liamoo11
15/11/2020, 2:46 PM
I disagree. Our turnover into the senior squad is going to get greater and greater.
For starters from this group we've already Kelleher, Travers, OShea, Molumby, Connolly, Idah and someone else?
Parrott is obviously there or thereabouts, and Lee O'Connor has already made his debut.
Based on what I've seen in this campaign, not just today, Conor Coventry would be an asset to the senior squad already. Collins is a beast, is very young, but has some lapses in him - for an almost first choice Chsampinship pro don't forget - that he needs to eradicate, and I'd be sure he's going to be a mainstay very quickly. I really like Connor Ronan. I think he's a very very clever player, and with better attacking players around him, and a good centre forward that pulls attnetion, he could be very useful, and I think he'll progress into the senior squad too.
Then there's Afolabi...he's been injured a lot, but I've seen him a handful of times, and much prefer him to Obafemi, who I think is so overrated it's comical.
Masterson, Scales, Elbouzedhi, Leahy, Mandriou. They're all really nice foorballers to watch, but they won't threathen the top two tiers in England, and in that scenario, I would hope that they could be a force in the LoI. I know that Masterson is at QPR and Elbouzedhi at Lincoln, but masterson for me has too many flaws. maybe he'll iron them out, but I'd be doubtful. However, seeing those players playing in a quality league of Ireland side - a Bohs, a Rovers or a Dundalk, would make a huge difference to the standard here, and also when those sides play in Europe.
Last one for me is Jack Taylor. Today wasn't the day for his type of game, but i've said it on the other thread, I think he's going to explode in the next 18 minths. He's tough, he's aggressive, and he carries the ball well, and isnt afraid to have a crack at goal. I fully expect him to be in the senior squad by the start of the 24 qualifying series.
That's before you even discuss next years 21s. It's one of the reasons why on other threads when we are posed the question "what's more important?", the most important thing, for me, is getting all age groups constantly into final tournaments. That drives these players when they get to the senior squad, where lets face it, qualification has been far from common place. We're constantly working on a top-down appraoch. We need to invert that.
Ask yourselves why this group of players was so anticipated and exciting? because of what they have achieved as a group all the way through. The first structured group of developed players from across the country, and it showed. That needs to be a priority.
I though Masterson was the better centre half today I really haven't seen many flaws when he plays for Ireland and he is certainly a centre half you want football wise if the plan is for the keeper to keep kicking goal kicks 5 yards to centre halves on the edge of the 6 yard box.
I think Ronan gets given alot of constant praise but has he really created enough in that 10 role or tested himself at a level equivalent to the championship yet ? Dan crowley is 6 months older than Ronan and to me is a player at this stage more suited to been in our seniors and impacting given his time in the top division in Holland and the championship
On the other hand obafemi has made impacts at premier league level and seems to get no love. He will struggle to play as a lone striker at the moment but paired with someone like parrott in a 2 he has definite qualities
It's been a good campaign certainly more depth than in previous under 21 squads but obviously it's very difficult for us to be down 7 or 8 first choices at this level and still reach the same levels.
The next 21 campaign will be tricky because covid has disrupted 19s international football so much so lots of lads wont have had the same international exposure as previously.
For starters from this group we've already Kelleher, Travers, OShea, Molumby, Connolly, Idah and someone else?
Parrott is obviously there or thereabouts, and Lee O'Connor has already made his debut.
Based on what I've seen in this campaign, not just today, Conor Coventry would be an asset to the senior squad already. Collins is a beast, is very young, but has some lapses in him - for an almost first choice Chsampinship pro don't forget - that he needs to eradicate, and I'd be sure he's going to be a mainstay very quickly. I really like Connor Ronan. I think he's a very very clever player, and with better attacking players around him, and a good centre forward that pulls attnetion, he could be very useful, and I think he'll progress into the senior squad too.
Then there's Afolabi...he's been injured a lot, but I've seen him a handful of times, and much prefer him to Obafemi, who I think is so overrated it's comical.
Masterson, Scales, Elbouzedhi, Leahy, Mandriou. They're all really nice foorballers to watch, but they won't threathen the top two tiers in England, and in that scenario, I would hope that they could be a force in the LoI. I know that Masterson is at QPR and Elbouzedhi at Lincoln, but masterson for me has too many flaws. maybe he'll iron them out, but I'd be doubtful. However, seeing those players playing in a quality league of Ireland side - a Bohs, a Rovers or a Dundalk, would make a huge difference to the standard here, and also when those sides play in Europe.
Last one for me is Jack Taylor. Today wasn't the day for his type of game, but i've said it on the other thread, I think he's going to explode in the next 18 minths. He's tough, he's aggressive, and he carries the ball well, and isnt afraid to have a crack at goal. I fully expect him to be in the senior squad by the start of the 24 qualifying series.
That's before you even discuss next years 21s. It's one of the reasons why on other threads when we are posed the question "what's more important?", the most important thing, for me, is getting all age groups constantly into final tournaments. That drives these players when they get to the senior squad, where lets face it, qualification has been far from common place. We're constantly working on a top-down appraoch. We need to invert that.
Ask yourselves why this group of players was so anticipated and exciting? because of what they have achieved as a group all the way through. The first structured group of developed players from across the country, and it showed. That needs to be a priority.
I though Masterson was the better centre half today I really haven't seen many flaws when he plays for Ireland and he is certainly a centre half you want football wise if the plan is for the keeper to keep kicking goal kicks 5 yards to centre halves on the edge of the 6 yard box.
I think Ronan gets given alot of constant praise but has he really created enough in that 10 role or tested himself at a level equivalent to the championship yet ? Dan crowley is 6 months older than Ronan and to me is a player at this stage more suited to been in our seniors and impacting given his time in the top division in Holland and the championship
On the other hand obafemi has made impacts at premier league level and seems to get no love. He will struggle to play as a lone striker at the moment but paired with someone like parrott in a 2 he has definite qualities
It's been a good campaign certainly more depth than in previous under 21 squads but obviously it's very difficult for us to be down 7 or 8 first choices at this level and still reach the same levels.
The next 21 campaign will be tricky because covid has disrupted 19s international football so much so lots of lads wont have had the same international exposure as previously.