U21 Players 2023/24

[tetsujin1979]

Cathal Heffernan captaining Newcastle against Dortmund at 3
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stream on uefa.tv: https://www.uefa.tv/match/live/249396/2039430

[tetsujin1979]

Jack Henry-Francis' third goal in four games, and another two for Mark O'Mahony in a 6-3 win for Arsenal against Brighton in the PL2
Going by the highlights below, every shot on target went in!

Henry-Francis' goal at 1:32, Mahony's brace at 2:03 and 2:43
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[samhaydenjr]

Jack Henry-Francis' third goal in four games, and another two for Mark O'Mahony in a 6-3 win for Arsenal against Brighton in the PL2


Nine goals in seven games - great stuff, let's hope he keeps it up.

Elsewhere, Ollie O'Neill scored for Fulham against Feyenoord: https://www.premierleague.com/match/108503/premier-league-2/2023-2024/fulham-u21-v-feyenoord-u21

Blackburn faced a hammering from Reading, but at least Zak Gilsenan hit the net: https://www.premierleague.com/match/107520/premier-league-2/2023-24/reading-u21-v-blackburn-rovers-u21

[MancIrishWolf]

Brighton won 2-1 against Villa to go 4th in the PL2. O’Mahony didn’t score, but is getting a load of plaudits with a lot of fans expecting him to be involved with the first team shortly with such a busy schedule and Welbeck out and the Asian / African cup of nations depleting their team. Sounds like he’s been training with them too which is encouraging.

McConville from the North scored and Cahill also getting praise in goal.

https://www.northstandchat.com/threads/u21s-v-villa-u21s-friday-3rd-nov-7pm.404454/page-3

https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/23894359.evan-ferguson-says-mark-omahony-progressing-brighton/

[tetsujin1979]

Celtic B are playing Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Youth League at 3. Rocco Vata is starting, and Ben Quinn is on the bench
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Live stream on uefa.tv
https://www.uefa.tv/match/live/249398/2039436/

[pineapple stu]

Cathal Heffernan scored for Newcastle against Dortmund in this today, but they drew 2-2 and are out with two games remaining

Course Troy Parrott did quite well in this I think, so it's no guarantee of a successful senior career

[CSAD]

Cathal Heffernan scored for Newcastle against Dortmund in this today, but they drew 2-2 and are out with two games remaining

Course Troy Parrott did quite well in this I think, so it's no guarantee of a successful senior career

Hopefully Heffernan can try not being injured every 2 seconds though.

[samhaydenjr]

Haven't been keeping a close eye on Calum Kavanagh this season, but he scored the only goal against Derby, his eighth goal in eight games this season: https://www.premierleague.com/match/107534/premier-league-2/2023-24/middlesbrough-u21-v-derby-u21 (https://ca.soccerway.com/players/calum-kavanagh/623096/)

[samhaydenjr]

In EFL Trophy action:

Brighton U21s beat Forest Green on penos, Mark O'Mahony scoring the first and Jamie Mullins clinching the win: https://www.skysports.com/football/forest-green-rovers-vs-brighton-and-hove-albion-u21/495091

Adaramola, Grehan and Umeh-Chibueze featured in Crystal Palace's 2-0 loss to Wimbledon: https://www.skysports.com/football/forest-green-rovers-vs-brighton-and-hove-albion-u21/495091

Kone-Doherty played the second half for Liverpool against Barrow:https://www.skysports.com/football/barrow-vs-liverpool-u21/teams/495086

Josh Keeley kept goal for Spurs in a 4-1 defeat at Cambridge: https://www.skysports.com/football/cambridge-united-vs-tottenham-hotspur-u21/teams/495087

Ollie O'Neill played for Fulham against Gillingham: https://www.skysports.com/football/gillingham-vs-fulham-u21/teams/495092

[tetsujin1979]

Haven't been keeping a close eye on Calum Kavanagh this season, but he scored the only goal against Derby, his eighth goal in eight games this season: https://www.premierleague.com/match/107534/premier-league-2/2023-24/middlesbrough-u21-v-derby-u21 (https://ca.soccerway.com/players/calum-kavanagh/623096/)
Boro's U21 side have scored 18 goals in the PL2 this season, Kavanagh scored six of those. He's only failed to scored in two of the nine games he's played in this season. He turned 20 in September, and should look to either push into their first team this season, or go on loan again in January. Boro had a stuttering start to the season, failing to win until their eighth game, but have won six of their last eight and the play off spots are in sight for them.

[ifk101]

Cathal Heffernan scored for Newcastle against Dortmund in this today, but they drew 2-2 and are out with two games remaining

Course Troy Parrott did quite well in this I think, so it's no guarantee of a successful senior career

Ryan Nolan. Nolan played for and captained Inter in this competition in Heffernan's position. Played against Parrott btw.

[tetsujin1979]

Thomas Bloxham starts for Blackburn against PSV tonight, and Rory Finneran is named among the substitutes
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There's a live stream on YouTube
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[tetsujin1979]

Stream of Brighton and Hove Albion v Celtic in the PL International Cup
Few Irish players involved
Brighton's starting players: Killian Cahill, Leigh Kavanagh, Jamie Mullins, Mark O'Mahony
Celtic's starting players: Rocco Vata
Celtic's substitutes: Justin Osagie
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[samhaydenjr]

Stream of Brighton and Hove Albion v Celtic in the PL International Cup
Few Irish players involved
Brighton's starting players: Killian Cahill, Leigh Kavanagh, Jamie Mullins, Mark O'Mahony
Celtic's starting players: Rocco Vata
Celtic's substitutes: Justin Osagie


Two goals for O'Mahony, one each for Kavanagh and Vata. Brings O'Mahony's total for the season to 17 in all competitions, by my count... it's November! https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/3793779/flower-sinks-celtic-with-late-winner-in-amex-thriller

Elsewhere, Franco Umeh was credited with an assist for Palace against Birmingham: https://www.premierleague.com/match/108342/premier-league-2/2023-24/birmingham-city-u21-v-crystal-palace-u21

[elatedscum]

Stream of Brighton and Hove Albion v Celtic in the PL International Cup
Few Irish players involved
Brighton's starting players: Killian Cahill, Leigh Kavanagh, Jamie Mullins, Mark O'Mahony
Celtic's starting players: Rocco Vata
Celtic's substitutes: Justin Osagie
NMX7Saggq7Y

Jacob Slater is also Irish. Was involved in training camps for u18s and u19s but never selected for any camps with games

[tetsujin1979]

Lee Kavanagh is included in the Brighton squad for the Europa League, albeit as a B-squad inclusion
https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/clubs/2601105--brighton/squad/
Kavanagh might be involved for Brighton later this evening
1729905967926575282

[samhaydenjr]

Not much happening tonight - Ollie O'Neill credited for an assist on Fulham's second goal against Brighton - https://www.premierleague.com/match/107537/premier-league-2/2023-24/fulham-u21-v-albion-u21

But the most interesting thing is who did not play - Mark O'Mahony and Leigh Kavanagh were both absent from Brighton's line-up - given Brighton's injury list, will we see them on the bench tomorrow?

Also, Zak Gilsenan did not appear in Blackburn's U21 squad for their game against Norwich

[CSAD]

Not much happening tonight - Ollie O'Neill credited for an assist on Fulham's second goal against Brighton - https://www.premierleague.com/match/107537/premier-league-2/2023-24/fulham-u21-v-albion-u21

But the most interesting thing is who did not play - Mark O'Mahony and Leigh Kavanagh were both absent from Brighton's line-up - given Brighton's injury list, will we see them on the bench tomorrow?

Also, Zak Gilsenan did not appear in Blackburn's U21 squad for their game against Norwich

And with Pedro + Ferguson playing midweek there’s a possibility he might get on depending how the game goes!

Kavanagh was in Greece only of Thursday so that could explain why he’s not involved.

[tetsujin1979]

Not much happening tonight - Ollie O'Neill credited for an assist on Fulham's second goal against Brighton - https://www.premierleague.com/match/107537/premier-league-2/2023-24/fulham-u21-v-albion-u21

But the most interesting thing is who did not play - Mark O'Mahony and Leigh Kavanagh were both absent from Brighton's line-up - given Brighton's injury list, will we see them on the bench tomorrow?

Also, Zak Gilsenan did not appear in Blackburn's U21 squad for their game against Norwich
Both named as subs today against Chelsea
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[samhaydenjr]

Both named as subs today against Chelsea


The injuries definitely contributed to it, but it's still great progress, particularly for O'Mahony, who has only been at Brighton for less than a year.

[tetsujin1979]

Cathal Heffernan is captaining Newcastle against AC Milan in the UEFA Youth League, stream available below
https://www.uefa.tv/match/live/254563/2039479

[tetsujin1979]

Goals for Thomas Bloxham and Zak Gilsenan for Blackburn against Wolves in the PL2
Full game is on YouTube (Wolves stream all their home PL2 games where possible)
Bloxham's goal at 1:12:00, Gilsenan's at 1:15:54
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[tetsujin1979]

New contract for Sean Grehan at Crystal Palace
https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/sean-grehan-signs-new-contract-with-crystal-palace/

[Eirambler]

Blackburn reported to be activating Conor O'Riordan's 500k release clause in January to being him up to the Championship from League 2.

[Olé Olé]

Blackburn reported to be activating Conor O'Riordan's 500k release clause in January to being him up to the Championship from League 2.

No surprise there I suppose.

Quotes here regarding his pride of playing for Ireland that I didn't see at the time. Both paternal grandparents are Irish and are still alive and supporting him:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thesun.ie/sport/11690229/connor-oriordan-crewe-ireland-u21s-norway/amp/

[tetsujin1979]

Former bohemians goalkeeper Reece Byrne in goals for Newcastle's U21s tonight
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[Olé Olé]

Baba Adeeko starts for Wigan against Man United in the cup.

Interviewed in the Times yesterday. He's been in the North of England since he was 13 after his mother moved for work. His dad stayed back in Galway working as a taxi driver. Don't know if he is still there. He said that Nigeria had been in touch with his parents but sounded quite vague over the form of and reception towards the approach.

[SkStu]

How did he perform?

[Olé Olé]

How did he perform?
Did okay. Gave the ball away once and thankfully wasn't punished. Otherwise, had a fairly thankless job to do as United pressed McTominay and Fernandes up onto Adeeko and Shaw beside him for the game. Whilst he had a few interventions, they were pinned back a lot but he held up okay for the full thing.

[Eirambler]

Baba Adeeko starts for Wigan against Man United in the cup.

Interviewed in the Times yesterday. He's been in the North of England since he was 13 after his mother moved for work. His dad stayed back in Galway working as a taxi driver. Don't know if he is still there. He said that Nigeria had been in touch with his parents but sounded quite vague over the form of and reception towards the approach.

I don't think we've ever lost a player to Nigeria that I can think of. The combination of the depth they have to pick from, the travel involved and the affect on a player's value that playing for an African team has makes it unlikely that an Adeeko type would ever make that switch.

[tetsujin1979]

Just for the sake of argument, say a player born and raised in Ireland decides to declare for Nigeria, would they still be counted as an EU player, due to their Irish passport?

[Razors left peg]

Just for the sake of argument, say a player born and raised in Ireland decides to declare for Nigeria, would they still be counted as an EU player, due to their Irish passport?
If Bellingham can register with Real Madrid under his Irish passport I would say yes

[pineapple stu]

The South Americans do it all the time don't they? Get Italian/Spanish citizenship based on some distant ancestor (longer than grandparent I think) but they never counted towards any limits in Serie A/La Liga or similar.

Where there's cash there's a way...

[Jolly Red Giant]

Just for the sake of argument, say a player born and raised in Ireland decides to declare for Nigeria, would they still be counted as an EU player, due to their Irish passport?
Yes they would.

[Eirambler]

Looks like Zefi is going to Roma, can't say I'm overly excited about that move. He's not a kid anymore, needs to get out and play some senior football to see if he's any good at it (I have my doubts).

[Razors left peg]

Looks like Zefi is going to Roma, can't say I'm overly excited about that move. He's not a kid anymore, needs to get out and play some senior football to see if he's any good at it (I have my doubts).

Jose is the perfect manager to give a young tricky winger with a questionable work ethic a run in the first team

[Demesne Lad]

"Youngster Rocco Vata could be heading for the exit door as interest from Italy continues to grow in the B team starlet. Bologna have been strongly linked with the forward but a new name in the frame has emerged in the shape of Como FC. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano states they can offer a different kind of project and guaranteed minutes with talks set to follow." (Daily Record, 15 Jan)

[culloty82]

Just for the sake of argument, say a player born and raised in Ireland decides to declare for Nigeria, would they still be counted as an EU player, due to their Irish passport?

Of course, in that scenario, ever since the citizenship referendum, either one of their parents would need to be Irish, or the family would have to have become naturalised at the time of the move.

[samhaydenjr]

Bit of an update from the weekend:

Franco Umeh scored two equalisers in the last five minutes of Crystal Palace's 3-3 draw at Blackburn, bringing his season's total to seven in eleven league appearances. Zak Gilsenan and Rory Finneran came on as subs for Rovers: https://www.premierleague.com/match/107570/premier-league-2/2023-24/blackburn-rovers-u21-v-crystal-palace-u21

Jamie Mullins scored and assisted for Brighton in a 4-2 win against Liverpool. Trent Kone-Doherty was a sub for the Reds:https://www.premierleague.com/match/107564/premier-league-2/2023-24/albion-u21-v-liverpool-u21

Ollie O'Neill got the assist on Fulham's late winner against Derby: https://www.premierleague.com/match/107566/premier-league-2/2023-24/fulham-u21-v-derby-u21

[weldoninhio]

Jose is the perfect manager to give a young tricky winger with a questionable work ethic a run in the first team
Jose gone now

[tetsujin1979]

Zefi's transfer gets stranger as time passes. There's no announcement on Roma's website, there's actually no mention of Zefi on the website at all, nothing on their facebook or instagram accounts - the only acknowledgement by the club that the transfer has gone through is one post on their twitter account

[Olé Olé]

Zefi's transfer gets stranger as time passes. There's no announcement on Roma's website, there's actually no mention of Zefi on the website at all, nothing on their facebook or instagram accounts - the only acknowledgement by the club that the transfer has gone through is one post on their twitter account
But he isn't a first team squad member so hardly needs a fanfare?

[tetsujin1979]

But he isn't a first team squad member so hardly needs a fanfare?
I'm not saying he should be introduced to the crowd, but you'd think there'd be some mention of him signing?

[pineapple stu]

Do they commonly announce Primavera team signings though?

Because that's what he is I presume.

[Crosby87]

Only if he brings his own pasta, Stu.

[SkStu]

Nathan Fraser off the mark, grabs a goal against Brentford!

[Jolly Red Giant]

Tony Springett has joined Northampton on loan from Norwich

[tetsujin1979]

Five goals for Irish players in the Premier League Cup last night - two for Mark O'Mahony against Hull, two for Zak Gilsenan against Sheffield United, and one for Alex Murphy against Nottingham Forest
Sam Curtis also made his first appearance for the Blades' U21 side
Gilsenan's goals below
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O'Mahony's goals are on YouTube, at 3:45 and 4:18 on the link below, scored from a total of about 3 yards.
Can only link to the video, embedding has been disabled for it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ7MrUgErBM

[tetsujin1979]

Franco Umeh nominated for PL2 Player of the Month for January
https://www.premierleague.com/news/3884172

[lofty9]

Not u21 but underage related. Keilan Quinn (2007) born in England signed for Aston Villa from West Brom for £1m on deadline day. His dad is from Sion in Tyrone.