Big Mick Learns Turkish

England U19 0-0 Turkey U19 (UEFA European U19 Championships Qualifiers)

I decided not to go for a pint last night on my way back from watching Caernarfon Town beat Bala after seeing some bloke puke outside a loud sounding boozer playing karaoke, instead I went back to the digs and got my head down for an early start today.

Up bright and breezy feeling fresh and glad I didn't go for that drink, I'm washed and out the door for 8am heading back across the A55 to Connah's Quay. A quick stop off for some breakfast at McDonald's before I arrive at Deeside College for around 9:30am, a good hour and a half ahead of kick off.

Will Antwi's England U19's are playing Turkey who are coached by Galatasaray legend Sabri Sarioglu who also made 44 national team appearances, both sides unbeaten in this four team elite round Euro under 19s qualifying group after England beat Wales on Wednesday and Turkey drew with Portugal in the opener.

As I sit and wait in the college car park where Deeside Stadium is situated, I get news of the teams so start jotting down the elevens in my notepad, England with nine changes whilst Turkey tinker less with just two. Dropping their goalkeeper who was awful in match one.

The Venue

As I get out my car a tall handsome looking Turk asks me where the entrance is, he's the agent of Gokdeniz Gorpuz of Galatasaray and tells me he's having trouble with driving on the left hand side of the road over here. I tell him not to panic, as in Wales everybody drives slow. 

On entrance I'm impressed that today, the turnstile has choice for cash or card, after letting me in free on Wednesday, it's a different fella on the door today, so I pay just £3 on card and walk up the stairs of the only seated stand, to the last but one row, a decent view of running track and football pitch with a slight wind chill, the players out warming up below, the weather bright but overcast, as you notice the surface looks a lot more cut up than it did three days ago. 

The Game

Former England striker Mick Harford sits himself next to me, he's with a shady looking Turkish agent, there's a handful of scouts dotted around but some fans, mostly friends and family in front of Turkey, plenty of kids making noise as the game starts following the ceremonial national anthems. 

Big Mick says to me "the pitch is awful, why are they playing here" to my reply "I'm sure you've played on worse". 

It's bobbling though and both sets of players are struggling with the bounce of the ball, some times it rolls under the foot, other times it bounces over, "a great leveller" says Mick who continues "this will sort out who the decent players are". 

It's certainly not pretty, England in a 3-4-3 type formation play with a lobsided style system that has Crystal Palace full back Caleb Kphora combining with Kaden Young down the right to both get forward and double up in attack, but Chris Rigg is more inverted on the left as the central defender Mfuni of Man City occupies an almost traditional left back role of defending first and foremost behind him.

Shumaira Mheuka who did well off the bench to score v Wales is isolated and ineffective today, he has far too many touches than he needs on this poor surface, neither side has had any serious opportunity, as Mick starts giving golf lessons to the Turkish agent, who tells him he's just started playing but is very bad. "Soft hands around the shaft" says Mick. 

After hearing chants of 'Tukiye, Turkiye' their conversation moves on to Turkish lessons, after Mick asks "how do you say yes in Turkish" before rolling off the tongue a number of times in his northern accent "Evet, Evet, Efffffetttt". 

The Score

Sadly Mick moves a couple of places up after half time so the entertainment is now focused less on banter, but on the game, which does improve in the second half, a little more open, Turkey like they were against Portugal, are good value and in their number eight, Korkut, they have a player who looks to get on the ball with guile, he plays with confidence when driving forward and comes closest in the game to breaking the deadlock when he lets fly from range a cracker that cannons off the crossbar. 

England respond and bring on Tyler Dibling, Josh King and Tyreik George who in particular adds extra pace and panache to the team out left. George teases and tricks his way into the area but Arican's goal is well protected. Mikey Moore has a shot straight at him, Dibling shoots over late on, England ramp up the possession stats and corner count but in fairness never really look like penetrating the Turkish defence, a decent point for both will depend on the result in today's other game. 

The Stars

England changed all but two of their team that beat Wales on Wednesday, defender Zach Abbott, who struggled against the useful Huseyin Erturk in attack, and Midfielder Lewis Miley, who after a sloppy start of trying to work out the pitches uneven bounce, grew and got better, more dominant throughout. 

Of those fresh and new to the starting XI, Stephen Mfuni of Manchester City perhaps looked coolest and calmest on the left side of a three man defence, Crystal Palace right back Caleb Kphora looked handy, athletic and powerful, linking well with his winger Kadan George who was positive, on loan at Antwerp his parent club is Aston Villa, whilst Sunderland's Chris Rigg shown moments of quality which is why he has a price tag over 20 million quid. 

I liked Lewis Orford of West Ham, a pigeon chested midfielder who carries the ball well reminding me a bit of Jordan Henderson, but England's star to watch for me is Tyreik George who came on late off the bench and shown his defender on a couple of occasions a clean set of heals will trickery.

For Turkey, after doing we against Portugal, I was again impressed in Efe Akman, who ran his socks off in the centre of the park before being taken off late on. Huseyin Erturk is a striker who backs his arse into defenders and I really like watching him win tussle after tussle, he loves a scrap with a defender, whilst growing in the game, Korkut, who scored on Wednesday, a midfielder playmaker who has the slender frame but suave, sophistication and elegance of Bryan Gil, the best way I can describe for now, he did well, a player in the Stuttgart system, is one certainly to watch. With more power potential than Gil, he could adapt to the Premier League one day, he certainly has the vision and technique.

Also Hamza Gureler an eighteen year old centre half playing for Istanbul Basaksehir, he looked physically solid and read the game well, dealing comfortably with everything thrown at him.

The Verdict

England might regret not winning what was a winnable match as Portugal will be no roll over on Tuesday, but should the likes of Josh Acheampong and Kiano Dyer return, should they start the likes of Tyler Dibling, Josh King and Tyreik George, you would think they should have enough to get the job done and qualify for the tournament proper which is in Romania this summer.

Turkey will be waiting in the wings with a chance to beat Wales next, I've been impressed by them, there agents are certainly flocking around with some lira notes in their eyes, they'll be hoping to cash in on one or two stars of this team and I'm sure they will, as one or two look destined for big things.

The Teams

England: Finlay Herrick, Zach Abbott, Harrison Murray-Campbell, Stephen Mfuni, Caleb Kphora, Lewis Orford, Lewis Miley, Chris Rigg (Tyler Dibling 75), Kaden Young (Tyreik George 75), Mikey Moore, Shumaira Mheuka (Josh King 75).

Turkey: Arican, Taylor Aydin, Hamza Gureler, Mertlan Ayhan, Ofli, Korkut, Efe Akman (Boran Baskan 70), Gokdeniz Gorpuz (Yalin Dilek 60), Emre Gokay (Donmez 60), Huseyin Erturk (Usluoglu 79), Emirhan Arkutku (Kaya 46).

11:00am Kick Off. Saturday 22nd March 2025, Deeside Stadium, Connah's Quay (att 742).