From the film of the US game it appeared that Emmerson has somewhat grown, something he needs to do to take the many knocks as a regular team player. what say you Cottager . Still my tip for the top.
He does a bit rosc, and that can only be to the good. I hope however that he doesn't rely too much on gym work, which is what I thought Dembele had been doing and consequently losing some of his mobility/sharpness. It's fine getting 'upper body strength' and all that stuff but there's a balance between bulking-up and not losing natural body litheness. What I've particularly liked about Emerson recently has been his composure - he's always had that to a degree but seems to have added to it an awareness of the play and the players around him. So yes, I'd agree he could well come good for us.
Pat Roberts wins a penalty and then scores as England U18s beat Russia 2-0 please log in to view this image "After collecting the ball from Kyle Walker-Peters on the right, Roberts sprung into action as he darted through a number of defenders and into the area. The only way for the hosts to stop him was to bring him down illegally. Armstrong placed the ball on the spot and coolly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to break the deadlock. Just four minutes later Roberts doubled the Young Lions' lead. He collected the ball on the right, 25 yards from goal. The Russia defence allowed him acres of space, and the Fulham youngster looked up and delicately curled the ball inside the far top right corner." Match Report: http://www.thefa.com/news/england/d...v-russia-in-moscow-080615#QbvyFmCmgiDhtEsl.99
Click here to see Pat’s mesmerising dribble to win the penalty - https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/607965881952567297/pu/vid/720x720/4w4EREkm1aWl4RN7.mp4
Nikolay Bodoruv played 68 minutes in Bulgaria’s 4-0 defeat in a friendly against Turkey, yesterday. However, LVC was an unused sub as Denmark beat Montenegro 2-1.
Video highlights - you might want to turn the sound off and fast forward to 1min 40 secs to see a repeat of Pat winning the penalty and/or 1 min 50 secs for his goal.
Emerson Hyndman captained his side into the Quarter-Finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup earlier today as the USA defeated Colombia 1-0 in Wellington. And he had a hand in the winner sending a header towards Paul Arriola whose shot rebounded to Rubio Rubin for him to thump the ball into the net.
We’ve had Captain Emerson, now it’s Captain Pat - "Magnus Norman and Pat Roberts came on as substitutes but were unable to prevent England Under-18s from losing in Russia on Wednesday. Home skipper Georgi Melkadze put his side in front with just eight minutes played after intercepting a loose pass from Manchester City’s Tosin Adarabioyo and firing beyond Newcastle United goalkeeper Freddie Woodman. Magnus Norman replaced Woodman at half-time, while Pat Roberts came on for Adam Armstrong on 64 minutes, taking the captain’s armband from the Newcastle striker in the process. The Fulham youngster made an immediate impact when he set up fellow substitute Tammy Abraham, but the Chelsea striker didn’t test Ilya Sukhoruchenko in the Russia goal with his shot. England did eventually find an equaliser with 10 minutes left to play when Liverpool’s Sheyi Ojo was tripped in the box. The forward picked himself up to send Sukhoruchenko the wrong way from 12 yards. But the Young Lions left Moscow empty handed from their second meeting with Russia as Poluboy Arinov netted from a corner in stoppage term to earn his side revenge for their 2-0 defeat two days earlier.”
Earlier today Emerson Hyndman’s USA lost their WC U20 quarter final match in a penalty shoot out. please log in to view this image "It was heartbreak for Emerson Hyndman as the United States exited the FIFA U20 World Cup in a penalty shootout after a stalemate with Serbia. After 120 goalless minutes, it took nine rounds of spot-kicks to separate the sides in Auckland, New Zealand, until the Europeans clinched the 6-5 shootout victory in the Quarter Final encounter. Hyndman converted from 12 yards to give the US a 3-2 advantage but, with the scores tied at 5-5, John Requejo saw his shot saved and Nemanja Maksimovic hit the decisive strike to deny Tab Ramos’ team a first U20 World Cup Semi Final since 1989. Serbia progress to play Mali on Wednesday, after the African nation stunned Germany in a 4-3 penalty shootout win following a 1-1 draw, while Brazil and Senegal meet in the other Semi Final.”
Biggest shock of the weekend was the Faroes beating Greece - Grexit as it’s become to be known - with our two playing. However, they, like the others performing, over the last few days are either ‘soon not to be ours’ or already ‘ex-ours’ "]ernando Amorebieta helped Venezuela get their Copa America campaign off to the perfect start with a 1-0 win over Colombia in Group C on Sunday. The defender – who picked up a yellow card in the first half [quelle surprise] – played the full 90 minutes as the underdogs secured a huge win against a side who boasted the likes of James Rodriguez, Radamel Falcao, Juan Cuadrado and Carlos Bacca in their starting line-up. Zenit St Petersburg striker Salomon Rondon headed the game’s only goal past Arsenal man David Ospina on the hour mark to send Venezuela joint top of the group alongside Brazil who defeated Peru 2-1. In European Championship qualifying action on Saturday, Gabor Kiraly kept a clean sheet as Hungary secured a crucial 1-0 win in Finland. Zoltan Stieber struck seven minutes from time to earn the visitors the victory which keeps them in contention for an automatic qualification spot. They currently sit third in Group F, three points behind leaders Romania. Elsewhere in the group, Kostas Mitroglou and Kostas Stafylidis each played 90 minutes but were unable to prevent Greece from falling to a 2-1 defeat in the Faroe Islands. Mitroglou went close to breaking the deadlock when his effort hit the post, but it was the home side who took the lead moments later when Hallur Hansson put the finishing touch to a counter attack.Brandur Olsen made it 2-0 with 69 minutes played, and although Sokratis Papastathopoulos headed in late on from a corner, Greece were unable to find a way back into the match and so remain winless at the bottom of the standings. On Friday, Nikolay Bodurov played the entirety of Bulgaria’s hard-fought 1-0 win away to Malta. Ilian Micanski could have put the visitors in front in first half stoppage time, only to send his penalty wide, but Bulgaria did manage to breach the home goal 11 minutes after the restart when Ivelin Popov finished coolly. Former Fulham loanee Stanislav Manolev went close to a second in stoppage time with a stunning strike that hit the woodwork, but one goal proved to be in enough as Bulgaria remain in contention in Group H with eight points“.
Yup, although unfortunately they won't add much to the transfer kitty. Not even Mitrog and especially not if our old favourite Martin Jol takes over at Olympiacos - he'll snap up Berbatov on a free!
The good news is that LVC is fit and back playing. Playing well to boot, as he helped Denmark make a good start to the European Under-21 Championships with a 2-1 win against the Czech Republic yesterday. “Christensen stepped off the bench in the 25th minute to replace the injured Frederik Soerensen. But 10 minutes later Czech full-back Pavel Kaderabek put the hosts ahead, cutting in from the right and curling a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Denmark levelled in the 56th minute when centre-back Jannik Vestergaard headed home. And, with the match heading for a draw, substitute Pione Sisto poked in the winner from close range in the 84th minute. There was even later drama to come when Michal Travnik found the net for the Czechs only to see his effort ruled out for offside. “In the first half I wasn't satisfied and I had to say a lot of things to the players at half-time,” said Denmark coach Jess Thorup. “But in the end, we won the game, and that could be very important for the tournament.” In the other game in Group A, Germany were held to a 1-1 draw by Serbia. Denmark play Germany on Saturday.”
Another red for Nando - ah well, same old, same old! "Fernando Amorebieta was sent off as Venezuela lost 1-0 to Peru in Valparaiso Group C of the Copa America yesterday. Amorebieta was given a straight red card for appearing to stamp on Paolo Guerrero in the 30th minute. And Peru’s man advantage eventually told in the 72nd minute when Claudio Pizarro found the net. Venezuela’s Tomas Rincon inadvertently slid the ball into the path of Pizarro who made no mistake. Venezuela must now avoid defeat against Brazil on Sunday if they are to have any chance of reaching the last eight. Peru face Colombia in Sunday’s other Group C match. Amorebieta said afterwards: “I didn’t intend to step on [Guerrero] but will not go to criticise the referee, because he decides. I can only take the blame because the red card changed the game.” Elsewhere, Marcus Bettinelli was an unused substitute as England’s Under-21 European Championship campaign got off to a bad start with a 1-0 defeat to Portugal. Portugal took the lead when Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Mario tucked in from close range after Bernardo Silva’s low shot had rebounded off the post. Group B rivals Sweden came from behind to win 2-1 against Italy [who brought on 22yr old Marcello Trotta as a sub]. Gareth Southgate’s men face the Swedes on Sunday.”
Lasse Vigen Christensen played the full 90 minutes as Denmark suffered defeat in the UEFA U21 European Championships, losing 3-0 to Germany. please log in to view this image "The Danes came into the match as group leaders following victory over the Czech Republic, and looked like continuing the momentum, threatening in the early stages with attempts from Pione Sisto and Yussuf Poulsen. But two goals from Germany captain Kevin Volland and a third from Matthias Ginter propelled the Germans to the top of their group, with Denmark now to play Serbia on Tuesday at the Letna Stadium. Both teams require victory to retain ambitions of reaching the Semi-Finals." Germany top Group A with four points, with Denmark and the Czechs on three and Serbia on one. Marcus Bettinelli was an unused subas England beat Sweden 1-0 in Group B with a late winner from Jesse Lingard. England play Italy on Wednesday.
LVC finishes top of Group A in the UEFA European U21 Championships and goes through to the semi-finals. please log in to view this image “Lasse Vigen Christensen came on as a 66th minute substitution in the final game of the group stages on Tuesday evening, where Denmark recorded a 2-0 victory over Serbia. At the start of the night all four teams in Group A had a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals, but an opening goal from Rasmus Falk in the 21st minute, followed by another from Viktor Fischer just after the break gave the Danes a comfortable victory. The result, alongside Germany's 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic, meant the Danes qualified with six points as the winners of Group A, with tournament favourites Germany in second and also through to the semi-finals with five points.”
LVC and Denmark are out of the U21 European Championship after a 4-1 Semi-Final defeat by Sweden tonight. please log in to view this image “The Fulham midfielder entered the action shortly before the hour mark when he replaced Jens Jønsson, by which point his side were already two goals down courtesy of a John Guidetti penalty and Simon Tibbling’s finish. Six minutes after Christensen’s introduction Denmark found a way back into the match when Uffe Bech made the most of some hesitancy in the Sweden defence to fire home, and they then went all out in search of an equaliser. They were on top in the closing stages but their Scandinavian neighbours grabbed the crucial next goal on 83 minutes when Robin Quaison slotted through the goalkeeper’s legs, with captain Oscar Hiljemark then rubbing salt into Danish wounds in the fifth minute of stoppage time." Sweden will now face Portugal – who thumped Germany 5-0 earlier – in the Final on Tuesday.
Is there a 3rd/4th play off? If not, then it's mission accomplished: LVC finished with the tournament without picking up an injury. Please, please, please.
