QuoteCan't find a thread. Frank Umeh moving to Portsmouth in a permanent move.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/a...s/cwy34r7ln84o
Ah ok, I thought these were FrendliesOriginally Posted by Eirambler
Its really not that complicated!!!
Can't find a thread. Frank Umeh moving to Portsmouth in a permanent move.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/a...s/cwy34r7ln84o
He has a thread, just bumped it up there.
First game of the campaign - not sure if he's playing a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3:
Jauny
Devaney
Abankwah
Grehan
Slator
Hakiki
Mullins
Murphy
Vata
Melia
O’Mahony
If it's a 4-3-3, Hakiki is on the wing and one of Melia or O'Mahony, which seems weird - you've basically got two big number 9s playing.
I'm trying to work out how it could be a 5-3-2 like Crawford normally plays away from home but don't really see who your third centre back could be.
Personally I'd rather have Devaney in midfield and say Alex Murphy in the back 4 (Abankwah to RB) - Romeo (or Adam Murphy) instead of Hakiki and Kone-Doherty in for O'Mahony, although there's not a lot between himself and Melia in that respect...
I guess as this camp begins, we're all looking for Jim to have an ok camp, where he doesn't do anything too mental. When you think of just the senior players that have broken through recently from the last group: Keeley being dropped for Tiernan Brooks at the end of the campaign, John Patrick unable to make a squad while playing well against Real Madrid, Killian Phillips (and Adeeko and JP) being behind Matt Healy in midfield. Vata regularly on the bench - and Ebosele not making squads prior to his senior call up. The mind boggles. The previous camp we could still talk about Ebosele being behind Wright, Costelloe etc. and Devoy and Tierney being picked ahead of Azaz, Cannon excluded, so on, so on.
I'd say the best thing to do would be to not get too invested in this Under 21 team and campaign. Crawford has already failed to qualify with three previous squads that were considerably stronger than this one, it's highly unlikely that he's suddenly going to become a capable manager with these lads.
Its more a case of hoping some of the player start showing signs of improvement. You like to see Vata be a standout at this level. Melia should be also showing why hes getting a move to Spurs. Devaney is highly rated and is playing above his age level so he might be one to keep an eye on.
But overall Id have zero expectations of many wins in this group
Its really not that complicated!!!
Currently 1-1 (Melia with an equalizer, assisted by Hakiki). Approaching HT.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
Razor, you need to start giving Melia some credit. The kid is 17. And he's playing his 3rd year LOI, has shone in a couple of big games in Europe a LOI side and is scoring at 21s level.
You're a very very reasonable fella from experience, but you appear to have a totally irrational dislike of Melia which I don't think is warranted.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Im far from reasonable, but you are right that he has improved this season. Last season my opinion him was that I thought he should stand out more even at such a young age if he is to justify a million quid move to Spurs. When he goes there at 18 he will go into a much larger group of young players and potentially disappear. It might be an irrational opinion but I expect star players to stand out even at a young age, which he is now starting to do more in fairness to him.
Its really not that complicated!!!
Vata in full flow is lovely to watch.
i'd forgotten how ****ty it is to listen to Alan Cawley
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Crawford drives me absolutely bonkers. Granted wae just scored the second but his unwillingness to make substitutions costs us every single game. What is the point of having an U21 team where only 50% of the players coming through get some reasonable experience. Argrhrhrh
You know it was the substitute that made that goal out of nothing, yeah?
But your overall point stands, it is one of a few flaws.
Melia ( :-D ) with a smart run to tap in from superb work by Vaughan.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Would Jim Crawford on the books help with the FAI's obligations towards disability employment? Because he has the bandiest legs I've ever seen for an ex-pro. He makes Mané Garrincha's legs look straight by comparison
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Its a symptom of having his balls removed when he became a manager
Its really not that complicated!!!
They closed it out well in the end in fairness. The defence looked shaky the whole game but Vaughn, Vata and Melia all did well. Would have liked to have seen TKD get a run out but no great shock there. Hopefully Crawford will be a little bit more open against Andorra with giving lads some game time
Moldova 1 - 2 Ireland (Melia x2).
A good result coming back from going behind in the first half to take the lead in the 2nd half with 15 to go on a poor pitch. Hard to say there were too many standout performers. Melia's run and will to get their before the centre-half to score the winner following Harry Vaughan's great steal and roll across the goal from 3 yds out demonstrated why he's regarded so highly by 5,499,999 people to warrant a multi-million euro move to Spurs.
Rocco Vata showed a number of glimpses of potential and nearly scored with one incredible run and shot, with Djad Hakiki and Jamie Mullins also showing some promise at times. Defensively we looked weak(ish) and lacking composure.
Still, good to get the win and move on to giving Andorra a pummelling on Tuesday in Tallaght.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Thats a very impressive dig Kingers, Well played
Its really not that complicated!!!
I love you too. Hope none of your in-laws weren't caught up in that disaster buddy.Thats a very impressive dig Kingers, Well played
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Even though we were possibly the better team, no idea how they didn’t score at least 4. Jauny did fine although the weakness with his feet is an issue. Devaney isn’t a right back and struggled, we also probably missed a midfielder like him, particularly for the goal where the midfielder had acres to make a pass. Not sure if Okagbue is an option there, I’ve never seen him play there but he has done it for Walsall I think. Same with Alex Murphy. Otherwise call up someone who can play the position, could be Curtis or O’Brien or Babb, could be Grante or Toure or Reynolds or O’Regan if they’re up to it. But you need one right back in the squad.
Both Grehan and Abankwah were ok, both had good and bad moments - but I’d see something to build on with that pair. I wouldn’t be keen on moving Abankwah to full back, I think you want him to take on the role of Lawal in the last campaign or O’Brien, Collins and O’Shea in previous campaigns. A dominant and composed bully.
I think the midfield could have used another man (at the expense of O’Mahony) but both Mullins and Adam Murphy had their moments. Probably both 6.5/10 type performances but both had a nice pass here and there or a run or a piece of composure. Vaughan was good coming on, full on energy and spark.
Vata had moments, that one in particular where he ran the pitch, few others too, you’d probably want more from him overall though - he should be the best player on the pitch and he maybe didn’t have the influence that the best player should have. I like Hakiki, I always have, very skilful, nice feet, busy. But he shouldn’t be starting for the 21s - he’s being promoted way above his current station in a classic Crawford move. Kone Doherty should have gotten minutes and there should be another winger in the squad for competition (Umeh is fit).
Melia was very good, much better than Mark. I really like Mark but he’s got no confidence right now. A mistake to play him and put him in the firing line. I’d have more faith in Noonan right now. Not sure why Dillon is in the squad. I haven’t seen anything to suggest he’s close to ready, I think he’s more a player for the next campaign.
At least we somehow got 3 points. Wouldn’t be surprised if they took points of someone useful in Moldova if they keep that team together on that pitch
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