.

The crux of it is that the Italy coach, Mangia, has made some big errors again. He's obsessed with playing the utterly useless Borini, leaving Gabbiadini, who has looked excellent every second of this tourny, on the bench. He also persists in keeping Borini on when Immobile is clearly a better player. Gabbiadini and Immobile have the best partnership in the team but he refuses to play them together, instead playing two very similar players together which doesn't work. Also, he's stuck in the bloody past playing 4-4-2. You can't beat Spain with a 4-4-2 system! It's unfortunate Marrone got injured, but play bloody Saponara as part of a middle 3 with Verratti and Rossi instead of a shitty 4-4-2, which leaves our midfield swamped against Spain. Italy's players aren't even suited to the 4-4-2 system anyway, it's a ridiculous tactic.

Regardless, Spain are a formidable team. When they have the ball it's almost impossible to get it off them and when you do manage to do that they hound you immediately to win it back. If you take a bad touch they'll be on you like a flash, but they find so much space that if they mis-control it (which is rare) they'll have the time to correct it. Brilliant coaching all the way up from youth level. It's seriously worrying when you consider that Spain could yet dominate the international scene for the next couple of World Cups at least.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Thiago is a great little player. Barcelona would be crazy to let him go. Real purpose about what he does, not just skill for the sake of it.