UEFA Euro U21 Championships

[el matador]

i think you have to look at the manager for this debacle. i really dont think stuart pearce is tactically sound enough for football management at any level.

theyre blaming academies for failing to produce technically and tactically good players but you could have given pearce spains squad and he'd still not know what to do.

does anyone know what role henderson was playing today ? its like pearce had created a new role for him which just didnt work. if anything it made him look awful he wasnt pushing on just suspended between midfield and the player playing behind the striker.

he wasnt the only one phil jones ****ing headless chicken or what, danny wellbeck should have gone to ghana, danny rose just looks crap, mancienne and muamba look one dimensional, the left back cant use the ball.

only chris smalling and sturridge look really good players and emerge with any credit.

[Arn]

They didn't deserve to lose that match, but they have been generally ****e and playing ****house tactics from the off. England have no chance with dinosaurs like Pearce in charge of the younger teams.

They need to get in foreign managers from Spain, Italy for example to train and coach the youth teams from a very early age.

We have one of the best Academies in the world now because we have two foreigners from Spain taking care of it.

[Exiled_red]

Just when you think the England senior side are the most uncreative, turgid and boring football team you've ever seen, along come the U21's to outdo themzzzzzzzzzzzz....

In fairness to Pearce he's doing a good job in ensuring the youngsters play in a similar manner to the senior side

[PTP]

i missed last nights game - was out with my dad, then watching golf - but it went pretty much as i predicated i see

very very poor really - it's not the getting beat...that happens....it's the level of performance across the 3 games thats worrying - poor team line ups, poor tactics, no genuine quality or class on the ball, kick and rush football - poor poor effort and i'd imagine pearce will leave...he should do...he should walk away himself but i doubt he will, he'll have to be sacked.

[Mostar]

i think you have to look at the manager for this debacle. i really dont think stuart pearce is tactically sound enough for football management at any level.

theyre blaming academies for failing to produce technically and tactically good players but you could have given pearce spains squad and he'd still not know what to do.

does anyone know what role henderson was playing today ? its like pearce had created a new role for him which just didnt work. if anything it made him look awful he wasnt pushing on just suspended between midfield and the player playing behind the striker.

he wasnt the only one phil jones ****ing headless chicken or what, danny wellbeck should have gone to ghana, danny rose just looks crap, mancienne and muamba look one dimensional, the left back cant use the ball.

only chris smalling and sturridge look really good players and emerge with any credit.

He was completely lost out there. Could not link up with any body, could not push on, had so few touches as Smalling and cunt Jones were not passing him the ball even when he was just few feet away from them etc.

Strange role and like most in that England team he didn't impress.

Glad it's over as that was torture to watch.

[Mike]

Unbelievable

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13839702.stm

Stuart Pearce is expected to sign a new two-year contract to remain as England Under-21 head coach, despite their exit from the European Championship.

A 2-1 loss to the Czech Republic meant England exited at the group stages of the tournament in Denmark, during which they failed to win a game.

However, the Football Association are adamant that the contract offered to Pearce in March will not be withdrawn.

The new deal will see Pearce, 49, remain in charge until 2013.

Should he put pen to paper, the former Manchester City boss will lead the Young Lions into their qualifying campaign for the 2013 European Championship finals in Israel.

The ex-England left-back - who has held the post of Under-21 coach for four years - is also favourite to coach the Great Britain football side at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Following his side's exit from the European Championship on Sunday, Pearce said his side had been handed the worst possible draw.

The defeat by the Czech Republic came after draws with both Spain and Ukraine, while in the other group Belarus made the semi-finals despite losing two of their three games.

"People don't realise the magnitude of the group we were put in," said Pearce, whose side came into the event ranked number one having reached the semi-final and final in the last two tournaments.

He added: "You've only got to look at the other group. A team's come out of that group having lost two matches.

"That tells you they might have lumped the stronger teams together. But that's tournament football."

Belarus beat Iceland before losing to group winners Switzerland and hosts Denmark, but still qualified for the semi-finals, where they will play Spain.

England looked to have set up a last-four meeting with Switzerland after Danny Welbeck put them ahead against the Czech Republic with 14 minutes left - but Jan Chramosta equalised in the 89th minute and Tomas Pekhart struck the winner in stoppage-time.

"Once you get your nose in front at that stage of the game, you hope to keep hold of it and see the game out," said Pearce.

"I wouldn't say we gave up. But we probably should have done better at the end. We have to take it on the chin, learn, and go on next season."

[Maxiedge]

It's a farce. He's a number 2, not even that. It's just a complete lack of ambition (ie. getting off their arses and spending money) on the part of the FA. ******s.

[Shaggy]

Rewarding failure as ever.

Pearce's excuses are pitiful

[dww]

It's a farce. He's a number 2, not even that. It's just a complete lack of ambition (ie. getting off their arses and spending money) on the part of the FA. ******s.

While I'm not sure I'm behind the move I don't think the criticism of not wanting to pay more money seems a particularly strong one. I'm also not sure that the role of the U21 manager is necessarily to be a natural manager - i.e. the sort of person who is willing to win no matter what, perhaps it is an ideal job for a 'number two'.

Personally I think we should look for coaches who have handled young players well and who have an attractive game based on possession. I would have looked seriously at Glenn Roeder as I think it is the sort of job he would excel in.

[Maxiedge]

While I'm not sure I'm behind the move I don't think the criticism of not wanting to pay more money seems a particularly strong one. I'm also not sure that the role of the U21 manager is necessarily to be a natural manager - i.e. the sort of person who is willing to win no matter what, perhaps it is an ideal job for a 'number two'.

Personally I think we should look for coaches who have handled young players well and who have an attractive game based on possession. I would have looked seriously at Glenn Roeder as I think it is the sort of job he would excel in.

but why else would they offer him a new contract if not to make their own lives easier? There's no outstanding reason I can see for offering him a new contract. It's just typical clowning around by the FA but obviously not of the same scale as FIFA so I guess we should be grateful for that. Capello should be gone by now too.

I agree with the part in bold and, I think in theory, Pearce could have been good for the U21s as a man manager, bringing the kids through, but it's clearly not working and not enough for the modern game.

[Exiled_red]

Is he still being lined up as Capello's replacement

[Rich]

Is he still being lined up as Capello's replacement

Redknapp

[Mostar]

Rewarding failure as ever.

Pearce's excuses are pitiful

Absolutely pathetic.

This is the same guy who recently said make no mistake England can win it all..

[Gaz]

Spain currently 1-0 down to Belarus at HT

[Reece]

Last minute equaliser.