The whole point of youth teams is to develop a player to the point that they are good enough to play for the seniors. Once they achieve that, what's the point in returning to the youth setup? They're just preventing another youth getting a chance.
Because it might be better to develop players at a steady pace rather than thrust them into the limelight and put them under more pressure. Personally, I would like to see youngsters develop through the u21's - allows a group of them to come through together and build relationships. It's worked for Spain and Germany. Another thing is that we, the English, like to turn our noses up at these kind of tournaments - U21's, Europa League are examples. It's time to take them seriously and use them to develop youngsters.
England should do what Germany did and play the young lads in the first team so that they learn and develop alongside each other, get rid of some of the under performing senior players.
Barkley is not a star. He's just a second rate Jonjo who's never had the pressure of playing for a big team or even being the most important player at his club. Thinking players like him are worthy of a senior international team is why we are ****e.
Barkley is horrendously overrated. Never looked great to me but because he tries to take players on occasionally doing it well but mostly losing the ball (like a Gerrard lite but i guess gerrard did it with more success) people think he's the business when he pulls it off on this 10th go after failing 9 times (also see Wilshit). I remember long ago that once a U21 player was good enough for the seniors they shouldn't go back. However thinking right now, I'm in two minds with the U21's who are in the senior squad and playing regularly for them like your Sterlings and Chamberlains. On the one hand you are giving them valuable experience at International Level which is very different from your bog standard Premier League games (slower, more about possession) and also gives you a chance to beat players who will potentially be going through to the Seniors. It's good for confidence and if you win the tournament helps to foster a winning mentality. On the other hand you could be over playing them and you run the risk of burnout so i'm sitting on the fence. THen you have your Barkleys and Luke Shaws who have been called up but get 5 or 10 minutes here and they should stay in the U21's for the benefits i said above.
The Spanish side that won the last tournament: De Gea; Montoya, Martinez, Bartra, Moreno; Alcantara, Illaramendi, Koke; Tello, Morata, Isco. Muniain and Camacho were only good enough to come on from the bench late on. It's tournament experience, it's a chance to win some silverware and it's an opportunity for these players to gel in competitive games. Playing against the best opposition at this level is going to teach them more than playing against San Marino or a pre-season in America or Asia.
Spain is a good example for how to bring young players through buy it helps when most are from one club too (Barca)
Agreed - the majority of those players were either from Real Madrid or Barcelona - both big clubs, with big expections and play at the highest level week in week out. Also, these players played 'Championship' level at the B clubs - further evidence of the benefits of incorporating reserve teams into the lower leagues.
**** knows where it leaves Blackett, Mcnair, James, Wilson and the like though. They must all have to be confined to the gym now
