Under-21 Squad

[tetsujin1979]

Is Festy fit? Another notable absence from both squads.
Hamstring tear according to Udinese

[JR89]

Aidomo Emakhu and Dara Costello called up to replace Johnny Kenny (injury) and Rocco Vata (family reasons). Pity about the two lads missing as Kenny made an impact in March and Vata has impressed me most amongst the 2005 attackers.

[Kingdom]

No Tom Cannon but good to see some new faces with nine players getting their first call up.

Ireland Under-21s Squad

Goalkeepers:
Tiernan Brooks (Notts County), Killian Cahill (Brighton & Hove Albion), Josh Keeley (Tottenham Hotspur)

Defenders:
James Abankwah (Udinese), Tayo Adaramola (Crystal Palace), Sam Curtis (St. Patrick’s Athletic) James Furlong (Brighton & Hove Albion), Anselmo Garcia MacNulty (Wolfsburg), Sean Grehan (Crystal Palace), Connor O’Riordan (Crewe Alexandra), Sean Roughan (Lincoln City)

Midfielders:
Darragh Burns (MK Dons), Jack Henry-Francis (Arsenal), Joe Hodge (Wolves), Bosun Lawal (Celtic), Ed McJannet (Lecce), Killian Phillips (Crystal Palace), Rocco Vata (Celtic) Harry Vaughan (Hull City)

Forwards:
Sinclair Armstrong (QPR), Conor Carty (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Dylan Duffy (Lincoln City), Johnny Kenny (Shamrock Rovers, on loan from Celtic), Andrew Moran (Brighton & Hove Albion), Armstrong Oko-Flex (West Ham United), Ollie O’Neill (Derry City, on loan from Fulham)

It seems mad that some of the lads above in bold are still 21s, given how long they've been talked about - I suppose that comes with being more aware of potential starlets from a much younger age.
That said, I struggle to think of other lads who could be in these squads

[JR89]

Friendly vs Gabon now off as Gabon decided not to travel for it.

[Razors left peg]

Not to alarm anyone after the Cannon thing but.... Vata has pulled out of this squad for "family reasons" ;)

[SkStu]

The Crawford Curse :D every time he comments on how committed a dual player is, something happens in their family.

[Razors left peg]

The Crawford Curse :D every time he comments on how committed a dual player is, something happens in their family.

To be fair, the Vata thing is very different to Cannon, I was just being a bit of a d1ck bringing it up like that. Vata has played regularly with us all through the ranks and has never shown any reason to doubt his commitment to play for us. Family issues happen, and with this being a fairly meaningless u21 camp its not the end of the world to miss it.

[JR89]

Think someone said he's in Albania with his family. Possibly something happened and they've travelled over. It's a pity he is missing cause he was one of the players I was most looking forward to seeing how he got on in this camp. Would have liked to seen them call up another 04 or 05 player to replace him rather than Dara Costello. Assuming it's Costello who replaced him and not Emakhu.

[JR89]

Looks like the matches won't be shown live.

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[Razors left peg]

Looks like the matches won't be shown live.

1669260709744476160

They should at least be streaming them on youtube or something. In this day and age it doesnt take much

[tetsujin1979]

Looks like it's the opposition who objected to it.

[Razors left peg]

Looks like it's the opposition who objected to it.

Its international football, how can anyone object to game being televised. Its not the 1950s

[tetsujin1979]

Its international football, how can anyone object to game being televised. Its not the 1950s

because it's a training camp friendly, not a competitive game

[Razors left peg]

because it's a training camp friendly, not a competitive game

Its an international game thats not behind closed doors

[JR89]

because it's a training camp friendly, not a competitive game

All three friendlies from the 2021 training camp were on telly.

[tetsujin1979]

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[JR89]

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[elatedscum]

Presumably it’s a 4-3-3 with Abankwah on the right, Lawal and Anselmo in the centre, Roughan on the left. Hodge and Phillips sitting, Moran at number 10, O’Neill and Okoflex on the wings and Carty up top.

Depth at centre forward has really taken a hit with:

1) Ferguson and Parrott with the seniors
2) Cannon taking time
3) Sinclair Armstrong not fit to start
4) Kenny injured
5) Mipo a bit lost

I like Conor Carty, he works hard and he’s a good footballer but he’s not the most prolific, he’s been playing wide a lot lately and he’s still pretty raw.

[JR89]

Yeah I'd say that's the way they've lined up alright. 1-1 at half time in the U21s match. Ukraine penalty early in the first half and Andrew Moran leveled it with the last kick of the first half. Moran has supposedly been good the first half and tested the keeper a couple of times.

[JR89]

Finished 2-2 with Lawal channeling his inner Nathan Collins. That's a good result for Ireland vs a Ukraine team preparing for the Euros so basically an U23s team. Both their goal scorers were born in 00 and 01.

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[JR89]

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[JR89]

Crawford changes it up for the game against Kuwait. Lawal moves into midfield with Hodge out and surprised Moran gets the captaincy and not Lawal.

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[JR89]

2-0 up at half time and both goals came after 7 minutes with O'Neill and Carty both scoring.

[JR89]

Emakhu scored 7mins after coming on at half time for a debut goal but FAI have posted on Twitter that game was abandoned after one of the Kuwait players racially abused one of the Irish subs.

[JR89]

Not the only game abandoned this evening. New Zealand vs Qatar also abandoned as New Zealand refused to come out for the second half. New Zealands Michael Boxall was racially abused and players decided against coming back out at half time as no punishment was handed out to the player who abused him.

[pineapple stu]

That's weird. Boxall is half Pacific Islander; in skin colour that can't be too far off the Qatari players? Are they just stupid or were they calling him the equivalent of a thick Paddy *******?

[JR89]

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[JR89]

That's weird. Boxall is half Pacific Islander; in skin colour that can't be too far off the Qatari players? Are they just stupid or were they calling him the equivalent of a thick Paddy *******?

Definitely interesting to know what was said cause the Qatar player in question was black.

Qatar though have taken the he who smelt it dealt it defence. Released a statement saying that their player in question said there was an exchange in words but it was him that was racially abused in that game.

[elatedscum]

With the u21 euros starting, it reminded me of what a monumental **** up it was not to beat Israel and qualify. The damage was done in the home leg when Crawford played an incredibly conservative team and formation against a very average Israel side.

Looking at the squad we could have had, (you need to remove 3 players), I genuinely think it’s good enough to win the tournament:

Bazunu
Maher
Harrington

L O’Connor
Lyons
Ebosele

Collins
Omobamidele
McGuinness
Cashin
J O’Brien

Bagan
Adaramola

Coventry
Hodge
Kilkenny
Knight
Smallbone
Azaz
Connell

Ferguson
Idah
Parrott
Obafemi
Cannon
Connolly

[ontheotherhand]

With the u21 euros starting, it reminded me of what a monumental **** up it was not to beat Israel and qualify. The damage was done in the home leg when Crawford played an incredibly conservative team and formation against a very average Israel side.

Looking at the squad we could have had, (you need to remove 3 players), I genuinely think it’s good enough to win the tournament:

Bazunu
Maher
Harrington

L O’Connor
Lyons
Ebosele

Collins
Omobamidele
McGuinness
Cashin
J O’Brien

Bagan
Adaramola

Coventry
Hodge
Kilkenny
Knight
Smallbone
Azaz
Connell

Ferguson
Idah
Parrott
Obafemi
Cannon
Connolly

Would you suggest that any of the players who were unavailable due to senior team duty, would have been better off challenging for an u21 trophy in terms of their development? Genuine question by the way. I've no answer to it. Obviously the senior team needed an injection of talent but it's been a tough few years.

[elatedscum]

Would you suggest that any of the players who were unavailable due to senior team duty, would have been better off challenging for an u21 trophy in terms of their development? Genuine question by the way. I've no answer to it. Obviously the senior team needed an injection of talent but it's been a tough few years.

Not really. Whenever they were called up, they were used. Take the playoff window - we called up 6 21s to the seniors (vs Scotland and Armenia) - 1 missed through injury and the other 5 started both games, so no complaints there…

Reality is, the squad was more that good enough to qualify, as it was. Probably should have been faster to realise the quality of Azaz, Hodge and Cannon, and to not ignore Connell because he wasn’t playing for Celtic etc etc.

And just show confidence to beat Israel at home rather than playing 5 at the back against a bang average side.

[elatedscum]

Example starting 11:

Bazunu

Lyons
Omobamidele
Collins
Bagan

Coventry
Knight
Smallbone

Parrott
Ferguson
Obafemi

Back up 11:

Maher/Harrington

Ebosele
McGuinness
Cashin
Adaramola

Connell
Hodge
Azaz

Cannon
Connolly
Idah

[Razors left peg]

Example starting 11:

Bazunu

Lyons
Omobamidele
Collins
Bagan

Coventry
Knight
Smallbone

Parrott
Ferguson
Obafemi

Back up 11:

Maher/Harrington

Ebosele
McGuinness
Cashin
Adaramola

Connell
Hodge
Azaz

Cannon
Connolly
Idah

If we had qualifed we wouldnt have brought our strongest possible squad. There was already talk before the playoff that the players who got us there would "deserve" to play. I remember making the argument at the time that in professional football deserve doesnt come in to it.

The full potential squad you listed looks brilliant at that level, and again goes to show that we are going in the right directions with the players coming in and it takes time.

[Trequartista20]

Joel Bagan given a new three-year contract by Cardiff.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66076851

[Demesne Lad]

An U-19 who may well come through into the U-21s, John Clarke (Reading) missed the rest of the 2022/23 season after sustaining a knee ligament injury in December. The left-back has however been offered a new contract and has accepted it. Reading FC | Professional contracts signed by nine young players (https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2023/july/01/professional-contracts-signed-by-nine-young-academy-graduates/)

[Trequartista20]

James Furlong signs a new contract at Brighton through to 2025.

https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/3589200/james-furlong-signs-new-contract

[JR89]

U21s will be playing their first two games of the next campaign in Cork. Hopefully the pitch is in good nick.

[tetsujin1979]

Cristiano Fitzgerald has been given the squad number 30 at Boavista this season, might see him in the first team soon
His photo on the squad photo looks mildly terrifying (scroll down to the last row of players)
https://boavistafc.pt/futebol/

[Trequartista20]

Jamie Bowden is on trial with fallen giants Deportivo La Coruna, now in Spain's third tier.

https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/news/talented-ex-tottenham-midfielder-training-27527644

[elatedscum]

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/4772720/connor-oriordan-in-scotland-under-21-snub-as-ex-raith-rovers-star-opts-for-ireland/

Scotland called up Connor O'Riordan but he's turned them down

[tetsujin1979]

Sweden have announced their U21 squad for two friendlies against Ireland in Marbella
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[tetsujin1979]

The U21 squad has been named
Some interesting names
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[Eirambler]

Even allowing for the two year age change that squad is an enormous step down from the last group, and indeed from all three of the last Under 21 groups, going right back to Kenny's squad with Kelleher, O'Shea, Molumby etc. it's not as though loads are missing because they have already progressed to the seniors either - just Ferguson missing for that reason.

I suppose things had to regress back to the mean at some point, though it's notable that this is also the first post-Brexit deal Under 21 squad, these are the first group that couldn't go to England at 16 or 17.

[ifk101]

Good to see Zefi included. Thought he was gone?

[Joxerbrowne]

Even allowing for the two year age change that squad is an enormous step down from the last group, and indeed from all three of the last Under 21 groups, going right back to Kenny's squad with Kelleher, O'Shea, Molumby etc. it's not as though loads are missing because they have already progressed to the seniors either - just Ferguson missing for that reason.

I suppose things had to regress back to the mean at some point, though it's notable that this is also the first post-Brexit deal Under 21 squad, these are the first group that couldn't go to England at 16 or 17.

Loads missing from this squad who are eligible. All the current u19s squad are not included, many of which will feature including likes of Melia, Moloney, Akachukwu and Kone-Doherty etc, they will have another year's experience under there belt by the time qualifying comes around also.

[Eirambler]

To be involved again for another campaign, I'm over the moon.


Well, that makes one of us.

[tetsujin1979]

Lineup for the U21s v Sweden, kick off is at 2
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[passinginterest]

Based on the highlights could have won by a lot more than 3-2. Created lots of chances. Will be very disappointed that they conceded twice from basic set pieces.

[OMTY]

https://www.fai.ie/latest/fai-agree-contract-extension-under-21-head-coach-jim-crawford/

Crawford signs extension to take team through 2027 qualifiers.

[Eirambler]

Rewarding failure - sadly this was inevitable. Having already blown three qualification opportunities with standout Under 21 teams it will be interesting to see how he gets on with what appears to be a more average crop this time around.

I predict...excuses.