Nice update, well done on turning that Moldova result around!

Nick: Cheers mate!

Tim Sherwood has announced his 23-man squad ahead of September matches with South Korea and Republic of Ireland Under-21 teams.

Notable absentees in the last squad like Luke Shaw, Raheem Sterling and Lee Nicholls have been included in this team. Full-international Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling has also been called into Tim's side after missing out on Roy Hodgson's England team.

Goalkeepers

Jack Butland (Birmingham City)
Lee Nicholls (Wigan Athletic)
George Long (Sheffield United)

Defenders

Dan Burn (Fulham)
Callum Chambers (Southampton)
Michael Keane (Brentford)
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
Liam Moore (Leicester City)
Jack Robinson (Blackpool)
John Stones (Everton)
Andre Wisdom (Derby County)

Midfielders

Tom Ince (Crystal Palace)
Thomas Carroll (Queens Park Rangers)
Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
Nick Powell (Wigan Athletic)
Nathan Redmond (Norwich City)
George Thorne (Derby County)
James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
Nathaniel Chalobah (Middlesbrough)

Forwards

Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion)
Danny Ings (Burnley)
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Connor Wickham (Sunderland

That's a brilliant team, I've no doubt you'll win both ties Good luck!

Tim Sherwood bemoaned his team's defending after losing to South Korea in what was a dreary game of football at Ashton Gate.

Sherwood was taking charge of the England youth team for only the second time in the U21 International Friendly, and was disappointed with the way his team played from the start.

'The Lion Cubs' fell down in the 24th minute when Ryu Seung-Woo pounced on an out of sorts John Stones, taking the ball from his feet before rounding Jack Butland and slotting into the empty net.

There were few chances created by England and South Korea were enjoying possession throughout the first half, with the men in white shirts seemingly disinterested in the game.


England needed to change their system should they want to win this match.

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HT: England U21 0-1 South Korea U21

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Unfortunately the second half carried much the same misery.

South Korea doubled their advantage through Sung Kyung-Rae, who couldn't be tackled as he breezed by 3 England players before passing the ball calmly into the bottom corner.


England did change their tactics and went for a more attacking 4-3-3 approach, but little occurred.

John Stones had been replaced by Andre Wisdom in the second half and the Derby central defender scored in stoppage time, a consolation goal by all accounts.

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FT: England U21 1-2 South Korea U21

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Team Line-Ups

ENGLAND U21

01 Butland
02 Chambers
04 Stones (Wisdom - 63')
05 Burn
03 Shaw
06 Ward-Prowse (C)
07 Chalobah (Carroll - 55')
08 Sterling
09 Powell
11 Ince
10 Wickham (Berahino - 55')

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SOUTH KOREA U21

01 Won-Yung
02 Ki-Chun
04 Jong-Woo
05 Ji-Hoon
03 Yung-Kyoo
07 Jung-bin
08 Sung-Bok
06 Ki-Bong
11 Kiu
09 Bon-Kwang
10 Seung-Woo

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Tim Sherwood Post-Match Comments:

"I'm not too disheartened by the result. Obviously when you're in football you want to win, but these friendly matches are the ones that don't matter all that much. We played some decent stuff but defensively we were really poor today. We'll work on that before the qualifier with Ireland."

Unlucky defeat, I'm sure you'll respond in your next match!

Ireland claimed victory in what was a disappointing group stage defeat for Tim Sherwood and his England Under-21s.

Ireland were sitting top of Group E ahead of England in 2nd, however Sherwood's men had a game in hand.

Harry Kane had at least 3 clear-cut chances to score in the opening 20 minutes, but failed to put England ahead with any of the opportunities.

Though against the run of play Michael Keane tripped Luke Williams and the Irish were given a penalty in 26th minute. Matt Doherty took the chance to put his team ahead sparking wild scenes among the home fans, as this rivalry isn't one that just occurs at open age level.

This was how the game would remain up until half-time but England even after conceding

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HT: Republic of Ireland U21 1-0 England U21

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In the second half still England were on top, creating chances but not taking them.

Then again against the run of play Ireland scored, all but sealing the game for the green army who had come in numbers to see their team play.

This time it was Graham Burke who had fired a magnificent curling effort across Butland's goal, nestling in the top corner.


England did bounce back all but straight away, Raheem Sterling crossing in for substitute Connor Wickham to nod in from close range, but the game finished and Ireland took all 3pts and still sit top of Group E after this stunning victory.

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FT: Republic of Ireland U21 2-1 England U21

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Team Line-Ups

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U21

01 Hewelt
02 Doherty
04 McHugh
05 M Williams
03 Garmston
06 Murray
07 Riley
08 Forde
09 L Williams
11 Grealish
10 Sutherland

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ENGLAND U21

01 Butland
02 Keane
04 Stones
05 Wisdom
03 Shaw
06 Thorne
07 Chalobah
08 Sterling
09 Ward-Prowse
11 Ince
10 Kane (Wickham - 52')

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Tim Sherwood Post-Match Comments:

"I don't know what to say. I've stood in that dressing room no less than about ten minutes ago and just looked them up and down, sizing them up as men and trying to pick out the men from the boys, and I struggled. There are lads in that dressing room and it doesn't mean anything to them to play for there country. The 'if we don't play for England's first team its not proper', well I've told them it is. And until they realise that they won't be in my team, and they certainly won't be in Roy's. You'd struggle to tell me of a top England international who never played for the under-21s, and didn't give 100%. There are only a select few players who could honestly say I've give 100% today, and I won't name them because they know who they are. If these boys wanna go to the Euros they'll have to play with a bit more desire and passion, because a defeat like that is nothing short of a disgrace."

Tim Sherwood loses cool with BT Sport interviewer

BT Sport today sat down with England U21 head coach Tim Sherwood to discuss his new role and the reasons behind his poor start to life in charge of the countries youth team, and it didn't end all too well for our brave reporter.

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BT: An astonishing comeback against Moldova, a disappointing home friendly defeat to South Korea and a devastating away defeat to Ireland. Just what is going wrong for Tim Sherwood and the England Under-21s?

TS: Honestly? I don't know yet. In terms of tactics, I don't know. I said after the Ireland game that some of the players don't have enough passion to play their nation and it's true. I, on the other hand care too much and say publicly in front of cameras and microphones at the end of a game exactly what's in my head - when I shouldn't, but at least people can see that I'm losing sleep over the thought that we might not qualify for the Euros. So, it's a difficult one to answer, I suppose if I knew, we wouldn't have lost 2-1 to Republic of Ireland.

BT: So, in terms of your own career, Tim, where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

TS: In this job.

BT: Still coaching England under-21s?

TS: Yeah, why not? I'm on a rolling contract and believe me I will figure it out. The media are making out like all is lost and we can't qualify for the Euros, which isn't the case. We've played two games, won one and lost one and we're only 4pts behind Ireland with six games left and one of those is in hand over the table toppers, so it's not all bad. The future is out of my hands, listen, if I get the sack then there's nothing I can do about that but if what you're asking is whether I'll quit, I won't.

BT: So no ambition to return to Premier League or even just club management?

TS: I'm head coach of England's national youth team.

BT: And you intend to stay on as head coach should your team fail to qualify for the European Championships?

TS: I refuse to answer that question.

BT: We'll take that as a yes then?

TS: Take that whatever way you like.

BT: Thanks Tim

Tim Sherwood has announced his 23-man squad ahead of the U21 European Championships with Armenia and Moldova's Under-21 teams.

Jack Butland and John Flanagan miss out through injury, which opened doors for Aston Villa goalkeeper Jed Steer and Arsenal full-back Carl Jenkinson.

Josh McEachran and Jonjo Shelvey have also earned call-ups to the competetive side.

Goalkeepers

Lee Nicholls (Wigan Athletic)
Jed Steer (Aston Villa)
George Long (Sheffield United)

Defenders

Dan Burn (Fulham)
Callum Chambers (Southampton)
Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal)
Luke Shaw (Southampton)
Liam Moore (Leicester City)
Jack Robinson (Blackpool)
John Stones (Everton)
Andre Wisdom (Derby County)

Midfielders

Tom Ince (Crystal Palace)
Thomas Carroll (Queens Park Rangers)
Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
Nick Powell (Wigan Athletic)
Nathan Redmond (Norwich City)
Josh McEachran (Wigan Athletic)
James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City)

Forwards

Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion)
Danny Ings (Burnley)
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Connor Wickham (Sunderland)

England returned to winning ways with a fine 3-0 winning display against a sorry Armenia outfit at Vicarage Road.

Coming off the back of two successive defeats in a friendly against South Korea and a Euro qualifier against Ireland, England U21 head coach Tim Sherwood will have been desperate to see his team take all three points on home soil.

Southampton starlet James Ward-Prowse opened the scoring with a sublime free-kick on the stroke of 10 minutes gave England the lead.

Sherwood's men then doubled their lead after 33 minutes, Raheem Sterling crossing in for Connor Wickham to fire home from 5 yards.

England looked in fine fettle and the game was all but lost for Armenia at half-time.

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HT: England U21 2-0 Armenia U21

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England remained in control throughout the second half, their play less attacking but now more possession based, keeping the ball from their opponents.

Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling then gave England manager Roy Hodgson, who was sat in the stands, food for thought as he brilliantly breezed past three defenders before firing home on 54 minutes.


Armenia spurned a couple of shots on goal in the second 45 but debutant goalkeeper Jed Steer was well equipped to keep them at bay.

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FT: England U21 3-0 Armenia U21

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Team Line-Ups

ENGLAND U21

01 Steer
02 Jenkinson
04 Stones
05 Burn
03 Shaw (Robinson - 54')
06 Shelvey
10 Powell (McEachran - 54')
08 Ward-Prowse (c)
07 Sterling
09 Wickham
11 Ince (Redmond - 75')

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ARMENIA U21

01 Yesayan
02 Erzrumyan
04 Poghosyan
05 Steponyan
03 Kirokosyan
06 Andreasyan
07 Kojaokian
08 Darbinyan
09 Petrosyan
11 Mehraybyan
10 Martirosyan

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Tim Sherwood Post-Match Comments:

"Its a good win for us, we attacked with pace and we were prolific and composed in front of goal. It was pleasing to watch us defend well too, we'd worked hard on the training ground on our defensive work and it paid off today. Listen, we'll play better teams than this lot in the competition but nevertheless a win is a win and now we focus on travelling to Moldova and getting a win there. We're only a point behind Ireland now so a favour from Greece wouldn't go a miss.

England U21s sailed to the top of Group E after demolishing a sorry Moldova U21s outfit in their own back yard.

Nick Powell opened the scoring on 9 minutes, before Connor Wickham finished well 10 minutes later.

England controlled the game and Moldova seemed miles away in terms of class throughout the game.

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HT: Moldova U21 0-2 England U21

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Wickham doubled his tally just 10 seconds after half-time with a great solo run before lashing home to all but seal the win.

A collectors item followed when tall Fulham defender Dan Burn turned and shot, beating the keeper all ends up and rubbing salt into open Moldovan wounds.

Alexandru Butelschi did tremendously to lob Jed Steer from 20 yards but the game was already dead and buried.

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FT: Greece U21 0-3 England U21

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Team Line-Ups

MOLDOVA U21



ENGLAND U21

U21 Euro 2015 Qualifying Group E

Tim Sherwood has revealed that life hasn't been easy adapting to international management, but he feels that he and his England U21 team are on the right track moving forward.

The former Spurs boss endured a difficult time to begin with having suffered defeat against Republic of Ireland in Euro 2015 qualifying and a friendly defeat to South Korea.

However in their last two qualifiers they have picked up six points and leapfrogged Ireland into the only qualification spot at the top of Group E.

He said: "It's not been easy, I'll admit.

"It's a whole new experience [international management], I don't see my players every day on the training ground, I just work with my players for the week that I have them, and even then I can't implement my methods on the players so quickly.

"So I've found it difficult, but I've been in regular contact with Roy [Hodgson] who has a wealth of international experience and top-level coaching, so I'm learning a lot off him, and I think that's showing on the pitch.

"It's imperative as I've said over and over that we finish top and qualify for the Euros, I just hope we have enough quality to do so. We're getting there."

The Football Association can confirm that Manchester United coaches Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have joined Tim Sherwood's England U21 backroom staff in prominent training ground and matchday roles.

Paul Scholes

Scholes, 38, was capped 66 times in an England shirt and has the UEFA 'A' coaching badge to his name.

He was known for being a player with incredible vision and exceptional ability on the ball, Sir Alex Ferguson branding him 'the best midfield player England has ever seen'.

The Manchester United U21 assistant was approached by Tim Sherwood for the role, as the head coach is continuously striving to improve the England youth players development on the training ground.

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Nicky Butt

Butt, also 38, was capped 39 times by his country and holds the highest UEFA Pro coaching license achievable.

Nicky Butt is the assistant manager of Manchester United's U21 team and therefore has experience coaching youth players.

The former Manchester United, Newcastle United and South China midfielder has been handed an assisting role to Tim Sherwood along with United coaching compatriot and best friend Paul Scholes.

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Sherwood Says...

"Nicky and Paul will be tremendous to have around the international set-up. I first had the idea to approach the lads when I heard about their successes with United's U21 team. It's a bit of a no brainer really. Tremendous international playing experience, which players can learn from, and brilliant capabilities as coaches - they learnt from the best in Sir Alex so this really is a tremendous move for our team."

Two amazing former players and exceptional coaches, great additions!

2014-05-05 19:46#173417 Josh_MU : Two amazing former players and exceptional coaches, great additions!

Hope so buddy!