Absolute shocker. They’ve really self destructed under the expectations so far.
Printable View
Absolute shocker. They’ve really self destructed under the expectations so far.
Shocking from Maher again. Bazunu should be brought in for the playoffs.
Top guns who are available and willing to drop down to this level need to be drafted in without question for playoff. Enough of the “loyalty” “sentiment” argument, time to move beyond this as a nation and maximize chances of success
Cruel as it might sound.. the more senior players should be playing in the play offif available
Would like to see Odubeko, Noss and Tierney, probably for Wright, Kerrigan and Kilkenny. Just to see if it can liven things up in attack. A lot of moves dying with Wright in particular.
As I say that he plays a lovely ball to Smallbone to win the pen!
We are still quite naïve on the dark arts. The ref has been duped a few times by a squeal after a tackle yet we could have bought a few more set pieces ourselves. Nobody wants to see more of that side of the game but if the ref is soft needs must. As I say this Smallbone 'helps' get a peno.
I think this is probably a good indicator of where we think we are in terms of underage coming through. You want to be standing out in these games to be making a name for yourself and giving yourself a chance in the big leagues. The only one who stands out is Maher and not for the right reasons. I'd be worried if this is what we're hoping to fill up the senior ranks in the next few years.
Why drop a guy that should be starting for the seniors down to the 21s. None of the eligibile lads in the seniors will be dropping down because they're needed for the seniors.Quote:
Originally Posted by MylesNotMiley
This is our B team at that level. We've already taken the best players at this level to to fill up the senior ranks.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
There won't be anyone dropping down from the seniors unless they're not seen as being in the best 26 or 27 players available to the seniors.
So we can forget about seeing Bazunu, Omobamidele, Collins, Knight, Idah, Parrott or Obafemi in the playoffs. A very small chance we might see Festy or Connolly, but we could as easily lose someone like Smallbone to the seniors and actually be weaker by the time the playoff comes around.
As Richie pointed out this was a tough group, Ireland were pitted with the best or better teams from each pot and came through to the play offs with a game to spare. Sweden were beaten by same score by Italy in the last game of 2020 qual group and Italy had already topped the group.
No excuses or papering over for that sloppy performance but overall imo Ireland are performing as a solid bone fide 2nd pot team.
Disappointing end to the group but overall its been pretty good. Italy were the best team in the group by some distance. Wright was very poor, Ferguson is a phenomenal prospect.
Yeah Wright needs to find a way to turn himself into a left wing back you woukd think if he is to have a career at a good level.Quote:
Originally Posted by centre mid
I don't see Wright making it at a high level to be honest. And I'm not just basing that on tonight. Ferry should probably be in the squad ahead of him to be honest.
I generally like Wright. He’s got a bit of a wild card about him, pace, skill and can deliver a decent cross. Had a poor game today and looked a bit tired. Wouldn’t rule him out making it to at least Championship level.
They’ll be very disappointed with the manner of the goals conceded. McGinness giving away a sloppy penalty and then no communicating well with Maher. He’s usually a solid defender but that’s a poor day for him. Didn’t really think Cashin was great beside him either.
The change to 3 at the back in second half didn’t really work, looked like they hadn’t trained it and the 3 were getting cut open very easily. Ferguson had a thankless task for most of the game, he showed glimpses of his talent and for his age he’s a massive talent. The dribble into the box before he came off was a real glimpse at his abilities. He was probably trying to do too much which was pulling him wide too often.
It is also an indicator of where supporters think we are or should be. We are living off almost ancient history if we dont see getting a play-off as an achievement. We could still reach the finals obviously and would be a first. What I am liking is seeing a system or style of playing that is consistent with other underage sides and the senior side. We are talking about kids really, they will develop at different rates and it was said by Sadlier I think, that the development from the start of the group to now is notable. That we didnt crumble when up against lads that are valued at €22m, 8m or whatever, before a ball is kicked, is indicative of a team being built that are confident as a team and arguably better than sides relying on wonderkids to carry things. The goals conceded were self inflicted and can be coached out of a side in tandem with player development. I will take that as we werent totally carved open by a vastly superior side that you just go 'wow'! Those young lads were disappointed at the result and that speaks volumes imo.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Disappointing result and display. I wouldn't get too disappointed though. Some players will make the breakthrough from this group. Qualifying for tournaments at this grade is just a bonus. Seeing players develop is the main aim.
I couldn't disagree with this any stronger. Today was not a good indicator of this team or these players. Gave away stupid goals that killed this game very early on and in high temperatures you could see that the players faded with the goals.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
There has been a number of players in this group who have stood out over the whole campaign and there's a reason we are in the playoff for 1st time in our history. There will be probably 5 or 6 players from this squad that will go on to be senior internationals and be very good players for us. I think Evan Ferguson will be the absolute standout.
This is the type of comment I would expect to see on the RTE Facebook comment section from a fella who only tunes in to watch football the odd time
Plus if you look at Italy if you take Luxembourg out of the equation at home they only beat Montenegro & Bosnia 1-0 each and drew with Sweden. That should tell you this 4-1 result is an outlier rather than the rule. It was just one of those days where **** hits the fan and things go horribly wrong, that can happen at u21 level. The most important aspect of judging the is team is the trend they’ve been on and that trend has been very positive regardless of the result of one game.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Probably the most frustrating thing in this group is that if we hadn't messed up in Montenegro we'd have qualified automatically as the best second place team, even with the two losses to Italy.
Flip side is that Sweden were seconds away from a draw in Tallaght which would have seen them through instead.
Swings and roundabouts.
Not really, Sweden had the opportunity to make amends at home and they failed. Not swings and roundabouts per se, Ireland outdid Sweden, the point Eirambler made was that we could have finished a better 2nd with just a little bit more.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
The flip side is Ireland missing penalties cost them 4 points, those 4 points were the difference between needing a win and needing a draw away to Italy on the final day.
Well, yes really. You can almost always pick moments in a campaign that change it on its head. I don't think it's balanced to only pick the ones that would have benefitted us.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
That we had to play Sweden again is irrelevant; had they held on for 30 seconds more in Tallaght, we'd have finished third. And that was closer to happening than us winning in Montenegro
Yes, we could have been a better second place with a small bit extra. But we could equally have been third by that same margin
Swings and roundabouts
Eh no, you are totally missing the point, the fallacious point was offered that we were fortunate to beat Sweden at home therefore also fortunate to finish the table in 2nd place, but this is a group campaign where teams play home and away. After beating Sweden at home whether fortunate or not, we then went to Sweden and beat them in Sweden. There's no equally 'could have been third' that's total bull, when you go to their home town and beat them for a second time fair and square, that says it all. Absolutely earned 2nd place and ridiculous to refer to that fortunate home result, Sweden had their chance to rectify matters and they failed.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
And the reality is Ireland dropped 4-5 points they shouldn’t have meaning if anything Sweden were fortunate they even were in the running at all in June.
No, you're still missing the point.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
I'm not arguing we didn't deserve or earn second place.
I am saying that you can't really say "If only we had beaten Montenegro, we would have been the best second placed team and qualified automatically" (as Eirambler did) without also acknowledging that we benefitted at key moments of our own along the way. And they tend to balance out (hence "swings and roundabouts"). We could equally have done better than we did or worse than we did, but we deserved to finish where we did in the end.
Draw today at 12, live streamed on uefa.com - https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/02...-at-13-00-cet/
no seedings, straight draw
home and away ties to be played in September
Ireland v Israel,home first…
Almost identical record to ourselves in their qualification group, they did score three more
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_U...cation_Group_B
Quote:
Originally Posted by joey B
Second to Germany and ahead of Poland and Hungary. A point ahead of Poland with one more win. They took 4 points off Poland and 6 off Hungary. Seems like Liel Abada player a couple of games in qualification but I assume seniors took precedence for him as he wasn't in their squad for June qualifiers.
that must be a v good draw!!
As good as we could have hoped for I think. Though they will probably be saying the same thing. Croatia and Denmark drawing each other opened the draw up nicely for everyone else.
I also think a lot of fans from the continent just don’t rate the Celtic nations when it comes to football, just from looking back.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
The UCD manager Andy Myler has confirmed that Liam Kerrigan is to join Serie B side Como 1907.
I like him as a player. It'll be interesting to see how he does.
Presale for the 1st leg went on sale this morning. Great value at €10
Squad announced:
https://twitter.com/faireland/status...115476481?s=21
Connolly coming back is the big surprise. I think injuries are: McEntee, Bagan, Kilkenny, Noss.
Keepers and centre halves straight forward.
Tayo Adaramola is probably a bit hard done by. He was good in his last game he played and with Bagan injured, you’d think he had eyes on starting. Andy Lyons perhaps the one to get the nod?
Midfieldwise, hadn’t heard of Azaz till now. Connell an obvious replacement for Kilkenny. Not that he really deserves to be there, but I feel really sorry for Ryan Johansson. Made such an effort to switch and has basically been forgotten.
Maher
O’Connor
McGuinness
Bagan
Lyons
Coventry
Smallbone
Tierney
Ebosele/Kerrigan
Ferguson/Odubeko/Kayode
Connolly/Wright/O’Neill
Strong squad with the exception of goalkeepers. We should have enough to beat Israel over two legs, as long as keeper makes no mistakes.
yes, was very impressed with him in June v montenegroQuote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
might be the only one but i dont see it with tyreik wright. hes been a regular pretty much so it's probably harsh not to include him but i was surprised they've dropped young burns already.