U23 Players 2018/19

[tetsujin1979]

Warren O'Hora, James Finnerty, Troy Parrott, Callum Thompson, Ray O'Sullivan and Nathan Collins all named for their respective sides for the first time in the Checkatrade Trophy tonight
Also, Jamie Bowden starts for Spurs U21 side and apparently is Irish qualified

[TrapAPony]

Warren O'Hora, James Finnerty, Troy Parrott, Callum Thompson, Ray O'Sullivan and Nathan Collins all named for their respective sides for the first time in the Checkatrade Trophy tonight
Also, Jamie Bowden starts for Spurs U21 side and apparently is Irish qualified

Finnerty, O'Sullivan, Thompson and O'Hora remained on the bench. Aaron Connolly scored for Brighton v Luton, Damien Mandroiu also started. Thomas O'Connor was captain of Southampton v Colchester and started centrehalf alongside Aaron O'Driscoll, Smallbone started in midfield, Michael Obafemi scored, Jonathan Afolabi made an appearance as a sub, Ferry remained on the bench. Troy Parrott came on as a sub on 77 mins for Spurs and played the extra time. Connor Ronan started for Walsall, Callum Cockerill-Mollett came on as a sub.

[samhaydenjr]

Finnerty, O'Sullivan, Thompson and O'Hora remained on the bench. Aaron Connolly scored for Brighton v Luton, Damien Mandroiu also started. Thomas O'Connor was captain of Southampton v Colchester and started centrehalf alongside Aaron O'Driscoll, Smallbone started in midfield, Michael Obafemi scored, Jonathan Afolabi made an appearance as a sub, Ferry remained on the bench. Troy Parrott came on as a sub on 77 mins for Spurs and played the extra time. Connor Ronan started for Walsall, Callum Cockerill-Mollett came on as a sub.

Another step forward for Connolly and Obafemi, scoring for the first time against senior opposition - good to see so many lads getting a game - incidentally, while technically not playing as an U23 player, Paudie O'Connor got a late, late equaliser for Blackpool against Macclesfield

[samhaydenjr]

The Aaron Connolly/Michael Obafemi shootout competition continues...

Connolly got the winner in Brighton's come-from-behind 2-1 victory over West Ham. That's four in his last three club games (plus one for the National U19s) and five this season. Warren O'Hora played the full game: https://www.premierleague.com/match/39185/premier-league-2/2018-19/brighton-v-west-ham

Meanwhile, Obafemi got the only goal against Newcastle, meaning that he has also scored in his last three games and bringing his recent tally to 4 in 5. He was replaced by Afolabi in injury time while O'Driscoll, O'Connor and Smallbone all played: https://int.soccerway.com/players/michael-obafemi/453438/

[tetsujin1979]

Was there any explanation given why Obafemi didn't feature for either game for the U19s this week?

[TrapAPony]

Was there any explanation given why Obafemi didn't feature for either game for the U19s this week?
He was sick supposedly

[liamoo11]

Quieter night for our U23s today - Yassine En-Neyah scored again for Forest against Watford (https://twitter.com/WatfordFC/status/1033070107680038913) but unfortunately suffered a serious injury in the game: https://twitter.com/WatfordFC/status/1033097826404843522

Elsewhere, Will Smallbone and Aaron Connolly were each credited with an assist for their respective clubs: https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/08/24/england/premier-league-2-division-two/southampton-u23/manchester-united-u23/2864820/?ICID=PL_MS_05 and https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/08/24/england/premier-league-2-division-one/tottenham-hotspur-u23/brighton-u23/2864673/?ICID=PL_MS_08

thankfully el neyah has made a good recovery and Is back in action

[samhaydenjr]

thankfully el neyah has made a good recovery and Is back in action

Indeed he has... not only that, but he scored today against Barnsley, who had former Forest U23 striker Gerry McDonagh in their team (unfortunately I believe he is yet to score for his new team). Liam Bossin was in goal for Forest: https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/2018/september/u23s-report-forest-a/

Elsewhere, I was starting to get worried about our young strikers with McAuley, Obafemi, Idah, Afolabi and Cassidy all failing to hit the target this weekend. Then, Aaron Connolly salvaged the weekend for our U23 strikers with a late equaliser for Brighton against Leicester and restored my faith: https://www.premierleague.com/match/39195/premier-league-2/2018-19/leicester-v-brighton - this was his sixth so far this season and it's still only September. He's been scoring regularly for Brighton's U23s since April and he's still only 18 - hopefully Hughton is taking note

Also, Jack Clarke got the only goal for Villa U23s against Southampton on Friday: https://www.premierleague.com/match/39325/premier-league-2/2018-19/southampton-v-aston-villa

[tetsujin1979]

Conor Coventry rumoured to be included in west ham's squad for tonight's league cup game against Macclesfield

[DeLorean]

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jurgen-klopp-blown-away-development-15074416.amp .says kelleher third choice ahead of grabara. Up to now they seen to have been sharing the 23 duties. Hopefully if he Is third choice they send grabara out on loan So kelliher gets a Full season of 23 games

It was Grabara who made the Liverpool bench last night, disappointingly.

[tetsujin1979]

Is Kelleher still injured?

[DeLorean]

Oh, hadn't heard, it would seem so - https://readliverpoolfc.com/2018/09/13/caoimhin-kelleher-out-for-a-month-after-picking-up-injury-in-training/

[tetsujin1979]

Ryan Nolan captaining Inter against PSV in the UEFA Youth league https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/season=2019/matches/round=2001049/match=2025506/lineups/index.html

[TrapAPony]

Ryan Nolan captaining Inter against PSV in the UEFA Youth league https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/season=2019/matches/round=2001049/match=2025506/lineups/index.html

Still not good enough for Irish underage squads though. Another laughable situation.

[tetsujin1979]

UEFA have listed Dennis Cirken's nationality as Irish on Tottenham's squad page for the UEFA Youth League: https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/season=2019/clubs/club=2608183/index.html
Probably a mistake by them, can't find any mention of him being qualified

[TrapAPony]

Ryan Johansson no longer wants to play for us and has instead opted to stick with Luxembourg for the moment. Losing far too many now. Something must really stink within the FAI setup.:excruciating:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/martin-oneill-still-in-the-hunt-for-ryan-johansson-bqgqs92gc

[samhaydenjr]

Ryan Johansson no longer wants to play for us and has instead opted to stick with Luxembourg for the moment. Losing far too many now. Something must really stink within the FAI setup.:excruciating:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/martin-oneill-still-in-the-hunt-for-ryan-johansson-bqgqs92gc

What did Keano say this time?

[Cathalsmart]

Ryan Johansson no longer wants to play for us and has instead opted to stick with Luxembourg for the moment. Losing far too many now. Something must really stink within the FAI setup.:excruciating:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/martin-oneill-still-in-the-hunt-for-ryan-johansson-bqgqs92gc

Ireland snubbed, noooooooo I’m shocked.

[liamoo11]

UEFA have listed Dennis Cirken's nationality as Irish on Tottenham's squad page for the UEFA Youth League: https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/season=2019/clubs/club=2608183/index.html
Probably a mistake by them, can't find any mention of him being qualified

He was Born in Dublin it seems according to spurs fightingcock academy forum

[DeLorean]

Ryan Johansson no longer wants to play for us and has instead opted to stick with Luxembourg for the moment. Losing far too many now. Something must really stink within the FAI setup.:excruciating:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/martin-oneill-still-in-the-hunt-for-ryan-johansson-bqgqs92gc

The full article can be read here - https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/bayern-munich-star-ryan-johansson-stalls-on-ireland-commitment-37383458.html

It would seem a pretty sensible decision from his point of view, for now at least. I don't think it necessarily implies he thinks the Irish setup stinks.


Johansson has already played competitive underage football for Luxembourg. Therefore, if he then switched to play competitive underage football for another country, he would be bound to that nation for the rest of his career.

[tetsujin1979]

He was Born in Dublin it seems according to spurs fightingcock academy forum
Interesting, his instagram has photos of him playing for England U16s

[liamoo11]

Interesting, his instagram has photos of him playing for England U16s

yeah clearly no interest in Us He has never been in for 15s on 16s squads at a,time when we have had multiple dual players turning out for Us and brits. Parents likely just lived here for few years

[samhaydenjr]

Michael Obafemi on target as Southampton beat Leeds 2-1 in the Premier League Cup. O'Driscoll, O'Connor and Smallbone all featured for Southampton while Callum Nicell lined out for Leeds: https://southamptonfc.com/news/2018-10-05/u23s-report-southampton-fc-leeds-united-pl-cup-201819

[samhaydenjr]

Gavin Kilkenny got one of Bournemouth's seven goals against Burnley in the Premier League Cup yesterday: https://www.afcb.co.uk/matches/under-21s/2018-19/u21s-ease-past-burnley-in-premier-league-cup?tab=report

[CraftyToePoke]

Aaron Connolly played for Brighton tonight away v Peterborough in the Checkatrade Trophy, he started and scored at 0-2 down with twenty minutes left to make it 2-1. It ended up going to penalties and he scored the fifth and final kick for his side to win the shoot out 5-4.

[tetsujin1979]

Crystal Palace played Dulwich Hamlet in a charity game last night, Kian Flanagan came in at half time and scored
1050469188886818816

[samhaydenjr]

Little bit of news from a quiet weekend of U23 action... it appears Irish interest in Ipswich hasn't ended completely yet - Shane McLoughlin got a brace in their 2-2 draw with QPR: https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2018/october/u23s-qpr-draw/

[samhaydenjr]

OK, let's try to cheer everybody up after the misery of the last seven days - it's been an excellent evening for Irish players in English U23 teams:

Aaron Connolly kept his recent goalscoring form going, nabbing Brighton's equaliser in a 2-1 victory over Blackburn, his seventh in eight games for his club: https://www.premierleague.com/match/39203/premier-league-2/2018-19/brighton-v-blackburn

Michael Obafemi got back on the goal trail with his fifth in nine games, opening the scoring for Southampton against Wolves. Thomas O'Connor, who captained the team, scored the injury-time winner while Aaron o'Driscoll and Will Smallbone also played: https://www.premierleague.com/match/39338/premier-league-2/2018-19/southampton-v-wolves

Josh Barrett grabbed a brace for Reading as they beat Middlesbrough 3-2: https://www.premierleague.com/match/39337/premier-league-2/2018-19/middlesbrough-v-reading

Ryan Cassidy didn't score, but was credited with an assist as Watford beat Bristol City 4-0: https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/under-23s/u23-report-reaction-watford-4-0-bristol-city

Gerry McDonagh also got an assist for Barnsley in a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Leeds, who had Callum Nicell in their line-up: https://www.leedsunited.com/news/academy-news/24000/u23-barnsley-vs-leeds-united

[samhaydenjr]

Adam Idah scored twice for Norwich U23s - unfortunately Stoke scored seven: https://www.premierleague.com/match/39340/premier-league-2/2018-19/stoke-v-norwich. So four of our young strikers on target this weekend (Connolly, Obafemi, Parrott and Idah), with six goals between them, with O'Connor and Barrett adding three between them.

[dynamo kerry]

Adam Idah scored twice for Norwich U23s - unfortunately Stoke scored seven: https://www.premierleague.com/match/39340/premier-league-2/2018-19/stoke-v-norwich. So four of our young strikers on target this weekend (Connolly, Obafemi, Parrott and Idah), with six goals between them, with O'Connor and Barrett adding three between them.

Hopefully Idah and Obafemi get a chance. My fear is that Obafemi won't at Southampton now. despite their lack of goals as a club they still won't invest in giving youth a chance - stakes are too high. If they rated him he'd surely be playing already.

Idah just needs Jordan rhodes to lose form and he may get a chance. the rest of their strikers don't look amazing.


anyone care to comment on Simon Power? I haven't seen him play.

[Olé Olé]

Amazing to think Idah isn't 18 until February. You must imagine Norwich are being very careful not to rush him up to the senior team given what he's doing at under 23 level.

[pineapple stu]

anyone care to comment on Simon Power? I haven't seen him play.
Very promising player while at UCD anyway; winger with a great old-fashioned ability to simply go past players.

Obviously a big step up from LoI First Division to English U23s, but he seems to be doing quite well.

[tetsujin1979]

Kelleher was back in goals for Liverpool U23s at the weekend: https://www.premierleague.com/match/39206/premier-league-2/2018-19/liverpool-v-derby
FWIW he's not in the squad for Liverpool in the UEFA Youth League this afternoon.

<EDIT>

Never mind, he's overage for the youth league. This season's tournament is for players born on or after 1 January 2000, with a maximum of three players per team born between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 1999 allowed. Kelleher was born on 23rd November 1998

[liamoo11]

Nice to see canice Carroll on bench for first time for brentford

[samhaydenjr]

Along with Aaron Connolly getting yet another goal for Brighton U23s (his ninth in his last ten games in all competitions), Josh Barrett scored his third in two league games as Reading U23s defeated Stoke 2-1: https://www.premierleague.com/match/39342/premier-league-2/2018-19/reading-v-stoke

[liamoo11]

Along with Aaron Connolly getting yet another goal for Brighton U23s (his ninth in his last ten games in all competitions), Josh Barrett scored his third in two league games as Reading U23s defeated Stoke 2-1: https://www.premierleague.com/match/39342/premier-league-2/2018-19/reading-v-stoke

Barrett has really been frozen out at reading. That loan at Coventry last season also didn't go well that shiperly who king brought in for the 21s seemed to keep him out. Hopefully he can get away from reading looked a lovely technical 10 for us underage

[liamoo11]

Along with Aaron Connolly getting yet another goal for Brighton U23s (his ninth in his last ten games in all competitions), Josh Barrett scored his third in two league games as Reading U23s defeated Stoke 2-1: https://www.premierleague.com/match/39342/premier-league-2/2018-19/reading-v-stoke

Nice to see James Jennings involved for stoke he is under 19s for us this season but given our striker options he never send to be involved. I see Jack Nolan played for reading played fo Us at 16s didn't make England 17s squad for the finals last summer and not involved in their 18s squad this season

[samhaydenjr]

No goals for the Irish contingent in the game between Sunderland and Southampton U23s, but both Southampton goals were assisted by Will Smallbone. Jack Connolly was a late sub for Sunderland. Aaron o'Driscoll and Thomas O'Connor played the full 90 for Southampton, while Jonathan Afolabi made a welcome return to the line-up and played 88 minutes but Michael Obafemi was not in the squad - is he injured, is he being moved up to support Southampton's misfiring strikers? https://www.premierleague.com/match/39343/premier-league-2/2018-19/sunderland-v-southampton

[samhaydenjr]

No goals for the Irish contingent in the game between Sunderland and Southampton U23s, but both Southampton goals were assisted by Will Smallbone. Jack Connolly was a late sub for Sunderland. Aaron o'Driscoll and Thomas O'Connor played the full 90 for Southampton, while Jonathan Afolabi made a welcome return to the line-up and played 88 minutes but Michael Obafemi was not in the squad - is he injured, is he being moved up to support Southampton's misfiring strikers? https://www.premierleague.com/match/39343/premier-league-2/2018-19/sunderland-v-southampton

Adam Idah was also absent from Norwich's U23 team - the first team are playing in the round of 16 of the Carabao Cup tomorrow against Bournemouth - is it possible that he will be in the matchday squad for that tie?

It could also be possible that this could also explain Obafemi's absence, but Southampton's tie at Leicester has, understandably, been postponed after the terrible tragedy that happened on Saturday

[Murph 1]

Adam Idah picked up a foot injury in a recent U 23 game, Will be out of action for a little while.

[samhaydenjr]

Adam Idah picked up a foot injury in a recent U 23 game, Will be out of action for a little while.

Thanks for the update - disappointed to hear that

Josh Barrett kept his recent goal scoring run going with a Penalty against Villa: https://www.premierleague.com/match/39351/premier-league-2/2018-19/aston-villa-v-reading

[liamoo11]

masterson made his first appearance for Liverpool 23s since injuring knee before Champions League final on Saturday. Be great if he got January loan

[tetsujin1979]

Caoimhin Kelleher is included in Liverpool's traveling squad for their Champions League the this week in Belgrade: https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/323922-liverpool-squad-belgrade-shaqiri-lovren-keita
Unlikely to feature, even on the bench, but it's still a positive

[samhaydenjr]

Couple of U23 goalscorers tonight

Ryan Cassidy scored in Watford's 3-2 victory over Colchester. Apparently was his fourth of the season - pretty decent for a 17-year-old playing at U23 level: https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/under-23s/u23-report-reaction-colchester-2-3-watford

Kian Flanagan scored in Crystal Palace's 2-0 win over Millwall - need to start watching him closely - he's been scoring regularly from midfield at U23 for a couple seasons now and only just turned 19: https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2018/november/under-23s-v-millwall-report/

[tetsujin1979]

Kian Flanagan training with the Palace first team
1060891753950130181

[samhaydenjr]

Strangely, the big story of the night in U23 action is that an Irish player didn't play for his team - that's right, Michael Obafemi did not line out for Southampton U23s and we all know what that means :crossed::crossed::crossed:. O'Driscoll, O'Connor, Smallbone and Afolabi all played, with Smallbone involved in Southampton's goal:https://southamptonfc.com/news/2018-11-09/u23-report-southampton-newcastle-pl-cup

Elsewhere, Gavin Kilkenny scored the opener for Bournemouth against West Brom: https://www.afcb.co.uk/matches/under-21s/2018-19/west-brom-h-pl-cup?tab=report

[samhaydenjr]

In case Obafemi goes the route of Grealish, it's nice to know that other underage players are progressing - Glen McAuley got his first at U23 level in Liverpool's Premier League Cup draw with Burnley. Also, Liverpool missed two penalties and IIRC McAuley got some of his U18 goals from the spot, so hopefully he'll get a couple of chances to add to his tally this way in the future. Conor Masterson also played: https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/academy/324969-match-report-mcauley-on-the-mark-as-u23s-held-by-burnley

[CraftyToePoke]

Connolly with three tonight for Brighton u23 V MK Dons.

[samhaydenjr]

Connolly with three tonight for Brighton u23 V MK Dons.

Phenomenal stuff - nine goals in six games including four in two games against senior teams - he must surely be ready to step up a level at this point - come on Hughton, do what Hughes did, or at least give him a run-out in the Cup in January. Can we organise a couple of friendlies before March?

Elsewhere, I know they weren't playing for U23 teams, but some other youngsters featured for their senior teams in the Checkatrade trophy:
Emmanuel Osadebe scored his first goal for Cambridge United: https://www.cambridge-united.co.uk/news/2018/november/match-report-col-u-checkatrade-trophy/

Rowan Roache made the bench for Blackpool against Accrington Stanley: https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/matches/fixtures/first-team/201819/november/blackpool-vs-accrington-stanley-on-13-nov-18/

Reece Grego-Cox made a return to first-team action for Crawley, got an assist for their goal, but missed a sitter himself: https://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/2018/november/13.11-gillingham-report/


Dara O'Shea played for Exeter against Bristol Rovers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dara_O%27Shea) while Connor Ronan featured for Walsall against Port Vale: https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2018/november/match-report-for-walsall-vs-port-vale-on-13-nov-18/

[samhaydenjr]

Shocker from the U23s tonight: Idah and Afolabi both played in the Norwich V Southampton game tonight and it ended scoreless - O'Driscoll, O'Connor and Smallbone all played for Southampton while Ferry was on the bench: https://www.premierleague.com/match/39353/premier-league-2/2018-19/norwich-v-southampton

Another interesting omission: Josh Barrett, who's been scoring for fun for Reading's U23s in the last few weeks, wasn't in their squad tonight: https://www.premierleague.com/match/39356/premier-league-2/2018-19/reading-v-fulham

I didn't realise that there was a full program of Professional Development League games on Monday and there were some Irish scorers who we don't focus on quite as much as Connolly, Obafemi, etc:

Shane McLoughlin scored one and set up another in Ipswich's 5-2 win over Crystal Palace. Kian Flanagan scored a penalty for Palace: https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2018/november/u23-report-palace/

Yassin En-Neyah scored one of Nottingham Forest's goals in a 4-3 defeat away to Burnley: https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2018/november/under-23s-match-report-burnley-vs-forest/