2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championships

[liamoo11]

I would take hodge to toulon

[elatedscum]

I would take hodge to toulon

good shout. Would be excellent for him to work with Kenny. Spoke to his father at the 17s match. Seemed like a really nice guy. You’d hope that bringing him straight to the 21s wouldn’t lead England to put undue pressure on the boy.

[liamoo11]

good shout. Would be excellent for him to work with Kenny. Spoke to his father at the 17s match. Seemed like a really nice guy. You’d hope that bringing him straight to the 21s wouldn’t lead England to put undue pressure on the boy.

I think there will be plenty of pressure on him to switch both now and in the future. Hodge is a little unusual in that he is the first dual I can remember who played for both England and Ireland during his 17 season and was first choice for both but decided to play for us. Him and his family would clearly have known that doing this meant he could only switch once .

If you were cynical about it in his shoes then surely the play would be to stick with England for under 17 where he was first choice and would have expected to have had a better chance to win a tournament or qualify for the world cup and save your chance to switch back to us until you were older and saw how your career was panning out. Especially if commercially been involved with England even underage is worth more money.

I think we need to do what we feel is best for his development for us and taking him to toulon with the manager who will have an opportunity to pick him at senior level if he continues to develop would be a positive I think.

[Olé Olé]

good shout. Would be excellent for him to work with Kenny. Spoke to his father at the 17s match. Seemed like a really nice guy. You’d hope that bringing him straight to the 21s wouldn’t lead England to put undue pressure on the boy.

Sean Rice was supposed to be sound too. We won't mention Grealish Senior!

What's the connection with us?

Bringing Hodge into the 19s might be a bit much as they have had a lot of players earn qualification. The 20s might be a decent step.

[elatedscum]

Ronan Hale signed for Pats today. Really impressed me the two times I saw him play for the 21s in the previous campaign. He was probably hurt by the fact Crusaders withdrew him from the home based squad at the start of the year. Hopefully himself and Glen McAuley start banging the goals for Pats and give Stephen Kenny something to think about

[elatedscum]

I read somewhere that the 21s squad will be announced tomorrow. This is the squad I would name if it was me... I think he went with 23 for the previous European squad, so I followed suit.

I’ve added replacement players if any of the shortlisted lads make the senior squad and I’ve made a few assumptions with injuries. Don’t have Bolger in the squad which is tough but hard to really justify him ahead of anyone....

Kelleher
Travers* (Maher)
Kearns

O’Connor
Lyons

Masterson
O’Shea
Scales
Collins* (Nolan)

Leahy
Connell

Coventry
Molumby
Mandriou
Taylor
Knight

Connolly
Kilkenny
Barrett

Obafemi* (McAuley)
Parrott* (Hale)
Afolabi
Idah

Injuries:

Farrugia
Elbouzedi
Clarke
Ronan
Hodge

-

This squad looks just so talented. Great work by Kenny, Mohan and O’Brien

[tetsujin1979]

Squad announced - https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/ireland-u-21-squad-announced-for-armenia-sweden-qualifiers

Republic of Ireland U-21 Squad
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Gavin Bazunu (Manchester City)
Defenders: Danny McNamara (Newport County, on loan from Millwall), Lee O'Connor (Manchester United), Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion), Conor Masterson (QPR), Darragh Leahy (Bohemians), Nathan Collins (Stoke City), Liam Scales (UCD AFC)
Centre Midfielders: Jayson Molumby (Millwall, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion), Jason Knight (Derby County), Conor Coventry (West Ham United), Jake Doyle-Hayes (Cheltenham Town, on loan from Aston Villa).
Attacking Midfielders: Jack Taylor (Barnet), Dan Mandroiu (Bohemians), Gavin Kilkenny (AFC Bournemouth), Zack Elbouzedi (Waterford).
Forwards: Adam Idah (Norwich City), Jonathan Afolabi (Celtic), Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Michael Obafemi (Southampton), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur).


Think that's a first call up for McNamara? I thought at least one of the forwards would be in the senior squad

[Olé Olé]

Great blend of a squad.

[tommy_c12000]

Really exciting squad. Anyone know much about McNamara? Have we better than Elbouzedi? Shouldn’t be starting with the emergence of Kilkenny though. Let’s hope clubs don’t hold our players back now that’s they are starting to establish themselves at club level.

I would confidently put money on a side of Kelleher, O’Connor, O’Shea, Collins, McNamara, Coventry, Molumby, Knight, Kilkenny, Parrot, Connolly (with Afolabi, Idah, Obafemi waiting in the wings) would beat our seniors while playing a far more exciting brand of football

[Diggs246]

[QUOTE=tetsujin1979;2014323]Squad announced - https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/ireland-u-21-squad-announced-for-armenia-sweden-qualifiers

I assuming Mick can still keep whoever he wants for the Senior team?

[tommy_c12000]

I wonder if Okoflex has been approached? I would certainly have him in ahead of Elbouzedi. Looks good from the clips I’ve seen with far more potential than Elbouzedi, and offering under 21 football may help secure him. I would also have Luca Connell in there, either ahead of Leahy who is unlikely to be a senior international or Jack Taylor who I haven’t been impressed with and can’t get a move out of the conference at 21. Also where is josh Barrett? Is he not still underage for the team? He’s same age as Taylor and should certainly be ahead of him

[elatedscum]

I assuming Mick can still keep whoever he wants for the Senior team?


I guess that means they're not in the senior team (except Travers). I'm kinda surprised about Gav Bazunu. His form for City has been poor this season. Perhaps the long suspension has led to Kearns losing his place. Jimmy Corcoran


Biggest omissions are Josh Barrett and Luca Connell I guess. Barrett's two goals last night illustrated his ability - and although Connell hasn't played for Celtic so far, Afolabi is pretty much in the same position.



Have we better than Elbouzedi?


Elbouzedi is a good winger. Himself, Connolly and Farrugia have been bright sparks for the 21s. Mallon and Power both struggled. Barrett is a little different in terms of the type of player he is - didn't do particularly well at Toulon but it's not as straight forward. I saw him play for Reading's u18s a few times at No.10 and he was the best player on the pitch. He's more of a creative winger, drifting inside, than someone who is gonna hug the line and take people on.




I would confidently put money on a side of Kelleher, O’Connor, O’Shea, Collins, McNamara, Coventry, Molumby, Knight, Kilkenny, Parrot, Connolly (with Afolabi, Idah, Obafemi waiting in the wings) would beat our seniors while playing a far more exciting brand of football


In fairness, the u21s beat the senior side back in June in a behind closed doors game.

[tetsujin1979]

While not a major omission, I am a little surprised that Tyreke Wilson is not involved.

[Charlie Darwin]

I guess that means they're not in the senior team (except Travers). I'm kinda surprised about Gav Bazunu. His form for City has been poor this season. Perhaps the long suspension has led to Kearns losing his place. Jimmy Corcoran
Kearns being out for two months has obviously hurt his chances but I think Bazunu would have got the nod anyway. Great to see two Rovers men competing for a spot though, and disappointing Brandon Kavanagh didn't make it but hard to argue he deserves it more than anyone else in the squad.

[elatedscum]

"Jimmy Corcoran"

Clearly didn't finish that thought. Corcoran played better for the 17s than Bazunu did in the european championships. Maher did well for the 19s and has now graduated that level. The one game Kearns played in Toulon, he did really well.

Really like Bazunu and wouldn't really be worried in the long run about a 17 year old goalkeeper going through a period of poor form but I expected him to be lining out for the 18s or 19s rather than the 21s...

[Charlie Darwin]

Well I was only responding to the Kearns/Bazunu situation. I don't know about Corcoran so I didn't comment.

[Stuttgart88]

Squad announced - https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/ireland-u-21-squad-announced-for-armenia-sweden-qualifiers

Think that's a first call up for McNamara? I thought at least one of the forwards would be in the senior squadI don't think we've ever had a more exciting forward selection than this lot.

[Olé Olé]

Amazing that they are all so young also. All were under 19 for the last campaign.

[elatedscum]

Idah and Parrott still are U19s ;)

[tetsujin1979]

Obafemi and Collins ruled out, Simon Power and Kameron Ledwidge called up

[Eirambler]

Still no Josh Barrett - should be ahead of Power surely?

[Eirambler]

Are the two under 21 qualifiers going to be shown on TV anywhere? I thought maybe Premier/Eir as they had the Toulon tournament but I can't find these games in the schedule.

[jbyrne]

Are the two under 21 qualifiers going to be shown on TV anywhere? I thought maybe Premier/Eir as they had the Toulon tournament but I can't find these games in the schedule.

pretty sure Eir are showing all the home games anyway

[tetsujin1979]

Yeah the Armenia game is on eir, but the Sweden game isn't listed on their tv schedule
1166717128239702017

[elatedscum]

I would guess:

Kelleher

O'Connor Masterson (O'Shea/Scales) Leahy

Coventry Molumby

(Mandriou/Parrott/Taylor)

Connolly (Elbouzedi/Kilkenny)

(Idah/Afolabi)

------------

Bolded who i thought was most likely of those choices.

[Diggs246]

https://www.the42.ie/david-mcgoldrick-callum-robinson-injured-bulgaria-friendly-ireland-4799053-Sep2019/

Let parrot play tonight and then call him up for Tuesday for the love of christ!

[gally]

Any streams for UK viewers please.

[seanfhear]

https://www.the42.ie/david-mcgoldrick-callum-robinson-injured-bulgaria-friendly-ireland-4799053-Sep2019/

Let parrot play tonight and then call him up for Tuesday for the love of christ!
I don’t suppose Spurs would be too happy to see him over-played .

[Razors left peg]

Enjoyable to watch. Should have won by a lot more but Connolly and Molumby excellent.

I dont think Idah is good enough

[elatedscum]

Idah is still an U19 this season. He’s plenty young and has plenty of time to come good. Haven’t seen the replays but he watching it live, he should have scored the one he took too wide and then didn’t square the ball to Connolly. Whereas he did well for the one he played Parrott who hit the post. I’d be up for starting Afolabi ahead of him and ultimately moving him to the main U19 striker for their qualifiers in November but he’s gonna be an u21 for this campaign and the one after it and he’s on the younger end of that spectrum, so there’s plenty of time for him to grow and develop. To give some context, he’s well ahead of Ronan Curtis at the same age.

[tetsujin1979]

Idah did score twice against Luxembourg only a few months ago. Parrott seemed to be the focal point of the attacks last night, where Idah was a few months ago, and maybe he wasn't accustomed to that secondary role. He still had a great chance that caught him off balance, where he really should have scored. If he is to stay with the U21's, who are the strikers at U19 level? Conor Noss was called into the U19 training camp this week.

[Eirambler]

We don't need all of our forwards with the 21s, we're in the unusual position of having too many with Obafemi still to come back in as well. Much as I'd like to see Parrott and Connolly get a run with the seniors I don't see it happening in 2019, so for now I'd have Connolly, Obafemi and Afolabi (who are all now overage for Under 19) in the Under 21 squad with Parrott.

Then for the Under 19s I'd have Idah as the lead striker and we should have Ryan Cassidy (who's been very quiet recently) to come back in there as well.

You could argue that things would be more balanced in terms of giving game time to everyone if Parrott played Under 19 but I think he's just moved beyond that level now so that won't happen. It's only a short term issue anyway as this time next year I'd expect a lot of these lads to be in the senior squad with plenty of room then for Idah to go back to Under 21.

[Olé Olé]

Couldn't watch or go to the match but the most common thoughts across the reactions I have read appear to be that Molumby and Connolly were our best players. A wide forward and a midfielder to progress to the senior side soon? Yes please.

[Bottle of Tonic]

Yes Molumby and Connolly most impressive. Was a delightful novelty to see a team in Ireland jersies dominating the ball, playing out from the back when it was on, playing intelligent long passes when called for and generally looking very comfortable stringing 12-15 passes together in a single play.

[Stuttgart88]

They did everything right except score more goals. First time I've seen an Irish team play "post-2008" football, and so impressively. They played like other teams I see play and I think "I wish we played like that".

I was debating with some pals whether some of this squad should be in the senior squad for experience, as Wales and NI do, for example. I'd usually argue for a sprinliking of youth instead of tried and tested journeymen, but this week was different. This is such a seriously talented group and our U21s have been neglected for so long I think it's important this lot are kept together to develop together - and hopefully get tournament experience together.

I also think that Kenny should be allowed to work with the best he can work with given he himself is learning on the job and will be our senior manager next year. Of course if Connolly or Obafemi or someone does so well at club level they're obviously worth a senior call up, do it, but for now I think keep this lot together.

That said, with Stevens out for Georgia and McClean set to be left back (or maybe Doherty will be played there if fit, I'm not sure of Mick meant McClean was back up left back this week only), then Connolly already looks good enough to be considered on the left.

[Stuttgart88]

Idah did score twice against Luxembourg only a few months ago. Parrott seemed to be the focal point of the attacks last night, where Idah was a few months ago, and maybe he wasn't accustomed to that secondary role. He still had a great chance that caught him off balance, where he really should have scored. If he is to stay with the U21's, who are the strikers at U19 level? Conor Noss was called into the U19 training camp this week.
Apart from classy penalties I've seen little in Idah in quite a few games that justifies the excitement. Of course he is young for this level which is a huge mitigating but I've been a bit disappointed in him tbh. That included the UEFA U16s finals.

[Eirambler]

I think the reality is not all highly rated youngsters live up to the hype. We have about 20 unusually talented players aged between 17 and 20 coming through at the moment. Odds are maybe half of them will live up to their billing - a combination of injury, attitude or their just being a bit overrated will take out the other half. Idah looks like he might be in the overrated category, hasn't really impressed for Ireland, didn't do too well in his League Cup outing either. Obviously plenty of time for him to kick on but it does look like his size has got him a long way at youth level.

[ifk101]

I actually like Idah. Granted he's nowhere near being a senior player but he's a good out ball, and mobile. If he can become more assertive and confident, he has the skill set to develop further. But at 18, and one of the youngest members of that U21 squad, it's a bit early to be calling him out as not good enough?

If we are calling out players as not good enough, what about Caoimhin Kelleher? He's 21 in a couple of months with no prospect of 1st team club football. Lacks presence to be a (top) goalkeeper imo. Masterson is also another worry. Thought he played the ball well against Armenia and the partnership with O'Shea complements but looked suspect in Toulon - be interesting to see how if performs defensively against Sweden. And don't think our fullbacks are particularly strong either - for example, couldn't see either of them coping particularly well if faced up against a player such as Connolly.

[CraftyToePoke]

I actually like Idah. Granted he's nowhere near being a senior player but he's a good out ball, and mobile. If he can become more assertive and confident, he has the skill set to develop further. But at 18, and one of the youngest members of that U21 squad, it's a bit early to be calling him out as not good enough?

Yeah, same. And Norwich are seeing something in him, gave him a debut even though it could have gone better, an EPL club academy striker getting first team game time isn't happening for nothing or size related. Yes there are gaps, but he has time to fill them. I saw him in the u17 game V Holland and he had maybe three first time lay offs to over lapping runs from 50/50 balls hit at him which stood out. Lots to work on too definitely though

[Closed Account]

I'd be delighted with Idah if I was coaching him. The things he needs to improve on, decision making, composure, maybe instinctive finishing, can be easily improved on at any age. But his raw talent and spacial awareness which he seems to be gifted with are all there. He'll go far.

[Olé Olé]

Am I right in saying that line-leading 9s take that bit longer to develop too, particularly in teams playing variations of 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. Thinking of Giroud and Drogba, and McGoldrick too. Bayern Munich signed Arp during the summer and he had a lot of games at club level without racking up many goals and is a year older than Idah. You could argue that Lukaku still hasn't refined all the aspects of his game that you would like.

I wouldn't be too rushed with him. He seems a game, a good lad and very keen to learn.

We probably shouldn't be relying on him to break through to our senior side but once McGoldrick avoids injury and Collins gets acclimatised and keeps scoring for Luton then we don't need him to either. Connolly is the guy I think we need to blood.

[Stuttgart88]

I was unimpressed by Kelleher in Toulon. Did some things very well, others not so well. Certainly saw nothing that suggested he's on the verge of a senior breakthrough. I'm probably being harsh on Idah because he has a lot of room to develop still, and yes, his club and others clearly rate him. But still I think his finishing has been disappointing in the 4 times I've seen him.

[nigel-harps1954]

As long as Travers keeps up his development, Kelleher will never be more than number two for Ireland anyway.

[DeLorean]

I think the reality is not all highly rated youngsters live up to the hype. We have about 20 unusually talented players aged between 17 and 20 coming through at the moment. Odds are maybe half of them will live up to their billing

Where do I sign?!

[paul_oshea]

If out of the group we have that half make the snr team that would be massive, i suspect many will. The question is better asked, will they be any better than what we currently have? If so how many. I will go out and say of the group from 17-21 no more than 3 will be any better than we currently have. Parrot is the only one I've seen that has been consistently good at all age groups. Idah is young but the basic stuff you'd expect he doesnt have. Finishing is a natural attribute. Kelleher doesn't seem composed enough but for a keeper at his age its hard to tell if that is inexperience or just he doesn't have that awareness. Molumby is good from what I have seen of him. Connolly looks ok but he beat the armenian because of strength more than pace, and he wouldn't be doing either against more physical snr men.

So if we manage to get Parrot and Molumby better than say hendrick and Brady we will be doing well. Add another one in there that is an automatic starter in years to come then we are doing very well.

[CraftyToePoke]

Where do I sign?!

Was thinking the same, I would take three, I'd be delighted with four.

[Stuttgart88]

To be a good second tier international team, the type of team we aspire to be (or at least that I want us to be!) I think you need 7 or 8 decent players and 2 or 3 really really good players. We almost always have the decent players and that'll never change. Will we get 2 or 3 of those special players you need?

[Eirambler]

Where do I sign?!

Well I would say from the team that played Armenia Parrott, Connolly and Molumby are more likely than not to go on to play senior. Dara O'Shea also I think has a great chance.

Then you need to factor in Nathan Collins and Jason Knight who didnt play the last night but are performing very well in the Championship at a young age - both still only 18. And Obafemi who has played a fair bit of Premier League and has already been capped.

So there's seven with a huge chance who could make a great spine of a team. Beyond that a good few of the others won't make it in the end but also a few will that might not be as highly regarded at the moment. So I'd say getting 10 internationals out of this bunch is not unrealistic, especially given the age profile of our current Senior team, plenty of spaces opening up there in the next five years.

[Razors left peg]

Will the Swedish game be shown on tv ?

[Olé Olé]

Well I would say from the team that played Armenia Parrott, Connolly and Molumby are more likely than not to go on to play senior. Dara O'Shea also I think has a great chance.

Then you need to factor in Nathan Collins and Jason Knight who didnt play the last night but are performing very well in the Championship at a young age - both still only 18. And Obafemi who has played a fair bit of Premier League and has already been capped.

So there's seven with a huge chance who could make a great spine of a team. Beyond that a good few of the others won't make it in the end but also a few will that might not be as highly regarded at the moment. So I'd say getting 10 internationals out of this bunch is not unrealistic, especially given the age profile of our current Senior team, plenty of spaces opening up there in the next five years.
I think they are the most certain. There's also Mark Travers, I feel, to add to that group.

Afolabi, Connell and O'Connor could also come good if at least one breaks into Celtic side. They also really appeared to have missed Connor Ronan the other night.