This Is England. We Are Unstoppable...

Friendlies announced

Press Conference:
As Josh Sleightholm entered the room dozens of camera lights flashed as he sat down, and tilted the microphone towards himself, and pointed at a reporter with their hand raised. "You"
"Mr. Sleightholm, have you had any concerns over selection for your 'best' U21 team, and to follow on from that, do you have any friendlies coming up to see players in action?" Said a reporter form Sky Sports News

"Yes we have agreed friendlies with the Uruguayan, Irish, and the Australian U21 teams and each player will hopefully be playing a full 90 minutes of football, not necessarily all at once, maybe 50 minutes one match and 40 another." Sleightholm stood up an announced. "I'm sorry, please, no further questions I have to attend a meeting elsewhere."

Some bad news?

Knock! Knock!... "Come in!" Shouted Sleightholm, from inside his office, into the room walked Assistant Manager Mike Phelan entered the room, "I'm sorry to say boss, but I have some bad news, It may mess up a few of your plans for upcoming competitions."
"Bad News!? My coffee's not gone cold has it?" Sleightholm said whilst grinning. "No sir, I have a report on players that have turned 22 and are now ineligible for your U21 team."
"Surely there can't be that many, can their?" Sleightholm said nervously looking at Phelan
"Take a look for yourself, sir."

Player Reports: Ineligible.


Sleightholm's faced looked horrified "Oh no, this really is bad news, Phelan! Get yourself, and all the other coaches to scout around the Premier League, Npower Championship and the U18's League for any potential players for the team immediately."

Decisions, Decisions...?

Whoosh! The door flung open, Phelan raced down the corridor towards the managers office who was busy looking at the reports with Paul McGuinness which were provided by Phelan and the other coaches, and knocked hastily on his door. Before Sleightholm even had time to answer Phelan burst in with two pieces of paper he had printed off from a recently received E-mail.

"Sir, sir, these pieces of paper, the Chilean and Norweigan board have offered you a jobs as their first team managers." Phelan tried to regain breath after forcing all those words out. "What!? You must be crazy if you think I'll accept, reply that I have declined their offers, if they ask for a reason, please just say I see it as a step down in my managerial career, so McGuinness, where were we..."

Try-out friendlies

STAR MAN: Jake Forster-Caskey 1 MOTM, 1 Assist, (Brilliant in other stats)
http://www.youngseagulls.co.uk/uploads/pics/Jake-Forster-Caskey.jpg

Review:
Very good performance from about 2/3 of the players, some weren't up so standard really, and may have to be dropped if other budding young players can bring something to the squad. Good three friendlies overall, however should of won against Uruguay.

Argentina scrape draw against England

England U21's 2-2 Argentina U21's
Campbell
Redmond
Sweeney
Trapote
Forster-Caskey

Ireland over-run by on-form England

England U21's 3-1 Ireland U21's
Sweeney
Durkin
James
Neville

England dominate as Australia lose out

England U21's 3-0 Australia U21's
Dier
Redmond
James

Next Matches will be announced in a Press Conference soon.

N.B I will only do 6 month updates on Middlesbourgh. (Start of the season, January, and the end of the season)

Sleightholm takes over Middlesbourgh

Press Conference
"Mr Sleightholm, please, why did you choose to take on the Middlesbourgh squad?" announced a reporter from the Northern Echo. "Simply because there is at least a year and a half till the next U21 Euro competition and I felt I needed a challenge inbetween."
Another reporter from the Sunday News asked "Do you plan to keep the team the way it is or get rid of deadwood, and bring in bigger better players?" Sleightholm hastily replied with " I don't wish to answer that question, thank you." Sleightholm got up and headed for the exit

Middlesbourgh Update

League Table so far:


Fixtures:


First Team + Tactics


This is a one off then next update is January update

January Middlesbourgh Update
Review:
So bascially we have only gone down in the table to where we previously were, and I have to say this is a difficult job, and suprisingly so! We have the quality of players, but they just don't perform, as you will see in the results list. Terrible start!

Transfers:
John Ruddy (Free)
CA:
PA:

Wellington Silva (Free)
CA:
PA:
(Hasn't played due to Work Permit problems)

Sheff Wed Rob Elliot (40k)
York City Gavin Scott (Loan)


Results: Nov-Jan


League Table:

Press Conference, what this time?

Sleightholm walked down the corridor hastily with a suitcase full of files that needed sorting, he burst through the door into the Conference room, where again, all the reporters wait for him to answer their questions
"Right!, First question." Shouted Sleightholm.
"The England U21's haven't been that 'active' for a while, do you see them as a second choice team, and Middlesbourgh as your main focus?" remarked a BBC Newcastle reporter.
"What?! Not at all, I'm fully concentrated on England, Middlesbourgh is just a little thing to do on the side. My main focus is the England U21's" Replied Sleightholm, as mumbles were heard from the crowd as they scribbled something down on their notepads.

"Mr.Sleightholm, on the subject of England, do you have any upcoming friendlies for them?" Said another reporter.
"Yes, we have them against East Timor, Ghana, France and Holland U21's, now I must be off, Mike Phelan, or Kevin Russell will answer anymore questions about England or Middlesbourgh." Sleightholm stood up and walked to the door, waving as he did so.