2019 Toulon Tournament

[samhaydenjr]

Who was the lad playing number 8? He really needs to take it down a notch or ten. Yes, the marking for the Chinese goal was poor but seriously, there's no need to give your team-mates PTSD with your reaction.

[tetsujin1979]

That was Molumby. Thought he covered every blade of grass on the pitch

[Olé Olé]

That was Molumby. Thought he covered every blade of grass on the pitch

You're not far off: https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/1135918851659403264?s=19

Again, I'm liking the FAI Twitter page these days. They've committed to having someone focusing on following the squads at senior and underage level and providing content that is relatively interesting in this day and age.

[Olé Olé]

Amazing to think he's only 19. Not to mind our plethora of teenage strikers, we have a few crackers in the centre of midfield- Connell, Coventry, Knight, Hodge and Molumby all look great options at 6 and 8.

[elatedscum]

Amazing to think he's only 19. Not to mind our plethora of teenage strikers, we have a few crackers in the centre of midfield- Connell, Coventry, Knight, Hodge and Molumby all look great options at 6 and 8.

Aaron Bolger deserves to be in that list. He was absolutely immense for the 19s in Russia.

As for Molumby, if he didn't miss a year and a half with a series of truly horrific knee injuries, I think he'd have a chance of being a Brighton regular and a full international...

[Olé Olé]

Aaron Bolger deserves to be in that list. He was absolutely immense for the 19s in Russia.

As for Molumby, if he didn't miss a year and a half with a series of truly horrific knee injuries, I think he'd have a chance of being a Brighton regular and a full international...

Agreed totally on both fronts.

[rebelmusic]

Stream for the Mexico game:
http://www.sportp2p.com/football/893160/ireland-u21-mexico-u21-free-live-streaming-online-p2p.html

[Stuttgart88]

Amazing to think he's only 19. Not to mind our plethora of teenage strikers, we have a few crackers in the centre of midfield- Connell, Coventry, Knight, Hodge and Molumby all look great options at 6 and 8.Connell is wide left, no?

I'm generally sceptical of U19s being blooded at U21. I appreciate Toulon is an exception.

[Olé Olé]

Connell is wide left, no?

I'm generally sceptical of U19s being blooded at U21. I appreciate Toulon is an exception.

Centre mid I'm almost certain. He's left legged so he's filled in at left back for us.

[elatedscum]

He's played centre-mid, left-mid and left back for Bolton this season. As far as I can remember, his first start for Bolton was at left-back.

There's obviously a level of versatility there but he's certainly not an out and out winger. He likes a tackle, he's composed on the ball, fast enough to carry the ball but not lightning quick and he's a decent passer of the ball - my guess in the long run he ends up in centre-midfield.

[Stuttgart88]

I've only sewen him once. left back for the U16s vs Bosnia but it appers he sees himself as a midfielder. Wide midfielder rather than a winger most likely.

[irishfan86]

Connell will only reach his potential if played in the middle of the park IMO. Looked great in that role for Bolton in one of the FA Cup matches he played in. Hope we don't lose him.

[the 12 th man]

China making our performance against them not look too shoddy in the first half against Bahrain,2-0 up and all over them.

[tetsujin1979]

Starting XI announced
1136671592262410240

[Razors left peg]

This game not on TV anywhere?

[the 12 th man]

Free sports 429 on my Sky.

[Razors left peg]

Free sports 429 on my Sky.
I just looked at that it was showing motor racing. That was where I watched the China game. Weird

[the 12 th man]

Even enough after 15 mins 0-0.

[the 12 th man]

I just looked at that it was showing motor racing. That was where I watched the China game. Weird

Was that on between the games?,coverage only starts 5 minutes before games.

[passinginterest]

It’s definitely of free sports. Caught a few mins before I got relegated to watching a YouTube stream in the spare room. Missed the start but seems a tight game. O’Connor guilty of giving the ball away with terrible passes in a couple of promising positions. Playing some tidy football too though.

[Razors left peg]

Was that on between the games?,coverage only starts 5 minutes before games.
No it's still on, and the TV guide doesnt show the game at sll... the Joy's of using a streaming box I think

[Paddy Garcia]

Does that station - 429 - have a name ?

I have different numbers!

[the 12 th man]

Does that station - 429 - have a name ?

I have different numbers!

Called FreeSports.

[passinginterest]

Does that station - 429 - have a name ?

I have different numbers!

Name is just “Free Sports”

[elatedscum]

It’s definitely of free sports. Caught a few mins before I got relegated to watching a YouTube stream in the spare room. Missed the start but seems a tight game. O’Connor guilty of giving the ball away with terrible passes in a couple of promising positions. Playing some tidy football too though.

What’s that YouTube stream? Watching in a pub, they’re gonna change to England v Netherlands at 55 mins

You need a sky box to watch it. Virgin media and Eir don’t have freeview

[tommy_c12000]

Ireland slightly better team. Should be 1-0 up, one gilt edged op missed by Idah. Mexicans haven’t really troubled Kelleher a whole lot. Defense been okay, center midfield sloppy at times but playing good football. Connolly a loss. Power not doing a whole lot.

[passinginterest]

What’s that YouTube stream? Watching in a pub, they’re gonna change to England v Netherlands at 55 mins

You need a sky box to watch it. Virgin media and Eir don’t have freeview

Vlad TVM Sports is the stream. It’s watchable.

[the 12 th man]

Link to game http://www.hesgoal.com/news/47766/Ireland_U21_vs_Mexico_U21.html About a minute behind but good quality.

[Razors left peg]

Ronan is a class little player

[pineapple stu]

How's Power doing on the wing?

I see China hammered Bahrain 4-1 earlier, so even if we lose against Mexico, we should be able to beat Bahrain and make the knock-outs.

(Edit - hadn't realised it was in injury time! So hopefully won't lose from here)

[Closed Account]

Nice one. Beat Bahrain and we are in the semi finals.

(that's right isn't it? We'd be on 7pts and either top the group or be the only 2nd place team with 7pts)

[the 12 th man]

0-0 ,Good result for us.

[pineapple stu]

Nice one. Beat Bahrain and we are in the semi finals.

(that's right isn't it? We'd be on 7pts and either top the group or be the only 2nd place team with 7pts)

Also hadn't realised there was only three groups...

So yeah, I think you're right, and a draw (or a win of course) was not just nice, but required.

[the 12 th man]

China will give Mexico a good game............I hope.

[liamoo11]

Been delighted to see Masterson look so dominant hopefully this exposure will help him get club . He has so much physical development left which can only benefit him

[nigel-harps1954]

Very composed performance. Kelleher was very good. A hugely improved performance from him.

Masterson and O'Shea were dominant at centre half.

A very good Mexican side that too. Pressed them hard and gave them no time or space on the ball.

Very impressed.

[liamoo11]

Big preseason coming up for so many of the side. None of them playing at first team level for their clubs apart from leahy. Even o shea who has the most appearances at senior level in league 2 and conference will have big step up to be first choice at west brom

[centre mid]

They're a pleasure to watch, very confident.

[Eirambler]

I'd expect Connolly and Molumby to get a shot this season under Potter at Brighton. Otherwise either could do well on loan in the Championship or in Scotland.

Kelleher and Coventry should go on loan next season as they won't be getting games in the Premier League. Same for Idah and O'Connor, although Idah's younger so another season in PL2 might be OK for him.

Ronan seems like the kind of player that doesn't suit lower league football, could see him going to somewhere like the Eredivisie like Crowley as it will be hard for him to get a look in at Wolves.

O'Shea and Knight should have a decent shot at breaking into their club first elevens as they're both in the championship.

Masterson needs games badly as well, but he seems like too much of a footballing centre back to go to somewhere like League 1. Maybe a championship team will pick him up but it would be good if the exposure he's getting in this tournament won him a move to continental Europe - that could be the making of him.

Those 10 all have a decent shot of making it as full time pros. Chances are half of them won't in the end but its definitely one of the most talented Irish underage squads I've seen, even going back to the Brian Kerr days at under 16 and under 18 level.

[nigel-harps1954]

Big preseason coming up for so many of the side. None of them playing at first team level for their clubs apart from leahy. Even o shea who has the most appearances at senior level in league 2 and conference will have big step up to be first choice at west brom

Elbouzedi is first choice at Waterford too.

Simon Power also has first team football under his belt, as does Connor Ronan.

It is a big pre-season ahead for the foreign based lads though. The likes of Masterson should pick up a League One or Championship side handy enough if he chooses to stay in England. Otherwise, the rest of the season at someone like Shamrock Rovers or Dundalk would do him no harm.

Kelleher could look to a League One loan move too.

If Norwich didn't get promoted, we could have seen Idah getting a few Championship appearances this season, but they might not rush him through in the Premier League.

[Olé Olé]

Yeah, I think I've mentioned in this thread or another that Connolly and Molumby could benefit from Potter being the new manager there. They certainly look good enough to make it at top tier football in the future, as far as I'm concerned.

Great squad. Exciting times. This is the first exciting year of many at club level for our underage sides.

Off The Ball AM referenced some story today linking Nathan Collins with Borussia Dortmund, as well as Manchester United. Let the good times roll.

[tetsujin1979]

Kenny interviews after the game
kXLI9DPiqmI

[Diggs246]

Kenny interviews after the game
kXLI9DPiqmI
Not that it's in any way relevant... but he is no Roberto Martinez on the interview front

[seanfhear]

Not that it's in any way relevant... but he is no Roberto Martinez on the interview front
Hopefully he is no Martinez on the defensive side of football as well .

[DeLorean]

Very composed performance. Kelleher was very good. A hugely improved performance from him.

He misjudged that free kick that hit the crossbar pretty badly I thought, should have been able to easily touch it over. He held that cross at the end very well though as it was coming at pace. Over the two games I'd have to say I was disappointed with him as he didn't have much to do but still had three or four errors.

[DeLorean]

So it looks odds-on to be Japan, Brazil, Ireland & Mexico making up the semi finals. We would be the only non-U22 team to make it through.

Brazil's results have been impressive but it should be noted that it was the France U18's they beat 4-0. The commentator pointed out yesterday that they have eight different goalscorers from their two 4-0 wins.

The scoreline of the tournament was Japan beating Chile 6-1 (Chile beat Portugal who beat England). I'm not sure if it's h2h or GD that determine the placings of teams level on points. If it's the former, Portugal would still have a decent chance of making the semi finals instead of Japan. We'll know this evening.

[nigel-harps1954]

He misjudged that free kick that hit the crossbar pretty badly I thought, should have been able to easily touch it over. He held that cross at the end very well though as it was coming at pace. Over the two games I'd have to say I was disappointed with him as he didn't have much to do but still had three or four errors.

Hard to know there. That was a wicked strike of the ball. Could have easily caught out some of the most experienced goalkeepers out there.

[Eirambler]

Portugal beat Japan 1-0 with a late goal. However, if the commentator was correct, Japan stay top of the group on goal difference and will win the group.

[tommy_c12000]

Team out: kelleher, o’connor, leahy, o’shea, scales, Knight, elbouzedi, Molumby, Ronan, Barrett, Connolly.

Hopefully means connolly in more advanced position with Idah not starting

[tetsujin1979]

He seems to be fairly central so far, but not in the box