2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship

I was flicking through the England team and bench. Absolutely spoiled for riches they are. I might not be too familiar with a lot of them, but without exception, all first team regulars at a high level.

An u20 team really works for countries like England with the sheer level of quality they have at their disposal to give as many lads international exposure.

All in all though, we have real talent at pretty much all underage levels and the senior team has players that are young and talented. With a good manager, be it O'Shea or whoever it is, in the coming years, I think we can aim to be top 12-16 in Europe. Were we to produce a really world class outatanding midfielder, maybe we could even break the top 10. Obviously, right now, we are at a low ebb but I hope this season, we really see a lot of lads go from being big hopes to big stars.

It really is encouraging and a few years ago, it felt like Hail Mary time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bungle

I was flicking through the England team and bench. Absolutely spoiled for riches they are. I might not be too familiar with a lot of them, but without exception, all first team regulars at a high level.

An u20 team really works for countries like England with the sheer level of quality they have at their disposal to give as many lads international exposure.

All in all though, we have real talent at pretty much all underage levels and the senior team has players that are young and talented. With a good manager, be it O'Shea or whoever it is, in the coming years, I think we can aim to be top 12-16 in Europe. Were we to produce a really world class outatanding midfielder, maybe we could even break the top 10. Obviously, right now, we are at a low ebb but I hope this season, we really see a lot of lads go from being big hopes to big stars.

It really is encouraging and a few years ago, it felt like Hail Mary time.

---

So essentially aim to be where we were only 6-7 years ago ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CSAD

So essentially aim to be where we were only 6-7 years ago ;)

---

Fair point that!

When I look back on that era though, the football was horrendous to watch (still not exactly great to be fair) and maybe we were beginning to hear of a few talents at underage level, but it felt dark for the future. I will say I thought we were decent to watch in Euro 2016.

I like JO'S as a man, but this is Staunton part 2 stuff. At least back then, we had top players like Given, Finnan, Duff and Keane. Right now, we have real potential but nothing at that level - I actually do think Kelleher is top class and a fit Ferguson is an exceptional talent but you wouldn't be saying they are top class unless they prove it over the next 12-18 months on a regular basis.

You could see how early-Trap immediately enhanced us from the lows of Stan's era. Okay, a managerial great but past it at the very top by the time he came to us. I just fail to see how the FAI can't find even a half decent option. Spending big on a manager will pay for itself in the next four years, whether it's by making us competitive in the wc qualifiers and qualifying us for a home tournament in 2030 which could clear a lot of debt. Surely, there has to be someone out there operating or has operated at a decent level that is more qualified than John.

Behind the scenes with the next generation of Irish football as they build towards Euro qualifying goal
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...536625989.html

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Behind the scenes with the next generation of Irish football as they build towards Euro qualifying goal
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...536625989.html

---

Assume that's three generations of O'Riordans in the picture of Connor. Looks like his dad and his Irishborn grandad (his grandmother is Irishborn too - one is from Cork and the other Galway). Always nice to see those pictures.

There was one with Louis Barry and his Irish jersey and his Corkborn grandfather.

Obviously we tend to get them mostly at underage matches although, on another Cork note, I wonder if Sean Rice still has his picture with his young lad after a senior game up on the mantlepiece.

Alan Reynolds has officially left his role as assistant manager. Had been double jobbing since becoming Bohs manager back in March.

Squad named, no particularly new or exciting faces or drop downs from the seniors - other than Moran. Crawford denied the opportunity to play Lawal at centre back again due to injury. No Tyler Goodrham, I do wonder if it has turned out he's not actually eligible, or something like that.

No Stephan Negru either, that omission will likely see him push through with his switch to Moldova where he has been offered senior caps. A shame as I think he is a talented player, but we just have so many centre backs it's impossible to accommodate them all.

Wasn't Goodrham called up for an actual qualifier that one time. Would assume he's actually eligible if he gets an official call up at U21 level.

Given it's the FAI I wouldn't be certain until I see him on the pitch in a competitive game.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JR89

Wasn't Goodrham called up for an actual qualifier that one time. Would assume he's actually eligible if he gets an official call up at U21 level.

---

Yeah, he was in the squad V Turkey and San Marino last year, but didn't feature in either game
https://www.fai.ie/latest/crawford-n...fiers-in-cork/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Squad named, no particularly new or exciting faces or drop downs from the seniors - other than Moran. Crawford denied the opportunity to play Lawal at centre back again due to injury. No Tyler Goodrham, I do wonder if it has turned out he's not actually eligible, or something like that.

No Stephan Negru either, that omission will likely see him push through with his switch to Moldova where he has been offered senior caps. A shame as I think he is a talented player, but we just have so many centre backs it's impossible to accommodate them all.

---

Negru is decent but he'll never be a senior international for Ireland. Ceiling is about League One level, for me.

Goodrham is definitely eligible and could play for us against Turkey. Whether he’s committed is a different thing - not sure how much I can say - but genuinely only himself and Jim know for sure what his situation is. Journalists should probably ask for clarity…

He travelled across for the squad he was called up for but was back home before the first game was played (possibly injured, possibly a separate personal issue, possibly a commitment issue)

Very possible he is committed but also very possible he isn’t

As for the squad:

With the injuries to Grehan, Lawal and Adaramola, I think I’d have had 2 of Adegboyega, Furlong and Negru with Murphy a backup left back if you pick both Negru and Adegboyega. People say Furlong has had a good start to the season fwiw. Negru has often been unlucky to miss out and Adegboyega has done really well since signing for Norwich.

Also at back up right back, a choice between Abankwah who is capable of covering in the centre or Connor O’Brien who can cover at left back at a push.

Beyond that, I’d have had Goodrham and Fraser in the squad if available.

I assume neither Festy nor Tom Cannon were asked if they wanted to be included. But who knows… if I were HH, I’d have a meeting with every senior player eligible for the 21s (Gavin, Festy, Andrew, Evan, Troy, Tom) and basically say if you’re ever not called up, we expect you to be the 21s like Italy, the Netherlands, England, whoever do.

Congrats to Franco though. Good player and good lad…

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by elatedscum

Goodrham is definitely eligible and could play for us against Turkey. Whether he’s committed is a different thing - not sure how much I can say - but genuinely only himself and Jim know for sure what his situation is. Journalists should probably ask for clarity…

He travelled across for the squad he was called up for but was back home before the first game was played (possibly injured, possibly a separate personal issue, possibly a commitment issue)

Very possible he is committed but also very possible he isn’t

---

Possibly?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Negru is decent but he'll never be a senior international for Ireland. Ceiling is about League One level, for me.

---

I think you can go higher than league one . Negru I'm not as sure about

I saw Goodrham once or twice for Oxford this season. He is small. And he was decent on the ball and skillful enough but didn't seem to be going by players. Reminded me of Harry Vaughan at Hull (who has gone a bit quiet but is only 20). It is hard to know how good he can be.

It would be surprising if a lad in his situation opted out of an Irish under 21 camp if called up. It isn't the end of the world if that has occurred though.

Fraser is an interesting case. His loan to the Belgian second tier may be a reality check for him and others. But Matt Healy gets his caps whilst there. He's not ahead of Mark O'Mahony or Sinclair Armstrong in my book (and others I'm sure) and if he's been left out and left out for Johnny Kenny that isn't completely unreasonable either. So there is a chance he's just been excluded behind those lads as opposed to it being a commitment issue too.

Crawford was asked about Fraser after the squad was announced yesterday

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Crawford was asked about Fraser after the squad was announced yesterday

---

I don't like that response from Crawford. I get we want to win games, but the primary function of the u21s is a development squad. There should be a fluidity to players being called up, not just focusing on a hard-core group. I don't even care about Fraser necessarily, I'm not sure he's particularly good and he's rejected call ups, but the sentiment that just because we are getting to end of the group should be irrelevant if new players present themselves

Think that's about right, I'm not at all convinced that Fraser is any better than the strikers that are in the squad, in fact I'd say he's quite a bit below a few of them. But I can't warm to Crawford at all either, he's just such an underwhelming manager with a deeply negative mindset.

Anyone know if this is available online somewhere?