Luca Connell (D/M Barnsley b.2001)

I get what you're saying but I think you almost have to completely separate the two Mick eras. Mick 1.0 was a young up and coming manager, his Irish teams played good football compared to what had come before and a lot of what came afterwards.

Mick 2.0 was a grizzled veteran with a very different and much more conservative approach to the game. I was very disappointed with the way he set us up second time around. Granted he didn't have the same quality of players available to him but he really had changed as a manager in the time between when he left and when he came back, and not for the better. It was conservative almost beyond belief.

I'm very much on the fence in terms of Kenny, but I do appreciate what he's doing in terms of blooding the younger lads, I don't think it's a given that Mick or another manager would have done it to the same extent. My concern with Kenny remains his match day abilities - formation and in game changes - he seems slow to learn on both.

Don't think Kelleher or Bazunu would be playing but Travers was in Mick's squad and would have taken the no.1 jersey from Randolph.

Randolph and Kelleher would be second and third choice with Bazunu probably starting for the U21s last year.

Similar I think Omobamidele would have mostly played with the U21s but Mick is definitely bringing him to that training camp last summer. Going on the fact he had us playing four at the you had Clark, Duffy, Egan, O'Shea. Don't think he would have pulled Omobamidele out of the U21s last season as he didn't play much at club level. Kevin Long had more minutes in the league.

I would be in the fanboy club for my views regarding Kenny and the job, but it is silly to suggest Mick wouldn't have used the young players, and has given more minutes to the likes of Jack Byrne even. The big stat from the Scotland game was it was 25 years since two players aged 21 or under scored in a competitive game for Ireland. The last two being Mark Kennedy and David Connolly in a WC qualifier I believe. I'm sure Tets could provide it but believe that happened again earlier in Mick's first reign too.

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Originally Posted by JR89

. The big stat from the Scotland game was it was 25 years since two players aged 21 or under scored in a competitive game for Ireland. The last two being Mark Kennedy and David Connolly in a WC qualifier I believe. I'm sure Tets could provide it but believe that happened again earlier in Mick's first reign too.

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Keith O'Neill and Ian Harte away against Liechtenstein maybe?

Or was O'Neill that bit older?

Have to remember McCarthy's task was to get to Euro 2020, not blood new players.

Also, many of the guys we have now weren't really ready when they started playing senior internationals (which partly explains our dire qualification campaign) and would have been even less so under Mick.

I don't buy into the "Randolph would still be around" argument, but it can never be proven either way, so it's great forum material

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

Mick 2.0 was a grizzled veteran with a very different and much more conservative approach to the game. I was very disappointed with the way he set us up second time around. Granted he didn't have the same quality of players available to him but he really had changed as a manager in the time between when he left and when he came back, and not for the better. It was conservative almost beyond belief.

I'm very much on the fence in terms of Kenny, but I do appreciate what he's doing in terms of blooding the younger lads, I don't think it's a given that Mick or another manager would have done it to the same extent. My concern with Kenny remains his match day abilities - formation and in game changes - he seems slow to learn on both.

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The quality of player was very much lower, so much lower from 20 years ago but blame Delaney for Mick possibly going very defensive. Think it's a given he had changed as he wasn't working with the same calibre of players at club level as he had with his first stint and club football is more ruthless and cut throat managers do become more conservative when the quality is lower.

Man was brought in to do one job and one job only which was try qualify for the Euros and the fact he got an extra million quid for just seeing out his contract I can only picture the bonus in his contract had we actually made it. Wouldn't blame the lad for trying to draw his way to the tournament with the money he was getting.

Had he been giving a longer contract he would have given younger players games for definite. Not to the extent Kenny has rushed lads through but young players playing regularly wouldn't have been ignored.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I don't buy into the "Randolph would still be around" argument, but it can never be proven either way, so it's great forum material

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I think Randolph would have still been around. He's not playing fair enough but do think Mick would have wanted an experienced keeper in the squad as back up to Travers and Kelleher. O'Hara was the other keeper in Mick's squad and can't think of any other senior keepers that would have acted as back up over him.

If he wasn't injured in last year for Marches games there's a good chance he would have started again in September.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

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Originally Posted by JR89

. The big stat from the Scotland game was it was 25 years since two players aged 21 or under scored in a competitive game for Ireland. The last two being Mark Kennedy and David Connolly in a WC qualifier I believe. I'm sure Tets could provide it but believe that happened again earlier in Mick's first reign too.

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Keith O'Neill and Ian Harte away against Liechtenstein maybe?

Or was O'Neill that bit older?

Have to remember McCarthy's task was to get to Euro 2020, not blood new players.

Also, many of the guys we have now weren't really ready when they started playing senior internationals (which partly explains our dire qualification campaign) and would have been even less so under Mick.

I don't buy into the "Randolph would still be around" argument, but it can never be proven either way, so it's great forum material

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I checked it out a few days after the Scotland game. Two players aged 21, or less, have scored in competitive games for Ireland in only five games. Strangely enough, the Scotland game was the first time it happened in a home game

(PS in case you're wondering why there's no "days" value after Harte against Liechtenstein in 1996, it's because it was his birthday!)

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Originally Posted by JR89

Don't think Kelleher or Bazunu would be playing but Travers was in Mick's squad and would have taken the no.1 jersey from Randolph.

Randolph and Kelleher would be second and third choice with Bazunu probably starting for the U21s last year.

Similar I think Omobamidele would have mostly played with the U21s but Mick is definitely bringing him to that training camp last summer. Going on the fact he had us playing four at the you had Clark, Duffy, Egan, O'Shea. Don't think he would have pulled Omobamidele out of the U21s last season as he didn't play much at club level. Kevin Long had more minutes in the league.

I would be in the fanboy club for my views regarding Kenny and the job, but it is silly to suggest Mick wouldn't have used the young players, and has given more minutes to the likes of Jack Byrne even. The big stat from the Scotland game was it was 25 years since two players aged 21 or under scored in a competitive game for Ireland. The last two being Mark Kennedy and David Connolly in a WC qualifier I believe. I'm sure Tets could provide it but believe that happened again earlier in Mick's first reign too.

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Mention of Kelleher and Travers in the same sentence and it got me thinking that 3 months ago I would have said Travers was way ahead in that particular duel for the Ireland number two shirt (both behind Baz). But now I feel quite comfortable with Kelleher starting. The lad is brilliant with his footwork and distribution of the ball

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Originally Posted by mark12345

Mention of Kelleher and Travers in the same sentence and it got me thinking that 3 months ago I would have said Travers was way ahead in that particular duel for the Ireland number two shirt (both behind Baz). But now I feel quite comfortable with Kelleher starting. The lad is brilliant with his footwork and distribution of the ball

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It’s a really important point that has been missed by one or two referencing Kelleher’s “ok” performances in the last two games. He’s so much more than a stopper of shots. What he offers and has learned at Liverpool is a different role for the goalkeeper as an integral component in retaining possession and initiating moves and attacks. He’s a footballer as well as a goalkeeper. I think Bazunu could well develop similar attributes, but that isn’t what he’s been coached or expected to whilst at Rochdale and Portsmouth. Being comfortable with the ball and productive with the ball aren’t the same thing.

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

I get what you're saying but I think you almost have to completely separate the two Mick eras. Mick 1.0 was a young up and coming manager, his Irish teams played good football compared to what had come before and a lot of what came afterwards.

Mick 2.0 was a grizzled veteran with a very different and much more conservative approach to the game. I was very disappointed with the way he set us up second time around. Granted he didn't have the same quality of players available to him but he really had changed as a manager in the time between when he left and when he came back, and not for the better. It was conservative almost beyond belief.
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Mick’s brief was to try and qualify us. Kenny was to come in after and try to put his stamp on the squad

Starts today for Barnsley. Great to see!

Assisted both of their goals as well I think. If not playing football at an anyways serious level for about three years is the Celtic effect then this must be the leaving Celtic effect.

Good to see, hopefully he will have a good season

Flicking through the Barnsley forum confirms what many of us thought about him, nice player, can pick a pass, but lacks pace and dynamism to be a top midfielder. Always reminded me of Stephen McPhail, I suspect he will carve out a reasonable lower tier career but won’t become a player of note for our international side

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Originally Posted by tommy_c12000

Flicking through the Barnsley forum confirms what many of us thought about him, nice player, can pick a pass, but lacks pace and dynamism to be a top midfielder. Always reminded me of Stephen McPhail, I suspect he will carve out a reasonable lower tier career but won’t become a player of note for our international side

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Stephen mcphail was an exceptional player. Illness and injury unfortunately we're the issue

McPhail was unlucky to be an old fashioned playmaker in an era when the game was all about box to box all action midfielders. Connell may well suffer the same fate but there again he might become the next Thiago Alcantara.

Pity he moved to Celtic when he did. Played no senior football until March 2021 when they sent him to League Two in Scotland. Also saw him bulk up and whether that was his personal training or not he's looked awkward since. Might have been scrawny while at Bolton but could move about the pitch at ease. Looked like a duck waddling around the pitch when called up to the 21s last year.

With the WC happening you tend to forget about the games still going on. This goal from Luca in Barnsleys 2-1 win over Peterborough is well worth a watch. Jack Taylor scored a tidy header too.


https://youtu.be/Ml1dlm3ywck

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Originally Posted by SkStu

With the WC happening you tend to forget about the games still going on.

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Not me Stu, collected a nice few bob on an away win there last night ;)
Taylors late arrival run was very well timed. Him and his midfield partners are under scrutiny again as both Barnsley shooters had time for a nice cup of tea before lining up their shot in this one & this isn't the first time.

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Originally Posted by SkStu

With the WC happening you tend to forget about the games still going on. This goal from Luca in Barnsleys 2-1 win over Peterborough is well worth a watch. Jack Taylor scored a tidy header too.


https://youtu.be/Ml1dlm3ywck

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Still have a feeling Connell my yet prove Celtic wrong in their assessment of his potential

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Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

Not me Stu, collected a nice few bob on an away win there last night ;)
Taylors late arrival run was very well timed. Him and his midfield partners are under scrutiny again as both Barnsley shooters had time for a nice cup of tea before lining up their shot in this one & this isn't the first time.

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Did you go? Pie? Bovril?

Does Taylor have it in him?