Friendly against Iceland confirmed for Turners Cross on March 31st
https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/all-...-v-iceland-u21
Considering how many centre back and right back options we seem to have in every other squad the Under 21s looks surprisingly light in terms of centre backs and right backs.
Keane O'Shea Given Best Smallbone
thank god for the first team options in goal .... because outside of keeley (who remains a big unknown) there isnt anything there atm.
Yep - probably Festy starting at right back. Abankwah and Curtis are probably the next in line.Originally Posted by Eirambler
Centre back probably isn’t as bad - Lawal is listed as a midfielder, possibly due to the lack of centre midfielders but seems to be playing mostly centre half at club level, Roughan can play in the centre or on the left. Ogungbo would be another option in the centre.
Centre mid looks really bare. You’ve got Hodge and Phillips, Lawal who is probably a centre half, Hayes who is an attacker and Matt Healy who I’ve only seen in person once but I’d be surprised if he’s good enough. Jack Henry-Francis is probably someone that could step up. Kian Leavy maybe. The mystery of John Joe Patrick Finn continues.
Meanwhile in terms of attacking players, it’s the opposite - the number of attacking players who didn’t make the cut is huge: Dara Costelloe, Darragh Burns, Mipo Odubeko, Tony Springett, Aido Emakhu. Real depth for those front three slots.
I’d expect Josh Keeley will be the first keeper. Slightly surprised that Arlo Doherty didn’t make the cut considering he was the 19s first choice keeper last season.
burns hasnt played for a while in MK? not too surprised he didnt get in. Finn is playing at a pretty dire level in spain, really hard to judge where hes at if he doesnt get a first team move soon. hasnt registered a lot of game time either this year. Healy has surprised me this year hes done very well for us, big step up though. Corcoran on the other hand isnt related to an international gk, far too small and has no command of his area.
looking forward to going to the game, been years since ive been to a 21s game in TC.
I think looking at the overall quality of the U21s its not as strong as recent years. There are a few stand out players in Ebosele, Hodge, Moran and Cannon. I think there are a few players in the U19s that would be with the 21s if there wasnt qualifiers at that age group.
Will be very interesting to see if there is any withdrawals. Crawford has had fallouts with Ebosele and Oko-Flex in the past and there have been rumors about Cannon not being fully committed.
Matt Healy injured out of the squad for Iceland. Shels Kian Leavy and St Pat's Jay McGrath are both called up.
Sligos Éanna Clancy (2004) and St Pat's Adam Murphy (2005) were training with the U21s this week.
Joe Hodge has been named captain for the U21s but with a bit of luck he's moved on before the years out.
https://twitter.com/SportsOrgPM/stat...620886017?s=20
Joe Hodges dad talking about Joe being made U21 captain.
Will be interesting to see where Hodge is by this time next year, very real possibility that he will have moved onto the senior team. Hes overcome a lot of injuries so far in his short career, I wouldnt bet against him forcing his way back into the team at Wolves.
I'd say the fact he's been made captain would signal (when considering Kenny's comments, Coventry & Connell's ineligibilty for the 21s) that he'll see out the entire campaign with the 21s
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
If he is tearing it up for his club he will force Kennys hand. Right now its a simple decision to have him with the 21s because hes not getting club games, but if hes playing well every week he will make himself unleaveoutible (*I couldnt think of the word I wanted so I made up my own)
Neves is in the final year of his contract next season and they'll surely cash in rather than lose him for nothing. Few quid to further strengthen the squad. Joao Gomes who arrived in January could likely be his long term replacement.
Moutinho is out of contract this summer and will be 38. Though wouldn't be surprised if Wolves tried to keep him around as an experienced squad player since he's still starting games at 37.
Think it's gonna be very tough for Hodge to break back into the team as he's currently 6th choice and you'll also have Boubacar Traore back from injury. If Wolves lose both that's a lot of experience to gone and Lopetegui is likely to want replacement(s) brought in.
Regular first team football has done Smallbone the world of good this season and think Lopetegui will likely send Hodge out on loan to see how he fairs playing week in week out. Think the reason he was kept around in January was for Lopetegui to have a good look at him in training.
Wolves also gave him a new 5 year contract in January too even with all the signings coming in, hes definitely rated highly there.
Oh he's rated there no doubt just see it hard for him to break into the team next season. If Lopetegui didn't rate him I think they would have found him any loan move in January rather than keeping him around the first team squad.
Next season though it's not gonna benefit him to find himself in the same spot and think that's why they'll want to find him somewhere where he'll play week in week out.
Agreed, I think he probably will be on loan next season and you are right that Smallbone is showing the benefits of playing every week.
Sam Curtis was called up to the U21s squad last night.
Not just a friendly for these kids, but hardly an Atlantic derby. Most of Iceland's team have been in competitive hibernation since they beat Scotland in november, hard to tell how match fit they are, that might level the playing field a bit
There are two players of note that should be in the line up, bleach blonde Kristall Ingason and Daniel Djuric.
Are the FAI streaming this game?
On LOITVNot just a friendly for these kids, but hardly an Atlantic derby. Most of Iceland's team have been in competitive hibernation since they beat Scotland in november, hard to tell how match fit they are, that might level the playing field a bit
There are two players of note that should be in the line up, bleach blonde Kristall Ingason and Daniel Djuric.
Are the FAI streaming this game?
Could be:
Brooks
Curtis
McNulty
Lawal (wearing 8?)
Roughan
Phillips
Hodge
Ebosele
Moran
O’Neill
Cannon
-
Could also be a back 5 with:
Ebosele
Curtis
McNulty
Roughan
O’Neill
With a 3 of:
Hodge
Lawal
Phillips
And then Moran playing off Canon
I’d definitely prefer the 4 at the back option. I’d probably have Ebosele starting right back and Okoflex on the wing. Maybe Adaramola ahead of Roughan. Maybe Keeley over Brooks. But I don’t think there’s any egregious decisions.
Strange decision to call up Curtis. Kind of giving up on the 19s qualification
Posting Permissions
Quote
Bookmarks