England U20

[Reg Smeeton]

They're all bright lads Reg. I'm sure even if Boothroyd does tell them to just hoof it upfield for the U20s (unlikely IMO as the FA are trying to develop a coherent style of play across the teams, but you're right his track record would suggest otherwise!) then they're quite capable of working out that that won't go down well when they return to their club sides. It's not like a week or so's exposure to Boothroyd is going to completely ruin them as footballers. Although granted it's difficult to see what it will do to improve them either.

I'm not so sure....you'd like to think that going off to an England age range, would be a step up from Div 3 coaching, not as in this case at least 2 or 3 steps backward.

[jayohaitchenn]

George Barker, we hardly knew ye.

Luke Williams' only major faux pas.

You take that back! Super George will make you eat your words

[pauld]

PS, Reg, please tell me John Beck isn't involved with England

He's not, he was employed in a role in coach education at St George's Park in late 2013:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/05/john-beck-fa-coaching

[pauld]

I'm not so sure....you'd like to think that going off to an England age range, would be a step up from Div 3 coaching, not as in this case at least 2 or 3 steps backward.

Yes you would. But my point was that even if it isn't, it's not likely to harm them in the long-term. It's Aidy Boothroyd FFS not some super-hypnotist. If he's changed and now fits in with the FA's preferred style for England teams, great, because it's actually quite similar to the way we play. If he's not, a week or so with even an unreconstructed Boothroyd isn't going to suddenly turn promising young footballers into hoofball zombies.

[Red Frog]

Sam Morshead ‏@SamMorshead_  24s25 seconds ago
Swindon got Col U game called up by skin of their teeth. Swift, Toffolo, Turnbull loans didn't count towards call-ups. Only Stephens

Phew

Pretty galling that we'd have to have played with six players on international duty if Stephens hadn't counted. Why should U20 call-ups automatically be excluded? Another case of Prem expectations re squad size and the marginality of younger players.

[Reg Smeeton]

Pretty galling that we'd have to have played with six players on international duty if Stephens hadn't counted. Why should U20 call-ups automatically be excluded? Another case of Prem expectations re squad size and the marginality of younger players.

It would have been hysterically funny....we only had a squad of 18 on Tuesday, including a kid still at school...so could have fielded an XI + an old skool one sub.

[kerry red]

Here's a bit of good news.

Preston could have 4 players called up for internationals on the same weekend.

Down to play Fleetwood, but . . . their game cant be postponed as it's on TV

[Gnasher]

Two weeks off. Less than ideal.

April is going to be nuts.

We're usually a bit rusty after a week off, and this is a loooooong break. Not good news.

[Flashheart]

FWIW, Donny commentators said on Saturday that they thought we looked tired. A break could be just what we need.

[ChalkyWhiteIsGod]

Why did Stephens count and not the others? :-/

[Costanza]

Why did Stephens count and not the others? :-/

I imagine it's to do with the T&C's of a youth loan which Stephens isn't(?)

[Batch]

it's not ideal having this break, but it's slightly more ideal than playing with 6 players.

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

By the time we play MK we will have a game in hand on Preston and 2 on MK. Let's hope they both slip up between now and then.

[LincolnRedExile]

We will have 2 games in hand over Preston.  They are playing on friday.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

Oh. My. God.

No football until the 4th April. This will be me round about the 2nd...