That's a useful analysis. Answers my question about us cannibalising (for want of a better term) our U21s more than others due to lack of current depth. It'll be interesting to see if there's a greater convergence of performances and coefficients going forward once the senior squad stabilises.
Yeah I can't see the 2002 crop of U21s being affected like the 2000 crop. The lads who'll be overage after this campaign will hopefully start replacing lads who'll be phased out of the seniors over the next couple of years and we've already got the three best 2002 age group players in the seniors already with Bazunu, Omobamidele, and Parrott.
I'd more go with this post and your earlier one on the matter, you do have the potential to make good points on occasion. The promotion of the best underage talent to the senior squad this term just exposes other shortcomings.
The Iceland senior squad in transition contains 8 u21 players (when fit), yet the u21 team have maintained a similar level of competitiveness in this campaign. Whilst the most talented Icelandic youngsters are most always cherrypicked mid teens, the majority don't go abroad until aged 19/20/21, after they've played a season or two at senior level, finished their 2nd level education and have already been capped at all underage levels. From the players perspective, a competent level of maturity, attitude and football ability has been learned, so if things don't work out with their first club they'll find another club readily who can use them.
However, the Faroese senior squad has no u21 eligible player, they currently have a policy of using the best youngsters for the u21 squad. This has had the effect of maintaining a good level of competitiveness against vastly bigger federations at the u21 grade and probably develops a better 'mentalitee'. Different strokes for different folk.
The smaller federations who have invested wisely in home grown professional standard coaches and coaching infrastucture have gained the most benefit from that UEFA/FIFA TV income/grants etc which is distributed equally to each federation. The FAI is about 15 years (or more) behind.
Squad announced for Italy and Sweden: https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/craw...X7uyWVZbNYGaqA
Armstrong Oko-Flex strong form for West Ham under 23s rewarded. Interesting to see Andrew Moran isn't in there but Evan Ferguson is. Johansson back from 19's to 21's. Festy Ebosele and Will Smallbone return from injury. Gavin Kilkenny remains with the 21's.
Anything else of note?
I read recently that Conor Gallagher is no longer eligible for any country, other than England, because he played for England in a competitive U21 game after his 21st birthday.
If that's correct, does that mean that Conor Coventry, who turned 21 in March, is now tied to us, and Will Smallbone (21 since February) will be too if he plays against either Italy or Sweden?
Dan Rose probably would be there but he's going to be the U19s #1, so no point warming the bench at 21s level. We're in a weird spot too that our best U21 keeper starts for our senior team, so there's that!
Good to see Oko-Flex there. Would love for to kick on and get a senior appearance at West Ham soon.
Is McGinty, the Sligo keeper, overage now?
Yeah I'm still confused on that rule whether it includes competitive U21 games or just senior games. I always assumed it would tie the likes of Gallagher, Coventry, and soon Smallbone down but the rule does state if they appear in A international level. Would assume A international level means senior team.
Interesting that Crawford mentioned yesterday that the FAI were interested in Conor Bradley and had talked to 3rd parties about the possibility of switching before he was called up to Northern Ireland senior team.
Don't think it's that ridiculous especially now with nation's league replacing friendlies. Stops bigger nation's from capping young dual nationality players and then not playing them again. FIFA scraped getting capped at U21 level tying a player down as France were doing it with young players of African descent.
Small nation's will benefit more now in the long run. And players will have to wait three years now after their last appearance before they can play with their new nation so won't get lads just switching at the drop of a hat and walking into teams like Rice did.
Festy Ebosele scored for Derby today. Good man.
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