U23 players 2019/20

Appears a 4 year deal confirmed according to Scottish Herald.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport...hester-united/

He needed to get out of Man United. Another season in the under 23 league would have been no good. Just shameful that his agent waited until the last minute and rushed a deal. There’s no reason why a season long loan couldn’t have been arranged 2 months ago, lower division clubs would love to have a versatile player like O’Connor on their books. Celtic is better than nothing though so I’m relieved he got out before deadline, but if you’re not playing first team football in the SPL you’re not doing much up there so it’s concerning. Yet again, Celtic no doubt promised him the moon and the stars and a definitive route to first team. A theme thats becoming all too familiar for young irish players. Let’s see what happens in the next few months

Forster
Elhamed Ajer Jullien Taylor
Brown McGregor
Forrest Christie Johnston
Edouard

Bain
Bauer Bitton Simunovic Bolingoli
Koussai Ntcham
Shved Rogic Elyounoussi
Bayo

That would be something close to the first and second XIs for Celtic at the moment. Plus the likes of Griffiths and Hayes not even in those teams. Sinclair, Morgan and Arzani too. Also other highly rated youths like Okoflex, Dembele and the right back they've just signed from Man City there as well.

These lads have a mountain to climb. Someone like Barry Coffey hasn't a hope.

On one hand, the league is so easy, it’s the perfect place for young players to break into the team cause they should win the league at a canter. So a manager can afford to make relatively brave decisions.


Saying that; they’ve shown none of the right signs in bedding in the good young players, at least since since Rodgers left, and as plenty of people have mentioned, the Colts don’t have enough football to satisfy their young players, so if they aren’t breaking into the first team or out on loan, they’re effectively stagnating. So I would be worried.


But in Okoflex, O’Connor, Afolabi and Connell they have four players who all have the potential and ability to be better than any player currently at the club. Obviously Dembele is another lad of the same calibre (but isn't Irish).


They’d be smart to have a proper plan in place to aid their development, instead of stifling them by signing a host of mediocre players who will block them.


Connell is a really versatile player. He stood out playing against teams who are as good as any non-Glasgow SPL team. Yet, he can’t get a look in, not even on the bench.


Afolabi and Okoflex are no different.

As for Barry Coffey, a year ago, he was considered almost at the same level as Jason Knight. He did well for the 17s last year and did very well at times for the 19s this year. He has a lot of hurdles to jump and he might need a transfer, but I wouldn't write him off.

Apologies if this has been reported elsewhere, appears Leicester have picked up Darragh O’Connor, a young centre half from Wexford...

https://www.lcfc.com/news/1327831/ir.../press-release

Jack Clarke and Tyreik Wright playing for Villa U23s tonight in the FA Trophy.

Teams have announced their UEFA Youth League squad
Gavin Bazunu, Joe Hodge, and Timi Sobwale are included in Man City's squad: https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague...445--man-city/
Tyreke Wilson is a month overage for the tournament this year
Troy Parrot is in Spur's squad: https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague...83--tottenham/
Ryan Johansson was named by Bayern in their team: https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague...05443--bayern/
and under 18 call up George Nunn is in Chelsea's squad: https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague...5446--chelsea/

No Parrott for Spurs, no Connolly for Brighton and, interestingly, no Will Smallbone for Southampton tonight in the U23s

Meanwhile Yassine En-Neyah scored again for Nottingham Forest earlier this week as they beat an Ipswich team that featured Cotter, Ndaba and a recovering Will Keane: https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/n...est-under-23s/

And last week Nathan Carlyle scored for QPR U23s as they drew with Sheffield Wednesday: https://www.qpr.co.uk/fixtures/under...ednesday-u23s/

Was surprised that there was no sign of Will Smallbone in the Under 21 squad. Overage now for the Under 19s. Seems to be getting closer to the first team picture at Southampton.

Hopefully he's still committed to us as his national team.

Regba with a goal against arsenal 23s today, mceneff playing for arsenal

No Smallbone in Southampton squad.

Connolly on bench and Maupay and Murray start so hopefully is involved.

Molumby starts for Millwall away to Blackburn (who have Williams, Cunningham and Lenihan starting).

Idah on the barebones bench for Norwich, alongside 2 goalkeepers!

Anthony Scully with a brace today for West Ham against West Brom - that's five in his last four: https://www.premierleague.com/match/...am-v-west-brom

Kian Flanagan scored for Palace U23s against Bolton: https://twitter.com/CPFC/status/1173670691322904576

Quote:

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Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

Anthony Scully with a brace today for West Ham against West Brom - that's five in his last four: https://www.premierleague.com/match/...am-v-west-brom

Kian Flanagan scored for Palace U23s against Bolton: https://twitter.com/CPFC/status/1173670691322904576

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Fantastic to see Scully getting games he seemed to have been off the radar for last 2 seasons. Would have thought Flanagan might have got a loan move at this stage

I note Nathan Collins is back playing with the U23s. Being eased back following injury or Jones opting for experience as he tries to save himself from whats looking like an ever so likely sack? It’s a pity stoke aren’t doing well, uncertain times for a raw 18 year old center half with managers (be it Jones or his replacement) under pressure for quick results.

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Originally Posted by tommy_c12000

I note Nathan Collins is back playing with the U23s. Being eased back following injury or Jones opting for experience as he tries to save himself from whats looking like an ever so likely sack? It’s a pity stoke aren’t doing well, uncertain times for a raw 18 year old center half with managers (be it Jones or his replacement) under pressure for quick results.

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If you are going to have to rely on an 18 year old centre half to keep you in a job then = don’t take the job . It wouldn’t matter if he was Diego Maradona;)

Andrew Omobamidele came on for Norwich's U21 side against Portsmouth in the Football League trophy at the weekend

O'Connor and Afolabi appeared for Celtic's academy side in a friendly against Hibs earlier today: http://www.celticfc.net/news/16813
Both seem to have done well

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

O'Connor and Afolabi appeared for Celtic's academy side in a friendly against Hibs earlier today: http://www.celticfc.net/news/16813
Both seem to have done well

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Connell seems to have fallen in to a black hole there!

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Connell seems to have fallen in to a black hole there!

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He was name checked by Lennon as been injured with a quad strain

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

O'Connor and Afolabi appeared for Celtic's academy side in a friendly against Hibs earlier today: http://www.celticfc.net/news/16813
Both seem to have done well

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... with Oko-Flex getting the equaliser from the spot after winning the penalty himself

Parrott scored Tottenham's goal in their 1-1 draw away to Olympiakos in the UEFA Youth League today.

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

Parrott scored Tottenham's goal in their 1-1 draw away to Olympiakos in the UEFA Youth League today.

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I stupidly had a half a hope he'd be on the bench for the first team game today

https://twitter.com/NeilB__/status/1174306687311917056

Parrott goal against Olympiakos today

Ireland U19 midfielder bemoans not being sent out on loan by Crystal Palace https://the42.ie/4815642

He's not wrong but not sure if it's a good idea to be stating it when he's stuck for now.

As I mentioned on this thread during preseason. 1 full season is sufficient at under 23 level, any longer and you risk your development stalling. I really think a lot of the football agents have a lot to answer for, in addition to club management, when you see things like this, poor advice to youngsters who need wise heads advising them.


Thankfully Connolly, Idah and Molumby pushed on, and O’Connor, Masterson and Afolabi at least played a different hand. Parrott played very few U23 games last year, he is doing fine where he is, a mixture of uefa u19, prem 2 u23s, and senior league cup games before senior league in 2020...that is sensible nurturing of his talent by Spurs right there.


Coventry is another one I’d worry about. He played 17 games amassing 1500 minutes of PL2 football last year, loan was the correct move for him this side of Christmas but West Ham held onto him. Making him captain of U23s doesn’t really help him continue his development. Wilshere and Sánchez are ahead of him for the league cup games (not to mention Rice/Noble), he played 9 minutes in recent cup game and nearly cost them a goal by dwelling on the ball too long, something that would be rectified quickly with regular first team football at Championship or league 1 where he had interest.

2 goals for Scully at west ham In the 23 s league tonight and another full game for mceneff with arsenal 23s. These two have been good surprise packages at 23s level this season

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Originally Posted by tommy_c12000

As I mentioned on this thread during preseason. 1 full season is sufficient at under 23 level, any longer and you risk your development stalling. I really think a lot of the football agents have a lot to answer for, in addition to club management, when you see things like this, poor advice to youngsters who need wise heads advising them.

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Case in point, Harry Charsley is now in his fourth season of U23 football, with Everton allowing him to stay on after his official release earlier this year - you'd wonder where he could go once he finally leaves. Played tonight against Brighton - Warren O'Hora scored for them: https://www.premierleague.com/match/...hton-v-everton

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Originally Posted by liamoo11

2 goals for Scully at west ham In the 23 s league tonight and another full game for mceneff with arsenal 23s. These two have been good surprise packages at 23s level this season

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That's 7 in 5 for Scully, plus McEneff playing upfront for Arsenal (although in midfield tonight, I believe), plus Ethan Varian starting to get significant minutes as striker for Stoke U23s (https://www.premierleague.com/match/...orwich-v-stoke). Normally these developments would merit excitement from followers of Irish football, but with the talent we've coming through, they're almost below the radar (and probably completely unnoticed in the regular media). Incidentally William Hondermarck came on for Norwich but, perhaps more importantly, Andrew Omobamidele, who is still only seventeen, seems to have established himself at centre-half already.

Speaking of our young strikers, Ryan Cassidy came off the bench for Watford U23s against Bristol City, as did Bosun Lawal, who I believe is only 16! https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/firs...1-bristol-city

Notable absentees: Aaron Connolly, of course, but also Ali Reghba didn't play for Leicester U23s against Liverpool, a week after scoring his first goal - what could that mean? On the other side, Kelleher was between the sticks for Liverpool - has he been dropped from the first-team squad? Or could we still see him on the bench against Chelsea on Sunday? Is Klopp giving him some game time in advance of a League Cup debut? https://www.premierleague.com/match/...er-v-liverpool

Quote:

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Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

Case in point, Harry Charsley is now in his fourth season of U23 football, with Everton allowing him to stay on after his official release earlier this year - you'd wonder where he could go once he finally leaves. Played tonight against Brighton - Warren O'Hora scored for them: https://www.premierleague.com/match/...hton-v-everton



That's 7 in 5 for Scully, plus McEneff playing upfront for Arsenal (although in midfield tonight, I believe), plus Ethan Varian starting to get significant minutes as striker for Stoke U23s (https://www.premierleague.com/match/...orwich-v-stoke). Normally these developments would merit excitement from followers of Irish football, but with the talent we've coming through, they're almost below the radar (and probably completely unnoticed in the regular media). Incidentally William Hondermarck came on for Norwich but, perhaps more importantly, Andrew Omobamidele, who is still only seventeen, seems to have established himself at centre-half already.

Speaking of our young strikers, Ryan Cassidy came off the bench for Watford U23s against Bristol City, as did Bosun Lawal, who I believe is only 16! https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/firs...1-bristol-city

Notable absentees: Aaron Connolly, of course, but also Ali Reghba didn't play for Leicester U23s against Liverpool, a week after scoring his first goal - what could that mean? On the other side, Kelleher was between the sticks for Liverpool - has he been dropped from the first-team squad? Or could we still see him on the bench against Chelsea on Sunday? Is Klopp giving him some game time in advance of a League Cup debut? https://www.premierleague.com/match/...er-v-liverpool

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Cassidy has been injured or the guts of seven months so is another one who could do with a season of 23s football.

Omobamidele was as impressive as Joe Hodge for the under 17s in the Euros. I think he will be a cracking player.

It’s nice to see Bazunu re-establish himself as number 1 for man city U23s, second start in a row today. He’s had 4 starts now, not 18 until Feb. Amazing stuff

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Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

On the other side, Kelleher was between the sticks for Liverpool - has he been dropped from the first-team squad? Or could we still see him on the bench against Chelsea on Sunday? Is Klopp giving him some game time in advance of a League Cup debut? https://www.premierleague.com/match/...er-v-liverpool

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Well, Kelleher was on the bench against Chelsea, so hopefully his appearance for the U23s on Friday was an exercise in keeping him match fit in advance of a senior competitive debut on Wednesday

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Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

Well, Kelleher was on the bench against Chelsea, so hopefully his appearance for the U23s on Friday was an exercise in keeping him match fit in advance of a senior competitive debut on Wednesday

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He has been a regular with U23s. He’d be getting no matches if he doesn’t play U23s. He should start midweek in league cup

The brilliant Kenny's Kids has pointed out that Parrott is MIA for Spurs 23's tonight. Hopefully this points towards EFL action: https://twitter.com/SpursOfficial/st...481810945?s=19

Dara O’Shea back playing PL2 football I see having had no club football for past 2 months apart from league cup appearance

No harm he gets a game. He isn't that far from a run in the first team. Worst case scenario he gets a League One loan in January.

Nice to see obafemi and Collins start tonight as well as parrott

https://www.the42.ie/caoimhin-kelleh...23339-Sep2019/ basically just says liverpool didn't allow him go on loan this summer. When u consider they let grabara who is same age go to huddersfield it sounds promising. In general I feel kelleher hasn't been getting much love which I find hard to understand seems to be a sense that he is just lucky to be in this position at liverpool this season and last

Straight red for Collins. Twitter consensus is that it was a tough but late tackle.

Coffey, Afolabi, and O'Connor all started for Celtic today against Morton in the SPL Reserve Cup, with Afolabi scoring the opener in a 4-2 win: http://www.celticfc.net/news/16853