U23 players 2019/20

[liamoo11]

Molumby rested. Hopefully, millwall will continue to play him for the rest of the season, now that they have nothing to play for they may be tempted to develope their own players.

Masterson dropped after 2 poor performances, with Cameron replacing him (usually plays defensive midfield) - if Masterson can’t hold down a centre back spot for the rest of the season when there’s only 2 “true” centre backs available then you have to be pessimistic about his long term prospects.

Collins selected at right back again by Michael O’Neill and replaced after 71 minutes - 3-0 down to Wigan. Really disappointing to see Collins not being given a proper chance at centre back, considering the poor performances from Batth, Chester (who was inexplicably brought in on loan), Indi; and the fact Shawcross looks past it and is struggling with injuries.

Connolly isolated, Maupay joins him for second half. Frustrating to watch. Apart from picking up a couple of his trademark free kicks, and one nice layoff...he hasn’t done anything.

Overall, poor night for our youngsters

Michael o'Neill has a decent record there since he went but if they go down he will have to take the blame given that he has been there since November, has had a transfer window and had the lockdown to get even more work done. He has not helped Collins development

[Olé Olé]

Good to see Aaron Connolly and Jason Knight staying in their starting line ups for their clubs. However, Norwich have dropped Pukki and replaced him with Josip Drmic, ignoring Idah's contribution the other night. Very disappointing. Drmic has one goal in 17 league appearances this season so it is not as if he has provided a compelling reason for inclusion over Idah.

[liamoo11]

https://www.the42.ie/jj-kayode-interview-5139464-Jul2020/ nice read

[liamoo11]

Good to see Aaron Connolly and Jason Knight staying in their starting line ups for their clubs. However, Norwich have dropped Pukki and replaced him with Josip Drmic, ignoring Idah's contribution the other night. Very disappointing. Drmic has one goal in 17 league appearances this season so it is not as if he has provided a compelling reason for inclusion over Idah.

Connolly deserved it for his efforts against utd. Think he should start for us and let him get games to develop. I remember duff taking a good while to be impressive at senior level for us

[tommy_c12000]

Connolly didn’t do much. He does get pretty poor service. One big chance, Klose blocked his shot potentially destined for bottom córner.

Idah with 20 minutes. Looked sharp and strong again, one excellent glancing header off post at the end. He will start the next game, Drmic was terrible.

Knight played out wide left for most first half. Typical busy performance, without too much inspiration. Taken off around 60 minutes, had changed to the right wing.

I watched Molumby and Cullen last night. Molumby played the advanced role with Woods sitting. I really don’t think he’s an advanced midfielder, had minimal impact, his off the ball runs weren’t good, looked a bit headless. Subbed at half time. I do think he’s best playing deeper and linking things with his dynamism. Cullen played as sitting midfielder for Charlton, did okay without dominating. Strokes the ball around nicely. I do think Molumby is better longer term prospect with more explosiveness and energy. But right now, Cullen is the better option internationally. Molumby still has a lot to learn.

Derby and Millwall still in contention for 6th place

[Olé Olé]

Molumby is an out and out 6. Not a 4 as he is a little too dynamic to be willing to sit and you could play him 8 if you are being conservative and need a sitter. But he is a 6. The player he most reminds me of, as I've said before, is Roy Keane. Gets his foot on the ball when he has and does not have it.

He had a booking and maybe a knock last night so I forgive him the substitution.

[tommy_c12000]

Not sure what all the numbers mean, but agree on similarities on Keane. He was playing too advanced for me last night and seemed a bit lost. Better off a bit deeper. Similar to Keane role yes.

Yes he was carrying a yellow, but I didn’t see any convincing knock. Thompson who replaced him really didn’t impress as well, however, I wouldn’t be surprised if Molumby was dropped for next game or 2.

[Eirambler]

Interesting to see Will Ferry on the bench for Southampton tonight. Didn't come on but might get a run before the end of the season.

Good going to get that near to the first team at 18, to put it into context he's almost two years younger than Will Smallbone.

[elatedscum]

Good going to get that near to the first team at 18, to put it into context he's almost two years younger than Will Smallbone.

He also had a bad injury, which is why he missed the Euro U19 championships last summer. Pretty sure he only returned in December, so he missed 6/7 months.

[Olé Olé]

Just reading here that the SPL reserve league may not resume until January 2021. Sources close to Celtic have told the Athletic that "they are worried Celtic are considering temporarily disbanding their development team for 2020-21."

After a pretty fruitless season for Luca Connell, Jonathan Afolabi and Lee O'Connor, that could be a worrying development. It would also leave Armstrong Oko-Flex and Barry Coffey in a difficult position given their relative lack of senior game time.

I have an awful feeling that the move has gone Pete Tong for the former trio. At least Afolabi has managed to nab his first senior goals during his loan spell at Dunfermline. And all 5 are 20 or younger. However, they should have very busy agents at present seeking loan or permanent moves.

[Eirambler]

Well Celtic, as well as quite a few other SPL teams, didn't bother with the reserve league last season anyway. The general opinion is that, like most Scottish football, it's worse than useless so no point to it when you're beating Dunfermline reserves 9-0 and the likes. They just played friendlies at reserve level instead.

That said, yes the Celtic moves have been exactly as disastrous as might have been expected for those three. Connell hasn't had a kick of senior football, O'Connor went from looking good in his Ireland debut to a dreadful loan spell in a terrible Partick team and Afolabi was passable and no more at Dunfermline. He looked considerably poorer than his strike partner Nisbet. To cap it off the man who was instrumental in bringing them there has left the club and one of the most overrated managers in British football remains in charge. Think Roy Keane but without the entertaining punditry outbursts. Hopefully this will serve as a lesson for other Irish footballers who consider a similar path. Okoflex has also fallen away badly since going there and Coffey just isn't good enough anyway.

Why any Irish youth player would consider Celtic when there are so many top English academies on our doorstep is beyond me.

[seanfhear]

Well Celtic, as well as quite a few other SPL teams, didn't bother with the reserve league last season anyway. The general opinion is that, like most Scottish football, it's worse than useless so no point to it when you're beating Dunfermline reserves 9-0 and the likes. They just played friendlies at reserve level instead.

That said, yes the Celtic moves have been exactly as disastrous as might have been expected for those three. Connell hasn't had a kick of senior football, O'Connor went from looking good in his Ireland debut to a dreadful loan spell in a terrible Partick team and Afolabi was passable and no more at Dunfermline. He looked considerably poorer than his strike partner Nisbet. To cap it off the man who was instrumental in bringing them there has left the club and one of the most overrated managers in British football remains in charge. Think Roy Keane but without the entertaining punditry outbursts. Hopefully this will serve as a lesson for other Irish footballers who consider a similar path. Okoflex has also fallen away badly since going there and Coffey just isn't good enough anyway.

Why any Irish youth player would consider Celtic when there are so many top English academies on our doorstep is beyond me.
Maybe they are not that good !

[tetsujin1979]

Well Celtic, as well as quite a few other SPL teams, didn't bother with the reserve league last season anyway. The general opinion is that, like most Scottish football, it's worse than useless so no point to it when you're beating Dunfermline reserves 9-0 and the likes. They just played friendlies at reserve level instead.

That said, yes the Celtic moves have been exactly as disastrous as might have been expected for those three. Connell hasn't had a kick of senior football, O'Connor went from looking good in his Ireland debut to a dreadful loan spell in a terrible Partick team and Afolabi was passable and no more at Dunfermline. He looked considerably poorer than his strike partner Nisbet. To cap it off the man who was instrumental in bringing them there has left the club and one of the most overrated managers in British football remains in charge. Think Roy Keane but without the entertaining punditry outbursts. Hopefully this will serve as a lesson for other Irish footballers who consider a similar path. Okoflex has also fallen away badly since going there and Coffey just isn't good enough anyway.

Why any Irish youth player would consider Celtic when there are so many top English academies on our doorstep is beyond me.

Answered your own question there

[Eirambler]

Maybe not, but how will we ever know if they continue in the situation they are in at the moment. Certainly Connell looked impressive at Championship level the season before, despite playing for a team in free fall. Afolabi was named as centre forward on the team of the tournament at the Euro under 19s last summer, no mean feat. O'Connor looked good when capped for Ireland and when playing for our under 21s didn't look out of place next to O'Shea, Masterson, Molumby etc.

I would rank all three a little below our top level of young players that we have coming through at the moment. That was, at least in O'Connor and Afolabi's cases, why they were available for free to Celtic last summer. But they strike me as three players who, in the right environment, could be developed into professional, international standard players for us. Celtic's track record at doing this is not particularly good.

And if they signed for Celtic purely because Damien Duff was there they have either been ill advised or not thought through their decision. Coaches and managers come and go without a second thought for the players they leave behind, players only get one shot at their careers and need to go where the best structures are in place for them to develop. Glasgow is not that place.

Hopefully all three can get loans to SPFL clubs for the coming season because, with 10 in a row on the line, they won't be getting much game time at Celtic. Some talk of Celtic signing Martin Boyle from Hibs with loan players going the other way in return - maybe there might be an opening there. The Scottish lower leagues don't start until late autumn this year so no route to football for them in the Scottish Championship right now.

[tetsujin1979]

I doubt it was the only reason, but learning your trade under Damien Duff has to be a massive draw for any Irish underage player

[Olé Olé]

Bilic seems to bloody love Dara O'Shea. He is always keen to express how much Dara impresses him on all fronts- technical, tactical, physical, mental.

'He is the present and future of West Brom' - Bilic hails Irish youngster O'Shea https://the42.ie/5143732

[Razors left peg]

Idah missed a sitter from 5 yards out to equalize today. Has to take chances like that

[Olé Olé]

Can't find it on Twitter but apparently Dara O'Shea has scored a good header from a corner to put West Brom 2-0 up.

[nigel-harps1954]

Here's goal..

1280918993759539200

[Olé Olé]

Utterly dreadful marking but hats off to him. He's getting great reviews on the WBA fans forum: http://westbrom.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=1f1d140ef4648c7340f7efbff93106 f1&topic=24158.msg718378;topicseen#msg718378

Most appear to want him to stay right back in the near term. I assume centre half is his spot long term.

[seanfhear]

Here's goal..

1280918993759539200
It looks like one West Brom had done their homework on. Somebody or a few of that defence were sleeping.

Good to get that header on target with that much power.

[Stuttgart88]

Haven't heard anything about Luca Connell for a while. Anyone got any updates? I know the Scottish season ended ages ago. Was he in the most recent underage squads?

[Olé Olé]

https://twitter.com/KennysKids/status/1282623968898408450?s=19

Cool little picture here demonstrating the level of experience Bazunu is getting at City, working so closely with two experienced and/or quality keepers like Ederson and Bravo. Amazing to think he only turned 18 in February. Fingers crossed on this lad.

[elatedscum]

https://twitter.com/KennysKids/status/1282623968898408450?s=19

Cool little picture here demonstrating the level of experience Bazunu is getting at City, working so closely with two experienced and/or quality keepers like Ederson and Bravo. Amazing to think he only turned 18 in February. Fingers crossed on this lad.

the point still stands, but that is Scott Carson in the photo, not Bravo...

[Olé Olé]

the point still stands, but that is Scott Carson in the photo, not Bravo...
Good spot. They don't look too dissimilar - I had assumed Bravo! For 'quality', just read 'experienced'!

[tetsujin1979]

Haven't heard anything about Luca Connell for a while. Anyone got any updates? I know the Scottish season ended ages ago. Was he in the most recent underage squads?
He's been training with the Celtic first team in preseason, he's in a few of their instagram photos


https://twitter.com/KennysKids/status/1282623968898408450?s=19

Cool little picture here demonstrating the level of experience Bazunu is getting at City, working so closely with two experienced and/or quality keepers like Ederson and Bravo. Amazing to think he only turned 18 in February. Fingers crossed on this lad.

The least he could do is quote the source, or at least link to it https://www.instagram.com/p/CCjqEQSp5SP/

[SkStu]

https://twitter.com/KennysKids/status/1282623968898408450?s=19

Cool little picture here demonstrating the level of experience Bazunu is getting at City, working so closely with two experienced and/or quality keepers like Ederson and Bravo. Amazing to think he only turned 18 in February. Fingers crossed on this lad.

I might be off on this but Guardiola must really rate him as he has been calling him up to the first team squad for training and tours pretty much since he moved there. Is there any chance he gets a few minutes in the last few games?

As an aside, KennysKids is a great twitter account for staying on top of the irish players week in, week out.

[tetsujin1979]

City called players who are based in Manchester in to make up the numbers in training, instead of making them fly back from wherever they're based during the lockdown
1273006491289690112

[SkStu]

City called players who are based in Manchester in to make up the numbers in training, instead of making them fly back from wherever they're based during the lockdown

right, but i am talking about signs from long before the comeback from covid. He was brought on the pre-season tour of China and has travelled with the first team squad to premier league and FA cup games. Wouldnt seem at all necessary unless the coaches already saw certain first-team attributes in him.

[Olé Olé]

https://twitter.com/KennysKids/status/1282711573023391746?s=19

Trying to watch the United match but I've gotten lost in this list instead..

[elatedscum]

https://twitter.com/KennysKids/status/1282711573023391746?s=19

Trying to watch the United match but I've gotten lost in this list instead..

You might have missed Obafemi get an equaliser. Not the hardest finish but did well to not be bullied by Lindelof and to be the first to the ball.

[Eirambler]

Irish under 21 player Danny McNamara has moved from Millwall to St Johnstone on a season long loan.

His last loan was to Newport County in League 2 so the SPL should be a small step up in standard for him.

[liamoo11]

Nice to see Coventry on a strong west ham bench

[Olé Olé]

Dara O'Shea has popped up with another goal. A crucial equalizer as WBA were 1-0 down at Huddersfield. They shouldn't be dropping any points here. If it stays a draw then Brenford leapfrog them into the automatic promotion spots if they beat Stoke tomorrow.

[Eirambler]

Disaster for West Brom at the end there. Potentially looking at the playoffs now. O'Shea played left back for most of the second half.

His versatility makes him a particularly interesting prospect, especially as we don't have a huge amount of cover for Stevens at left back. Similar to John O'Shea in that regard I suppose.

Good to see Coventry on the bench for West Ham, hopefully he might get a few minutes depending on how the game goes.

[Olé Olé]

As well as the other goals and appearances for us at Championship level today, I see Peter Kioso came off the bench late on for Luton. He was born in Ireland and says here he is from Ireland: https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/sport/football/luton-town/kioso-happy-have-done-it-hard-way-after-earning-luton-move-1379718

[Fizzer]

Brentford lost to Stoke today so it’s still in West Brom’s hands.Be great to see O’Shea in the PL next season.

[youngirish]

As well as the other goals and appearances for us at Championship level today, I see Peter Kioso came off the bench late on for Luton. He was born in Ireland and says here he is from Ireland: https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/sport/football/luton-town/kioso-happy-have-done-it-hard-way-after-earning-luton-move-1379718
I see he was highly rated at Hartlepool. Voted into their team of the decade:

https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/pools-team-of-the-decade/

Only 21 too. Hopefully Luton stay up and he gets a run out for them next season in the Championship. Anyone know anything about this lad?

[Charlie Darwin]

I see he was highly rated at Hartlepool. Voted into their team of the decade:

https://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/pools-team-of-the-decade/

Only 21 too. Hopefully Luton stay up and he gets a run out for them next season in the Championship. Anyone know anything about this lad?
Threw his lot in with DR Congo a few years back but never played so presumably still eligible for us.

[Eirambler]

Aiden Keena on the move again, this time heading to Falkirk in the Scottish third tier.

Has been prolific at this level in the past, but it's a very low standard

[Olé Olé]

Troy linked with a loan to Millwall: https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tottenham-oliver-skipp-troy-parrott-transfer-latest-a4510676.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1595948174

[Eirambler]

Would be happy enough with that, Millwall was certainly a positive move for Molumby so no reason why it couldn't be for Parrott.

To be honest I'd be happy enough with any Championship club, I just want to see the lad playing regular first team football next season.

[Eirambler]

Warren O'Hora has won the player of the year award for Brighton Under 23s. Which is a good achievement as Brighton put a lot of work into their underage setup.

He's 21 now, hasn't played any senior club football in the UK, or for the Irish Under 21s and has a year left on his contract. Virtually no chance of him breaking through at Brighton next season. Desperately needs a loan move down the divisions to get his senior career going.

[livehead1]

Warren O'Hora has won the player of the year award for Brighton Under 23s. Which is a good achievement as Brighton put a lot of work into their underage setup.

He's 21 now, hasn't played any senior club football in the UK, or for the Irish Under 21s and has a year left on his contract. Virtually no chance of him breaking through at Brighton next season. Desperately needs a loan move down the divisions to get his senior career going.

What you didn't mention is that he only signed for them in January 2018, and signed a new contract a month ago. That puts a slightly different spin on the 'only a year left' element, which seems to suggest he's got no future there.

A good loan to championship or top half of league one until January 2021 would be a good move for him.

[gastric]

QPR to extend Masterson's contract which shows faith in him.

https://www.westlondonsport.com/qpr/round-up-contract-offers-for-qpr-trio-rs-eye-deal-with-west-ham-arsenal-youngster-wanted-by-bees

[Olé Olé]

Joe Hodge named scholar of the year at Man City. We have quite an assignment to hold onto this lad.

[Eirambler]

Kenny's a huge fan. I'd say he'll work hard to keep him involved with the under 21s for the next year or so and then hopefully into the senior squad.

He was so good for the Under 17s and 19s at the Euros, it would be a massive shame to lose him. Probably will be another year before he goes on loan anywhere so he's relatively under the radar for now.

[elatedscum]

i know it really means nothing but in my brief interaction with his father and my even briefer interaction with him - they both seemed like really good people and committed to ireland...

[samhaydenjr]

Joe Hodge named scholar of the year at Man City. We have quite an assignment to hold onto this lad.

Shh!! Stop drawing attention to him! What's that, English FA? No, no we weren't praising Hodge, just noting that he's probably too small to make it as an international professional footballer - I mean, can you name one world-class midfielder who was of small stature as a youth? No, can't say I've heard of this Messi fellow.

[Eirambler]

Didn't see the game but apparently Danny McNamara was a stand out on his St Johnstone debut today. A bit of a step up in standard from his last loan with Newport. He could pressure Lee O'Connor for the right back spot for the Under 21s this autumn.