Daddy speaks... ‘Tom has played 18 times for the Under 21s and really enjoyed it and found it beneficial – so this is not a snub, that’s rubbish,’ said Ince, who was England’ s first black skipper. ‘He is 23 years of age and has already played in the Euros in Israel. He has experienced that, which was great. ‘If he was 20 years old we would not be having this conversation, he would be going to the Euros, no doubt about it. ‘But the last year or so from a club point of view has been difficult for him. He’s been all over the place. He went to Hull last summer and has then been on loan at Forest and Derby, where he’s doing well now. ‘We forget that he had three years at Blackpool pretty much playing by himself at a young age, and that had an effect. ‘He needs to get a good rest and make sure he is ready to go next season. He needs to start finding some stability. He needs to get himself in a position to play regular football in the Premier League.’ ‘Listen, Tom has not snubbed his country. It is the pinnacle of a player’s career to represent your country,’ Ince added. ‘I was captain and am immensely proud of my 53 caps. ‘Gareth Southgate said we should be aware of the repercussions. I don’t agree. If Tom is playing regularly next year for Hull and scoring goals like he is for Derby, then he would love to get an England call-up. ‘And if he is doing that I see no reason why Roy Hodgson shouldn’t call him up. He’s got a good young squad and Tom would love to be part of it in the future. ‘But first of all he needs to get his club career in order. We have looked at the bigger picture. He needs a steady period and he needs to hit the ground running next season. ‘If he makes his mark at Hull next year then hopefully we’ll see the benefit of this decision. ‘So there is no way I’m saying to Tom, “Don’t play for England”. As a father I would love my son to do what I did and play for his country. ‘There are other kids coming through who are 20 and 21 and they will be at the tournament - Tom is 23. ‘And don’t forget he could also be in the play-offs with Derby, as he was with Blackpool. There would be no time for rest. ‘We have to be careful and think about the future.’ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...1-snub-insists-father-Paul.html#ixzz3UwTwQZJ6
**** didn't realise he was 23, I don't know why players are picked for U21 when they are older, surely there must be a limit on when they can't be picked. It's a good opportunity for other players to start progressing instead of same old same old players. If they're really good then they can play at full International, if not they get that tag line on their wiki page saying they've represented England at U21 level. Still not a bad thing representing your country!
Daddy seems to think that his lil' darlin' is the most put upon person ever to stride out onto a football pitch. And what the bollocks about being at Blackpool pretty much playing by himself, is meant to mean, I don't know. But it's patently not true. The reason that he hasn't got his club career in order is that he proved not good enough for a bottom quarter Premier League team. With massive injury problems. The bigger picture is that he's a gutless lightweight. We should get rid.
Ok I assumed he was 21, not 23. Can anyone explain to me how a 23 year old can play for the U21s? I like his reasons too, solid and sensible. His dads doing a good job for him too, which no doubt will annoy some (OLM obviously).
Its when they start the qualifiers or whatever. So its if he was eligible 2 years ago or whatever. Would be unfair for them to qualify then the younger lads playing in the competition.
The age limit was reduced to 21 for the 1978 championship and it has remained so since. To be eligible for the campaign ending in 2015, players need to be born in or after 1992. Many can be actually 23 years old by the time the finals tournament takes place; however, when the qualification process began (late 2013) all players would have been 21 or under.
I think the idea is so counties can have settled squad for full campaigns. It would be be farcical if you where having to chop and change all the time.
I get that, but, it is still stupid. How can someone who's 23 or 24, or however high it can go, 25?, compete in a competition that's meant to be for under 21s? Just call it Development or Reserves or something, its clearly NOT under 21s, its anyone who's been under 21 during the campaign for the last 4 years.
You have to be U21 at the start of the year of qualifying and that's less two years from the finals, so 23 is the oldest you can be. And I don't give a **** what Paul Ince thinks, he's a prick and he's doing a grand job of making everyone think his son is also a prick.
The alternative is as follows: Let's assume a European Under 21 Championship is scheduled for 2020. So a new rule is made that only players under the age of 21 on the date of the final are eligible (let's say under 21 in September 2020). Qualification would start in 2018 which means that players must be at most 18 or 19 to qualify. It would, in essence become an Academy style competition for 17, 18 and 19 year olds. We are all in favour of developing young talent but such a tournament would not be commercially successful compared with the current format.
This should get more fans on Tom's side. ****er Morgan http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull...Piers-Morgan/story-26207369-detail/story.html boss Steve Bruce has leapt to the defence of Tom Ince following the winger's shock decision to quit the England under-21s. Despite featuring throughout the Three Lions' qualification campaign for this summer's European Championships, Ince dropped the bombshell this week that he no longer wanted to be considered by boss Gareth Southgate. The 23-year-old, currently out on loan at Derby, insisted his priorities were instead focused on club football. Ince's decision has drawn criticism from some quarters, including Piers Morgan branding it an act “bordering on treason" to walk away from the England under-21s. Bruce bristled at that suggestion on Friday and launched his own stinging counter-attack on Morgan, who was sacked by the Daily Mirror in 2004 after the paper published hoax pictures from the Iraq war, supposedly showing British solders abusing an Iraqi. “I think with the decision Tom has made with his father, they must have weighed up the pros and cons," said Bruce. “I spoke to his father the other day and he informed me of the situation. I can only say I have never had the conversation with Tom but we have to respect that decision. “But, as for treason and Piers Morgan, I won't forget the photograph he put on the front of the Daily Mirror, that was more treason. So, how dare he?" Bruce was informed of Ince's decision by former Manchester United team-mate Paul, the winger's father, when attending Derby's 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough on Tuesday. Ince has been in fine form for the Rams, scoring six goals in eight appearances, but told Southgate at the start of the week he did not wish to be considered for the European Championships. The former Blackpool winger ends his under-21s career with 18 caps but now question marks surround his suitability to make a senior step-up in the years to come. Asked if he had tried to intervene, Bruce said: “No. It's a decision for the player and his father. It did surprise me a little bit." The same sentiment was echoed by Southgate, who had made Ince a mainstay of his squad since taking the job in 2013. “I have told Tom and Paul they need to be aware of the possible consequences in terms of how it would appear from the outside. I think they understand that," said Southgate. “I have had discussions with Tom and his dad over the last week or so and the message from both was exactly the same. I have to say I was surprised. “It was not something we'd been conscious of previously and it is for Tom to explain his full reasons. But he feels at this moment he has got some priorities at club level. “There is some uncertainty about where he is going to be next season."
Brucie nailed it with that statement. Morgan is such an odious prick that I'd be surprised if he had any supporters even on here.
