England U21's

[hallamblue]

Liam Delap scored and Omari Hutchinson was sent off for England Under-21s in their 5-3 defeat to France.

Delap and Jaden Philogene both started the friendly game at the Stade du Moustoir in Lorient, while Hutchinson was brought off the bench with 12 minutes to play.

Manchester City's James McAtee opened the scoring following a scramble from a corner in the first minute of the game, but Quentin Merlin and Hugo Ekitike turned the game on its head to lead 2-1 in the seventh minute.

Ekitike notched a third 10 minutes before the break, but England got themselves back in the game just two minutes later as McAtee headed Elliot Anderson's ball across the face of goal for Harvey Elliott to make it 3-2.

After the restart, Ekitike wrapped up his hat-trick. Delap, however, scored his third goal for the U21s, heading into the back of the net after McAtee's chip clipped the post. Elliott then stepped up to take a penalty to equalise, but he fired well over the bar.

England piled on pressure to find a late equaliser, but fell further behind as Rayan Cherki forced the ball through James Beadle to make it 5-3 in the 78th minute. Hutchinson was brought on after that, lasting around five minutes before receiving a red card for a poor tackle on Thierno Barry.


The Young Lions will be in action again on Monday night as they host Portugal at The Hawthorns (7:45pm).

Elsewhere, Town goalkeeper Arijanet Muric has withdrawn from Kosovo's squad after picking up an injury in last night's 2-1 win against Iceland. The 26-year-old put in a man-of-the-match display in Pristina, but will return to Suffolk for treatment in the coming days.

[marko69]

Sounded like an entertaining game, Hallam. Did you watch it?

[hallamblue]

No, I didn't marko. I wanted to, but I couldn't see where to watch it...

[shabba]

Seemed from the highlights that Philoege was lively, very different to how he looks for us.

[hallamblue]

Makes you wonder what McKenna asks him to do doesn't it. Coz yes non existent for Town tbh.

[shabba]

I think he just looks shot of confidence- I don’t think it’s the manager.

[hallamblue]

He's scored for England tonight.....so maybe it is down to the manager lol

[Cabanas Blue]

Philogene played for 20 minutes and showed why we paid 20 million for him, and he was on the left his best position and Hutchinson had a very good game as well.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

He's scored for England tonight.....so maybe it is down to the manager lol

well if nothing else it shows the advantages of putting square pegs in square holes.

[hallamblue]

Doesn't it just.
Get a system to suite your squad's attributes....not try to fit the player to your system!

[marko69]

International break has been a welcome break for the forum.

…… but the opinions and itchy fingers are twitching again on the Tuesday prior!

[Ricco]

but the opinions and itchy fingers are twitching again

Could say they're on the trigger! To be fair, it's been quite mild for a relegation season on here, I did think more people would be triggered and arguments more plentiful.

[Blue Wilf]

I think if anything, we are resigned to relegation and can't argue with it cos of the way we have succumbed and not done as much as we ought to have done... now watch the McKenna is messiah gang bite!!

[marko69]

Kieron: "Ok, it's EPL time guys and I think you all can show me that you're up for the task. I believe in you all."

They take a 5 minute break.....

Mashton: " Kieron. A word over here please."

"No worries, Mark. What's up?"

"Just overhearing the you are all up to the task quote there."

"Yes. And ?"

"Really?"

"Yes, why?"

"Well its just that we have cash to get rid of. We need to buy people. The fans will go nuts if that lot turn up in the EPL."

"That LOT just won two promotions, Mark."

"Yeah but, I mean, you know. Hmmmmm. Listen, I know of a keeper who's going for 10 mill. Bargain."

"We've got Valclav. He's class."

"Mmmmmm yyyyyeah, but you think Premier League class?"

"Yes, I do."

"Ok listen, this other guy, think his name is Murder or something like that."

"Murder? That doesn't sound great if i'm honest Marky-boy."

"Yeah, its something like that. Murder, Murmur, Mudflap...., can't remember. But 10 mill though! Sweeties for EPL!"

"Ok, he can be the number two behind...."

"Errrr, nooo!"

"What?"

"Yeah, ye see, Valcy-Boy has sort of, you know, departed, hmmmmm?!"

"WHIT?? Departed? WHERE?"

"Somewhere, can't quite remember but listen, we can get MURDER in the door with the pensioners' money!"

"You f**king serious?"

"Wow. Kieron?? Think thats the first time I have ever heard you curse. I'm shocked."

"Yeah, well come to me with your big f**king decisions in future. And get a f**king shave ya scruffy lookin' b*stard."

Walks away....

Mashton catching up: "Its not that bad. If Murder is....., well, Murder, you've always got Christian."

"What and take Forest Green Rovers howlers into Liverpool and Arsenal games? That's funny, Mark. Hilarious."

[shabba]

He's scored for England tonight.....so maybe it is down to the manager lol

well if nothing else it shows the advantages of putting square pegs in square holes.

He played on the left vs forest….

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

He's scored for England tonight.....so maybe it is down to the manager lol

well if nothing else it shows the advantages of putting square pegs in square holes.

He played on the left vs forest….

indeed he did - but that's about the only game he's been played there.

We need to become more settled. Obviously injuries and suspensions will sometimes hinder that approach, but it needs to be as settled as possible. Assuming that the whole squad was available - and also assuming that we continue with one up front (which I hate) - then I'd be looking to play from left to right Philogene (Broadhead as cover), Enciso (Chaplin as cover), Hutchinson (Ogbennie as cover) and stick with it. We've got about as much chance of the Tinkerman doing that as I have of flying to the moon.

[marko69]

I do believe that when I want to address an odious post, I have to state clearly that it is completely non-confrontational. I think I'll abbreviate that as "NCP" (no, nothing to do with car parks) ....., non confrontational post.

Do you believe that a largely unchanged Ipswich side with what was available (barring injuries) would've survived the Premier League? I added "with what was available" as it really wasn't an EPL side even with additions. Close though; decent attempt with it being the first year in 22 years.

Using my own experience in putting together "squads", I can understand (to a MUCH smaller degree) how difficult it must be to formulate a winning combination vs multi million pound organisations.
Long story summarised; Govt decided all pensioners to have heating by the year 2000. I was already self employed and got in on that project in 1994. We had 6 - 7 years of big contracts up and down Britain. (Never made it to Suffolk...... Although did make an Old Farm Derby while doing the Bexleyheath contract...... Not far!)
We employed 8 squads of 3 to cover the contract, which had timescales. The hardest part was not the jobs themselves, it was creating productive squads who could do the jobs. Setting up the correct 3 guys on specific contracts with the job difficulty levels. Was an absolute nightmare. And we had on a few occasions --->>> guys snapping and getting the train home!
Shouldn't laugh but I can laugh nowadays. The stress back then was off the charts. In 94 I had brown hair. Was grey as the Scottish weather by 2000.

The gamble of breaking the bank in the first season was too huge. And yes, maybe what WAS spent may have been spent better. (I actually do remember Mikes post saying "do not touch Muric with a barge-pole" or words similar) ......, but I do feel he has had to be the Tinkerman in all honesty. Not like the Paul Lambert style of League One tinkering, but a necessary Premier League tinkering whereby the personnel are "decent Championship" level.

He needs players who can install a heating system in ONE DAY, as a team, efficiently and neat with no call-backs for a decent, way above average, wage.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

I do believe that when I want to address an odious post, I have to state clearly that it is completely non-confrontational. I think I'll abbreviate that as "NCP" (no, nothing to do with car parks) ....., non confrontational post.

Do you believe that a largely unchanged Ipswich side with what was available (barring injuries) would've survived the Premier League? I added "with what was available" as it really wasn't an EPL side even with additions. Close though; decent attempt with it being the first year in 22 years.

Using my own experience in putting together "squads", I can understand (to a MUCH smaller degree) how difficult it must be to formulate a winning combination vs multi million pound organisations.
Long story summarised; Govt decided all pensioners to have heating by the year 2000. I was already self employed and got in on that project in 1994. We had 6 - 7 years of big contracts up and down Britain. (Never made it to Suffolk...... Although did make an Old Farm Derby while doing the Bexleyheath contract...... Not far!)
We employed 8 squads of 3 to cover the contract, which had timescales. The hardest part was not the jobs themselves, it was creating productive squads who could do the jobs. Setting up the correct 3 guys on specific contracts with the job difficulty levels. Was an absolute nightmare. And we had on a few occasions --->>> guys snapping and getting the train home!
Shouldn't laugh but I can laugh nowadays. The stress back then was off the charts. In 94 I had brown hair. Was grey as the Scottish weather by 2000.

The gamble of breaking the bank in the first season was too huge. And yes, maybe what WAS spent may have been spent better. (I actually do remember Mikes post saying "do not touch Muric with a barge-pole" or words similar) ......, but I do feel he has had to be the Tinkerman in all honesty. Not like the Paul Lambert style of League One tinkering, but a necessary Premier League tinkering whereby the personnel are "decent Championship" level.

He needs players who can install a heating system in ONE DAY, as a team, efficiently and neat with no call-backs for a decent, way above average, wage.

Marko, there is no need to mark posts with NCP or anything else . Firstly, I can tell whether or not somebody is trying to get a rise out of me: secondly, it doesn't really matter whether or not I think anybody is trying to be confrontational or not, I will always comment with complete honesty on how I see things.

In answer to your question, the short answer is yes - I do think that had team selections been more consistent then we would have more points than we currently have. The clue is within KM himself, who recently has been bemoaning the fact that some players have not played much with others. Very true, but there's only really one person to blame for that.

[marko69]

Well, , can only respect your view. I cannot be a hypocrite. I cannot be critical of a belief when it’s similar to a real passionate belief i had at Easter Road…… ie, Jack Ross being emptied too soon. I argued it but in truth, who knows.
I may have been correct …… And in Kierons case you may also be correct. At this point, I suppose we’ll never really know.

There are positives when Scotland get a$$-rammed at Hampden Park by a shower o plate smashers ——>> creates a philosophical “ahhh well, who gives a fk, really!” feeling.

Subject of Kieron McKenna at Ipswich Town:
(Believing that relegation is happening; i do)
……, i really hope he sticks around. Mainly because i believe he’s on a massive learning curve in his career. I refuse to believe he’s got lucky in two years and strongly believe there is talent there. Another season in the Championship will answer a multitude of questions, mainly, ——>> “was it a flash in the pan?” …… and if he guides Ipswich to promotion thru auto or play-off, can he massively improve on any “mistakes” he may have made this season?

Extremely exciting 2025 ahead.

And edit: Apologies to Hallam for this chat in England U21 chat. I usually NEVER hijack threads!

[hallamblue]

No probs Marko ....... exploding package on its way to you as I type


Lol " plate smashers"!!!

[marko69]

No probs Marko ....... exploding package on its way to you as I type


Lol " plate smashers"!!!

Well....., they were smashing in 2004,....., but they certainly shouldn't be smashing Scotland at Hampden. We need some English Under 21's with Scottish great great great grannies.

See how I brought it back on topic there?!

[hallamblue]

It's a knack you have in spades