2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championships

[tommy_c12000]

I wonder if Okoflex has been approached? I would certainly have him in ahead of Elbouzedi. Looks good from the clips I’ve seen with far more potential than Elbouzedi, and offering under 21 football may help secure him. I would also have Luca Connell in there, either ahead of Leahy who is unlikely to be a senior international or Jack Taylor who I haven’t been impressed with and can’t get a move out of the conference at 21. Also where is josh Barrett? Is he not still underage for the team? He’s same age as Taylor and should certainly be ahead of him

[elatedscum]

I assuming Mick can still keep whoever he wants for the Senior team?

I guess that means they're not in the senior team (except Travers). I'm kinda surprised about Gav Bazunu. His form for City has been poor this season. Perhaps the long suspension has led to Kearns losing his place. Jimmy Corcoran


Biggest omissions are Josh Barrett and Luca Connell I guess. Barrett's two goals last night illustrated his ability - and although Connell hasn't played for Celtic so far, Afolabi is pretty much in the same position.

Have we better than Elbouzedi?

Elbouzedi is a good winger. Himself, Connolly and Farrugia have been bright sparks for the 21s. Mallon and Power both struggled. Barrett is a little different in terms of the type of player he is - didn't do particularly well at Toulon but it's not as straight forward. I saw him play for Reading's u18s a few times at No.10 and he was the best player on the pitch. He's more of a creative winger, drifting inside, than someone who is gonna hug the line and take people on.

I would confidently put money on a side of Kelleher, O’Connor, O’Shea, Collins, McNamara, Coventry, Molumby, Knight, Kilkenny, Parrot, Connolly (with Afolabi, Idah, Obafemi waiting in the wings) would beat our seniors while playing a far more exciting brand of football

In fairness, the u21s beat the senior side back in June in a behind closed doors game.

[tetsujin1979]

While not a major omission, I am a little surprised that Tyreke Wilson is not involved.

[Charlie Darwin]

I guess that means they're not in the senior team (except Travers). I'm kinda surprised about Gav Bazunu. His form for City has been poor this season. Perhaps the long suspension has led to Kearns losing his place. Jimmy Corcoran

Kearns being out for two months has obviously hurt his chances but I think Bazunu would have got the nod anyway. Great to see two Rovers men competing for a spot though, and disappointing Brandon Kavanagh didn't make it but hard to argue he deserves it more than anyone else in the squad.

[elatedscum]

"Jimmy Corcoran"

Clearly didn't finish that thought. Corcoran played better for the 17s than Bazunu did in the european championships. Maher did well for the 19s and has now graduated that level. The one game Kearns played in Toulon, he did really well.

Really like Bazunu and wouldn't really be worried in the long run about a 17 year old goalkeeper going through a period of poor form but I expected him to be lining out for the 18s or 19s rather than the 21s...

[Charlie Darwin]

Well I was only responding to the Kearns/Bazunu situation. I don't know about Corcoran so I didn't comment.

[Stuttgart88]

Squad announced - https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/irel...den-qualifiers

Think that's a first call up for McNamara? I thought at least one of the forwards would be in the senior squad

I don't think we've ever had a more exciting forward selection than this lot.

[Olé Olé]

Amazing that they are all so young also. All were under 19 for the last campaign.

[elatedscum]

Idah and Parrott still are U19s

[tetsujin1979]

Obafemi and Collins ruled out, Simon Power and Kameron Ledwidge called up

[Eirambler]

Still no Josh Barrett - should be ahead of Power surely?

[Eirambler]

Are the two under 21 qualifiers going to be shown on TV anywhere? I thought maybe Premier/Eir as they had the Toulon tournament but I can't find these games in the schedule.

[jbyrne]

Are the two under 21 qualifiers going to be shown on TV anywhere? I thought maybe Premier/Eir as they had the Toulon tournament but I can't find these games in the schedule.

pretty sure Eir are showing all the home games anyway

[tetsujin1979]

Yeah the Armenia game is on eir, but the Sweden game isn't listed on their tv schedule

[elatedscum]

I would guess:

Kelleher

O'Connor Masterson (O'Shea/Scales) Leahy

Coventry Molumby

(Mandriou/Parrott/Taylor)

Connolly (Elbouzedi/Kilkenny)

(Idah/Afolabi)

------------

Bolded who i thought was most likely of those choices.

[Diggs246]

https://www.the42.ie/david-mcgoldric...99053-Sep2019/

Let parrot play tonight and then call him up for Tuesday for the love of christ!

[gally]

Any streams for UK viewers please.

[seanfhear]

https://www.the42.ie/david-mcgoldric...99053-Sep2019/

Let parrot play tonight and then call him up for Tuesday for the love of christ!

I don’t suppose Spurs would be too happy to see him over-played .

[Razors left peg]

Enjoyable to watch. Should have won by a lot more but Connolly and Molumby excellent.

I dont think Idah is good enough

[elatedscum]

Idah is still an U19 this season. He’s plenty young and has plenty of time to come good. Haven’t seen the replays but he watching it live, he should have scored the one he took too wide and then didn’t square the ball to Connolly. Whereas he did well for the one he played Parrott who hit the post. I’d be up for starting Afolabi ahead of him and ultimately moving him to the main U19 striker for their qualifiers in November but he’s gonna be an u21 for this campaign and the one after it and he’s on the younger end of that spectrum, so there’s plenty of time for him to grow and develop. To give some context, he’s well ahead of Ronan Curtis at the same age.