This is a weird one: on one hand we can feel proud that Skippy is starting for the U21s, on the other hand it feels like we've bungled Sess' development that he hasn't moved up to the full squad yet
Incredible depth for an U21 side. The strikers aren't playing well or getting enough minutes, but other positions are stacked. Players like Jones, Eze, Cantwell and Gallagher on the bench? Not familiar with the two sub keepers, though. Nice to see a few Spurs names in there, even if one of them's buggered off to Holland.
Feels like Boothroyd has gone quite Jose-esque by going with a more defensive formation despite having an abundance of attacking quality. Bit of a meh game so far. Not helped that the commentator seems to think that Aarons is pronounced Airrens.
Boothroyd's ****. His team selection isn't bad, but they're all playing well within themselves. The Swiss are quite tidy.
I’m not too keen on the selection to be honest, 5 defenders and a 2 defensive mids is just too safe. Swiss do look well drilled though, press very well.
5 defenders? It's 4, isn't it? You're right about the two defensive midfielders, though. Either Skipp or Davies shouldn't be there.
It looks to me that McNeil and Aarons are playing as wing backs with Kelly, Guehi and Godfrey in the centre, pretty sure I heard a commentator say that was more or less the plan too, though I could be mistaken on that.
I didn't see the starting lineup, but that's just silly if it's what he's done. Kelly can play as both a fullback and a centre-half, though I think he's been mainly used as the latter by Bournemouth this season. A bit short at 5'10", but he's decent in the air and people aren't playing physical strikers as much any more, so you can get away with it. McNeil's a winger, though. His weakest area is tracking back, which is unusual for a Burnley player. Why nullify his strengths and emphasise his weaknesses by playing him as a wingback?
Commentator’s just confirmed they’re wingbacks, so Boothroyd’s really gone full on idiot there. It’s really not working elsewhere either, Smith-Rowe has been non existent and Hudson-Odoi is basically the English Taarabt, all skill no brain nor end product. Add to that we’re in a pretty defensive formation and it’s no wonder we’ve barely tested their keeper. Skipp unsurprisingly having a good game though.
Yeah, I've paid more attention to this half and it is wingbacks. Idiot. McNeil and Hudson-Odoi are getting in each others' way, while there's nobody to work with Aarons on the other side. He's about to make some subs, so let's see if he changes the shape.
England possibly paying the price for deciding that the U21s have to mirror the seniors by playing with 3 centre backs. This team has lots of attacking talent but no reliable goal scorer.
