FIFA U-20 World Cup. The cup that brought you Lionel Messi

[Ben Wah Balls]

Lennon just needs experience to be world class because he already has the talent. Totally agree about all the average foreigners in the premiership, not good for England at all.

[janaage]

I'd agree he's a talented footballer, however someone like Lee sharpe was regarded as highly as Lennon when he broke on to the scene in the 90's (hat trick v Arsenal) but look how he ended up.

I prefer to call players like Zidane, Beckham, Ronaldinho world class, as if you call players who have it to to prove, like Lennon, world class how do you describe these players?

[Piemonte]

To be honest I dont buy the "foreigners are ruining English football" arguement. Most of the current England squad have been involved with the national team set up though the ranks and have been earmarked by their clubs as potentail stars for years before we've even heard of them.

Avergage foreign players stop average young english players getting a game, and even so they just get loaned out anyway.

The cream always rises to the top.

[Simon Pieman]

Look at Carrick, Defoe etc

[Ben Wah Balls]

I'd agree he's a talented footballer, however someone like Lee sharpe was regarded as highly as Lennon when he broke on to the scene in the 90's (hat trick v Arsenal) but look how he ended up.

I prefer to call players like Zidane, Beckham, Ronaldinho world class, as if you call players who have it to to prove, like Lennon, world class how do you describe these players?

True about Lee Sharpe but Lennon's already played at the highest level in the world cup and he looked to have no problems playing at that level and outperformed players like Beckham and Gerrard even at 19 so unless he's hit by injury problems he should have a great future.

[Simon Pieman]

And Theo is a world class mascot in the making I tell thee  :old:

[SwindonTartanArmy]

And Theo is a world class mascot in the making I tell thee  :old:

My mates son was actually one of the msacots at the world cup final! His escort didnt actually finish the game that night though

[Spud]

Thats Scotland qualified for that too  

Give it a rest ffs.

Oh and will you be coming to any Town games this season?, or do you need directions?.

[SwindonTartanArmy]

Depends if I can afford it. Flights to the Ukraine, Georgia, and the Faroes are gonna wreak havoc on my finances this year! wont be going to the Reading game if Scotland get through to the final of the u19s but I will be coming  to a fair few this season though.

[oxford_fan]

The foreign invasion has a lot to answer for PM.  I wonder how it'll effect England's national team in years to come.

if you take our current squad as an example it seems to be helping. best set of players (admittedly not showing it in performance terms, but i'd partly blame sven for that) we've had for years and it coincides with the massive boom in foreign players over here.

[SwindonTartanArmy]

The foreign invasion has a lot to answer for PM.  I wonder how it'll effect England's national team in years to come.

if you take our current squad as an example it seems to be helping. best set of players (admittedly not showing it in performance terms, but i'd partly blame sven for that) we've had for years and it coincides with the massive boom in foreign players over here.

You could argue that as the proof that it is hindering the team. Probably the best, most talented group of players that england have had for decades, yet they still cant compete.

[Stef Troll]

Depends if I can afford it. Flights to the Ukraine, Georgia, and the Faroes are gonna wreak havoc on my finances this year! wont be going to the Reading game if Scotland get through to the final of the u19s but I will be coming  to a fair few this season though.

From a Poland perspective (where the U19 tourney is being held), i reckon the Czechs will have too much in the tank for the Scots - but i guess stranger things have happened in football.   I'll be routing for the Scots tho  

[SwindonTartanArmy]

Depends if I can afford it. Flights to the Ukraine, Georgia, and the Faroes are gonna wreak havoc on my finances this year! wont be going to the Reading game if Scotland get through to the final of the u19s but I will be coming  to a fair few this season though.

From a Poland perspective (where the U19 tourney is being held), i reckon the Czechs will have too much in the tank for the Scots - but i guess stranger things have happened in football.   I'll be routing for the Scots tho  

Could have said that about Portugal and Turkey, and France in the Qualifiers.

[Reg Smeeton]

Our current squad has a lot of overhyped players...most of whom aren't a patch on some of the talent we had even back in the 70's when we didn't qualify.....it was of course harder then as less teams.went to the finals.

 Too many foreigners etc will eventually as G Taylor has said will drain our resources, unless you somehow get lucky, or more of our young players look to make it abroad as say the French do.

  This side still, has Beckham and Neville, who were of the generation that Ferguson was forced to play in the Champions League by the 3 foreigners rule....so were given a kick start along with Butt and Scholes.

  Would they make it now?

[oxford_fan]

The foreign invasion has a lot to answer for PM.  I wonder how it'll effect England's national team in years to come.

if you take our current squad as an example it seems to be helping. best set of players (admittedly not showing it in performance terms, but i'd partly blame sven for that) we've had for years and it coincides with the massive boom in foreign players over here.

You could argue that as the proof that it is hindering the team. Probably the best, most talented group of players that england have had for decades, yet they still cant compete.

how do you figure that one then?

i thought the original point was that foreign players hinder the development of english talent, when this is the best crop of players we've had for 30 years and they had to break through in spite of this alleged negative foreign influence.

it all reminds me of the old "all these foreigners taking our jobs" argument used by ignorant idiots.

so, how exactly did foreign players stop our national side from under-performing at the world cup? because they all had good seasons until it came to sven organising them all....