Best in U19 squad

Leon Best is in the Ireland U-19 squad for a mini tournament in La Manga. He better be good after all this talk.:) Decent squad considering its not full strength.

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Republic of Ireland Under 19 Manager, Sean McCaffrey, has announced a 19-man squad for the International Tournament in La Manga, Spain, organised by the FA of Norway from 7th to 12th February, 2005.

The squad includes a number of players who performed so well in the two friendlies against Italy in Bari recently when Ireland drew 0-0 in the opening game before winning the second game 2-0 while also returning to the panel is Southampton striker Leon Best who has missed all of this season's Under 19 games.

In the Tournament, Ireland will face “hosts” Norway on Tuesday 8th February, the Czech Republic two days later and Denmark on Friday 11th February. All matches Kick Off at 3:00 local time (2:00 Irish time)

McCaffrey will be using the Tournament as an important build up to the next qualifying phase of the UEFA Championships which take place in April when Ireland travel to Belgrade to face Serbia and Montenegro, Albania and Poland looking to qualify for the UEFA Under 19 Championships which take place in Northern Ireland this year.

Squad: Darren Randolph (Charlton Athletic), Terry Masterson (Millwall), Shane McFaul (Notts County), Richard Keogh (Stoke City), Darren O’Dea (Celtic), David Elebert (Preston North End) Gary Dicker (UCD), John Paul Kelly (Unattached), Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Michael Collins (Huddersfield Town), Steven Foley (Aston Villa), Ian Morris (Leeds United), James Hand (Huddersfield Town), Ciaran Tracey (Preston North End), Andrew Keogh (Leeds United), Billy Clarke (Ipswich Town), Jonathan Hayes (Reading), Diarmuid O’ Carroll Celtic), Leon Best (Southampton).

Very interesting. Good spot.

I wanted evidence that he was considering a U-turn and now it appears there isn't any.

Darren O'Dea has gone on loan to Morton til the end of the season.

maybe we should be pleased he is back in the squad but it may be safer to take it with a pinch of salt considering that things seem to have gone quiet for him following him 'bursting' onto the scene. but u never know...maybe hes seen the light!

Seems Dexter Blackstock has overtaken him in the pecking order at Southampton and is the more promising of the two, hopefully he'll turn it around though.

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Originally Posted by Slash/ED

Seems Dexter Blackstock has overtaken him in the pecking order at Southampton and is the more promising of the two, hopefully he'll turn it around though.

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Best was destroying Blackstock on the goals front for the reserves so its hard to say who's more promising.

No sign of James Simmonds in that squad or should we be expecting him to be? I presume Sean McCaffrey has left the likes of Andy Keogh out as he is doing well on loan at Bury. Aiden McGeady, Paul McShane, Anthony Stokes all underaage at this level as well. Leon Best and Keogh could form a formidable front pairing if we qualify for the European Championships.

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Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Best was destroying Blackstock on the goals front for the reserves so its hard to say who's more promising.

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The problem is that Blackstock now has, what, five senior goals? Has Best even got one? Blackstock even has a senior hat trick, it'll be difficult for Best because whatever limited chances he would have had Blackstock over taking him in the pecking order like he seemingly has will mean he has even less chances.

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Originally Posted by TheJamaicanP.M.

No sign of James Simmonds in that squad or should we be expecting him to be?

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Might still be injured.

Others not included are Patrick Cregg, Stephen O'Donnell (both Arsenal), Joey O'Brien, Marcus Painter, Keith Keane and Paul McShane. All 6 of those started our last competive against Russia in October. Just goes to show the strength in depth.

i dont rate best's chances at southampton very highly with redknapp in charge. bar west ham, where he had frank lampard senior with him, hes often very reluctant to blood youngsters, indeed pompey dont even have a youth academy...only team in prem, and with the situation saints are in and probably will struggle again next season, experience will probably hold the key. blackstock is nowhere near the squad now either.
how is best doing at Qpr, he aint in the side is he?

I know this Best guy is very young but I saw him playing for QPR against Reading and he was muck. Early days but don't build the guy up, there are plenty of other out there besides Best.

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Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Others not included are Patrick Cregg, Stephen O'Donnell (both Arsenal)

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Patrick Cregg was born on the 21st of February 1986 and Stephen O'Donnell was born on the 15th of January 1986.
Are they too old for the U19 national team? I would have thought not but I haven't heard of either being injured.
I wonder if Don Givens wants them in his U21 squad for the Portugal game?
Haven't seen his squad for that.

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Originally Posted by Peadar

Patrick Cregg was born on the 21st of February 1986 and Stephen O'Donnell was born on the 15th of January 1986.
Are they too old for the U19 national team? I would have thought not but I haven't heard of either being injured.
I wonder if Don Givens wants them in his U21 squad for the Portugal game?
Haven't seen his squad for that.

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No, neither are in the U21 squad. Don't know about eligibility.

It'll be interesting to see who starts in goals for the U21s. Both Henderson & Deeney are in the squad, but Deeney has been picked over Henderson for Notts Co.

As far as I am aware Cregg is injured and could be struggling for next qualification phase, O'Donnell just wasn't named in the squad, maybe he's required for Arsenal. I can't imagine he wouldn't be selected, he was the best player last nov when england took a team to cork which had 8 players who have played premiership.