U21 VS Holland, Wednesday 6th 2012

[tetsujin1979]

Squad hasn't been announced for the friendly in two weeks yet, but there's been a few leaks online

Callum Reilly gets his first call up: http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/first-call-up-for-reilly-612604.aspx
Derby's Mark O'Brien also called up: http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/obrien-lands-ireland-u21-call-up-612800.aspx
Kane Ferdinand: https://twitter.com/theposhdotcom/status/293743676771954688

KANE CALLED-UP: Kane Ferdinand has been called up to Rep of Ireland U21 squad to face Holland in a friendly at on Wed 6 Feb.

If you have a ticket for the poland game, you can get into the U21 game for free: http://www.fai.ie/international/under-21/102991-poland-tickets-valid-for-u21-friendly-v-holland.html

[nigel-harps1954]

Kane Ferdinand eh..always makes me wonder, why hasn't anyone looked into calling up Anton Ferdinand into the senior squad? Surely he's still eligible?

[TrapAPony]

U21 Panel

Goalkeepers
Jack Bonham Watford
Aaron McCarey Wolverhampton Wanderers
Sean McDermott Sandnes ULF (Norway)
Alan Smith Glasgow Rangers

Defenders
Cian Bolger Leicester City
Daniel Devine Aston Villa
Matt Doherty Wolverhampton Wanderers
Shane Duffy Everton
John Egan Sunderland
Ben Glasgow Stoke City
Michael Harriman Wycombe Wanderers (Loan)
Carl McHugh Bradford City
Mark O'Brien Derby County
Anthony O'Connor Burton Albion (Loan)
Joe Shaughnessy Aberdeen
Derrick Williams Aston Villa


Midfielders
Samir Carruthers Aston Villa
Kane Ferdinand Peterborough United
Anthony Forde Wolverhampton Wanderers
Jeff Hendrick Derby County
Sean Murray Watford
Shane O'Neill Colorado Rapids
John O'Sullivan Blackburn Rovers
Callum Reilly Birmingham City
Connor Smith Watford
Frankie Sutherland Portsmouth (Loan)


Forwards
Robbie Brady Hull City
Graham Burke Aston Villa
Michael Drennan Aston Villa
Aiden O'Brien Millwall

[nigel-harps1954]

How can Brady and Hendrick play two games in one day?

[TrapAPony]

How can Brady and Hendrick play two games in one day?

It is just the panel for this year

[Charlie Darwin]

I'd be more impressed by John Egan playing on a broken leg.

[Dodge]

It is just the panel for this year

Did you just pick that panel yourself?

[TrapAPony]

Did you just pick that panel yourself?
No, got it from a website which is nearly always up to date re Irish squads

[IsMiseSean]

Is Ryan Meara to old for the U21's?

[Charlie Darwin]

I think he's still eligible for this year but he may still be injured. With the MLS season finished he may not have played any football in a long time, and I know NYRB have prevented him joining up with the squad in the past (though I don't think they'd be entitled to on a scheduled international break).

[tricky_colour]

How can Brady and Hendrick play two games in one day?

How can they travel back in time to 2012?

[nigel-harps1954]

How can they travel back in time to 2012?


With a DeLorean of course.

[Dodge]

No, got it from a website which is nearly always up to date re Irish squads

Fair enough, but it leaves out a couple of LOI players that I know have been on standby for recent squads (and as such part of the 'panel')

[liamoo11]

Did you just pick that panel yourself?

To be fair to the pony thats a squad from the rissc http://www.rissc.org/Under21s.htm who as he says are always good for a bit of info

[Paddy Garcia]

No, got it from a website which is nearly always up to date re Irish squads

Obviously not the FAI one then?

[Dodge]

To be fair to the pony thats a squad from the rissc http://www.rissc.org/Under21s.htm who as he says are always good for a bit of info

Yep, excellent site for underage squads. I wasn't being funny with inital request. Just looking fo info

[Predator]

Nice gesture from the FAI to allow Poland ticket holders to take this game in for free.

Overall, the above RISSC site's panel looks strong in all areas of the pitch.

Anyone know much about this guy? http://www.coloradorapids.com/players/shane-oneill
U20 caps for USA according to wiki.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_O%27Neill_%28soccer%29

[TrapAPony]

Nice gesture from the FAI to allow Poland ticket holders to take this game in for free.

Overall, the above RISSC site's panel looks strong in all areas of the pitch.

Anyone know much about this guy? http://www.coloradorapids.com/players/shane-oneill
U20 caps for USA according to wiki.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_O%27Neill_%28soccer%29
Decent article about him here : http://www.extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/9218/from-midleton-to-major-league-soccer/
His dad Colm won 2 All Ireland's with Cork back in ’89 and ’90.

[tetsujin1979]

Confirmation of Sutherland's call up: http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/230113-sutherland-handed-ireland-u21-call-up-614328.aspx

[Dodge]

Squad announced;

McCarey (Wolves)
McDermott (Sandes Ulf)
Duffy (Everton)
McGinty (Manchester United)
O'Connor (Burton Albion)
Williams (Aston Villa)
O'Brien (Derby)
Doherty (Wolves)
Shaughnessy (Aberdeen)
McHugh (Bradford City)
Bolger (Leicester)
Reilly (Birmingham)
O'Sullivan (Blackburn)
Ferdinand (Peterborough)
Carruthers (Aston Villa)
Sutherland (Portsmouth)
Forrester (St Patrick's Athletic)
Forde (Wolves)
Murray (Watford)
O'Brien (Millwall)
Smith (Watford)

[Dodge]

3 not on the above list;

Sean McGinty (Manchester United)
Cian Bolger (Leicester)
Chris Forrester (St Patrick's Athletic)

[liamoo11]

Chronically short up front and loaded with defenders who. Wilkinson who is an under 18 international has made the bench for millwall something o brien hasnt managed. Conor smith has been playing midfield when he has got chances this season and has been injured for last few months.Murray it seems is unfit and playing poorly. Hopefully forrrester gets to play centrally seems strange he has not got a move yet.

[tetsujin1979]

good to see McHugh in there after playing well with Bradford.

[Predator]

Good to see McGinty in there are all the talk of him switching to England. Seems like loads of centre halves are included.

Quick guess at a starting XI

McCarey
Doherty/O'Brien, Duffy, McGinty/O'Brien, Williams
O'Sullivan, Sutherland
Forde, Murray, Carruthers
Smith

[Predator]

Duffy, O'Brien, McGinty, O'Connor, Bolger, Williams, Shaughnessy, McHugh are all centre backs or can play there.

I know O'Brien played a few U19 games at right back and that Williams has played left back but am not 100% on the others.

[bwagner]

Not that its a bad thing but there is some amount of English/non Irish born players in the youth ranks

[DannyInvincible]

Anyone know much about this guy? http://www.coloradorapids.com/players/shane-oneill
U20 caps for USA according to wiki.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_O%27Neill_%28soccer%29

Interesting. Have we ever had an Ireland-born player (excluding those born in the north) play for another another international side?

[liamoo11]

Eamon Zayed maybe?

[liamoo11]

Not that its a bad thing but there is some amount of English/non Irish born players in the youth ranks

The Imperial power cant erode an Irishman's soul thankfully

[DannyInvincible]

Eamon Zayed maybe?

Indeed. Zayed slipped my mind. Can't think of many others.

[Charlie Darwin]

Duffy, O'Brien, McGinty, O'Connor, Bolger, Williams, Shaughnessy, McHugh are all centre backs or can play there.

I know O'Brien played a few U19 games at right back and that Williams has played left back but am not 100% on the others.
Williams looks more like a left full than a centre half to me so I imagine that's where he'll be for the foreseeable future.

[Dodge]

Eamon Zayed maybe?

Zayed's definitely one. There was a guy who played for the US in the 1990s that was born in Belfast too. Not too many I'd imagine but Im fairly certain there's threads about that subject here

This lad is english bron but pklayed under agea for Ireland. Now playing for Antigua
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keiran_Murtagh

[IsMiseSean]

Duffy, O'Brien, McGinty, O'Connor, Bolger, Williams, Shaughnessy, McHugh are all centre backs or can play there.

I know O'Brien played a few U19 games at right back and that Williams has played left back but am not 100% on the others.

Shaughnessy can play RB, he has played there for Aberdeen this season.
Great to have another Galway man playing for Ireland. Cunningham back in the Senior squad too.
David Connolly used to be the only connection a few years ago:rolleyes:

Almost forgot Alan Lee too... Who was in my local on Wednesday for a funeral.

[tetsujin1979]

isn't David Forde from Galway?

[IsMiseSean]

Another I forgot....

[Predator]

Williams looks more like a left full than a centre half to me so I imagine that's where he'll be for the foreseeable future.Yeah, with Cunningham in the senior squad, King is short on left backs at present so I imagine that's where Williams will be. He played at centre back with Egan in the last game against Italy though, as far as I remember, with White at left back.

[liamoo11]

Yeah, with Cunningham in the senior squad, King is short on left backs at present so I imagine that's where Williams will be. He played at centre back with Egan in the last game against Italy though, as far as I remember, with White at left back.

McGinty is another good left full option

[Olé Olé]

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-teenager-callum-reilly-1241268

Interview with Callum Reilly. States he qualifies through his Irish grandparents.

[Olé Olé]

Not that its a bad thing but there is some amount of English/non Irish born players in the youth ranks

McCarey- Born in Ireland
McDermott- Irish father
Duffy- Born here
McGinty- English-born
Anthony O'Connor- Born here
Derrick Williams- Not born here but raised here to an Irish mother.
Mark O'Brien- Born here
Matt Doherty- Born here
Joe Shaughnessy- Born here
Carl McHugh- Born here
Cian Bolger- Born here
Callum Reilly- Irish grandparents
John O'Sullivan- Born here
Kane Ferdinand (McGovern)- Irish father
Chris Forrester- Born here
Samir Carruthers- Irish grandparents
Frankie Sutherland- English-born
Aidan Forde- Born here
Connor Smith- Born here
Aiden O'Brien- English-born
Sean Murray- English-born

I wouldn't say there's that high a proportion of these players that are English-born. Furthermore, the two best players (in Trap's eyes), Brady and Hendrick, are in the senior squad and Dublin-born.
And I'm sure Carruthers and Murray playing at their relative levels and at their relative ages did not go unnoticed by the FA's under-age coaches and selectors.

[Supreme feet]

Furthermore, the two best players (in Trap's eyes), Brady and Hendrick, are in the senior squad and Dublin-born.


Greg Cunningham (born in Galway) too.

[Charlie Darwin]

David Meyler too. Our underage teams have definitely lost some of the granny rule flavour they've had over the past decade or so, which goes to show we are producing good players in this country. Perhaps we are producing fewer top quality players, but we are producing good players in higher numbers, and we have managers who are more willing to give them a chance than before.

[IsMiseSean]

Anyone know anything about a kid playing for Molde in Norway Sean Patrick Cunningham?
USA born and has played for their U20 side, but with a name like that surely has some Irish connection?

Sean Cunningham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Cunningham_(soccer))

[Olé Olé]

David Meyler too. Our underage teams have definitely lost some of the granny rule flavour they've had over the past decade or so, which goes to show we are producing good players in this country. Perhaps we are producing fewer top quality players, but we are producing good players in higher numbers, and we have managers who are more willing to give them a chance than before.

Look at Tommie Hoban with the under 19's. The lad has referred to the fact that he would not feel right playing for England, even though he looks a cracking prospect and potentially as good, if not better, than someone like Michael Keane. His blood is 100% Irish with an Irish mother and father born to Irish parents (if not Irish-born). Ciaran Clark's story pretty much replicates this.

Michael Keane's qualification for us was far from granny-rule stuff, it was his Dub father coaxing him into playing for us, so the links are becoming less abstract since the days of Charlton. McGeady and McCarthy are two of the best prospects the Scottish game has seen in the past 10 years and they've chosen to play for Ireland, rather than it being a situation that they play for us by default i.e. not good enough to be selected for the country of their birth.

We are producing less Duff's, Keane's (X2) and maybe it was in England that our next Dunne was born (Clark/Hoban), but there is quite a large player pool at our disposal and we can comfortably field a team of exclusively Premier League players. While McGeady hasn't taken over from Duff and Long and Doyle don't quite look coming close to Robbie Keane's, it's more by chance than anything else that Keane and Duff came on the scene at the same time and are of a similar age.

This under-21 squad looks solid, whilst not spectacular. But there looks a strong player pool there and a strong core of young lads playing regular football at Championship level, which was not always the case with our under-age sides, as past analysis of squads and the subsequent development of the players has shown.

[TrapAPony]

Proud McGinty so happy to receive Ireland’s call once moreWednesday, February 06, 2013
By John Fallon
This afternoon’s U21 friendly against Holland at Tallaght Stadium (1pm) offers new beginnings for many Irish youngsters and Sean McGinty appreciates the chance presented to him by Noel King.
For the Manchester United defender, his early days of international football brought a captaincy and player of the year award, but that changed in 2011.

Just as Paul Doolin’s reign as U19 manager gained momentum, McGinty was cut adrift while his team-mates surged towards the European Championships in Romania. His absence was barely noticed as Ireland reached the semi-finals, the first team from these shores on that stage for nine years.

Apart from one further call-up for a friendly in Slovenia later that year, McGinty didn’t figure under Doolin again last season, even for the Uefa qualifiers.

Being isolated from the Irish set-up provoked speculation of him following the lead of United clubmate Michael Keane by switching his allegiance to England. But, replete with a new contract from United, the 19-year-old is thrilled to be back on the international stage with the U21s this week.

“I’m grateful to Noel King for the call-up and I’m pleased to be back involved,” he said. “I’m not sure why Paul Doolin dropped Shane Duffy and myself from the U19 squad after the first set of qualifiers but I was gutted not to be involved with the lads going to those European finals.

“I was Irish captain for three years and, just because manager mightn’t like me as a footballer or person, it doesn’t mean I’d switch teams [to England].

“England didn’t approach me and I don’t think I’d ever switch. Even when I was out of the squad, my Dad reminded that it was Ireland who gave me my break at international level. It was from playing for Ireland that helped get me the move to Manchester United from Charlton Athletic.”

He added: “I’ve just returned to United from a loan spell at Carlisle United and was delighted to get a contract extension from the gaffer [Alex Ferguson].

“I’m training every day with some of the best players in the world like Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney. I’m going in there every day with a smile on my face and the plan is to try follow the likes of Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck and Jonny Evans from the ranks into the first team.”

The withdrawal from the squad of Derby County’s defender Mark O’Brien means McGinty is likely to start in the back-four against the Dutch.

This friendly, followed with another against Portugal in Cork on March 25, will form the preparation for the 2015 Uefa qualifiers which begin for Ireland with a trip to the Faroe Islands in August.

IRELAND (probable): A. McCarey (Wolves); M. Doherty (Wolves), S. Duffy (Everton) capt, D. Williams (Aston Villa), S. McGinty (Manchester United); C. Reilly (Birmingham City), K. Ferdinand (Peterborough Utd), S. Carruthers (Aston Villa); S. Murray (Watford), A. O’Brien (Millwall), A. Forde (Wolves).

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/proud-mcginty-so-happy-to-receive-irelands-call-once-more-221847.html

[Keen2win]

How much is it in?

[Charlie Darwin]

I'm guessing it won't be shown anywhere on TV?

[Charlie Darwin]

Ireland 1-0 up through Mark O'Brien.

edit: Aiden O'Brien

[Dodge]

2-0, O'brien again. Ferdinand went off for O'Sullivan

[Charlie Darwin]

2-0, O'Brien with his second.

[TrapAPony]

2-0, O'brien again. Ferdinand went off for O'Sullivan

Where are you following it?