Under-19 Squad

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

So you agree your creme de la creme powerhouses used to parade the Scottish revival are now in fact a bit *hit ? Within about three posts. Is that where we are ?

What on Earth are you babbling about now? I originally said Scotland are well accustomed similar results against teams of that stature i.e. Germany i.e. x2 wins v Croatia and x2 wins v France i.e. 4 times the amount of wins we have got against teams of that stature in over twice the amount of time Scotland got those results. Scotland have also fared better (ditto Northern Ireland) against this Spain team we were trumping to mythical proportions in Euro 2012. Are people honestly going to tell me that our performances in Euro 2012, Russia, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Slovakia and Bulgaria were anything other than a joke? We had a semi-coherent performance against Italy in Dublin and got outplayed by them in Bari even though they played virtually the entire match with 10 men. We had one good performance against France in Paris which was a complete and utter aberration.

Ukraine, Slovenia and Norway ("sh*t" though they are according to you) are traditionally stronger than any team we have beat bar Slovakia in 2008 campaign.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

What's your baseline here? Armenia were better in 2011 than Slovakia were. We drew twice with Slovakia and beat Armenia twice. Yet you seem to have decided that only the Slovakia results are worthy of being counted.

Armenia quickly went back to being sh*t in the 2014 Qualification campaign when Malta defeated them. We couldn't do the job ourselves. We had to rely on Armenia to do it over an equally sh*t Slovakia team. We got to Euro 2012 without a single win over our two direct rivals and lucked out with the Playoff draw. Anyone honestly believe we would have qualified if we didn't play Estonia? Maybe if we drew twice and won a penalty shoot out but that's the only scenario I could envision.

If we go through the next campaign without beating Germany, Scotland and Poland and relying on draws and other teams doing favours for us, then I think we are up sh*t creek without a paddle regardless of the changes in dictum for qualification.

[Charlie Darwin]

Armenia beat Denmark and the Czechs away and drew in Italy so they were hardly crap, just inconsistent in a very tough group where they were disadvantaged by their seeding. They lost to Malta and it was a poor result but if they'd won as expected they'd have come second as fifth seeds. The fact is Armenia were the third best team in that group and we beat them twice and qualified for the tournament. You can talk down the Ireland team all you like but the fact is we got some good, consistent results against the best teams in our group and made the finals. I wouldn't trade places with Scotland, for all their pyrrhic victories in failing to qualify for anything.

[Stuttgart88]

What on Earth are you babbling about now? I originally said Scotland are well accustomed similar results against teams of that stature i.e. Germany i.e. x2 wins v Croatia and x2 wins v France i.e. 4 times the amount of wins we have got against teams of that stature in over twice the amount of time Scotland got those results. Scotland have also fared better (ditto Northern Ireland) against this Spain team we were trumping to mythical proportions in Euro 2012. Are people honestly going to tell me that our performances in Euro 2012, Russia, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Slovakia and Bulgaria were anything other than a joke? We had a semi-coherent performance against Italy in Dublin and got outplayed by them in Bari even though they played virtually the entire match with 10 men. We had one good performance against France in Paris which was a complete and utter aberration.

Ukraine, Slovenia and Norway ("sh*t" though they are according to you) are traditionally stronger than any team we have beat bar Slovakia in 2008 campaign.
After most of that post I've withdrawn my qualified support for your earlier argument!

I see it in simple terms: they have got some results recently and not so recently that we'd be delighted to have got. They mixed this up with some results that we'd have been mortified by. During the same time we have got consistent results against the tricky middle and lower seeds but have mainly drawn blanks against the better teams, a notable win over a number one seed notably absent since 2001 and a really good away win since 1987.

I think we could have given a better account of ourselves against Bulgaria, Slovakia and others at home but we were restricted by Traps caution and lack of confidence in our ability. I don't think those performances mean we are rubbish. We secured second place each time anyway suggesting that the overall approach to the campaign was the right one.

There's no point belittling Bari or other performances for the sake of a petty argument. Playing Spain in a Euros is not the same as playing a shambolic Spain on a cold winter night in Windsor. And it'd be nice if Artur Boruc lets in a back pass against us too if that'd count as a win over a good team. We were out of our depth against Spain, pure and simple. Most teams are.

[Yard of Pace]

Just like to point out that the France team Scotland beat twice, the best part of a decade ago, subsequently finished bottom of their group at Euro 2008, with 1 point.

TOWK, you've outdone yourself for ridiculousness here. (I still don't understand your "galvanising" thing, btw).
I would say over on fitba.co.uk they would secretly love to have our consistency (along with James Mc and Aiden). I wouldn't swap our results for theirs in a million years.

[Bungle]

Scotland have had a very good number of months and have had a number of really good victories. I dream of an Irish team one day beating a team like Croatia home and away. We on the hand have been poor in that period. Undoubtedly, they are more of an in-form team and a team for us to keep an eye on.

However, I wouldn't swap our results for their's over the past number of years. They may have had some morale-boosting away wins etc but we have consistently done the bread and butter in qualification racking up impressive results in Georgia, Cyprus, Armenia and Kazakhstan. We have been generally ****e against any decent team - personally I rate the Armenian's highly. We may have been arguably the worst team ever to qualify for the European Championships but we got there. In my lifetime, many a very good Irish team packed with great players failed to qualify for tournaments.
I'm sure the Welsh, Scottish and the North would have been more than happy to have qualified, even if it meant that they were roundly beaten in all 3 games, including a hammering from possibly the greatest international team of all time.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

First of all, I don't care for the condescending and patronizing tone from one or two of ye i.e. "my posts are ridiculous" and "I must be on drugs". It's not that I particularly mind that but it's the double standards applied whenever I say anything mildly as bad as that. I could accuse others of making ridiculous statements like "Ukraine and Norway are sh*t teams"!

Second of all, I am aware of the fact that Scotland's record against smaller teams is significantly worse than ours just as I'm aware that our record against decent teams is significantly worse than theirs. I'm not sure why people keep bringing this up as I haven't said anything to contradict it. Of course, I also wouldn't swap qualifying for those two tournaments. Frankly, I would swap the way Ireland set out to play against big teams with Scotland.

People can dress up that group of death at the Euros all they want but Scotland beat that Croatia team twice and both Scotland and Northern Ireland gave Spain a much harder game than we did - and this wasn't over a decade ago.

I think people are also cherry picking when it comes to Scotland's performance in Qualifying groups. They made the Playoffs for 2004 and were within arms reach in 2008, 2010 and 2012.

I think if we fail to beat Germany and Poland over four games, Scotland's ability to get wins where we can't, could - the more I think about it - be a worry. Qualification is not a gimme but it's going to make for great TV.

[Yard of Pace]

Scotland's ability to get wins where we can't, could - the more I think about it - be a worry. .

They don't really have that ability though. Since the wins against France 7 years ago they've only beaten Croatia. They've lost or drawn (mainly lost) all their other games against the strong teams. On top of that, they've failed to be consistent against weaker teams. I'm not being patronising or condescending but there is simply no basis other than a couple of wins over Croatia to back up your argument. They lost twice to Belgium and Wales. Even a bad Ireland team in the throes of a break-up with Trap should've beaten Sweden in Stockholm and were 30 seconds away from beating Austria in the last campaign. And that team was still able to get the job done against the Kazahks and the Faroes.

[Charlie Darwin]

First of all, I don't care for the condescending and patronizing tone from one or two of ye i.e. "my posts are ridiculous" and "I must be on drugs". It's not that I particularly mind that but it's the double standards applied whenever I say anything mildly as bad as that. I could accuse others of making ridiculous statements like "Ukraine and Norway are sh*t teams"!

Second of all, I am aware of the fact that Scotland's record against smaller teams is significantly worse than ours just as I'm aware that our record against decent teams is significantly worse than theirs. I'm not sure why people keep bringing this up as I haven't said anything to contradict it. Of course, I also wouldn't swap qualifying for those two tournaments. Frankly, I would swap the way Ireland set out to play against big teams with Scotland.

People can dress up that group of death at the Euros all they want but Scotland beat that Croatia team twice and both Scotland and Northern Ireland gave Spain a much harder game than we did - and this wasn't over a decade ago.

I think people are also cherry picking when it comes to Scotland's performance in Qualifying groups. They made the Playoffs for 2004 and were within arms reach in 2008, 2010 and 2012.

I think if we fail to beat Germany and Poland over four games, Scotland's ability to get wins where we can't, could - the more I think about it - be a worry. Qualification is not a gimme but it's going to make for great TV.
Well it's the constantly shifting goalposts that gets me. Ireland beating Armenia twice doesn't count as a good result against a decent team because Armenia lost to Malta and are therefore ****, yet Scotland beat Norway and Slovenia five years ago and these are somehow great results. You say Scotland gave Spain a tougher game than we did, yet you've spent the entire thread talking about how they're able to get wins against the bigger teams, but now a moral victory - something we specialise in - is being held up as a virtue as long as it's Scotland and not Ireland who achieve it.

[Charlie Darwin]

Squad named for the elite phase games against Iceland, Serbia and Turkey at the end of the month, including five home-based players.

Eric Grimes (Leeds United FC)Liam Bossin (RSC Anderlecht)Noe Baba (Fulham FC)Sean Long (Reading FC)Sean Heaney (Shamrock Rovers FC)Dylan Barnett (Brighton & Hove Albion FC)Kyle McFadden (Norwich City FC)Bobby Moseley (Birmingham City FC)Alan Browne (Preston North End FC)Steven McCarthy (Sunderland AFC)Ryan Goldsmith (Cobh Ramblers FC)Dylan Connolly (Shelbourne FC)Ryan Robinson (Shelbourne FC)Thomas Mulroney (St Patrick's Athletic FC)Liam Kelly (Reading FC)Alex O'Hanlon (Liverpool FC)Sam Byrne (Manchester United FC)Alan O'Sullivan (Aberdeen FC)

[tetsujin1979]

Dan Cleary dropped from the friendly squad against Mexico. Dimaio out after getting concussed yesterday.
No sign of Hallahan either, who I was impressed with on Tuesday

[Olé Olé]

Squad named for the elite phase games against Iceland, Serbia and Turkey at the end of the month, including five home-based players.

Eric Grimes (Leeds United FC)Liam Bossin (RSC Anderlecht)Noe Baba (Fulham FC)Sean Long (Reading FC)Sean Heaney (Shamrock Rovers FC)Dylan Barnett (Brighton & Hove Albion FC)Kyle McFadden (Norwich City FC)Bobby Moseley (Birmingham City FC)Alan Browne (Preston North End FC)Steven McCarthy (Sunderland AFC)Ryan Goldsmith (Cobh Ramblers FC)Dylan Connolly (Shelbourne FC)Ryan Robinson (Shelbourne FC)Thomas Mulroney (St Patrick's Athletic FC)Liam Kelly (Reading FC)Alex O'Hanlon (Liverpool FC)Sam Byrne (Manchester United FC)Alan O'Sullivan (Aberdeen FC)

Aside from Sam Byrne, has anyone heard of any other players from that squad being released in the annual end-of-season clear-outs?

Fantastic to see so many home-based players in there. And, of course, Alan Browne was with Cork City up until January before signing for PNE and making a seemingly good contribution to their path to the play-offs.

[Paddy Garcia]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94k5QrXyOoE&feature=youtu.be

Interview with two of the lads ahead of the qualifiers. Refreshing to hear an eclectic range of accents.

[Olé Olé]

McFadden seems to be an old head on young shoulders, in a few ways. He speaks very well and looks much older than 19.

I couldn't grow a beard like that 4 years ago and still can't now!

[Stuttgart88]

You need to hang out with Bonnie.

[tetsujin1979]

should be at the game tonight, work permitting.
weather is lovely in Dublin at the moment (he said, jinxing it for later)

[Dodge]

They moved the early game to Bray to preserve the pitch for the Ireland game.

[Paddy Garcia]

Assume no streams! Certainly no shortage of England U20 games on offer!

[Charlie Darwin]

Ireland 1-0 up through Sam Byrne.

[Paddy Garcia]

They moved the early game to Bray to preserve the pitch for the Ireland game.

Makes a change from digging it up!

[Yard of Pace]

2-1 Byrne again. Iceland pulled one back 7 mins later

http://www.uefa.com/under19/season=2014/matches/live/index.html?day=24&session=1&match=2013437

[Charlie Darwin]

Iceland qualified ahead of France last time out so that's a good result, while Serbia and Turkey drew.

[Charlie Darwin]

The senior management team were in Tallaght watching according to Newstalk.

[Stuttgart88]

In my near 40 years watching Ireland I've never been so encouraged and optimistic about the future :)

[Charlie Darwin]

A win over the freewheeling, swashbuckling Icelanders is always worth celebrating :)

[geysir]

It certainly is one of the shock results of the year.
It took a lot of grit for those Irish boys to hang on to the end ........getting use to life in an Irish shirt.

[Yard of Pace]

In my near 40 years watching Ireland I've never been so encouraged and optimistic about the future :)

It's worth noting that the last time an Irish team beat an Icelandic team 2-1 was in 1986. It heralded the most glorious chapter in Irish football history.

Good times are ahead, lads.

[tetsujin1979]

not long back from Tallaght stadium
Both teams were fairly evenly matched in the first half, Ireland had slightly more possession, Iceland had slightly better chances. Sam Byrne up front looked disinterested without the ball at his feet, while O'Hanlon buzzed around behind him with Browne and Mulroney solid in central midfield. Moseley again impressed at left full, the second time I've seen him play there in recent weeks and looks a solid full back.
Early in the second half, Byrne opened the scoring with a close range header. The goal seemed to wake the (former?) Manchester United player and he worked a lot following this and was rewarded with a second goal following a scramble in the penalty area from a corner from O'Hanlon. One first touch to kill a long ball right to his feet brought applause from the crowd, that included Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane.
Iceland's goal came from a quick movement after a free kick was played to the left winger, who looped the ball over goalkeeper Eric Grimes, and off the far post. The Icelandic keeper had a terrible habit of coming far out of his area with his team in possession, and twice in the latter stages this almost cost his team another goal, with long shots from O'Hanlon and Byrne not finding the target.
Didn't hear if a MOTM was announced, but Browne or Mulroney would have gotten it over 90 minutes, Byrne if the award was only dependent on the last 30 minutes, or O'Hanlon for the first 70 as he tired in the final minutes and should have been substituted earlier than he was.
Hard to call how things will go against Turkey on Friday, a draw would be a good result setting it up for the final game on Monday against Serbia.

Have to mention the price too - €2 for adults, kids free in - led to the biggest crowd I've seen at Tallaght stadium for an underage game in a while

[SkStu]

A win over the freewheeling, swashbuckling Icelanders is always worth celebrating :)


It certainly is one of the shock results of the year.
It took a lot of grit for those Irish boys to hang on to the end ........getting use to life in an Irish shirt.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought Iceland was one of the countries leading the way in terms of their underage structure and successes (for their size). In other words this win is a very impressive result.

[geysir]

Isn't that what Charlie and me are saying?

Celebrate good times, come on!

[Charlie Darwin]

I may have had tongue tentatively in cheek with that remark :)

I'm annoyed I wasn't able to make the match now, would have liked to see the freewheeling Icelanders in full one-touch mode.

[Stuttgart88]

Indo is saying Byrne had several scouts watching last night and that Celtic are interested. Some bloke called Keane is now evens favourite to be Celtics next manager too.

[Bungle]

If we qualify it will be a terrific achievement, especially when you consider that Grealish, Jack Byrne and Ian Lawlor would all be eligible to play in these games.
Fingers crossed Byrne gets a good club. There's no shame in being let go by United. Just ask Gilesy:)

[tetsujin1979]

Lawlor's overage, from the regulations - http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/competitions/Regulations/01/96/66/38/1966638_DOWNLOAD.pdf (PDF dowload)

17.02 Players are eligible to play in the competition if they were born on or after 1 January 1995. The national associations are responsible for the strict observation of this provision
His birthday is the 27 October 1994

[pateen]

Is the Serbia match live anywhere, Eurosport?

[Paddy Garcia]

Lawlor's overage, from the regulations - http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Regulations/competitions/Regulations/01/96/66/38/1966638_DOWNLOAD.pdf (PDF dowload)

His birthday is the 27 October 1994

Added to the full squad.

[Dodge]

Is the Serbia match live anywhere, Eurosport?

None of the qualifiers are ever on TV. This won't be any different

[Paddy Garcia]

Damned with faint praise.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwwa-jMFbEk#t=148

[Charlie Darwin]

Byrne is a big lad alright, must run in the family.

[Charlie Darwin]

Noe Baba suspended for tonight's game, likely to be replaced by Ryan Robinson or Sean Long:

http://www.fai.ie/international/under-19/104003-ireland-u19s-face-turkey-in-second-game-in-uefa-elite-phase.html

[DeLorean]

So, who's hitting the Carlisle Grounds for Serbia Iceland?

[Charlie Darwin]

Hopefully not the usual hooligan firm that plague that stadium.

[DeLorean]

Serbia winning 2-0 after 52mins (http://www.uefa.com/under19/season=2014/matches/live/index.html?day=26&session=1&match=2013450)

[Charlie Darwin]

5-0 now. We softened them up lads.

[DeLorean]

That's not too encouraging really. Looks pretty clear that we'll need four points from our two games to qualify.

[DeLorean]

Result - Serbia 6-0 Iceland (http://www.uefa.com/under19/season=2014/matches/live/index.html?day=26&session=1&match=2013450)

[Stuttgart88]

Updates anywhere?

[tetsujin1979]

FAI are posting live updates on their twitter account: http://twitter.com/FAIreland
1-0 down at the moment.
Alex O'Hanlon didn't start (he's just come on) which I can't understand, unless he's absolutely exhausted after Wednesdays night's game

[Stuttgart88]

Is Dogan Erdogan the Turkish equivalent of Brian O'Brien?

[TrapAPony]

It's 2-1 for Turkey now:(