Quincy Abeyie wrote:
Not going to pretend like I've watched AMN other than when he's come on for the first team, but shouldn't he have nailed down a spot for England U20 if he's going to make it here?
A young player's record for their national team can give you an idea of their quality but it shouldn't be relied upon because you see some really strange omissions. Especially when you look back when the player in question is fully developed and you see the schmucks that were starting ahead them or even picked in the squad over them.
In Maitland-Niles case, he is a player that has solid technique as opposed to exceptional technique - it's not really that which marks him out as a big talent. His real strength lays in his ball winning ability and that owes to his physical power and his tactical nouse. He still has some way to go to develop both of those facets so they become strengths at higher levels.
I can understand the decision to play Onomah and Cook ahead of him, even if I disgaree with it, but I'd still say Maitland-Niles has a significantly better chance of playing for England (although thats not a measure of much these days!) and at a top club than not just the two that were picked in centre midfield ahead of him but than anyone else that played for England in the final. Lookman is the only other that stood out.
