On the rumoured developments today, I will be very happy if Roos is not the new keeper. To me it would indicate that our scouting system had come to a complete halt, with three ex-players and one who we had tried to sign before but had turned us down. If Jake does go to Bradford then I am sure that the fee will be announced as "undisclosed", but I would be irritated if £150k turns out to be the figure - £300k minimum acceptable IMO.

The difference between England and Germany is that in Germany players aren't loaned around like an Appiah. Look at the German world cup winning squad and see that the entire squad has been loaned out less times than the 26 year old Kwesi.

Not like us to lose on penalties. To the Germans.

I hope you're right but I'd still be surprised if more than 2 or 3 of each of the current U21, U20 and U17 squads get 20 senior caps.

I'm still pessimistic about the senior side because the core psychology is going to be very hard to change at senior level for a number reasons. Look how deep the cracks run even at U21 level as we lose to Germany again at penalties.

There must be something in the coaching if teams in a variety of age groups are all performing. Would be unusual to have multiple collections of gifted players all coming together randomly at different ages.

It depends how much you reckon is in the coaching and how much in happening to get Kroos/Ozil/Gotze/Muller or Scholes/Neville/Butt/Beckham/Giggs all together. I'd suggest more of the latter although we did manage to ruin a good international team in the noughties.

Yawn

Have you not been on a wind up? What? These were serious comments? Oops!

Pathetic comment Wu.

The planning behind the youth revolution [Link]

I did not see that coming.

And as usual, the Germans win on penalties. Abraham and Redmond miss.

WD is dancing around his living room now.

Youth revolution?! Brought about by what exactly?

Kuntz!

Now you have separate U20 sides it is doubtful if more than a couple of U21 internationals will make regular appearances in the senior team. You get cadres like the Germans a few years ago and the Spanish before them and the 'class of 92' but in general U21 teams are not a guide to how the senior team will be made up in 4 years time.

Dack and Akinde at £750k plus sounds like a season (or two) of struggle for Blackburn let alone Gills.

Distinct disadvantage going second in penalties. We need the ABBA way.

OI - it's remarkable how Germany's youth sides dominated in the years before they won the WC. The progress isn't meaningless. The acid test is whether it can survive the jump to senior level and the caustic effect of Prem waves etc.

CW it will probably go into repaying some of their debt

Have a little grace WD. You said there was no point in us even turning up. Rome wasn't built in a day, and surely even you can't argue with three finals and a semi final for the youths. It makes sense that the U21s have the most work to do when you think about timelines with the youth revolution.

Getting a draw when marginally the poorer side is quite different from some of the comments made a few days ago. I really don't think U21 matches matter any more than PSFs do but you can't dismiss a team that has performed as England have.

Gills will be ok as long as they spend some of that 750k

Penalties then ...