Ireland U21 squad vs Israel

[eirebhoy]

Henderson (Aston Villa), Deeney (Notts County), Foley (Luton Town), Kelly (Tottenham Hotspur), Fitzgerald (Bury), Kohlmann (Borussia Dortmund), Paisley (Longford Town), Flood (Manchester City), McStay (Leeds United), Whelan (Sheffield Wednesday), Potter (Liverpool), O'Brien (Bolton Wanderers), Thornton (Sunderland), Bell (Rushden and Diamonds), McGeady (Celtic), Tabb (Brentford), Murphy (Waterford United), Quigley (Millwall).

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Every one of those players have tasted 1st team football for their club (actually not sure about McStay). I wasn't sure if Kohlmann had either but he started against Kaiserklautern in November.

Looks like Elliott will be in the main squad.

[Slash/ED]

McGeady should be in the main squad, a great option off the bench if we're flat against Israel. Does this rule him out of the China friendly too? I hope not, he should get the full 90 minutes in that.

[byrnie20]

There must be a mistake McGeady in the U21's

[pete]

I presume a few players that are missing are now over-age.

McGeady is not part of senior squad as has zero chance of coming off the bench. Kerr does not throw junior players into qualifiers no matter how desparate.

McGeady will be upgraded to senior squad for China. Also possibly Kelly & Flood for China bench too depending on senior squad selection & injuries.

[eirebhoy]

I'd prefer McGeady to be in the U21 squad. He is behind to many players in the main squad and I want the U21's qualifying. Lets hope he'll be in the squad for the China game.

Any idea why Paddy McCarthy and Kevin Doyle aren't included? age, suspension?

[pete]

Any idea why Paddy McCarthy and Kevin Doyle aren't included? age, suspension?

I suspect Kevin Doyle & Liam Keaney are too old now as they have been regular starters for last year.

[byrnie20]

Iam intrested in your comments he's below people in the squad who Alan Quinn,Graham Kavanagh e.t.c your telling me there better than him ?

[eirebhoy]

Iam intrested in your comments he's below people in the squad who Alan Quinn,Graham Kavanagh e.t.c your telling me there better than him ?
byrnie, I'm a Celtic fan so I'm going to be biased towards McGeady. In Kerr's eyes he is behind a load of players, not mine. BTW, don't see why you mentioned Kavanagh. You might aswell be saying Harte is behind Morrison.

pete - Doyle is not 22 until September.

[byrnie20]

Fair enough Kavanagh but Quinn will be in there, the guy's a genius,he has Champions league experience not only that but he can say I gave the Milan defence the run about,not many players have had that honour this season.Players in the squad who play a similar postion to McGeady have not had that experince and are not as gifted.Iam disappointed in Kerr I just hope he is using mind games but I cannot see that.Age should not be a factor in picking a player.

[eirebhoy]

He's not going to play though with Duff and Reid ahead of him atm. I'm just a big follower of all the Irish age groups and think it'd be more beneficial to have McGeady playing for the U21s in Israel rather than being a squad player for the senior group.

I honestly think this is the last time he won't be included in a senior squad for the rest of his career tbh (excluding injuries, etc.).

[byrnie20]

What you say is logical for the U21's but if Ireland are 1-0 down who do you bring on to change the game I know its hyperthetical but Its true, I would not play him but he would be on the bench.I cannot think of a creative play who will change the game for Ireland who will be on the bench.

[colster]

I think it's right to keep McGeady in the u-21s. We need to be patient with him and give him as many games as possible at an international level without all the expectation + hype of the full international duty.
He's not going to get in over Duff/Reid so why have him warming the bench when he could have a game and learn his trade.
I think he'll play in the China game though.

[Slash/ED]

What you say is logical for the U21's but if Ireland are 1-0 down who do you bring on to change the game I know its hyperthetical but Its true, I would not play him but he would be on the bench.I cannot think of a creative play who will change the game for Ireland who will be on the bench.

Don't worry, we have the incredible skills of Graham Barrett and Alan Quinn.

[eirebhoy]

If Duff and Reid can't break a defence after an hour, no other flair Irish player will make much difference. Therefore, if we are 1-0 after an hour Kerr will have to change the team around or bring on a target man.

[colster]

What you say is logical for the U21's but if Ireland are 1-0 down who do you bring on to change the game I know its hyperthetical but Its true, I would not play him but he would be on the bench.I cannot think of a creative play who will change the game for Ireland who will be on the bench.

We'll have 2 on the team in Reid and Duff. If we need a goal throw on someone like Elliott who has a good scoring record at the moment.

[byrnie20]

Yeah no need to worry then

[Slash/ED]

If Duff and Reid can't break a defence after an hour, no other flair Irish player will make much difference. Therefore, if we are 1-0 after an hour Kerr will have to change the team around or bring on a target man.

And what if Duff and/or Reid pick up an injury?

The senior team have to come first, McGeady could easily have a role to play against Israel and we need to pick the best players we have available to us, McGeady is clearly good enough to get into the squad.

[byrnie20]

"If we need a goal throw on someone like Elliott who has a good scoring record at the moment."

Fair enough, I wont be much good if he isn't getting any service,thats where McGeady comes into Its ok saying bring Elliott on but If we are being dominated in midfeild we might need a creative option to create chaces for the strikers.

[eirebhoy]

And what if Duff and/or Reid pick up an injury?

The senior team have to come first, McGeady could easily have a role to play against Israel and we need to pick the best players we have available to us, McGeady is clearly good enough to get into the squad.
I just think McGeady could be the difference in the U21's winning and losing while he'd have a very small chance of getting a game for the senior team. What if Duff and Reid got injured? What if McGeady came on as a replacement and played crap? We have to just hope that they don't get injured.

[Slash/ED]

Yeah but the small chance he has of playing is enough to include him imo. I also want to see Ireland do well at all levels but the senior team gets priority, and McGeady is far better than the alternatives that will no doubt be in his place in the squad. If Duff and/or Reid gets injured, and obviously I hope to God they don't, and we have to throw on Barrett or Quinn because McGeady was playing for the U21s we'll look very foolish imo.

If it was a friendly I'd agree with you 100% but in a crucial and very difficult qualifyer for the world cup we can't take any chances.

[byrnie20]

Slash/ED - No need to worry about Barrett ,he's been playing at a high standard in the Coventry reserve team

[eirebhoy]

Its a mixture of the facts that (1) I want the U-21's to qualify almost as much I want my club team to win the league, and (2) I've seen McGeady play the last couple of months and other than last weekend he hasn't been playing too well. Plus the fact that Elliott is going to be on the bench if either Reid or Duff get injured.

[byrnie20]

Iam glad to see Joey O'Brien in the squad from what I have read him and Vaz Te are the two best yougsters at Bolton has anyone seen him play and If so what type of midfeilder is he ?

[eirebhoy]

I've only seen him once and he was a box to box type player. He captained the Bolton reserves last week even though half the team were first teamers and it was his first game back for Bolton since December so is highly regarded.

[byrnie20]

Cheers hopefully he will get a chance at the end of the season for them.

[Stuttgart88]

McGeady's inclusion in the U21 squad could be a sign that Kerr is planning to play Finnan RHM with Reid as his "coming off the bench" option.


As for McCarhy's ommission, isn't eligibility determined by your age at the start of the competition. i.e., you can't become too old half-way through the qualifiers.

[eirebhoy]

Just checked. McCarthy was booked against Cyprus and France so is suspended.

Cork play Bray the same day as the U-21's play Israel so they must have requested that Doyle not be included.

[tetsujin1979]

Just checked. McCarthy was booked against Cyprus and France so is suspended.

Cork play Bray the same day as the U-21's play Israel so they must have requested that Doyle not be included.

Probably something similar with Cork City wanting Kearney rested so? Would he be able for competitive football before the seasons starts?

[eirebhoy]

In regards to the age issue. Once you were born on or after 1st January 1983 you are eligible to take part in the qualifiers and finals. So anyone that played in the qualifiers are obviously eligible to play in the finals if we qualify, even if they are 23 by the finals comes around.

[eamoss]

Kohlmann (Borussia Dortmund)
Who is Patrick Kohlmann & how can he play for Ireland?

This is only info i found on him click HERE (http://www.borussia-dortmund.com/?%9E%5D%1B%E4%F4%9D%2An%EF%8C%9B)

[SÓC]

You would hope that the reason that Kearney and especially Doyle were not called up was because City wasnted them to stay rather than Givens dropping them.

If he has dropped them, Doyle in particular, he's more of a fool than I ever gave him credit for

[eirebhoy]

You would hope that the reason that Kearney and especially Doyle were not called up was because City wasnted them to stay rather than Givens dropping them.

If he has dropped them, Doyle in particular, he's more of a fool than I ever gave him credit for
There's no way he dropped them. You don't suddenly go from being first choice striker and left winger to being dropped out of the squad. I hope this isn't a common thing under Richardson though.

[blobbyblob]

Who is Patrick Kohlmann & how can he play for Ireland?

This is only info i found on him click HERE (http://www.borussia-dortmund.com/?%9E%5D%1B%E4%F4%9D%2An%EF%8C%9B)

Paddy Coleman is german born with an Irish mammy. As far as I know he hasnt broken into the Brussia senior team but is a regular with their "A" reserve squad. A decent defender who should be needing to make a push for a better standard of football this year if he wants to progress. I think this is his last year at U21 but i could be wrong

[eirebhoy]

As I said in just the 3rd post in the opening post in this thread, Kohlmann started against Kaiserlautern in November. Went off injured before half time though.

[Closed Account 2]

This site says he was born in Ireland, has dual-nationality.

http://www.homecourt.de/weltfussball/spieler_profil.php?id=9269

Height 180m, weight 70 kg, plays "Abwehr" = Defender.

He's number 31 in the main Dortmund squad now. Has only started one game, the 1-0 defeat at Kaiserslautern. He was taken off on 43 mins, and Dortmund conceeded a penalty 71st min, which Kaiserslautern scored (from here (http://www.fussballportal.de/index.php?kat=44&liga_id=10&saison_lfd=42&sptg=13&spiel_lfd=109&ms_id_heim=47&ms_id_gast=26). He's been at Dortmund since 1993, before that he played youth football for Eintracht Dortmund and Westfalia Wickede.

[eirebhoy]

Ireland's Under 21 Manager, Don Givens, has called up Manchester United's Paul McShane and Kevin Doyle of Cork City for Friday's UEFA Championship match against Israel in Tel Aviv, Kick Off 1pm Irish time.

The pair replace Tottenham's Stephen Kelly and David Bell of Rushden and Diamonds, who both withdrew yesterday because of injury.

The squad will train at the AUL Complex in Clonshaugh this afternoon at 4.30pm.
http://www.a2zsoccer.com/news/content_generic.cfm?file=1680611

Thats weird. I'd love to know what the situation is/was with Doyle. Pity we'll be missing captain Kelly.

[Eldad]

What is Aiden McGeady's squad number in Ireland u-21?

[eirebhoy]

What is Aiden McGeady's squad number in Ireland u-21?
The senior squad doesn't even have specific squad numbers. Whoever is in the first 11 gets a number from 1-11 basically. :)

[FarBeag]

BARRETT...Why in God's name is this doughnut in the senior panel.He is a terrible player cant even get a game for Sh*te Coventry.Is he having some private visits to Kerrs Gaff? Get rid of this clown.