2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship

[tetsujin1979]

21s could easily have called up Goodrham or Vaughn or McJannett or Finn or Mullins to replace Moran. Can't see whoever it is starting anyway, Gilsenan probably replaces Moran in a like for like swap.

Meanwhile there's a huge huge gap between Adam Murphy and Senan Mullen and the 19s are really light in that area with Ferizaj and Gibbard both injured.

Seniors could have had a look at Azaz, or Ronan, or Gallagher, or Taylor, as well and left Moran with the U21s

[elatedscum]

Seniors could have had a look at Azaz, or Ronan, or Gallagher, as well and left Moran with the U21s

Yeah - think i made that point when the senior squad was announced and people were criticising Kenny for not calling up Moran (that I was happier to have him with the 21s) and that in general I would have had Ronan in the squad. Seniors shouldn't have called up Moran, 21s shouldn't have called up Murphy

[JR89]

Looks like 5-3-2

Ireland U21s Vs Norway: Keeley; Curtis, Lawal, O'Riordan, Garcia MacNulty (c), Roughan; Adeeko, Healy, Leavy; Armstrong, Emakhu

[JR89]

Brooks, Abankwah, Adaramola, Phillips, O'Neill, Springett, Okoflex, Kenny, and Murphy make up the bench. Gilsenan misses out through injury and supposedly were doubts around Springett going into this game.

[elatedscum]

Adventurous as ever Jim…

These are the types of team selections that led to Festy tearing up the championship for Derby in the last campaign and not even making the match day squad.

I like both Roughan and Curtis but Jesus, we’re basically set up to put 8 men behind the ball and hopefully counter with Armstrong and Emakhu

[JR89]

Adventurous as ever Jim…

These are the types of team selections that led to Festy tearing up the championship for Derby in the last campaign and not even making the match day squad.

I like both Roughan and Curtis but Jesus, we’re basically set up to put 8 men behind the ball and hopefully counter with Armstrong and Emakhu

Don't think we can expect anything different from Jim when it comes to playing certain teams. We did similar at home to Turkey. Wouldn't surprise me if Moran being called up didn't bother Crawford as he isn't your stereotypical Crawford type player for these games.

[tetsujin1979]

Almost as if he's trying to make it difficult for the group's top scoring team to score...

[JR89]

Poor defending from O'Riordan for the goal. Surprised he's playing in the center of the back three given Lawal is one of the best passers we've got on the team.

[JR89]

Emakhu deserved that goal. Himself and Armstrong getting through some work pressing the Norway defenders and have caused issues for Norway trying to play it out of defence.

[joey B]

Great work from Emakhu to win the ball back and then finish the rebound from Sinclair Armstrong’s shot,a promising looking pair of strikers….

[tetsujin1979]

We've been playing some good football, deserved the goal
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[CSAD]

The only criticism I can think of form an Irish perspective is we haven't troubled the keeper enough but other than that we've played some good football. A good away performance in a difficult venue against difficult opposition.

One thing I've noticed from all the underage teams this window is we play some football but seem to concede from pretty much every chance we concede. The key to getting a result here more than anything is prevent Norway from creating any chances...

[yurt]

Enjoyable game of football to watch in the first half. Really impressed with Emakhu. That's the best I've seen him play. I don't remember his work rate standing out so much like this when he was at Rovers. Think he's hitting another level after his year in England.

Would take a draw in the context of the group.

Don't have any issues with how we're set up away from home.

[JR89]

Norway not up to much in this game. If Crawford can get his subs right three points are there for the taking.

[joey B]

Fantastic link up from the 2 strikers for the second,great goal….

[JR89]

Nice finish from Armstrong too and nice to see after some of the chances he missed in other games

[CSAD]

This ref has it in his mind that we are a physical side so appears to bee pigning us any time we have any coming together so particularly are the penalty box, and in it, we need to be super careful.

[joey B]

This ref has it in his mind that we are a physical side so appears to bee pigning us any time we have any coming together so particularly are the penalty box, and in it, we need to be super careful.

Right on cue!

[CSAD]

Right on cue!

And there we go, I was surprised he didnt give the first one tbh.

[joey B]

And behind now,taking Emakhu off felt like a bad decision and it looks worse now…

[CSAD]

This ref is an embarrassment, every single bit of contact is a free kick.... you know the Norway players will just go down with every opportunity as this ref will give them the free.

[zero]

very frustrating.

[CSAD]

It was going to take a miracle once Norway took the lead. All they had to do was fall over and they'd get a free kick given the ref, it would be next to impossible to get any sort of momentum.

[joey B]

Bizarre subs from the management lost that,Phillips seemed more interested in trying to kick people and fighting with the ref than trying to affect the game,Kenny missed a glorious chance to make it 3-1 aswell,hopefully they won’t regret that one…..

[JR89]

Norway not up to much in this game. If Crawford can get his subs right three points are there for the taking.

Goes and takes our best performing player off early in the first half.

Didn't deserve to lose that game and a real tough loss to take.

[CSAD]

Before the group the aim was win against Latvia,San Marino,Turkey with 6 points from 6. 4 points v Norway and then a free hit versus Italy. Now I think we can make up for this result if we can secure a point against Italy.

Turkey also play Norway so that could be crucial, Turkey need to win to realistically qualify from the group and if they do it damages Norway and puts us back in the driving seat for 2nd imo.

[Razors left peg]

Crawford cost us that game, infuriating

[Comic Book Guy]

Crawford cost us that game, infuriating
100%, made that change way too early.
I would put the penalty in the bought variety, Norwegian player actually grabs hold of the Irish player first.
Way more annoyed losing that one because at 2-1 we're fairly comfortable.

[elatedscum]

Weird one. Thought the pressing was excellent, Emakhu, Armstrong, Roughan and Leavy in particular. That was a real positive. Threw away 3 points.

Changes were bizarre. The moment we went up, I was calling for Healy and Leavy to be pulled for Phillips and Murphy. Leavy wasn’t quite at his normal level and Healy tired really early, you could see it, once we scored, they started to press the midfield with more intensity and Healy looked leggy.

Mad to take off Emakhu. He was so bright and lively and was still causing defenders problems.

Penalty was very harsh - Norway player makes the first grab and then Healy is blocked off by another. Then the lad feels the light tug and goes down when he knows the ball isn’t going near him.

As for the late changes at 3-2 down, don’t understand why he didn’t take off O’Riordan and go to 4 at the back. You had Okoflex and Springett on the bench who were very good last month. Okoflex beats players with ease and knows where the goal is, Springett is pacey and has a real spark to him.

Biggest positive is that Norway look very beatable back in Dublin

[elatedscum]

Commentator mentioned the pitch being in bad condition. Every time the 21s play there, it's in rag order. They're arguing that it helps us vs the italians - not entirely sure that's true.

[JR89]

Grehan and Phillips the only two changes to the starting XI and they replace O'Riordan and Leavy. O'Riordan isn't on the bench so likely an injury there. No Okoflex on the bench but Gilsenan is fit again and on the bench.

[joey B]

It’s a shame Turners Cross is so poor at the minute,perfect venue for these games but I don’t think the pitch is helping either team….

[SkStu]

Nice goal from Phillips and we take the lead after being second best all game so far. Good cross from Armstrong (he’s been generally wasteful again), assist from Curtis ;) and decent finish from the on rushing Phillips.

[JR89]

Turkey 2-0 up against Norway.

[tetsujin1979]

Nice goal from Phillips and we take the lead after being second best all game so far. Good cross from Armstrong (he’s been generally wasteful again), assist from Curtis ;) and decent finish from the on rushing Phillips.
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[joey B]

Bosun Lawal just booked for passing the ball !

[zero]

for the second game in a row we conceded a stupid penalty when ahead. frustrating.

[CSAD]

The worrying part is it's quite clear this ref can be conned just like the ref in Norway. Would worry if there is a 50/50 challenge in the Irish box....

[JR89]

Two minutes into the second half and 2-1 up now. Good ball into the box from Grehan too. Usually it's us conceding early in the second half. Also finished 2-0 to Turkey so that's a good result for us.

[SkStu]

Emakhu has been excellent. So have Lawal and Phillips.

[JR89]

Emakhu has been excellent. So have Lawal and Phillips.

Lawal is wasted playing CB. All the talk about converting a CB into a midfielder and we've got Lawal whose a midfielder that Celtic are trying to convert to a CB.

Wouldn't mind seeing Garcia get a call up for the friendlies next year. U21s only have one qualifier against San Marino next March and he's playing regularly at LB for his club. A position which we're short of options at.

[joey B]

That’s sickening…

[SkStu]

Brutal… not sure if Kenny was the right sub from Crawford with 10 to go. Switched the momentum back to Italy. And he’s so lightweight. Surely another midfielder or defender would have been the right move there?

[JR89]

That was heart breaking to concede with literally the last kick or head of the ball. Kicked off a bit after the final whistle with Sinclair Armstrong upset with something that was said or done.

[placid casual]

Johnny Kenny must be the best trainer in both Crawford and Bradley's eye's as I've never saw him as anything but a lightweight little boy in games he's played,in stark contrast to Armstrong who looks likes a man playing kids football.
Can decide if Crawford is a good manger,a bad manager or just unlucky. His subs tonight and on Saturday had a negative effect imo.

[CSAD]

I was reading on the coybig forum that Armstrong is only worth 900k and Gonto for Italy is worth 18 million…how does that make any sense ?

[geysir]

The Latvia results gave Ireland a chance but most probably it's the play offs now with a decent chance to be seeded.
The weak link in this u21 format is that the competition is dragged out, the finals are so far ahead of the starting point, if a player is good enough aged 21/22/23 he's already graduated to the senior squad even before the group stages/ play offs have concluded.

[Razors left peg]

Johnny Kenny must be the best trainer in both Crawford and Bradley's eye's as I've never saw him as anything but a lightweight little boy in games he's played,in stark contrast to Armstrong who looks likes a man playing kids football.
Can decide if Crawford is a good manger,a bad manager or just unlucky. His subs tonight and on Saturday had a negative effect imo.

Hes a bad manager that has good players. He may be a decent coach because we do play good football at times, but his decision making is terrible. He picks the wrong teams constantly and his subs are as bad as Stephen Kennys.

Today was heartbreaking, but we have a couple of super young players up front. Armstrong could be like a Heskey for us. So powerful and quick, if he develops his game a bit he could be a fantastic player. I really like Emakhu, have done since I first seen him for Shamrock Rovers. Such a clever player and is pacey too. It wont be long before both are regulars in the senior squad I think.

[JR89]

Goalkeepers:

Tiernan Brooks (Rochdale, on loan from Notts County),
Josh Keeley (Barnet, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur),
Andrew Wogan (Drogheda United)

Defenders:

Tayo Adaramola (RWD Molenbeek, on loan from Crystal Palace),
Sam Curtis (Sheffield United),
Anselmo Garcia MacNulty (PEC Zwolle),
Sean Grehan (Carlisle United, on loan from Crystal Palace),
Bosun Lawal (Fleetwood Town, on loan from Celtic),
Alex Murphy (Newcastle United),
Connor O’Riordan (Blackburn Rovers),
Sean Roughan (Lincoln City)

Midfielders:

Baba Adeeko (Wigan Athletic),
Zak Gilsenan (Blackburn Rovers),
Matt Healy ( Royal Francs Borains),
Joe Hodge (Queen’s Park Rangers, on loan from Wolves),
Andrew Moran (Blackburn Rovers),
Killian Phillips (Aberdeen, on loan from Crystal Palace),
Rocco Vata (Celtic)

Forwards:

Sinclair Armstrong (Queen’s Park Rangers),
Calum Kavanagh (Bradford City, on loan from Middlesbrough),
Mark O’Mahony (Brighton & Hove Albion),
Ollie O’Neill (Leyton Orient),
Armstrong Oko-Flex (FC Zürich),
Tony Springett (Northampton Town, on loan from Norwich City)

[JR89]

Joe Hodge and Andy Moran will join up with the seniors after the San Marino game. Disappointed not to see others being called up after the San Marino.

Also if Lawal actually gets named at CB Crawford should be handed his P45 there and then.