Smith and Townsend watch

England Under 21 v Northern Ireland Under 21.

Adam Smith and Andros Townsend starting for England this evening. Both playing in their preferred positions and it's 0-0 after 10 minutes. Clive Allen in the commentary box and he always rated both players. Townsend has just had a decent shot saved.

Let's have a match thread here.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I'll switch it on now.

 

Thomas Ince looking lively as he always does. Earlier, Adam Smith looked trapped down by the corner flag, but showed a cool head and played it away. Good prospect is our Adam.

 

http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=179475&part=sports

 

Good surge forward from Smith and a good cross in. Connor Wickham is the target man. Came to nothing.

We were linked with Wickham a couple of years ago. Apparantly he has only played 1 minute of football this season for Martin O'Neill.

 

Yeah first time I've seen Ince play since there's been all this fuss about him. He got released by Liverpool didn't he? I'd always figured he'd fade into lower leagues like Charlie Sheringham.

That Powell's the one United signed isn't it, he looks a tidy player too.

 

Townsend coming into it now. Good link up play between Ince and Smith. Wickham just had a chance, but has now got a cut above his eyebrow.

 

Charlie Sheringham is at Bournemouth, but yes he did spend time in non league.

 

35 gone and Ince and Townsend have swapped flanks now.

 

Ah right, thanks.

I like the way Pearce has got this team set up with the ball and the way we're playing even if it is only N.Ireland. Townsend's drifted out to the right for now but I think he need to get someone up alongside the striker(when he's back on) more as there's not enough keeping their centre backs busy.

Definitely should've had a pen.

 

tried to tune in, but it's blocked by the company i work for as that is where i am until nine o'clock

 

1-0 at half time, scored right at the end with a header from Wickham getting on the end of Henderson's freekick. Good finish but the defenders were looking a mess.

 

A deserved score at half time. Good goal from a well flighted cross. Adam Smith has looked good, and Andros has done what he often does, which is flit in and out of a game.

 

I wonder if Wickham might be worth a punt in January? O'Neill doesn't seem to fancy him. Wouldn't get a ton of game time for us either, but at least he'd get good service in the U21s.

 

Ireland getting men behind the ball and difficult to break down. Townsend comes alive on 55 minutes with good link up play, his shot was a routine save for the keeper. Smith continues to look steady and reliable.

 

60 minutes gone and both our lads get yanked off.

Thanks Pearce .

 

Smith and Townsend subbed off so I've switched off. Adam didn't have much to do but did it well whilst Townsend looked good in parts and made a couple of mistakes but still looked the most lively player on the pitch when he was given the ball.

 

**** sake, I tune in and Andros has one good run and cross down the left, then gets taken off!

 

With all the current frenzy about Zaha, and those believing he is the 'real deal', let's not forget Wickham who was also touted as the next best thing up to fairly recently, and until his name came up last night I must confess I had completely forgotten about! Zaha may indeed be as good as some say, but for every successful prediction there are how many that never make it?

 

This time the lad himself has touted only Messi and Ronaldo being better than him, his high opinion of himself could well bite him in the arse!