U23 Players 2020-21

[Olé Olé]

23 and under lads with EFL Cup starts today:
Jason Knight- Derby
Conor Masterson- QPR (Manning started left back and scored)
Paudie O'Connor and Reece Staunton- Bradford
Anthony Scully and Sean Roughan- Lincoln
Gavin Bazunu- Rochdale
Aaron Drinan- Ipswich
Jordan Shipley- Coventry
Jack Taylor- Peterborough
Chiedozie Ogbene- Rotherham
Lee O'Connor- Tranmere

[Eirambler]

Roughan is an interesting one. Only 17, seems to be very highly rated at Lincoln. Playing at left back.

[youngirish]

23 and under lads with EFL Cup starts today:
Jason Knight- Derby
Conor Masterson- QPR (Manning started left back and scored)
Paudie O'Connor and Reece Staunton- Bradford
Anthony Scully and Sean Roughan- Lincoln
Gavin Bazunu- Rochdale
Aaron Drinan- Ipswich
Jordan Shipley- Coventry
Jack Taylor- Peterborough
Chiedozie Ogbene- Rotherham
Lee O'Connor- Tranmere

Omobamidele on the bench for Norwich.

[Olé Olé]

Omobamidele on the bench for Norwich.

Yeah, I focused on starters. Hondermack on the bench too.

[youngirish]

Yeah, I focused on starters. Hondermack on the bench too.

Has he declared any intention to play for Ireland? Born in France wasn't he?

[Eirambler]

Lived in Ireland from five years old until he left for Norwich. Sounds like he is keen to play for us.

https://www.the42.ie/william-hondermarck-interview-june-2019-4659690-Jun2019/?amp=1/

[Eirambler]

Sounds like Bazunu and Roughan both had fairly positive senior debuts. A clean sheet for Bazunu and both were on winning teams.

[Olé Olé]

Sounds like Bazunu and Roughan both had fairly positive senior debuts. A clean sheet for Bazunu and both were on winning teams.

https://twitter.com/KennysKids/status/1302278894993711104?s=19

The terminal Kenny's Kids page with a little more detail on Bazunu's performance. This guy could be incredible.

[Eirambler]

Impressive alright for an 18 year old keeper. Obviously this was his senior debut in England so we will see how he goes in the coming months, it looks like he has a great chance to be first choice and develop his game.

It's not beyond possibility that he might be the only Irish keeper who is a regular starter in the top three divisions in England this coming season, though that will depend on what happens with Randolph, Travers, Kelleher and O'Hara.

[Olé Olé]

Whatever about Randolph, surely at least one of the other 3 will be playing in the Championship or League One quite soon.

[Razors left peg]

https://twitter.com/KennysKids/status/1302278894993711104?s=19

The terminal Kenny's Kids page with a little more detail on Bazunu's performance. This guy could be incredible.

I've said previously that can see Bazunu being our 1st choice going into next summer. Randolph might not play a game all season

[Diggs246]

I've said previously that can see Bazunu being our 1st choice going into next summer. Randolph might not play a game all season

There is a great photo/post in that link of Adam idah as a kid in his irish kit on. Titled
"just a kid with a dream"

[Diggs246]

1301865395243094016

[Olé Olé]

That's class.

[tetsujin1979]

Posts move to new thread

[tetsujin1979]

Two quality finishes from Ademipo Odubeko, and an outrageous long range lob from Conor Coventry, in West Ham U21s win over Southend in the FA Trophy last night
Goals at 0:07, 1:22, and 1:44
xJO12PC5IBA
An interview with him on West Ham's website today - https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2020/september/09-september/ademipo-odubeko-academy-players-have-worked-hard - does describe him as an "Irish youth international".
Doesn't mean he's still part of the underage setup here, or that he's not thinking of changing allegiances, but it's good to see.

[Exgrad]

Whoever does the in house media for West Ham seems determined to make sure everyone knows he's Irish!

https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2020/march/24-march/ademipo-odubeko-goalscoring-emerald-isle-east-end

[samhaydenjr]

Wow! Two crackers in his first competitive outing against senior opposition. And still only 17. Could he be even better than what we have coming through already? Somebody from the FAI really needs to sound out his intentions - this is one lad we really don't want to lose for want of trying.

[samhaydenjr]

Elsewhere, Mark McGuinness and Jordan McEneff featured for Arsenal's U21s against Ipswich: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=EFL+trophy#sie=m;/g/11jx79s7f8;2;/m/0125lj;ln;fp;1;;

George Nunn was a second-half sub for Chelsea U21s against Oxford: https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/09/08/efl-trophy-report?cardIndex=0-1

Darragh O'Connor, Ali Reghba and Shane Flynn all played for Leicester U-21s against Hull, while Goalkeeper Arlo Doherty was on the bench: https://www.lcfc.com/news/1816704/citys-youngsters-beat-hull-in-efl-trophy-opener

And finally, you could say our lad William was "Hon Der Marck" for Norwich, opening the scoring against Plymouth. Omobabidele also played but I can't think of a pun for him: https://www.canaries.co.uk/News/2020/september/match-report-for-norwich-city-under-21s-v-plymouth-argyle-08-september-2020/

[Eminence Grise]

Omobabidele also played but I can't think of a pun for him

If you keep tabs on his performances,you can be our 'dele counter!

[youngirish]

Wow! Two crackers in his first competitive outing against senior opposition. And still only 17. Could he be even better than what we have coming through already? Somebody from the FAI really needs to sound out his intentions - this is one lad we really don't want to lose for want of trying.

He does look very promising at the moment. I wouldn't be surprised if he's playing first team football either at West ham or on loan in the Championship by the end of the coming season.

He's another striker though so while it would be disappointing if he doesn't want to play for us its not likely to be a disaster. In fact in all the central positions on the park we seem to be stacked with potential talent waiting to burst through. Unfortunately in the wide positions there's much less to get excited about.

[Stuttgart88]

Do we really have to start this "flight risk" conversation every time a dual-eligible player does anything of note?

[seanfhear]

Do we really have to start this "flight risk" conversation every time a dual-eligible player does anything of note?
People Clip Chickens Wings when they are a Flight Risk !

[tetsujin1979]

Do we really have to start this "flight risk" conversation every time a dual-eligible player does anything of note?

Unfortunately, it's going to be a question that every dual national player will face from now on, and not just Irish players. Are you going to stay with Turkey/Morocco/Ireland, or are you thinking of declaring for Germany/Belgium/England?
We've benefited and lost from the rules, as have most other countries, and it's just something we're going to have to get used to.

[Diggs246]

Unfortunately, it's going to be a question that every dual national player will face from now on, and not just Irish players. Are you going to stay with Turkey/Morocco/Ireland, or are you thinking of declaring for Germany/Belgium/England?
We've benefited and lost from the rules, as have most other countries, and it's just something we're going to have to get used to.

Correct, but we must be the only country to every lose a senior international player that we wanted to keep?

[Stuttgart88]

Wilf Zaha?

[tetsujin1979]

Correct, but we must be the only country to every lose a senior international player that we wanted to keep?
Harry Arter
Michael Obafemi
James McCarthy
Aiden McGeady

[Eirambler]

Wilf Zaha?

Nacer Chadli would be another that comes to mind. I'm sure there are more.

[Diggs246]

Harry Arter
Michael Obafemi
James McCarthy
Aiden McGeady

None of whom played senior international football for another country.

I'm referring to Rice.

[Diggs246]

Wilf Zaha?

England didn't want tbf.. maybe later but when he defected he wasn't wanted

[tetsujin1979]

None of whom played senior international football for another country.

I'm referring to Rice.
misread it as "lose every international that we wanted to keep"
There's a list of players who've been capped by two associations here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_association_footballers_who_have_been_capp ed_for_two_senior_national_teams

[elatedscum]

Two quality finishes from Ademipo Odubeko, and an outrageous long range lob from Conor Coventry, in West Ham U21s win over Southend in the FA Trophy last night
Goals at 0:07, 1:22, and 1:44
xJO12PC5IBA
An interview with him on West Ham's website today - https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2020/september/09-september/ademipo-odubeko-academy-players-have-worked-hard - does describe him as an "Irish youth international".
Doesn't mean he's still part of the underage setup here, or that he's not thinking of changing allegiances, but it's good to see.

His former club-mate Sotona has left United, having rejected a 3 year pro deal with them. Disagreement over the wages he was looking for and what the club were prepared to pay.

Probably not the worst thing to leave. If they valued him highly enough to give him a realistic shot of a breakthrough, they probably would have been willing to give him £10k per week. United clearly isn't the worst place to develop right now with the likes of Greenwood, Williams, Gomes and Chong all progressing well last season - but you'd imagine he could go to another premier league side where there's a genuine pathway to first team football.

[samhaydenjr]

So the U23 season is officially up and running as of today with five Irish lads in the squads:

Will Ferry set up the winning goal for Southampton against Arsenal, while Thomas O'Connor also played for The Saints. Mark McGuinness lined out for The Gunners, with Jordan McEneff on the bench: https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2020-09-11/b-team-report-arsenal-vs-southampton-fc-premier-league-2-2020-21

Meanwhile Oisin McEntee played for Newcastle against Middlesbrough: https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/newcastle-united-under-23s-2-2-middlesbrough-under-23s/

[elatedscum]

So the U23 season is officially up and running as of today with five Irish lads in the squads:

Will Ferry set up the winning goal for Southampton against Arsenal, while Thomas O'Connor also played for The Saints. Mark McGuinness lined out for The Gunners, with Jordan McEneff on the bench: https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2020-09-11/b-team-report-arsenal-vs-southampton-fc-premier-league-2-2020-21

Meanwhile Oisin McEntee played for Newcastle against Middlesbrough: https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/newcastle-united-under-23s-2-2-middlesbrough-under-23s/

Wondering if Ferry and O’Connor are being kept around because they’re potentially considered to move closer to the first team like Smallbone and Obafemi or if loan moves will arrive in the future...

Interesting that the likes of Ledwidge in particular and Keogh weren’t involved...

Good to see McGuinness captain Arsenal. Weird to like a player and think he has a chance while also only rating him as our 20th best centre back prospect or something...

[Trequartista20]

McGuinness should benefit from Mavropanos's loan move to Stuttgart and see regular action for the U23s this season.

[Olé Olé]

Mark Travers between the sticks against Blackburn.

Interesting to see Derrick Williams back in the Blackburn team. He'll be centre half beside Lenihan.

[tommy_c12000]

Who’s this Sean Roughan chap? Anyone with insight? Makes his league one debut at 17 with Lincoln City

[youngirish]

Who’s this Sean Roughan chap? Anyone with insight? Makes his league one debut at 17 with Lincoln City

Scully just scored for Lincoln.

[Eirambler]

Who’s this Sean Roughan chap? Anyone with insight? Makes his league one debut at 17 with Lincoln City

Young lad from Dublin, moved over last year after being scouted playing schoolboy football in Dublin. Probably playing at the moment due to injuries to others but still a big achievement at 17 and apparently going well again today.

[Eirambler]

Sounds like both Bazunu and Travers are having absolute howlers today unfortunately. They've shipped 5 between them so far and almost all should have been saved by the sounds of it.

On the plus side Idah has scored for Norwich.

[Eirambler]

Tough weekend so far for our under 23s, a lot of 'learning from the experience moments', particularly for Bazunu, Travers and O'Shea. Manning and Cullen being left out of their match day squads (for different reasons) is a shame as well (neither are actually Under 23 now either) and we will have to wait at least another week to see Parrott in action.

Idah and Roughan were probably the main positives. Brighton tomorrow night should be interesting.

[DeLorean]

Why was Cullen left out?

[CraftyToePoke]

Why was Cullen left out?

I'd say West Ham are only keeping him around in case of an apocalypse and the need of cannibalism arises at this stage.

[CraftyToePoke]

Tough weekend so far for our under 23s, a lot of 'learning from the experience moments', particularly for Bazunu, Travers and O'Shea. Manning and Cullen being left out of their match day squads (for different reasons) is a shame as well (neither are actually Under 23 now either) and we will have to wait at least another week to see Parrott in action.

Idah and Roughan were probably the main positives. Brighton tomorrow night should be interesting.

Cassidy straight in the side at Accrington is a positive too, part of a home win V an early bookies favourite for that division. But overall a could have been better feel to it definitely.

[DeLorean]

I'd say West Ham are only keeping him around in case of an apocalypse and the need of cannibalism arises at this stage.

I'd actually forgotten he'd returned from loan!

[tetsujin1979]

Neither Conor Coventry nor Mipo Odubeko are included in West Ham's U23 side against Chelsea in their PL2 game this afternoon. Their senior side is playing Charlton tomorrow in the League Cup, wonder if either will be included in the squad?

[Olé Olé]

Jason Knight scored tonight against Preston in the EFL Cup. How far away from the senior squad is he?

[Olé Olé]

Interesting in the Sheffield Wednesday game. I see Ciaran Brennan started and Conor Grant came on. Positive.

[MancIrishWolf]

Interesting in the Sheffield Wednesday game. I see Ciaran Brennan started and Conor Grant came on. Positive.

Did well according to their local rag. Joint top rating along with Windass upfront, which bodes well:

Ciaran Brennan 8

The debutant excelled on the right hand side of Wednesday's three-man backline. He was solid defensively and repeatedly carried the ball forward to launch attacks from the back. Did not look out of place.

[Eirambler]

A short piece on Sean Roughan.


https://staceywest.net/2020/09/16/he-has-grown-up-quickly-michael-appleton-talks-exciting-imps-prospect-in-latest-sw-exclusive/