Juninhio
25-08-2000, 07:45:AM
The Case of the Youth against Experience
Kevin Keegan stuck with experience at Euro 2000, and came under criticism for not giving the younger players a chance to prove themselves. Now, with a friendly against France coming up, he has named his said for the encounter with the World and European champions. But should he have started from scratch and dumped the old guard - or kept faith with those who have served England well in the part?
Two Soccernet journalists have their say - for and against - and then leave the floor to you, the jury, to decide on the Message Board.
The Case for the Young Guns
by Sean Smith
Who will win the World Cup in 2002? Argentina, that's who. How do I know this? Because I know that the chances of England and Kevin Keegan introducing a radical reform programme in time for 2002 is non-existant.
And why should he, after all why take the kind of grief France's administration took when they dumped Eric Cantona and David Ginola in favour of youth. Where did it get them, hey? One World Cup and a European Championship, that's where. Pah!
Last season Argentina gave us a glimpse of a future World Cup-winning side. England's U-21 side, including a number of the players mentioned above, played at Craven Cottage. The Argentinians were skillful, efficient, a little naive, but all-in-all very promising. They ran an England side unbeaten all year ragged in a 0-0 draw.
The eldest player in the Argentine side was 19. The youngest 17 and most were just 18 years old.
Where were the 20 and 21-year-olds? Well, they were with the first team - a first team incidently that looks like eclipsing Brazil in South America within the next two years.
The national newspapers, in their myopia, have lavished their attentions on the Cole debate - the wrong Cole debate.
Andy Cole, for all his newsworthiness, will not win us the World Cup - or, indeed, anything. Joe Cole can. Richard Wright may make mistakes, but take a look at David Seaman without rose-tinted spectacles and you find a penalty area organiser who has lost his authority.
Likewise Alan Smith may be the next Alan Shearer, but not if Leeds' top scorer keeps languishing in the under-21s. And what about Man Utd's Luke Chadwick, Francis Jeffers at Everton, or even Boro's young prodigy Andy Campbell?
We have a defence that knows how to lose, a midfield used to being bypassed and no direction up front. Keegan has used two world class players since he took over.
I say get rid of anyone who is over 25 and isn't world class. In the wings the under-21s are winners (mainly because they are the oldest in the world) and play well together. Give them a chance, before the World passes us by.
Kevin Keegan stuck with experience at Euro 2000, and came under criticism for not giving the younger players a chance to prove themselves. Now, with a friendly against France coming up, he has named his said for the encounter with the World and European champions. But should he have started from scratch and dumped the old guard - or kept faith with those who have served England well in the part?
Two Soccernet journalists have their say - for and against - and then leave the floor to you, the jury, to decide on the Message Board.
The Case for the Young Guns
by Sean Smith
Who will win the World Cup in 2002? Argentina, that's who. How do I know this? Because I know that the chances of England and Kevin Keegan introducing a radical reform programme in time for 2002 is non-existant.
And why should he, after all why take the kind of grief France's administration took when they dumped Eric Cantona and David Ginola in favour of youth. Where did it get them, hey? One World Cup and a European Championship, that's where. Pah!
Last season Argentina gave us a glimpse of a future World Cup-winning side. England's U-21 side, including a number of the players mentioned above, played at Craven Cottage. The Argentinians were skillful, efficient, a little naive, but all-in-all very promising. They ran an England side unbeaten all year ragged in a 0-0 draw.
The eldest player in the Argentine side was 19. The youngest 17 and most were just 18 years old.
Where were the 20 and 21-year-olds? Well, they were with the first team - a first team incidently that looks like eclipsing Brazil in South America within the next two years.
The national newspapers, in their myopia, have lavished their attentions on the Cole debate - the wrong Cole debate.
Andy Cole, for all his newsworthiness, will not win us the World Cup - or, indeed, anything. Joe Cole can. Richard Wright may make mistakes, but take a look at David Seaman without rose-tinted spectacles and you find a penalty area organiser who has lost his authority.
Likewise Alan Smith may be the next Alan Shearer, but not if Leeds' top scorer keeps languishing in the under-21s. And what about Man Utd's Luke Chadwick, Francis Jeffers at Everton, or even Boro's young prodigy Andy Campbell?
We have a defence that knows how to lose, a midfield used to being bypassed and no direction up front. Keegan has used two world class players since he took over.
I say get rid of anyone who is over 25 and isn't world class. In the wings the under-21s are winners (mainly because they are the oldest in the world) and play well together. Give them a chance, before the World passes us by.