No, that happened in the 2012 and 2016 tournaments because the FAI failed to build up youth development in Ireland as UK clubs that traditionally patched that hole for us started recruiting globally as their budgets and prestige increased. There was a legitimate lack of talent behind the generation that produced Keane, Duff, Dunne, Given, Harte, Kelly, Finnan, Carr, O'Shea, etc.
Wes was a late bloomer. He scored a lot of goals in the Championship in 10/11, when he was already 28. Prior to that, he had one season in the Championship two years earlier, when he was fairly unremarkable. In spite of that, he was in training camps and squads of Trapattoni's, and even got some game time in some meaningless friendy games. It sounds to me like he was given a chance at exactly the appropriate time in his career.Quote:
It's the reason why Wes Hoolahan got 1 cap in his 20, and 42 in his 30s. It's the reason why Jack Grealish wasn't tied to us when he was lighting up League One for Notts County. We never never gamble on the future. Even for a couple of totally meaningless friendly games, some of the Irish public freak out at the idea of throwing a kid in and giving him an opportunity.
And when they're ready, they can play.Quote:
Nobody is saying the 3 kids we're talking about are better than O'Dowda. I'm just saying that there's a chance that they could be one day. It might even be even by the time the real football comes round.
Nothing is learned from watching a green player out of their depth. Is there a chance that one of the great many players who get mentioned as worth a look is in fact worth a look? Yes. But it's the job of the management team to identify those players and to give them the opportunity when they're ready, not to squander the rare moments they get to prepare and assess the team in match play in order to watch a large number of teenagers confirm their professional judgement that they're not ready yet. 30 minutes of a meaningless friendly doesn't change anyone's career trajectory, and it wouldn't have tied Greelish to us. All it does is satisfy the grass is always greener itch.Quote:
Throwing in a couple of U21s for half an hour each has all the potential upside I outlined above.