2019 UEFA European Under 19 Championship

[Olé Olé]

Agree with you on all the above, Tom.

I am intrigued to see how things pan out for Afolabi. Any scout watching any of the three matches would surely have liked what they saw and will like it even more when they realise he's a free agent.

Amazing to think that about 14 potential starters were missing for the Portugal match. Reasons to be cheerful.

[nigel-harps1954]

Absolutely agree on Tom Mohan. He was a leader on the pitch, and is proving the same off the pitch. Cracking manager.

[tommy_c12000]

And right on cue.... Afolabi linked with palace, villa and clubs in Spain and Russia. Story broke just as 4th goal was hammered in. These are exciting times for irish supporters

https://www.football.london/crystal-palace-fc/transfer-news/crystal-palace-vying-aston-villa-16639946.amp

[tetsujin1979]

Not sure how reliable football.london are as a source. That article is nearly as much about Zaha as it is about Afolabi, and they describe the game against the Czech Republic as a quarter final

[Eirambler]

Not sure about Palace or Villa - he looks ready for first team football but I'm not sure he'd get much game time at either of those clubs. Would rather he dropped down a division to get games, if he's good enough he'll get back to the EPL in future no problem.

[geysir]

Apart from the goalie and one other, I don't think there was anybody else selected from the team that beat Netherlands in qualifying.

[Eirambler]

McAuley is an interesting one. Has no club to withdraw him so is presumably left out on merit despite all the dropouts (unless he's the injured player). Would suggest he's not considered to be one of our best nine strikers at Under 19 level.

Also no word of any new club or any trials since he left Liverpool. I wonder if we'll maybe see him back in Ireland before the end of the LOI season? Quite a fall in a short space of time for someone who was so highly regarded, though there seems to have been some suggestion of an attitude issue.

Looks like he's heading to St Pats. Obviously plenty of time at his age for him to rebuild and go abroad again, but that's quite a fall off from nine months to a year ago when he was rated as one of our top prospects.

[liamoo11]

Looks like he's heading to St Pats. Obviously plenty of time at his age for him to rebuild and go abroad again, but that's quite a fall off from nine months to a year ago when he was rated as one of our top prospects.

An exciting addition to the league . 2 years at Pat's and he will still only be 21 moving back over. Best of luck to him although I'm surprised shamrock rovers didn't sign him

[Charlie Darwin]

An exciting addition to the league . 2 years at Pat's and he will still only be 21 moving back over. Best of luck to him although I'm surprised shamrock rovers didn't sign him
Rovers were allegedly in for him but realistically he wasn't going to start here. Better to go to a club where he has a realistic chance of playing.

[tommy_c12000]

Afolabi deservedly in the team of tournament. Only irish player to make it.

https://www.extratime.ie/articles/23354/ireland-striker-jonathan-afolabi-named-in-uefa-european-under-19-championships-team-of-the-tournament/

[elatedscum]

Well deserved for Afolabi. You’d expect him to be in the 21s squad in September after that performance.

Weirdly, I could see a scenario where Idah ends up back with the 19s and you’ve got Afolabi, Parrott, Obafemi and Connolly with the 21s.

To be honest, it’s another reason an u20 side would be a good idea. That class of 2000 is so stacked, you don’t want players like Reghba, Bolger, Lyons, Smallbone, Roache, Ferry, Kilkenny, McAuley etc etc etc to be out of the international set up for 2 years until the 1998 class graduate. I’m sure some will move to the 21s but there’s obviously a limit to the realistic size of squad and at this stage the likes of Ryan Nolan already can’t get a look-in

[Eirambler]

Unfortunately the class of 2000 reaches under 20 level in a year when there isn't an Under 20 World Cup. If there was one next year, making the semis at the Euros last week would have been enough to qualify for the finals, and the finals would have been played during a proper international window in June so player availability would have been less of a problem.

Still though, the class of 01 (with a few 02s thrown in) looks quite strong so still a possibility of those lads making the 2021 World Cup.

[geysir]

Rovers were allegedly in for him but realistically he wasn't going to start here. Better to go to a club where he has a realistic chance of playing.

Is realistic the buzz word around Tallaght, or is it a case of high standards in low places?

[Razors left peg]

Well deserved for Afolabi. You’d expect him to be in the 21s squad in September after that performance.

Weirdly, I could see a scenario where Idah ends up back with the 19s and you’ve got Afolabi, Parrott, Obafemi and Connolly with the 21s.



Id imagine that Idah will probably be ahead of Connolly judging by their preseason. Connolly has hardly got a look in so hopefully he gets a good loan.

[tetsujin1979]

Highlights V Norway
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V France
163dpEaFuXI

Can't find any for the 2-1 win against Czech Republic

V Portugal
8NPrE4pMsZ8

[tetsujin1979]

Thread bumped and locked