Watford FC Academy Hertfordshire's very own La Masia is a post from: Just Football

by Ally Poole and Rob Hazell

Elton John, a meteoric rise from the fourth division to the first division in the late 70s and early 80s and a stadium with one derelict stand are what people normally associate with Championship outfit Watford.

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson says he wants to captain Team GB at the Olympic Games after manager Stuart Pearce handed him the armband for the England Under-21s.
Henderson made a big money move from Sunderland to Liverpool during this summer and is so far yet to produce his best form for his new club, but has received a welcome boost from Pearce, who will also manage the British Olympic side.

Nice goal, Martin Liverpool defender Martin Kelly got a bit confused during last night's match between England Under 21s and Spain Under 21s. He suddenly thought he was a skillful attacker, dribbled past a few defenders and finished with ease. Kelly's was the pick of the goals as England ran out comfortable 5-0 winners in [.

England Under 21s cook-off ahead of Iceland match

When Stuart Pearce called on his back room staff to help his England Under 21 side learn more skills he probably didn't have cooking in mind.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-11-09 17:10:45 from: The Mail

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Liverpool v Manchester United – preview

Two weeks after beating Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison the Reds (that's the ‘Reds' of Liverpool, not the ‘Red Devils' of Stretford) today take on Manchester United at Anfield. Kenny Dalglish told his press conference audience that "everyone" was fit for the match but with some of the squad away on international duty since that derby win, some only returning as late as Thursday morning, there hasn't been much time to prepare and that may play a part in which team is selected.

Martin Kelly has handed Liverpool a welcome boost ahead of Saturday's clash with Manchester United by declaring himself fit for the north-west derby.
The young defender was sent back to Melwood last week by the England under-21s having complained about tightness in his groin.
Since then, however, Kelly has been able to train for Liverpool and will be available for selection when Kenny Dalglish choses his starting XI.

Jordan Henderson has declared himself satisfied with the start to his Liverpool career but now hopes to kick on and start against Manchester United on Saturday.
The England Under-21 international made the move to Anfield over the summer from Sunderland and is happy with the way he has adapted to his new surroundings.

With a few tweaks to his game Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can star for England at Euro 2012

Of all the players built up after just a few games, Alex Oxlade-­Chamberlain is one to get excited about. Even at 18, he has a genuine chance of earning a place in the England squad before the season finishes.

AOC hits trips Alex Oxlade Chamberlain continued the impressive start to his fledgling career by bagging a hat-trick for England Under 21s. The Arsenal youngster single-handedly saw off the challenge of Iceland Under 21s last night. The 18-year-old scored a first-half double and completed his treble after the break.

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson is away on international duty with the England Under 21s but he took a bit of time out to answer some questions on Twitter on behalf of The FA.
Signed from Sunderland in the summer, Henderson said he prefers playing in the middle, rather than the wing, because that's what he feels he's best at – but he made it clear that he's just happy to be picked and will player wherever he's put.

Henderson happy to play anywhere but prefers the centre

LIVERPOOL midfielder Jordan Henderson is away on international duty with the England Under 21s but he took a bit of time out to answer some questions on Twitter on behalf of The FA. Signed from Sunderland in the summer, Henderson said he prefers playing in the middle, rather than the wing, because that's what he feels he's best at – but he made it clear that he's just happy to be picked and will player wherever he's put.

Marv-ellous effort Watford youngster Marvin Sordell scored the pick of the goals as England Under 21s coasted to a 4-1 friendly win over Israel Under 21s. The 20-year-old blasted in a left-footed effort from 30 yards out. The young Three Lions donned the new England away kit for their trip to the Democratic Republic of [.

England Under-21s came from behind to secure a comfortable victory over Israel in Monday's friendly at Oakwell.

Liverpool and England Under-21 midfielder Jordan Henderson has been granted permission to leave the Under-21 set-up early to join up with Kenny Dalglish's squad ahead of their match against Stoke City next weekend.
The former Sunderland man was on target for Stuart Pearce's side as they got their Euro 2013 qualification campaign off to the perfect start with a 6-0 win over Azerbaijan on Thursday.

Easy win for Under 21s England Under 21s secured a comfortable start to their European Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign with a 6-0 win over Azerbaijan at Vicarage Road. There were three standout goals from the young Three Lions. Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury, newly loaned out to West Ham, scored a nice overhead kick; Jordan Henderson [.

England boss Fabio Capello has revealed he is considering giving Liverpool defender Martin Kelly a call-up into the senior squad.
Kelly has established himself as a key member of the Liverpool side over the last 18 months after earning an extended run in the side under Kenny Dalglish last term.
The versatile defender, who can play at centre-back as well as right-back, has won two caps for England Under 21s and he is now in contention for the senior side.

Steven Gerrard and José Reina 'fit for start of season' – Dalglish

• Both players left out of Liverpool's far east tour • Kenny Dalglish happy with transfer business so far The Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, is confident his captain, Steven Gerrard, and the goalkeeper José Reina will be fit for the start of the season.

Hender horror vid Liverpool's new signing Jordan Henderson played like a £20 million player in tonight's match as England Under 21s crashed out of the European Championships against the Czech Republic Under 21s. At least he played as if he had as much time on the ball as £20 million players tend to get and [.

World-beaters England Under 21s proved they can can play like world-beaters... on the training ground. The young Three Lions, outplayed by Spain's skillful passing game in their opener and unable to find the net against Ukraine in their second match, pinged the ball about with ease during a two-touch match in training.

By Chris Wright

A rather drab, 'hoofy' goalless draw with Ukraine last night left the England U21s needing a three-point haul (they also drew their first game with Spain, despite being dismally outplayed) from their final Group B game against the Czech Republic to progress through to the semis after Spain's impressive young charges beat the Czechs 2-0 in Wednesday evening's other tie.

By Chris Wright

A rather drab, 'hoofy' goalless draw with Ukraine last night left the England U21s needing a three-point haul (they also drew their first game with Spain, despite being dismally outplayed) from their final Group B game against the Czech Republic to progress through to the semis after Spain's impressive young charges beat the Czechs 2-0 in Wednesday evening's other tie.

Liverpool defender Martin Kelly believes new signing Jordan Henderson has all the attributes to become a great at Anfield.
Henderson, on international duty with the England Under-21s in Denmark, signed for Liverpool from Sunderland for a reported £16 million last week.
And Kelly, who established himself in the Reds first team last season, believes the young midfielder has the ability to make an even bigger name for himself.

Jordan Henderson today declared the size of the transfer fee Liverpool paid Sunderland for him filled him with confidence, not fear.
Henderson admitted it had been a hectic week after he was allowed to complete his move to Anfield before linking up with the England Under-21 squad for their European Championship campaign in Denmark.

Liverpool's American owners have given their full support for Kenny Dalglish to complete the biggest spending spree in the club's long history.
Jordan Henderson has already been signed in a £16million deal – and there could be another £62m splashed in the next few weeks.
US-based John W Henry and Tom Werner were delighted with Dalglish's performance in powering to a top-six finish after a disastrous start under Roy Hodgson.

The two prized England Under 21 internationals Jordan Henderson and Phil Jones have recently moved from their respective clubs to two North West giants separated by the East Lancs road. As Liverpool were busy tying up a deal for Sunderland midfield all rounder Jordan Henderson, Manchester United were seemingly busy beating other Premier League heavyweights, including Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, to the signing of Blackburn Rovers defender Phil Jones.

Sunderland star Jordan Henderson is said to be keen to complete his proposed switch to Liverpool by Wednesday at the latest.
The talented youngster is due to head to Denmark later this week with England under-21s for the European Championships and is said to want his future settled by then, according to the Daily Mirror.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere confessed fatigue is the reason why he opted not to feature for the England Under-21s in the European Championship next month. The 19-year old revealed that GPS results showed that he needs ...

Jack Wilshere has revealed how Arsène Wenger's scientific application of performance data made him realise why he could not play for the England Under-21s in the European Championship next month.
The Arsenal midfielder's participation in the tournament in Denmark had become something of a saga, with the Under-21 manager, Stuart Pearce, determined to select him and Wenger equally adamant that he should not play, after a season in which he has played 55 games for club and country at all levels and graduated to Fabio Capello's senior England team.

On this week's Gadsby's England roundup, the FIFA Executive Committee backs Blatter for reelection, including incredibly, the FA's delegate, Geoff Thompson. Gadsby asks when is the FA going to grow a pair? Plus, Arsene Wenger – why should he have any say whatsoever about Jack Wilshere playing for the England under-21s?

Andy Carroll is facing a gruelling summer after he was named in England's provisional 40-man squad for the Under-21 European Championships in Denmark.
Liverpool were hoping the £35million striker, who has already successfully made the step up to the senior international side, would be left out to allow him to rest at the end of an injury-affected season.

Richards fears derby woe - Yahoo! Eurosport Manchester City defender Micah Richards feels a hamstring injury may rule him out of the FA Cup semi-final clash with rivals Manchester United. Richards was stretchered off three minutes into England Under-21s 4-0 victory over Denmark on Thursday night, and head coach Stuart Pearce revealed the full-back fears the worst.

Ashley Young and Darren Bent scored both goals for England in a 2-1 victory over Denmark in Copenhagen tonight. It capped a pretty decent performance from England despite conceding an early Daniel Agger goal.

It was Ash's first goal for England, winning his 12th cap, and Bent's 2nd goal in what was amazingly only his 8th appearance for the national side.