[Ana_Garcia]

Delphinho, on Jun 30 2009, 09:30 PM, said:

Well I've had at least 4 questions on how to make yourself England U21 manager now, and even though ive explained already, here is a detailed explanation for you dummies who can't figgure it out

Lol, I know how to do it just didnt know it was possible!

Anyways good going with this, a really good idea. Good read also, KIU!!

[Nic]

Written By: Michael Elves - 9th October 2009

U21s win as Lawton speaks of the game as his best and worst since taking over

England U21s secure their 3rd victory out of 3 in the European Championships 2011 Qualifying, with a goal from Spurs youngster Danny Rose, but coach Nicholas Lawton feels the game saw his sides at their best and worst since he took over.

England took a lead just 7 minutes in through ex Leeds youngster Danny Rose. Leeds midfielder Fabian Delph found a great ball through to the Spurs midfielder who put it away.

23 minutes in England had a goal disallowed. Theo Walcott found the net but the goal was ruled out for offside although replays show that Walcott was on line with the defence.

3 minutes later Kyle Naughton whipped a ball in which met the head of James Vaughan, but the Everton striker hit the bar.

Michael Mancienne came close moments later. The centre back tried a first time volley after a cross was headed clear which curled just over.

And 7 minutes before half time, Theo Walcott came close again. Walcott found himself one on one with the keeper but his chip hit the top of the goal and went out.

With an hour played England were looking more than likely to find a second, but Theo Walcott struck a ball over from the edge of the box.

Eventually the full time whistle was blown with the final score being 1-0 to the home side, but England were disappointed that only 1 of their 21 shots found the back of the net, with Estonia only managing 2 shots, in which both missed the target.

Best and Worst Performance

England U21s head coach Nicholas Lawton told our reporters that post the game he felt his side had been their best and worst since he took over in January.

"I'm delighted with another win but I'm surprised at the score as I'm sure many are.

"We certainly deserved more than one goal, but thats our own fault because we didn't find the back of the net as we should have.

"We played stunning football out there, but I can't explain how we didn't get more goals. We just didn't hit the target when we should have.

"21 shots tells you we dominated, but 5 on target is little enough to tell you your side didn't win without the scoreboard, but they did absolutely awful and didn't get a signle shot for John (Bateman) to have a save at, we didn't even need a keeper.

"All in all, I have to say tonight was our best and worst performance since I took over, and although we dominated amazingly, I expect us to get more goals in our next game with a scoring record like ours.

"I think we scored 11 in 3 games before this game, so I'm expecting it to go up again next week."

[Nic]

Written By: Michael Elves - 10th October 2009

SkySports Exclusive: England U21's style of play and tactic explained

Following England U21's 4th win out of 4 against Estonia last night, Nicholas Lawton's side go 3 points clear in their group, and SkySports are the first to reveal about the tactic that has made Lawtons men do so well.

The Three Lions use the English favourite 4-4-2, and here is an example of the formation Lawton has used in every game;

Now we move on to player movement. In Lawton's tactic, the full backs look to move forward towards the edge of the oppositions box, to get crosses in, whereas winger cut in towards the box. The centre midfielders move directly forward to help the strikers.

Lawton's team are very attacking and when they are on the defence, which is hardly ever, they play a good marking game which keeps players from finding themselves through the defence but aren't normally found offside.

England U21s are currently 1st in their group, a table here will show you how the side are faring going into the 2011 European Championships.

[Fola]

Your graphics are amazing. Well done mate

[Nic]

Written By: Michael Elves - 13th October 2009

Walcott hat-trick sees off Liechtenstein in Schaan.

England have almost secured a place in the finals of the 2011 European Championships with a win over Liechtenstein U21s, winning 3-0 with a hat-trick from Arsenal striker Theo Walcott.

The Three Lions go 5 points clear in their group, with 12 points to 2nd placed Serbia's 7.

11 minutes into the game England had a goal disallowed. Wigan's Lee Cattermole came forward with the ball before playing it through to Theo Walcott who struck home, but the striker was offside.

3 minutes later Joe Mattock may have felt he deserved a goal. The left back found himself through the defence but struck too high from 12 yards.

And at half time in a boring first half with not much to speak about, England went in without a goal and the scoreline being 0-0.

At half time England manager Nicholas Lawton decided to change things, with Michael Johnson coming off for Leeds midfielder Fabian Delph.

But England took a lead just 3 minutes into the 2nd half. Leicester left back Joe Mattock ran down the wing before swinging in a deep cross which meant the volley of Theo Walcott and England took the lead.

55 minutes played England were just a goal up, but captain Lee Cattermole almost had another say about that.

The Wigan midfielder hit a volley from 25 yards out after a corner was headed clear which cannoned off the crossbar, and was headed out.

Joe Mattock again came close 58 minutes in. Danny Rose found the left back but his shot could not go past the hand of Stanislaw Carmona.

But just a minute after the hour mark Theo Walcott found his second. Joe Mattock picked out the Arsenal striker who headed home and secured his second goal of the game, and Mattock's second assist.

Walcott had a chance to complete his hat-trick 4 minutes later, but struck over after a Fabian Delph pass found the ex Southampton striker.

But he had his hat-trick 84 minutes in. The striker managed to get onto a Michael Mancienne clearance before striking past the goalkeeper to make it 3-0.

With just 3 minutes left England thought they should have had a penalty.Wilshere was pulled on his shirt and was unable to jump for a cross, and replays show England deserved the penalty.

But after 2 minutes of injury time, England were secured 5 wins on the trot, 4 in the group, and Theo Walcott, who had been labelled England's underperformer before the game with no goals to speak of, got a hat-trick and became England's top scorer.

[Nic]

Written By: Michael Elves - 8th November 2009

England U21 head coach Nicholas Lawton has picked his final squad of 2009 for games against Hungary and Serbia U21s, with a chance to secure qualification.

Only one change has been made from the side that beat Estonia 1-0 and Liechtenstein 3-0, with Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck replacing the injured Fred Sears.

Lawton has told his players he expects a victory at Hungary, which could secure them a place in the Finals of the European Championships in 2011, and a win in both would give a guarantee of qualification.

Goalkeepers

John Bateman
Scott Loach

Defenders

Michael Mancienne
Micah Richards
Kyle Naughton
Dan Gosling
Jack Cork
Mark Beevers
James Tomkins
Jack Rodwell
Joe Mattock
Kieran Gibbs

Midfielders

Lee Cattermole
Fabian Delph
Michael Johnson
Jack Wilshere
Danny Rose
John Bostock
Adam Lallana
Theo Walcott

Forwards

Victor Moses
Febian Brandy
Andy Carroll
Nathan Delfouneso
Danny Welbeck
James Vaughan

[Nic]

Written By: Michael Elves - 8th November 2009

England U21s secured yet another win today despite two goals from Hungary, with the Three Lions coming out victorious in a 3-2 scoreline.

But manager Nicholas Lawton was unpleased again at his sides near loss and draw, with Hungary being one goal up at a time and dominating the end of the second half.

"They went 1-0 up, I was slightly concerned. Our defence didn't turn on throughout the game and Scott (Loach) didn't do anything.

"All in all a victory is all that matters but the manner in which we won may well have turned on us at any point in the game."

Hungary took the lead after Fabian Delph came close, Attila Filkor put a great ball through to to Andras Simon, who took the ball down with his right leg, before smashing a stunning smash into the top corner of Scott Loach's net.

England and Fabian Delph came close again just moments later. Delph skipped forwards before smacking a stunner towards the top corner, which bounced off the bar and went over.

And 20 minutes in Lee Cattermole struck a freekick over, to the disappointment of the fans.

But 3 minutes before the half-hour mark, England found an equaliser, through Everton striker James Vaughan.

The striker lost his man after a Danny Rose cross and volleyed into the top of the goal, to make it 1-1.

And then 1 minute after the 30th minute the goal that would shock the many viewers watching the game on SkySports 1 came.

Fabian Delph got the ball off a Jack Wilshere throw in, before turning towards the edge of the box, where he took it to 30 yards out, before amazingly curling the most powerful of shots into the top corner of Hungary's goal.

The goal was so stunning, Hungary keeper Gulacsi didn't even move, and after the goal went in, the Hungary youngster's just stood, amazed.

And 3 minutes into injury time, England somehow had a third goal. A penalty was awarded to England despite appeals which were made to the referee with 30 seconds over the minimum time to be added on being played.

But Arsenal's Theo Walcott strook the penalty home, leaving Gulacsi with no chance, and making it 3-1.

75 minutes in James Vaughan somehow missed. The Everton striker found himself with plenty of space behind the defence, but his shot was weak, and was easily saved.

But 10 minutes later, Hungary managed to find a 2nd goal. Liverpool's Krisztian Nemeth took the ball into the penalty area before putting the ball into the bottom corner, out of Scott Loach's reach.

A long 5 minutes were added on at the end of the game, but Hungary failed to equalise, and their hopes of qualification now die out.

[DB]

Great story KUTGW

[Felton]

Just realised something about the tactic article. Would you really advertise how you play on Sky Sports allowing for other opponents to find flaws and weaknesses and challenging it?

Good story anyways!

[Nic]

Felton, on Jul 22 2009, 08:47 PM, said:

Just realised something about the tactic article. Would you really advertise how you play on Sky Sports allowing for other opponents to find flaws and weaknesses and challenging it?

Good story anyways!

Yes as there are leaks and the press will do anything to get more views on their site. Thanks for the comments.