History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

HART HAPPY TO KEEP CLEAN SHEET

England Under-21s goalkeeper Joe Hart is delighted that he has conceded only one goal en route to a play-off game, to be played in October, and hopefully the European Championships, which take place in Sweden next May and June. He also backed Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor to break into the seniors soon.

The 21-year-old Manchester City stopper leaked only one goal - a penalty away to Portugal in a 1-1 draw - in England's eight-game qualifying group. After defeating the Portuguese 2-0 - thanks to goals from Agbonlahor and James Milner, also of Aston Villa - in the return game at Wembley last Friday night, England ended topping the group having dropped only two points.

Hart, who made his senior debut for Fabio Capello's side in June's friendly against Trinidad and Tobago, is happy to be with the U-21s and is confident that the team can make it to Sweden.

After the Portugal victory, Hart said: "It feels good to win. We came here to do a job. Obviously it is even nicer to do it at Wembley but we won and we won the group now.

"It's good for me and it's good for the whole team to only concede one goal. We defend as a unit - it's not just me and the back four; it's the whole 11. We have Gabby [Agbonlahor] up there working his nuts off so it makes it easier for us.

"I think the seniors have a handful of good strikers and Gabby is knocking on that door. He is a bullet."

When asked whether he would prefer to be with the seniors in Barcelona on Saturday, as they start their World Cup qualifying campaign against Andorra, he continued: "No I'm not bothered. As
long as I'm in an England shirt I don't mind. It's nice to be playing and it is what I want to be doing."

Labels: Dutch football, England Under-21s, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Joe Hart

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:16 pm | Permalink | Comments

MUAMBA CONFIDENT AHEAD OF PLAY-OFF

Fabrice Muamba believes that whoever England Under-21s draw on Friday for their October play-off on the road to the European Championship Finals in Sweden, the three lions are confident they will advance.

The Bolton midfielder was one of the stars when the U-21s defeated Portugal 2-0 last Friday, and was delighted to make his first outing on Wembley's hallowed turf. The win booked England’s place at the top of their European Championships qualifying group in their final game.

England's youngsters’ hopes are high, after conceding only one goal and two points from eight group games, that they can make it to the tournament in Sweden next summer.

In the 14-club draw England could face Italy, Turkey, Spain, Switzerland, Finland, Austria, Serbia, Germany, Wales, Denmark, Belarus, Israel or France.

The 20-year-old, born in Kinshasa, Zaire, said: "We are really confident we can win the play-off. We are very well organised as a team and really confident in our ability. We believe we can go through to the tournament.

"We wanted to win the game against Portugal and the boys did a good job - it was more of a team performance than about an individual. The boys put in a great shift in there and we deserved to win."

And Muamba was pleased that he was able to fulfil a childhood dream. He added: "It was pleasing to play in this wonderful stadium and I was happy. I was looking forward to playing here - it was an accomplishment I had wanted to do my whole life and I really enjoyed it. It was great.

"Even when we trained on the pitch in the week it was a great feeling - tonight it was even better. Friday was very, very special and the atmosphere was great. It was fantastic to have 30,000 fans cheering you on."

Labels: Bolton, England Under-21s, Fabrice Muamba, football

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 1:12 pm | Permalink | Comments

ENGLAND UNDER-21S ADVANCE TO PLAY-OFFS AFTER SUCCESS OVER PORTUGAL

Stuart Pearce's Under-21s ensured their safe passage to the play-off stages of qualification for the European Championship by defeating their closest rivals Portugal 2-0 in their final Group three game. With England only needing a draw to progress, James Milner's penalty and Gabriel Agbonlahor's second-half strike left the visiting Portuguese dead and buried.

For many of the England youngsters it was the first time they had run out on the hallowed turf of New Wembley, and Pearce had predicted it would be an inspiration. Under the gaze of 28,000 supporters it was the visitors, however, who, in an unseasonable drizzle, started the brighter. But they would be made to pay for their profligacy.

Knowing only a win would do, the Portuguese attacked with relish and took only five minutes before testing England stopper Joe Hart. Miguel Veloso's corner found the head of Adelino Freitas but the Manchester City man instinctively clawed the ball from the goal from point-blank range, showing why senior coach Fabio Capello rates the 21-year-old so highly.

Three minutes later Ricardo Vaz Te flashed a shot over the bar as the England defense were caught napping again. On 23 minutes Bruno Gama should have done better but scuffed his shot wide. A couple of minutes later Paulo Machado had time and space to run from midfield and fizzed a shot past Hart's right post.

Only after half an hour did England start firing, and alarm bells rang for Portugal. Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone, playing in central midfield, dinked in a free-kick from deep on the left and centre back Michael Mancienne headed the ball into the side netting.

On 32 minutes Agbonlahor chased what seemed a lost cause, but the Aston Villa man out-paced then out-muscled two defenders before pulling back for Middlesbrough's Adam Johnson, who had scored in the reverse fixture which had ended 1-1. He could not be the hero this time, however, as his shot skidded wide.

After more England pressure, Machado was caught in possession in his own penalty area by Fabrice Muaba, who was charging in to collect Agbonlahor's pull-back. The midfielder could only connect with Muamba's foot, and the penalty was given.

Milner, making his record 38th appearance for the U-21s, stepped up and slotted the ball in the bottom left-hand corner, sending goalkeeper Rui Patricio the wrong way.

After the interval England started as they had left off, finding space in the middle of the pitch. The Portuguese defense did not know how to cope with the pacy Agbonlahor, and he soon got his reward. Mark Noble threaded a delightful ball for the striker to run on to, and he obliged, tucking the his finish under Patricio on 63 minutes.

The win extended England's win at U-21 level to 25 games in normal time, and completed an impressive qualifying campaign which reads: played eight, won seven, drawn one and conceded only one goal. Pearce's side will feature in a play-off game next month, but have ambitions on improving on their semi-final finish last summer, if they do play in next year's tournament in Sweden.

Labels: England Under-21s, Portugal, Stuart Pearce

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 11:05 am | Permalink | Comments

NOBLE AIMS FOR TOP SPOT

England Under-21s midfielder Mark Noble can't wait to play on the hallowed New Wembley turf for the first time on Friday when he takes on Portugal Under-21s in the crucial European Championships qualifier.

The West Ham man played at the old Wembley twice - once for his school and once for his district in finals - but lost both games. The 21-year-old, who has scored two goals in the qualifiers so far, is hoping to make it third time lucky against the Portuguese.

With this final game to play, England currently top Group three, ahead of Friday's visitors by six points, and need only a draw to ensure a play-off place for the Championships, which begin in Sweden next May.

Noble said of England's home of football: "We have just trained here [at Wembley] and it is a great surface, the atmosphere is going to be great. Hopefully we can do it justice - we want to put a show on for the fans.

"This will be the first time I have played at New Wembley. I was lucky enough to play at the old Wembley a couple of times with my school and district. I lost both times and they were finals. So I hope it's third time lucky!

"The most import thing is winning - we have to win and finish our group campaign off with a bang. We know we are nearly though but we want that top spot."

Labels: England Under-21s, Mark Noble, Portugal

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 2:57 pm | Permalink | Comments

WEMBLEY WILL BE VITAL EXPERIENCE FOR U-21S - PEARCE

Stuart Pearce, the England Under-21s Head Coach, believes that playing at Wembley will help inspire his players to victory over Portugal on Friday night, in the final game of their European Championship qualifying group.

The 46-year-old, who won 78 senior international caps for England, is positive that it is important for the development of his young chargers that they gain experience of playing on the hallowed turf, as for many it will be for the first time.

The former Manchester City manager, who has been in charge of the Under-21s since February last year, said: "It is vital that the players get some experience of Wembley. We spoke at The FA many months ago about bringing the game here. It will be a fantastic experience for them.

"What we really don't want is a group of players, if any of them are lucky enough to break into the seniors, to step out for the seniors and for it to be the first time they have played at Wembley.

"So when they step out on the big stage, maybe for the seniors in months, or maybe weeks, to come it is not new to them; it doesn't daunt them - it is their home. It should be treated as a home ground. I expect my players to come here and raise their game."

Pearce has steered the Under-21s to the top of Group Three and they need only a draw to ensure a play-off game en route to the European Championship finals which will take place in Sweden in May next year. But he insists that his players will be working their socks off to be sure of the full three points against Portugal.

"We have got a nice team spirit and camaraderie in the camp and this is our home pitch and should be treated in that manner," Pearce added.

"The players like each others' company when they get together on a monthly basis.

"Our aim is winning the whole tournament, and we know what that will entail. So there won't be any relaxation from the players on Friday.

"This is another step of the way - our first aim was to get out of the group and it will be good to knock the Portuguese out, if we can, as they are a strong team."

Labels: England Under-21s, Portugal, Stuart Pearce

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 2:52 pm | Permalink | Comments

NOBLE: PLAYERS KEPT IN DARK OVER CURBISHLEY RESIGNATION

West Ham United players had no inkling that Alan Curbishley's relationship with the club's board had become so strained and were kept in the dark about the clashes over transfer policy that culminated in his exit.

Indeed, the 50-year-old's resignation on Wednesday, on the back of West Ham's best start to a Premier League campaign in almost a decade, came as a complete shock to his former troops, Mark Noble has revealed.

The Under-21 midfielder, who strides out at Wembley on Friday for the first time as Stuart Pearce's team go in search of a draw against Portugal to ensure a play-off en route to next summer's European Championships, was having lunch when he first learned of the news on television.

The 21-year-old had been conversing with U-21 team-mate Steven Taylor about Newcastle's precarious situation when he suddenly saw his own club were the ones who had lost their manager.

"I was sitting down eating lunch and we were chatting about all the stuff about Kevin Keegan and that news popped up," he admitted. "I was talking to Tails [Steven Taylor] about what was going on at his club Newcastle and then I found out that I didn't have a manger.

"I've had some texts from team-mates - we have all been in touch wondering what is happening. They only know as much as I do. He is a proud man but I don't know what was going on. The only certainty is that we are going to have a manager, but I don't know who that will be."

Noble praised Curbishley's contribution to the club he had been in charge of since December 2006. The former Charlton manager first saved West Ham from relegation in the 2006/07 season before steering them to 10th last term.

"After we managed to stay up we were hoping to push on after last season, which we saw as a stepping stone," continued Noble. "But as players we have to get on with things now. It is important for us to get it sorted out sooner rather than later both for the club and the players.

"The most important thing is that in the game against West Brom the players put themselves about. We have to go out there and do what we have been doing since the start of the season. We have had our best start in nine years so hopefully we can keep that up and carry on."

Labels: England Under-21s, Mark Noble, Premier League, West Ham United

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 2:51 pm | Permalink | Comments

PEARCE: NO TO WEST HAM AND ANYONE ELSE

Stuart Pearce has no interest in managing West Ham, or any other Premier League club, for the moment and has taken a swipe at owners wanting instant success.

The England Under-21 head coach believes there is too little job security at club level in the current climate.

Following Alan Curbishley's resignation from West Ham on Wednesday over disagreements about the club's transfer policy, the 46-year-old former Hammer has been linked to the club.

But Pearce, whose contract with the U-21s finishes in the summer after the European Championships, said: "I manage this team and am very proud to do so.

"I will not be stepping down from this job because I love the job I do. I said to the FA bosses when I took the job that I would honour my contract.

"My players have got to know that Stuart Pearce is their manager come hell or high water till next summer, all being well."

The former Manchester City manager blasted club owners who opt for foreign managers over Englishmen.

He added: "There are a lot of fantastic English managers about and I think we knock what we've got under our own noses.

"I look at managers that I hold in high esteem and one minute they can be the most chased after people and the next minute they are out of work and unemployable.

"I find that quite sad. There has to be an open relationship between owners and managers where you sit down together as a group.

"You need to say 'What are the financial constraints we're working under as a football club? What sort of players do you need bringing in? And what ones do you need to get out?'"

Labels: England Under-21s, Premier League, Stuart Pearce, West Ham United

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 2:49 pm | Permalink | Comments