Scotland U21s in action in Berlin this weekend at Blau-Weiss tournament

There may be eleven months to go to the European
Junior Nations Championships in Den Bosch, but Derek Forsyth,
Scotland`s under 21 coach, believes in meticulous preparation and
so takes a squad to take on top German club sides in the
prestigious Blau-Weiss tournament in Berlin this weekend.
“We have no particular targets as such, we are just
looking at players who can apply themselves as best they can and
have a willingness to learn,” said Forsyth.  “I`m disappointed
that so many are injured and not available, I was hoping to look at
as many of them as possible.   Once this weekend is over, we
will sit down and plan our programme for the next eleven months,
building toward the Europeans and maintaining our position in the
top flight.”
Forsyth`s youngsters gained promotion to the top
division by winning the lower Trophy tournament in Vienna in some
style last year, winning every game comfortably and scoring 35
goals in their five games.  Forsyth has been around the
international under 21 circuit long enough to know that staying in
the top flight is not so easy, particularly as the Scots youngsters
face Belgium, Germany and Spain in their pool competition.
The wake-up call came a fortnight ago when
Forsyth`s fledglings took on England in two test matches at
Inverclyde, they narrowly lost the first encounter 1-0 but were
given a 5-1 lesson in the return.
“The England games were extremely useful at this
early stage in our programme to assess how the players can cope
with playing at this level.  The effort from the players in
the first game was excellent given that the squad had never played
together.
“But the second game was disappointing, especially
in the first ten minutes when the game was lost before we got
going.  Too many unforced errors at this level and we got
punished, England were a competent side but we were responsible for
our own downfall,” remarked Forsyth.
There are several changes from the England games,
coming in are the Aberdeen Asset Management goalkeeper Tom O`Kelly,
Fraser Sands, who has just moved from CALA Edinburgh to Grange,
former Grove Menzieshill player Gareth Davies and Glynhill Kelburne
defender and set piece expert Josh Cairns.  But the linchpin
of the team will still centre round the Kelburne pair Michael
Bremner in midfield and Alan Forsyth up front, both are now well
established in the Scotland senior squad.
The Scots youngsters compete in a pool of four
today aiming for a top two place which will lead to Sunday`s
semi-final stages.

There may be eleven months to go to the European Junior
Nations Championships in Den Bosch, but Derek Forsyth, Scotland`s
U21 coach, believes in meticulous preparation and so takes a squad
to take on top German club sides in the prestigious Blau-Weiss
tournament in Berlin this weekend.

“We have no particular targets as such, we are just looking at
players who can apply themselves as best they can and have a
willingness to learn,” said Forsyth.

“I`m disappointed that so many are injured and not available, I
was hoping to look at as many of them as possible. Once this
weekend is over, we will sit down and plan our programme for the
next eleven months, building toward the Europeans and maintaining
our position in the top flight.”

Forsyth`s youngsters gained promotion to the top division by
winning the Trophy tournament in Vienna in some style last year,
winning every game comfortably and scoring 35 goals in their five
games.

Forsyth has been around the international U21 circuit long
enough to know that staying in the top flight is not so easy,
particularly as the Scots youngsters face Belgium, Germany and
Spain in their pool competition.

The wake-up call came a fortnight ago when Forsyth`s fledglings
took on England in two test matches at Inverclyde, when they
narrowly lost the first encounter 1-0 but lost out 7-1 in the
second fixture.

“The England games were extremely useful at this early stage in
our programme to assess how the players can cope with playing at
this level.  The effort from the players in the first game was
excellent given that the squad had never played together.

“But the second game was disappointing, especially in the first
ten minutes when the game was lost before we got going.  Too
many unforced errors at this level and we got punished, England
were a competent side but we were responsible for our own
downfall,” remarked Forsyth.

There are several changes from the England games, coming in are
the Aberdeen Asset Management goalkeeper Tom O`Kelly, Fraser Sands,
who has just moved from CALA Edinburgh to Grange, former Grove
Menzieshill player Gareth Davies and Glynhill Hotel Kelburne
defender and set piece expert Josh Cairns.  But the linchpin
of the team will still centre round the Kelburne pair Michael
Bremner in midfield and Alan Forsyth up front, both are now well
established in the Scotland senior squad.

The Scots youngsters compete in a pool of four today aiming for
a top two place which will lead to Sunday`s semi-final stages.

Scotland U21 Men: Blair Fotheringham (Durham
City), Thomas O’Kelly, Grant Veitch (both AAM Gordonians), Adam
Walker, Matthew Connor, Duncan Riddell (all Grange), Alan Forsyth,
Michael Bremner, Josh Cairns (all Glynhill Hotel Kelburne), Aiden
Black, Gregor Hirst, Peter Baldwin (all Greaves Clydesdale), Gareth
Davies, Craig Falconer, Alistair Irvine (all Grove Menzieshill),
Fraser Sands (CALA Edinburgh), Thomas Kemsley, Matthew MacIntyre
(both AMN Hillhead)

Match Schedule:

3rd September, 11.00, Scotland U21 vs. Munchner SC

3rd September, 13.30, Scotland U21 vs. TuS Lichterfelde

3rd September, 15.30, Scotland U21 vs. Berliner HC

4th September, Crossovers.

 

 

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