norway ahead, putting us into 3rd as things stand.
Started the game really well but need to make it count on the scoreboard. 55% possession first 15 mins making it hard for them to play out and creating a few decent chances especially from set pieces.
norway ahead, putting us into 3rd as things stand.
And Italy counter from another good Irish chance at a set piece and go ahead. Nightmare.
feels like it's over really. can see italy getting another couple.
There’s more goals and chances there for Ireland but they need to keep composure now. Italy hit the bar with another breakaway style chance.
A miracle needed at this point. If it comes it will probably be courtesy of Turkey.
But looking more likely that we have Crawforded it up for the third straight Under 21 campaign.
I was watching on the phone with no commentary but honestly thought first 20 minutes was as good as any I’ve seen from an Irish team. Lost composure a bit after Italy scored but can come back still I think. Definitely lucky with the missed penalty to still be in the game.
Yeah, it's a great group of players. But they've been let down badly by their manager in terms of tactics and selection. Arguably our three best Under 21 teams of modern times, and looking like there will not even be a single tournament qualification to show for it after four years under Crawford.
Jeez people need to get over this Crawford cost us qualification four years ago. He was manager for three games and Kenny took our best players with him when he moved on.
None of Parrott, Idah, Molumby, Knight, O'Shea, and Kelleher who played against Italy in the 0-0 draw were involved anymore when Crawford took over. That's basically the spine of the team ripped out. 7 of the 12 goals scored pre Crawford that campaign all came from Idah and Parrott alone
Molumby and O'Shea were captain and vice captain I believe plus all of them bar Parrott played in the 1-0 lose also against Iceland when Kenny was still manager.
Not qualifying this campaign is a lot harder to take than last campaign. Losing in a playoff is tough but Israel are in great form at underage level after putting good resources into their underage.
Which shows as they finished runners up at the U19 Euros (2022), third at U20 WC (2023) while beating big teams like Brazil and given eventual winners Uruguay a good game in the semis. Even the team that beat us got to the semis of the U21S Euros.
But this campaign in the last game we still could have topped the group and just look at all the dropped points we left behind us. 6pts even 9pts if you want to count the Norway away game. Overall we really should have topped the group.
Easy to say with the benefit of hindsight, but if Kenny has been left with the 21s - and maybe given a director of football role or similar alongside it as a promotion rather than the senior job - everyone involved might be in a better place now than we currently are - the senior team, the Under 21s and the man himself.
Kennys dong fine at Pats, thank you very muchOriginally Posted by Eirambler
Out for a spell, got neglected, lay on the bench unselected.
Good performance and actually much better managed - aggressive subs at half time, an early attacking change. Probably a mistake to pick Kenny over Emakhu. Could easily have got the win, had 2 cleared off the line early on at 0-0. That Emakhu shot at the end was a sliding doors moment, if the keeper gets nothing on it, it’s a goal, if he gets more on it, there’s strikers at the back post to slide in and finish it.
Overall it’s a group that we threw away. We threw away 2 points against Norway, Italy and Latvia, all in Ireland. We really should have won all 3 of those games. Conceded a 96th minute equaliser against Italy and a 93rd minute equaliser against Norway - both games where better managerial decisions would have helped us close out the game. Then against Latvia we missed sitters and could have easily finished that game before we let them back into it. There were seriously questionable team/squad selection decisions. Also you’d question the decision to play it in Dublin, 2 hours before the senior team plays - ensuring that no one came to the game.
The away to Norway, we should have taken at least a point. 2-1 up and totally on top and then he takes off Emakhu who was our best player and we lose all our momentum.
Really sad for the players. A special group. Don’t think the next gen are quiet as good (if you exclude Ferguson who won’t play 21s again)…
There is certainly promise in that U21 team but would push back a bit on describing it as “special” or “great”. Don’t think there is a player in the team banging the door for inclusion in the senior squad, and quite a few are 21/ 22 years of age – an age at which we do have history of capping players. Would say they need a season or two more of senior football with their clubs before becoming real options. But that’s no surprise really, we have already promoted the exceptional players from that age group.
I’ve actually warmed to Crawford the last while. Crawford perhaps makes one to many questionable decisions when looking from the outside in (I actually thought replacing both wingbacks at half time last night seemed a tad rash if that was a tactical decision – Curtis and Roughan have gotten goals recently, and their replacements didn’t exactly improve us), but overall, I think he is doing a good job with the squad he has and maybe we need to be slightly more critical of aspects made by individuals on the pitch? The approach last night was correct, great to see us go for the win from the off against a team that on paper is individually superior to us – and more than match them. Food for thought for how our more evenly matched seniors approached the Greece game.
I am just happy that Ireland's U21's are competitive especially with Crawford at the helm. Players now want to play for Ireland especially as our underage set-up is well organised. We just need some luck to get us to the next level, which is the hardest part....qualifying for finals on a regular basis!
Definitely looks like a weaker group next time. Our 2004 born group looks weak compared to most of the year groups that have come through recently, especially when you take out Ferguson. They'd struggle to qualify under a good manager, never mind Crawford who will no doubt try to spin his way into another two year contract.
There is still quite a few involved last night that will be under age next time around? And even if the next bunch isn’t as talented, always the possibility a dual-eligible player or two comes along, or an Adegboyega appears from virtually nowhere.
I’m not sure who the alternative to Crawford is, and if that alternative is a better option. It is an U21 position after all – hardly going to attract coaching wizards, any eventual replacement will have faults. But I would like a ladder progression arrangement for the underage managers – players progress through the age groups to senior level, why not also the managers? Ideally there should be an “internal” option to replace Crawford if needed, but currently there isn’t imo.
Tyler Goodrham mustn't have got the memo.I am just happy that Ireland's U21's are competitive especially with Crawford at the helm. Players now want to play for Ireland especially as our underage set-up is well organised. We just need some luck to get us to the next level, which is the hardest part....qualifying for finals on a regular basis!
Is cutoff date 1st Jan 2004 for next qualifiers? Curtis, Abankwah, Connor O'Brien, Sean Grehan, Alex Murphy, Adam Murphy, McJannet, Vata, O'Mahony, Franco Umeh, Melia have all gotten caps and are eligible from what I can see?
Yes, players born 1/1/04 onwards will be eligible. I can see there being a lot of younger players involved in the next group, players born 2005 and afterwards, as the 2004 group doesn't have a huge amount of depth below Murphy and Abankwah, who I'd expect to be ever present in the defence.
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