U21s vs Turkey

[Stuttgart88]

I thought it'd be on SKY as they show our friendlies but it looks like NI vs Ukraine is on only.

Any way of watching this game on cable or on the web?

[tetsujin1979]

Not on Setanta either, they're showing the England U21's VS France

[Gareth]

I don't know about watching it but if you wanna follow live updates, extratime.ie should be doing them. As well as that, we have a number of interviews and a preview due in an hour or so.

[gufcfan]

The game isn't being carried by any TV station.

[Mr Maroon]

I can't it online anywhere either

[tetsujin1979]

Eurosport might be showing it according to this - http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/multiplex/31322.html - it's hard to tell
But it could just be text updates as well

They have shown underage games before online, though

[eirebhoy]

Looks like it'll have to just be score/text updates tonight.

Thought they played well on Friday. Fair play to Don for keeping the same midfield 3 as they've been brilliant the couple of games. It's far from the first choice defence though which is a pity.

[eirebhoy]

0-1 Turkey :(

[eirebhoy]

0-2.

http://www.livescores.net/LiveScore.do

Not doing it when it counts.

[Stuttgart88]

0-2.

http://www.livescores.net/LiveScore.do
Not doing it when it counts.
Ah yeah, but at least there are no big egos in the squad. Apparently we're one of the world's most humble teams so the scoreline is actually a very misleading indicator.

[Ouitone]

Bound to happen really. Spain were missing players on Friday and we're still missing loads. For whatever reason.

Hopefully we can turn it around but I doubt it. We need a striker badly.

[Stuttgart88]

Terry Dixon when he's fit?

Stokes is still eligible isn't he? Is Long?

[Ouitone]

I've only seen Dixon play once. About two years ago and for 8 minutes tops. I don't think he touched the ball. Also, I'm not sure that he should play Internationally until he's properly 100% considering all that's gone on.

Stokes is 20 but may have looked at Given's dog in an offensive manner. Surprised that he got into the full squad after such an offense really.

Long is 22.

[Gareth]

The Match Report for the game
http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/11689/2/

[Manblue]

Did anyone go down to watch the game

[Gareth]

2514 people did....

[musicinmouth]

They didn't deserve to lose 3-0. They played some really nice football but conceded 3 verrrrrrry soft goals (well the last one wasn't too bad). Stephen Gleeson was a star performer... and Alan Judge.

It was great to see McCarthy play. He has a great first touch, lots of energy. He was strong, always looking for the ball and finding space. Definitely looks like an exciting prospect.

[eirebhoy]

Seems like defending let us down again. It's encouraging that we're playing some good passing football but it'll be no use if all we have is a good bunch of midfielders in a few years.

[cheifo]

Ah yeah, but at least there are no big egos in the squad. Apparently we're one of the world's most humble teams so the scoreline is actually a very misleading indicator.

This is the thing.There was an obvious emphasis attributed to our supposedly admirable humility in his pre-match quotes.
Any manager of an INT youth side should have the ability to handle/intergrate
young confident(cocky) lads who are playing in a Sport where you need self confidence.
When young players overstep the mark , good managers have better ways of dealing with it than us losing them for a whole bloody qualifying series- and poss putting their Int careers at risk.

He is obviously not suited to dealing with young players.FFS FAI get rid.

Where is Chris McCann btw?

[tetsujin1979]

Where is Chris McCann btw?
Another one on the list of players Givens has managed to alienate: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2007/1120/ireland_u21.html

Aside from all this, does this mean James McCarthy is tied to us now, having played a competitive international at U-21 level?

[drummerboy]

So McCann and Keith Treacy were both left out of this squad because of rows it the Don. Time for a new manager. Givens hasn't got what it takes to deal with players. No man management.

[passinginterest]

I thought it was interesting that Givens said after the Spain game the Eddie Nolan was probably the only player in the squad ready to step up and guess who makes two bad mistakes in the game? Eddie Nolan. Then again that probably makes him a certainy for one of the full back spots in the next senior squad.

Givens time and again has shown his inability to manage modern young players, if he had any dignity he would have stepped aside long ago, the sad thing is he seems to be a key advisor of Trap and the national team is suffering as a result of his ineptitude.

[Stuttgart88]

Isn't McCarthy allowed to change his mind once after this? He also played in the 2-2 in Portugal where Teflon Don Givens said that he thought he was now tied, but he actually wasn't.

I know I should know but I keep forgetting. Is there a sticky on the eligibility rules? There should be.

[ifk101]

Regardless of Givens' man management skills or merits as U21 coach, the results in competitive games have not been good enough. It's time to re-evaluate where the U21 team is going and Givens' role in getting us there.

[Mayo Red]

Regardless of Givens' man management skills or merits as U21 coach, the results in competitive games have not been good enough. It's time to re-evaluate where the U21 team is going and Givens' role in getting us there.

Agreed, I think it's time for some fresh blood in the job with maybe a different approach. I know that in some ways the job of U21 Manager is a thankless task and the focus needs to be on developing players as much as results, but you should still be held accountable and Givens seems to have run out of ideas ages ago.

[Stuttgart88]

Agree totally.

The U21 team we field is always invariably made up of 5 or 6 guys still U19 eligible. Surely it's best to field your strongest team at all age levels, increasing the likelihood of tournment qualification / progression and increasing the likelihood of a bunch of players coming through together for the senior team. The current strategy must be totally demoralising for the players.

Time to go Don.

[Comic Book Guy]

I was at the game last night and found it utterly depressing to see a game Irish side sent out to play against a decent Turkish side with only one striker (sheridan) on his own. That said Sheridan missed two sitters one in each half but to see the ball lumped up to a striker on his own must be demoralising for any player.
I would agree with the sentiments expressed about the manager, to contrast our side with the the seemingly better technique of the Turks on the night and the willingness to get the ball down is depressing stuff. I know some of our lads can play, to see them stifled like this with only one outlet to aim at is so sad.

[eirebhoy]

Stokes is the only other striking option I can think of and he would have been called into senior squad anyway. I like that formation he's using as long as the wide players are supporting the striker. We're a lot better to watch since he went with 3 in midfield. Just conceding plenty but also creating plenty without finishing.