Absolutely agree on Tom Mohan. He was a leader on the pitch, and is proving the same off the pitch. Cracking manager.
Agree with you on all the above, Tom.
I am intrigued to see how things pan out for Afolabi. Any scout watching any of the three matches would surely have liked what they saw and will like it even more when they realise he's a free agent.
Amazing to think that about 14 potential starters were missing for the Portugal match. Reasons to be cheerful.
Absolutely agree on Tom Mohan. He was a leader on the pitch, and is proving the same off the pitch. Cracking manager.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
And right on cue.... Afolabi linked with palace, villa and clubs in Spain and Russia. Story broke just as 4th goal was hammered in. These are exciting times for irish supporters
https://www.football.london/crystal-...a-16639946.amp
Not sure how reliable football.london are as a source. That article is nearly as much about Zaha as it is about Afolabi, and they describe the game against the Czech Republic as a quarter final
Last edited by tetsujin1979; 24/07/2019 at 10:41 PM.
Not sure about Palace or Villa - he looks ready for first team football but I'm not sure he'd get much game time at either of those clubs. Would rather he dropped down a division to get games, if he's good enough he'll get back to the EPL in future no problem.
Apart from the goalie and one other, I don't think there was anybody else selected from the team that beat Netherlands in qualifying.
Afolabi deservedly in the team of tournament. Only irish player to make it.
https://www.extratime.ie/articles/23...he-tournament/
Well deserved for Afolabi. You’d expect him to be in the 21s squad in September after that performance.
Weirdly, I could see a scenario where Idah ends up back with the 19s and you’ve got Afolabi, Parrott, Obafemi and Connolly with the 21s.
To be honest, it’s another reason an u20 side would be a good idea. That class of 2000 is so stacked, you don’t want players like Reghba, Bolger, Lyons, Smallbone, Roache, Ferry, Kilkenny, McAuley etc etc etc to be out of the international set up for 2 years until the 1998 class graduate. I’m sure some will move to the 21s but there’s obviously a limit to the realistic size of squad and at this stage the likes of Ryan Nolan already can’t get a look-in
Unfortunately the class of 2000 reaches under 20 level in a year when there isn't an Under 20 World Cup. If there was one next year, making the semis at the Euros last week would have been enough to qualify for the finals, and the finals would have been played during a proper international window in June so player availability would have been less of a problem.
Still though, the class of 01 (with a few 02s thrown in) looks quite strong so still a possibility of those lads making the 2021 World Cup.
Bookmarks