Under-21 Squad

[gastric]

Grealish was under 19s last season so he is eligible for the new 21s campaign. only jack byrne would be younger from an age group perspective in this squad. You would have to think this is the end of the line for Grealish and Ireland even with how Noel king described it.

Is kieran sadlier been let go from west ham? A newcastle brighton report describes him as a trialist(not on loan)


According to the Meath Chronicle, he is on loan at Brighton and how could they be wrong!

http://www.meathchronicle.ie/sport/soccer/articles/2014/11/05/4033654-lenihan-in-republic-u21-panel/

[tetsujin1979]

This match report from an u21 game between Newcastle and Brighton describe him as a triallist: www.nufc.com/2014-15html/2014-10-20brighton-h-res.html

Albion included on-trial Chike Kandi in their starting lineup and the former Chelsea striker's physical presence proved to be a handful for the home defence early on, abetting by fellow trialist Kieran Sadlier from West Ham.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

It seems to me that Grealish has declined one senior call up and two U-21 call ups. The first time he declined an U-21 call up, his reasoning was that he wanted to concentrate on contract talks; fair enough, even though he isn't personally involved in contract talks; his reasoning for declining the second U-21 call up is that he wants to concentrate on Aston Villa.

Martin O'Neill has said that the ball is in his court. If he wants to link up with Ireland, he has to make the first move - which he hasn't.

There are hints of frustration whenever MON is asked to talk about the subject. It seems to me that Grealish and his father are trying to dictate the terms of his immediate International future and MON isn't playing ball.

It would seem that he (his father) made himself available for the U.S.A. friendly without speaking to MON, and MON would rather he make a firm commitment, or show more transparency, one way or other. What I base this on is the fact that MON has had "no contact" with the Grealish's since August.

What muddies the waters is Kevin Grealish's post on FB. Technically, you could say, he never actually made Jack available. It seems to me that it was a lighthearted post for the consumption of his FB friends. And is it true that he took it down after it gained traction?

What could be more meaningful is Jack's Twitter post, where he contradicted media reports that he was committing to Ireland.

Whatever the case, John Fallon's needs to work on his journalistic ethics because he clearly doesn't know as much as he thinks he does.

I can't see Jack being called into the squad on a week's notice. Everyone concerned has more to worry about than this circus - pity that it is that it is going to be prolonged into the spring, and potentially an England friendly.

[BonnieShels]

He has never declined a senior call-up.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

He has never declined a senior call-up.

"It’s a point that I want to clear a few things up. I had a conversation with his (Grealish) father some time ago. Naturally he was breaking into the Aston Villa side at the time," said O'Neill.

"I suggested to his father that he might want to get involved with Oman game. The father sent me a message to say he would concentrate on the U21s at that time. I’ve left it since then. And there’s been no conversation since then."

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/oneill-i-wont-force-jack-grealish-into-making-any-decision-30702604.html

[DannyInvincible]

What muddies the waters is Kevin Grealish's post on FB. Technically, you could say, he never actually made Jack available. It seems to me that it was a lighthearted post for the consumption of his FB friends. And is it true that he took it down after it gained traction?

What could be more meaningful is Jack's Twitter post, where he contradicted media reports that he was committing to Ireland.

You're truly exasperating. You surely realise you're being disingenuous here and concocting a convenient narrative to suit your tired old agenda? What do you mean he "technically" never made Jack available? He obviously led Fallon to believe Jack would be available, but you say he "technically" never made his son available? What does that even mean and why, knowing what we do, could one say that? Why would he bull**** to a trusted journalist who's long been close to the family? The post was made public on Facebook. Why would it be a joke and, if it were, why would Fallon assert what he appears to have been told to be true again after Grealish had re-confirmed matters with him? I have no idea how it could seem that way to someone.

And Jack never tweeted anything to contradict reports that he was committing to us. That's simply your interpretation of a fairly vague tweet which stated that there was some stuff in the papers of which even Jack himself wasn't aware. He could have been referring specifically to selection for the US game. We just don't know, so stop pretending that you do.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

The belligerence is completely unnecessary. I am doing everything in my power to try and not ruffle any feathers, with you in particular, because of your domineering attitude, but I am falling flat on my face in my efforts to do so. I thought "it seems to me" would have indicated that I was positing an opinion and not asserting it to be the truth but I will try to be more clear in the future. Sorry about that.

My (apparently wrong) interpretation of aforementioned tweet was that Grealish was in the dark over Fallon's seemingly erroneous reporting. Grealish was subsequently left out of U.S.A. squad after a lot of people were led to believe he would be included by Fallon's articles.

A little premature by Fallon but nothing too serious. It's not the first time a reporter has jumped the gun.

Anyways, I am going to take Roy Keane and Martin O'Neill's words and whatever happens over baseless conjecture.

I'm just going to stop commenting on Jack Grealish altogether now, be it on the thread dedicated to him or any other thread, because I can't offer my opinion at all without being attacked over it.

Whatever happens, happens.

[gastric]

To be fair to you TOWK, I for one, have noticed the moderation you are attempting to place in your posts and I welcome it!

[BonnieShels]

"It’s a point that I want to clear a few things up. I had a conversation with his (Grealish) father some time ago. Naturally he was breaking into the Aston Villa side at the time," said O'Neill.

"I suggested to his father that he might want to get involved with Oman game. The father sent me a message to say he would concentrate on the U21s at that time. I’ve left it since then. And there’s been no conversation since then."

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/oneill-i-wont-force-jack-grealish-into-making-any-decision-30702604.html


The belligerence is completely unnecessary. I am doing everything in my power to try and not ruffle any feathers, with you in particular, because of your domineering attitude, but I am falling flat on my face in my efforts to do so. I thought "it seems to me" would have indicated that I was positing an opinion and not asserting it to be the truth but I will try to be more clear in the future. Sorry about that.

My (apparently wrong) interpretation of aforementioned tweet was that Grealish was in the dark over Fallon's seemingly erroneous reporting. Grealish was subsequently left out of U.S.A. squad after a lot of people were led to believe he would be included by Fallon's articles.

A little premature by Fallon but nothing too serious. It's not the first time a reporter has jumped the gun.

Anyways, I am going to take Roy Keane and Martin O'Neill's words and whatever happens over baseless conjecture.

I'm just going to stop commenting on Jack Grealish altogether now, be it on the thread dedicated to him or any other thread, because I can't offer my opinion at all without being attacked over it.

Whatever happens, happens.

Ruffling feathers or whatnot, He has never been called up by MON. Ever. At all. Never named in a senior squad. Never.

So stop going on about the blooming Fallon article. We all know what the intentions were of the Fallon article and it seems, the Daddy got ahead of himself. Either way, He's NEVER turned down a senior call-up quite simply because he's never been called up.

[Closed Account]

To be fair to you TOWK, I for one, have noticed the moderation you are attempting to place in your posts and I welcome it!

I echo that.

[DannyInvincible]

To be fair to you TOWK, I for one, have noticed the moderation you are attempting to place in your posts and I welcome it!

It's all a contrived facade, gastric! :p

If you can't hack critical debate and discussion, TOWK, maybe a discussion forum isn't the place for you... Please stop with the pseudo-apologies, the pretend resignations and the playing the victim. I have little time for it and it'll only arouse disdain rather than sympathy. You express contentious opinions and I attempt to hold them to scrutiny. That's the nature of debate. I appreciate your moderation, but the fact you've tweaked above what you were saying about Jack's ambiguous tweet - latterly leaving out any mention of it relating to his general commitment - is an admission that you initially went beyond, in your interpretation, what the facts should have allowed you to, no?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

@ Bonnie Shels

He declined a call up to the U-21 team twice. Martin O'Neill wanted him in the squad for the Oman game but Grealish preferred to concentrate on his club career. Whether he was named formally or informally is beside the point and it's extremely petty to pretend otherwise. MON said he's tired of pursuing him and has left the ball in his court. He's more than welcome to play for Ireland, or open lines of communication with MON, if he wants to. Same thing with Stephen Ireland after he suggested that he would be interested in playing Intl. football again, for all intents and purposes. Make the first approach.

@ Danny

It's me who can't hack critical debate and discussion?! At least I don't insult you or your posts. I disagree with them and explain why. I'm not the one alternatingly accusing someone of "WUMMING", "playing the victim", "stupidity" and "lying" etc etc.. that I have become accustomed to as you get more & more indignant with me.

I try to moderate myself not because I think I needed to but to try and ensure that I receive the same politeness I display to i.e. you but instead I am treated with condescension for my efforts; all because I don't subscribe to the orthodoxy.

Here we go again with ambiguity. Your favorite word. How was I misrepresenting Jack Grealish? John Fallon reported that Grealish was committing to Ireland. This proved erroneous. Grealish reacted with confusion to aforementioned reports.

I'm not going to even read your response on the Anthony Stokes thread either BTW. We were told to "keep it to the inboxes". You can have the final word but, really, I'm comfortable in my own opinions and don't feel a need to crusade for validation and self-aggrandisement.

And if you can't see how you were a tad bit out of line in some of your recent responses directly/indirectly to me on a couple threads then wow. I would be hung out to dry if I behaved the same way.

[DannyInvincible]

It's me who can't hack critical debate and discussion?! At least I don't insult you or your posts. I disagree with them and explain why. I'm not the one alternatingly accusing someone of "WUMMING", "playing the victim", "stupidity" and "lying" etc etc.. that I have become accustomed to as you get more & more indignant with me.

I don't think I accused you of stupidity. At least, I don't think you're stupid anyway. Hell, you couldn't be stupid given the grand levels of sophistry in which you engage at times!


I try to moderate myself not because I think I needed to but to try and ensure that I receive the same politeness I display to i.e. you but instead I am treated with condescension for my efforts; all because I don't subscribe to the orthodoxy.

See, you're doing it even there. I don't criticise your posts because you don't subscribe to the orthodoxy. I'm all for unorthodox thinking. It's repetitive disingenuousness and deception for which I have little time. To use an example, GR is a unionist NI fan. Himself and myself are on polar opposites of the political spectrum in terms of the ages-old Irish question - we subscribe to different orthodoxies, if you will - but I enjoy a good argument with him on related matters because he doesn't take himself too seriously and, most importantly, because he's honest in debate. On the other hand, there was once a poster round these parts called Ealing Green - he was also a unionist NI fan - but debating with him was just downright frustrating because he was so utterly disingenuous in his arguments. Don't moderate yourself to impress me. Moderate yourself if you think it will ensure a more reasonable argument and debate.


Here we go again with ambiguity. Your favorite word. How was I misrepresenting Jack Grealish? John Fallon reported that Grealish was committing to Ireland. This proved erroneous. Grealish reacted with confusion to aforementioned reports.

Do you honestly think I can't spot what you're doing there; shifting the goalposts from your original assertion? You're still acting like a snake but simultaneously crying out for my respect? You're on a wind-up. You originally stated that Jack "contradicted media reports that he was committing to Ireland" through his tweet. We both know that's not quite the truth. Jack seemingly responded with confusion to the claim that he was going to be selected in the US squad; we have no idea if he was contradicting any claim that he was committing generally to Ireland. There's no reason to assume that his tweet amounted to such a denial or contradiction as it was pretty vague in terms of what he was referring to. The only reason I keep mentioning ambiguity is because the situation is indeed ambiguous, funnily enough. Even Paul admits he doesn't know!


I'm not going to even read your response on the Anthony Stokes thread either BTW. We were told to "keep it to the inboxes". You can have the final word but, really, I'm comfortable in my own opinions and don't feel a need to crusade for validation and self-aggrandisement.

And if you can't see how you were a tad bit out of line in some of your recent responses directly/indirectly to me on a couple threads then wow. I would be hung out to dry if I behaved the same way.

I assumed tets wanted the more political-oriented discussion out of the football section, so I moved it off-topic. Why do you think you'd be hung out to dry? More victimhood! I'd rather you engaged than surrender the final word to me or whatever. I don't tally victories and couldn't care for that.

If tets thinks I'm out of order, all he has to do is say and I'll wind my neck in. What you do is just bad manners and it irritates me. If it shows, I'm sorry, it's hard to help!

[BonnieShels]

TOWK, I would love to engage with that response. But it's fantastical to suggest that MON is "tired" at this stage. Never mind the rest of the paragraph. Maybe after more coffee I might.

There's no point to this engagement anymore; it's like talking to a three year old. Or a wall.

[tetsujin1979]

If tets thinks I'm out of order, all he has to do is say and I'll wind my neck in. What you do is just bad manners and it irritates me. If it shows, I'm sorry, it's hard to help.
Neither of you are out or order, I've no interest in reading you two debate the minutiae of whatever is going on any more. Take it off the forum if you want to continue

[gastric]

This match report from an u21 game between Newcastle and Brighton describe him as a triallist: www.nufc.com/2014-15html/2014-10-20brighton-h-res.html (http://www.nufc.com/2014-15html/2014-10-20brighton-h-res.html)

Without wanting to spark controversy, the FAI website describes Sadlier as on loan. The mystery deepens!

http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/ireland-u21s-squad-update-for-usa-russia-games

[Closed Account]

Russia U21 0-1 Ireland U21 (12mins) Glen Rea

Couldn't find a lineup anywhere.

Rogers, Connors, Hoban, Lenihan, Griffin, Desmond, McEvoy, Connolly, Rea, Browne, Hamilton

[Closed Account]

Dylan Connolly has scored a second

Russia have scored 2 now to equalise

[Yard of Pace]

Dylan Connolly has scored a second

He was wonderful for the u-19s against Serbia.......A cracker of a young lad.

[Charlie Darwin]

2-2 now, Russia have scored twice since going down to 10 men. A lot of subs though.

[Olé Olé]

Cream of the crop supposedly picked for a home-based squad to play the Irish amateurs.

http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/king-names-home-based-u21-squad-for-training-game

Conor O Donnell (Limerick)
Stephen McGuinness (Bray Wanderers)
Colm Horgan (Galway United)
John Kavanagh (Cork City)
Robert Lehane (Cork City)
Darren Murphy (Cork City)
Sean Hoare (St Patrick's Athletic)
Lee Desmond (St Patrick's Athletic)
Ruairi Keating (Sligo Rovers)
Jake Dykes (Sligo Rovers)
Gary Armstrong (Sligo Rovers)
Dylan McGlade (Shelbourne)
Ryan Robinson (Shelbourne)
Mark Timlin (Derry City)
Ayman Ben Mohamed (Longford Town)
Luke Gallagher (Bray Wanderers)
Rob Cornwall (Shamrock Rovers)
Brandon Miele (Shamrock Rovers)
Mikey Drennan (Shamrock Rovers)

Interesting to note the amount of players in there who have been across the water and come home- McGlade, Gallagher, Miele, Drennan, Timlin (was at Ipswich briefly)- and some that have garnered under 21 call-ups for full squads- Desmond, Hoare. Probably missing some on each of those lists.

[Charlie Darwin]

Apart from no Alex Byrne or Sean Heaney, it's probably about right.

[nigel-harps1954]

Jake Dykes is a very poor footballer. He's only still at Sligo Rovers because of his father. A fair few players don't get a look in at their clubs there.

[Stuttgart88]

Is Ayman a real name or a makey uppy North African Irish hybrid of Eamon(n)?

[Stuttgart88]

Apart from no Alex Byrne or Sean Heaney, it's probably about right.yeah, if you'd have asked me for our best 20 U21s I'd have probably given you 18 of them :)

[DannyInvincible]

Is Ayman a real name or a makey uppy North African Irish hybrid of Eamo(n)?

It's a traditional Arabic name (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayman). In fact - I couldn't resist - Ayman Maher might even be a more popular name in the Arab world (https://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Ayman/Maher) than it is in Ireland!

[DeLorean]

An interesting addition to the U21 setup (http://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/13/2017/999941604?tab=preview)

The squad:

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U21:
Daniel Rogers (Aberdeen FC)
Ian Lawlor (Manchester City FC)
Jack Connors (Dagenham & Redbridge FC)
Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers FC)
Sean Kavanagh (Fulham FC)
Thomas Hoban (Watford FC)
Glen Rea (Brighton & Hove Albion FC)
Kenneth McEvoy (Tottenham Hotspur FC)
Alan Browne (Preston North End FC)
Shamir Goodwin (Brighton & Hove Albion FC)
Matthew Hamilton (Wigan Athletic FC)
Callum O’Dowda (Oxford United FC)
Sean Long (Reading FC)
Pierce Sweeney (Reading FC)
Dylan Connolly (Ipswich Town FC)
Conor Wilkinson (Bolton Wanderers FC)
Lee Desmond (St Patrick’s Athletic FC)
Jack Byrne (Manchester City FC)


FIXTURE
Thursday, March 26
UEFA U21 Championships 2017 Qualifying Round Group One
Republic of Ireland v Andorra, RSC, Waterford (7.45pm).

[DannyInvincible]

'Conor Wilkinson committed to Ireland ahead of under-21 tie with Andorra': http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/conor-wilkinson-committed-to-ireland-ahead-of-under-21-tie-with-andorra-1.2153349


It should be music to the ears of Kevin Kilbane to hear English-born Conor Wilkinson declare his undivided commitment to the Republic of Ireland ahead of Thursday’s opening European Championship qualifier against Andorra at the Waterford RSC (7.45pm).

Opt-out stance

At a time when the virtues of international football are being debated, crystalised by the current opt-out stance taken by Jack Grealish, the views of the Bolton Wanderers striker who is at present on loan with Oldham Athletic may be considered a breath of fresh air to the purists.

Wilkinson’s name aroused the interest of the English FA in 2013 when Bolton Wanderers took a punt on the teen by enticing him from fellow Championship club Millwall on a lucrative three-year-deal and a six-figure compensation fee for the club. That the agency that also represents Rio Ferdinand brokered the deal only added to the intrigue.

The gangly forward, 190cm (6ft 3in) in height, will not countenance having his head turned when it comes to international allegiance. It’s Ireland or nothing for the 20-year-old.

Cockney accent

“I wouldn’t play for England, no way,” he affirmed in his Cockney accent.

“My family would be disappointed in me more than anything else. My mum, Gina Foley, is from Dublin and my family is proper Irish. They’re as proud of my achievement of playing for Ireland since 15 as I am.”

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Why is Matt Hamilton ahead of Sean Maguire in the first place? Maguire has played men's football in Ireland and England over two seasons now and has made a match day squad for a Premier League team.

You would think young lads would be rewarded when they go out and impress at a proper level.

Still not up there with Lanre Oyebanjo keeping out several better CB's in terms of strangeness, granted.

[Dodge]

You would think young lads would be rewarded when they go out and impress at a proper level.


Maguire was awful in the LOI. Good luck to him with Accrington but he won't be making too many premier league match day squads in the future

[Charlie Darwin]

1-0 up against Andorra, Dylan Connolly with the goal.

[TrapAPony]

Superb victory:rolleyes:

[Stuttgart88]

The future is bright. For Andorra.

[TrapAPony]

Heard Andorra got a goal ruled out also....

[lambo123]

Please what was the result in this match......thks

[gastric]

1-0 up against Andorra, Dylan Connolly with the goal.

Good to see Meath men starting to appear for Ireland. Harder, quicker, more talented and better looking than those jackeens!

[geysir]

Good to see Meath men starting to appear for Ireland. Harder, quicker, more talented and better looking than those jackeens!
Better looking than a jackeen? that's about being better than the bog standard irish person. Is that what you meath people can aspire towards, to just being better than the bog standard?

[gastric]

Better looking than a jackeen? that's about being better than the bog standard irish person. Is that what you meath people can aspire towards, to just being better than the bog standard?
Quoi? ;)

[CraftyToePoke]

Quoi? ;)

I think he's calling you a girl.

[gastric]

As we are particularly well hung, methinks he's wrong!

[tetsujin1979]

Squad named for qualifiers against Lithuania and Italy: http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/king-announces-provisional-u21-squad-for-double-header

Danny Rogers (Aberdeen - On loan at Falkirk)
Ian Lawlor (Manchester City)
Eric Grimes (Leeds United)
Brian Lenihan (Hull City)
Shane Griffin (Reading)
Jack Connors (Dagenham & Redbridge)
Sean Kavanagh (Fulham)
Sean Long (Reading)
Glen Rea (Brighton & Hove Albion - On loan at Southend United)
Tommie Hoban (Watford)
Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers)
Josh Cullen (West Ham United)
Alan Browne (Preston North End)
Jack Byrne (Manchester City - On loan at Cambuur)
Callum O'Dowda (Oxford United)
Dylan Connolly (Ipswich Town)
Kenneth McEvoy (Tottenham Hotspur)
Shamir Fenelon (Crawley Town)
Reece Grego-Cox (Queens Park Rangers)
Sean Maguire (Dundalk)
Conor Wilkinson (Barnsley)
Sam Byrne (Everton)

[Olé Olé]

Some interesting changes there. Sam Byrne's back fit and joins the squad. Two keepers were named last time out- Ian Lawlor's in for this one. Kenny McEvoy is also in (a Waterford lad so will be looking forward to a match there).

[swinfordfc]

Where's Noe Baba?

[Charlie Darwin]

Birmingham, I assume.

[Stuttgart88]

There was a comment on 42.ie that only 4 of our current U21 squad are Irish born. Obviously you can guess the context. That isn't true though. Most of the above are Irish born, no?

[tetsujin1979]

Think Hoban, Cullen, O'Dowda, Fenelon and Grego-Cox are the only ones born outside Ireland?

[Dodge]

I think it stemmed from Dan McDonnell saying that there was only 4/5 (can't remember exact number) Irish born players in the under 21 squad with Premier league clubs (and none making the first team)

[Charlie Darwin]

Think Hoban, Cullen, O'Dowda, Fenelon and Grego-Cox are the only ones born outside Ireland?
Rea and Connors too. And Sean Maguire was born in London but raised here.

[IsMiseSean]

Conor Wilkinson was born in England too.

[tetsujin1979]

Setanta Ireland are showing the game this Friday evening from Waterford: https://twitter.com/SetantaSports/status/651338731576795136

Join us for Republic of Ireland's U-21 Euro 2017 qualifier against Lithuania Friday from 5.30pm on Setanta Ireland.