Yes, 5 permitted with maximum of 3 stoppages in play. Hence why there were 2 double substitutionsQuote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
Regulation 38.04 in https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles...4_DOWNLOAD.pdf
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Yes, 5 permitted with maximum of 3 stoppages in play. Hence why there were 2 double substitutionsQuote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
Regulation 38.04 in https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles...4_DOWNLOAD.pdf
Couldn't be arsed with the senior team any more.
These lads will be stuffing the Danes 5-1 at senior level in a few years.
Sorry for the essay ;) Missed the first 24 mins of the game, so will focus on the second half... was sitting central pitch-side central cause I was late, it’s a weird angle. You see things that you normally miss but you miss the wider picture.
That’s probably the best u21 half I’ve seen. I really think neither Masterson or Molumby were fit. Molumby was holding his leg after we won a corner late in the half. He didn’t get a kick in the first half and that’s not him. The team were carrying him.
Hard to know what position is Troy’s best. He was much better in the second half when he switched wide left compared to playing as a number 10. But he’s also struggled out wide in other games.
Conor Ronan was fantastic. Man of the match for me. He’s a little inconsistent but when he’s good, he’s a game changer.
Fair play to Collins and Scales, they were both great.
Also, for his goal, Lee O’Connor’s confidence to drive forward and continue into the box despite the gap he was leaving was encouraging. You haven’t seen that happen often at senior level
Idah is getting better and better are is Coventry and Knight. Thomas O’Connor was good too. Elbouzedi showed his qualities and his flaws again but overall it was a very good performance from him I thought.
I genuinely love this squad. There’s two or three players in every position who I really like... Mandriou is a lovely footballer. Has barely been used cause Ronan and Parrott have played ahead of him but he’s there plugging away.
Furthermore, it really feels like a squad now. 12 games in a year really help. Say Dan McNamara, his body language today was fantastic. The first few games he was a little shy, didn’t know everyone. Got his game in Yerevan. Did well. Back on the bench today, and you couldn’t see a more ecstatic player.
And Kenny’s enthusiasm is infectious...
Shame Grant or Farrugia didn’t get a run. Would be nice to see Grant make his debut...and for Farrugia coming back after such a long layoff would be great. He was great against Luxembourg, could still be an important player for us.
Green shoots...
Interview with Kenny here: https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status...34203604111360 - he makes a very interesting point that ten of the starting eleven came through the FAI's Emerging Talent Programme, which is great to hear as it appears that this is team indicates that there has been a big step forward on a structural level -that this isn't just a few top talents happening on the scene at the same time, or a good underage coach getting the most out of limited players - this is a plan starting to fall into place.
It was rare to witness such a turnaround, it was unprecedented and almost inexplicable.
But you guys will have to up the ante if you are to have a chance v iceland.
Interesting alright. There does seem to me to be a depth of talent at almost every underage grouping that we haven’t had before. A quantity of real and exciting talent at 21, 19 and 17s - and a higher than usual number at 19 and 21s that have played or are playing first team football. Is that a fair take?Quote:
Originally Posted by samhaydenjr
There have been some critics on Idah over the past year or so here. Would like to hear if his performance last night eradicated any of the doubts they have had over him.
Also, on elated's point re McNamara. Dara O'Shea didn't play last night due to injury. He was absolutely buzzing around the group on the pitch after, embracing all the players and himself and Kenny had a great moment too. Idah also referenced immediately how good a team performance this was in his post-match interview when asked about his own performance. He kept referencing how "unbelievable" all the lads had been and the team's performance. Great stuff.
Fantastic second-half performance. Sweden were expecting to coast the group alongside Italy so particularly pleasing to firmly put them in their box (twice). And we’re a much younger side than them; all bar one player in their squad are 20+, we started the game with two 17- and three 18-year olds.
Fair play to Ronan as well. He’s being a weakness since Toulon imo but torn it up when he came on.
We “lose” a high number of promising players around the 18-year-old mark. Happens in every sport but we’re relying on a less than ideal environment for our more promising players to push on and develop - we need to break that. Gavin Bazunu mentioned in a FAI interview the other day about feeling lonely sometimes and living alone in Manchester at 17 years of age. Heartbreaking to hear a kid talking about being lonely. It's not right.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
Great to see Idah play well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
I’ll hold my hand up and say that in the 3-4 times I’ve seen him the performances didn’t match the reputation.
What can you do though, that is the life of a professional footballer?Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
On the emerging talent point, it is kind of moot because you would expect all exceptional players to be picked up at u12/13 and be in emerging talent programs. Plus, the professional clubs most likely pluck from the ETP programs now, rather than the schoolboy clubs, because it's easier to see good players in a bunch than go looking up and down the highways and byways
That said, the LOI underage leagues are in my opinion the real key to future development. Fund those properly, and I mean really fund them and the coaching going into them, and you will get a conveyor belt of talent coming through.
And this should benefit LOI senior clubs too
In terms of the group we have Iceland at home and Luxembourg away in March. That should really be another six points. We should be too good for Luxembourg again and I imagine the team will be particularly keen on getting one over on Iceland after the poor performance in the away game.
That would take us to 22 points and would mean that we should at least have a chance of topping the group going into the last game. But it would also surely put us in the running for the best second placed spot that also results in automatic qualification. Possibly by the time we go to Italy we might be in a situation where a draw is enough for both teams?
Our group (Italy) are currently sitting in this position. If we don't beat Italy, though, that'll be another 2/3 points dropped, which means we'll have dropped 7/8 altogether. Looking at the other groups I'd say it's unlikely that'll be good enough to secure the best runner-up spot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
I was one of his biggest critics. Last night, in the second half he was immense. It is clear his exposure with the first team at Norwich has improved him. Throughout the year, he has slowly improved his hold up play, first touch and link play. Excellent assist and goal to cap it all off. But one half of football against 20 year olds isn’t enough to dispel all the doubts I have, and get myself carried away. Similar to Parrott, he is caught in “no man’s land” at the moment, and will unlikely be given an earnest chance with Norwich this season given their predicament. He needs a good loan move in January, then can re-evaluate him next summer. I would still be surprised if he makes it as a regular in a top division. May settle as a reasonable championship striker. I will be the happiest man on here if he proves me wrong. I’m sure myself, Stutts and Razors LP will be happy to sit around a table sharing humble pie if this happensQuote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Not seeking to have a pop - my question was genuine. I hadn't seen enough of him previously. I was just blown away by how good a performance it was for an 18 year old lone striker at that level, albeit his teammates were more than willing to support him (amazing things happen when you don't isolate your 9).
As regards a loan, he's not 19 until February. It's not that pressing at present, though it.migut
Based on that performance, he looks to have all the tools to compete at the highest level. Again, one performance but his goal ratio and some of the other bits I have seen of him make me a bit more hopeful.
He's very young. Lone strikers don't tend to find their feet until they are older in a lot of cases. Lukaku still can't do everything a lone 9 should do. Drogba and Giroud didn't kick their careers off until their mid 20's. Kane didn't pull up any trees in his loan spells. I hope my examples aren't selective to back up my point but this lad is on the right track. I was just about to hit post and Didzy dawned on me.
What 9s do we have that have been "reasonable championship strikers"? Hogan? Collins? Alan Lee? Clinton Morrison? Daryl Murphy? He's streets ahead of where every single one of those guys was at 18.
Morrison had played and scored in the Premier League at 18 (he was a few days short of his 19th birthday)
When I say “reasonable” I mean a good standard championship player (I have high standards!) I wouldn’t have Hogan or Murphy in that bracket. Collins has been a disappointment since stepping up from league one. I’d agree I expect him to land above them. Just not convinced he will be a regular in top league. Part of the negativity from myself and others, may have been biased by our huge sense of expectation and excitement having heard so much about him for the past 2 years. The others such as Connolly or Parrott didn’t disappoint. But Idah did. However, I’ll hold my hands up and acknowledge his improvement in the 11 or 12 games I’ve watched this season has surprised me. And as u say, he’s been given the difficult lone striker task and has got better and better. Having lit it up in PL2 last year, and trained now with first team for past 6 months, I do think he needs first team football in January to continue progression regardless of his tender age.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
was at the u21 game last night. the football in the 2nd half was brilliant.
however, the size of the crowd was surprisingly poor at around 2,500..... after last night all I can say is that if you can get to any of the matches live do.... a great evenings entertainment. really enjoyable
2760 I remember eirsport saying during my live stream, in between the constant frustrating pauses. I was surprised as well, poor turn out. Senior game night before may have affected it, but I really expected more.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Agree with all this, last night I seen what the hype is all about. He was good against Italy but I always thought his first touch was poor. He was massively improved with that.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommy_c12000
The 2 stand out bits that got me off my seat were the pace to go past the player on the right wing to set up O'Connors goal, and the skill and close control to beat the 2 defenders on the end line cutting in from left of the box. Both were brilliant pieces of play and we have no one in the senior team capable of those. With his size, pace and skill he could be an incredible player..... but it is only one game. Lets see if he can step it up on a more regular basis. Like Parrot he needs first team football now. Hes already had a full season with the reserves and done well there. I dont like any player with skill going to the Championship on loan so I'd love to see him going to Holland or somewhere like that, but he needs to be playing somewhere in January
Balanced and fair. Holland would be great.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Irish people are event junkies. Most went to the Italy game because it was Italy. I know so many people that use the usual lines of "Ah sure we dont have the players" with the senior team but are first out with the Ole Oles when we qualify or its a big game.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
There should have been a full house last night, but instead there will be full boatloads of people going over to watch United or Liverpool this weekend.
The FAI probably gave out a lot of tickets to New Zealand and Denmark to clubs, schools, etc, etc, whereas in the previous window, were the u21s the main attraction? Think it was 2 away games for the seniors in October.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Denmark game the night before probably reduced the number of season ticket holders going, given two games in two days.
Baltic weather didn't help. Was ****ing freezing.
Loss against Iceland really dampened enthusiasm with the side, given how well they did against Italy.
Probably all contributory factors
Maybe... but I would also bet that half the people who were at the Italy game wouldnt even have known that they lost to Iceland.Quote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
I wouldn't read too much into the attendance figures for that game.
Why Tallaght again? Are Dalymount and Tolka out of the the question?
I thought that 2nd half performance was one of the best by an Irish international team at any level (that I have seen).
Sweden u21s are no mugs and have yet to play Italy. It augurs well for Ireland in this group.
If I was part of the management setup or the team, I'd like the idea that we have a home stadium for the campaign. You get used to the pitch, the dressing rooms, everything and you start to feel comfortable after a few games, especially when things are going well at home, the sense of invincibility starts to build... I know it's only small but fine margins etc. etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Tallaght is miles better too! I love Dalyer but it's in poor nick, with half the ground derelict or empty. I never liked Tolka.
If anything Turners Cross or a good non-Dublin venue would be good but I also think it's a good idea to have a home stadium.
yep, definitely agree.. you have to create a fortress feeling somewhere
Think we may need Sweden to get something against Italy to go into the final game with a realistic chance of topping the group.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Fair enough if Dalymount is in poor nick but I thought it might be more central and accessable, more so than travelling out to Tallaght. And wouldn't rent money go into Bohs coffers not the council?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
for who though? not everyone is attending from Dublin. Tallaght is obviously just off the main country motorway network.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
More parking too
Yeah, Dubs are gas.. Tallaght is a bit further out than DalymountQuote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Don't make much difference if you're driving up from Tipp to watch it LOL
The point was made earlier about the dramatic fall in attendance for the Sweden game, is it all right for somebody to explore reasons no matter how dumb. I'm not presenting any argument, the only explanation offered so far was that the Irish sports fan is an event junkie. What do you think is the reason?Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
I didn't think about the culchies, that they would attend an u21 game and in such numbers that it would be a major factor in favour of a Tallaght venue.
Fado fado when I lived in civilised parts of south Dublin, Dalymount was a doddle to get to using public transport and after the game have a few pints in a decent hostelry before (having a kip on) the last bus home. I wouldn't have ventured out to Tallaght. Football fans (real ones) didn't own cars, at best a racing bike with a large padlock. But if Dalymount is a kip these days then it's not even an alternative, is it? Then it's a priority that Dalymount be brought up to standard. Shamrock Rovers are getting all the love.
,
To be fair the U21 games used to be spread around the country a bit and they were not well attended. I know it was different expectations for them etc but there really is very little interest outside of hardcore Ireland football fans.
I remember hearing the arguement that the national team should have the home stadium in somewhere like Athlone where it would be more easily accessible from everywhere in the country but you would hardly get 10000 at game if that happens. Like it or not the main base of supporters is in Dublin and while there is massive interest around the country when we do well its not enough. I say that as a Galway man and knowing how hard it is to even get people to go to Terryland on a regular basis.
Also, there was a sizeable crowd at the Denmark game the night before. It's a lot to expect people to travel for games two nights in a row
got a few random u21 attendance figures. tried to take the most recent available game for each home team that i could see published. Gives a little context on what a 7,200 attendance is and a 2,700 when you look at other countries...
England v Austria 11,772
Germany v Belgium 16,504
Bosnia v Germany 900
Wales v Germany 841
Finland v Denmark 1,527
Russia v Serbia 28,220
Serbia v Latvia 723
Latvia v Poland 350
Poland v Estonia 6,358
Romania v Finland 2,500
Fair play to the Russians anyway.
Population of 144m may help somewhat.
But if you think the drive from Galway to Dublin is bad. The drive from St Petersburg to Saransk where it was played is a solid 16 hours...Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Interestingly, where that game was played, Saransk, the capital of Mordovia has a population of only 300,000 and a stadium that holds 44,000
The facilities in Tallaght are top class. Massive dressing rooms and comfort for the players. That's not the case in Tolka and Dalymount, two grounds that are falling apart. As well as this, spectator facilities are far above both other grounds. Clean, well looked after toilets, ample food vendors, comfortable seating with a good view all around, and a good PA system where your ears aren't taken off you. It's the best ground in the LOI by some distance. 19 more of them and we'd be laughing.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Tallaght stadium is easily accessible, served by the Luas line, ten minutes off the motorway, and has plenty of parking available around it. There's next to no parking around Tolka or Dalymount and they're both in large built up areas.
I'd love to be able to get to under-21 games, but in Donegal, that's just not possible. I only get to a few of the senior games, let alone underage matches. But, despite that, I wouldn't be in favour of them moving games around the country. It devalues the product on the pitch and disrupts the players preparations by shoving them around every corner of the country to play games.
Liam Scales has signed for Shamrock Rovers. Decent move for the lad.
I think he'd hope to have a season as a first choice there before moving across to an upper League 1 / lower championship side, similar to what Trev Clarke has done. Looked very good against Sweden.
Meanwhile, one-time prospect Kevin Toner has signed for a LSL side. Hard to fathom. Think he was first choice for most of the season for Pat's. I saw him play one game at home against Bohs during the summer and himself and Ciaran Kelly were excellent together.