Just been looking at fifa.com to look at our squads in previous under 20 tournaments. It makes rather sobering reading as very few of our players I can recall getting international caps. However, there is some hope as the last time we were in the under 20 finals, our squad included the likes of Kevin Doyle, Stephen Kelly, Darren Potter, Wayne Henderson and Paddy McCarthy. Doyle has become a top premiership player, while Kelly and Potter are likely to win caps. The others probably will at some stage also. The squad also included David Bell, who has had an excellent season at Luton.
This got me thinking...how many of our current under 19 team will make a living at the top level (premiership or a top league), or at least will be in a position to get a call up to the international squad.
Heres my shouts from what I've seen:
Spillane:I live in Norwich and have seen this lad play. He's got incredible maturity for his age and can play anywhere in defence or midfield. He's strong physically and seems to have a confidence that is needed to succeed at the highest level. Norwich rate him as their best young talent.
Stokes:I first saw Stokes last year for the Arsenal reserves against Norwich when he looked the best player on the pitch by an absolute mile. Outstanding ability....but has he got the attitude to go with it?
Ryan: Being a Liverpool fan, I've heard alot about this kid. He's supposed to be something incredibly special but he's going to need miracles to make it at Anfield with the wealth of riches they have in midfield. My scouse mate who's brother goes to the reserve games at Liverpool reckons he'll play at the highest level...but not at Liverpool.
Rooney:Never seen him play but he sounds a class act. Next year will tell us alot.
Bayly:Never seen him play but he's played for Leeds at 18(even if they are ****). His sending off in his league debut could suggest he's a problem with his temperament, but it could also suggest he has the bite and desire that could lead him to the top.
Nolan:Highly rated at Blackburn.With injuries could make an impression next season.
The others I know too little about, though I have heard that the lads from Nottingham Forest have been on the bench. Garvan is a top class young player who will play for Ireland I believe.
Any thoughts?
The FAI site is full of praise for Bayly. "The dynamic and competitive Bayly is the talisman of the Irish side". He also took the peno tonight instead of Rooney and Stokes. Apparantly a Derby player was really winding him up last week and he lost his temper.
Strachan rates Cillian Sheridan highly too and it's always good to have the option of a target man.
He picked up a booking tonight so he'll be missing the game with Germany. He sounds a really firey kind of lad, with alot of bite. He's just what we need.
Completely forgot about Sheridan who seems to be very talented.
On the subject of Irish lads at Celtic, I have heard from alot of Celtic fans that O'Dea is going to be a really top player. I've only seen him on the telly about three times, but I've always been very impressed.
He's a composed, accomplished defender. I really like the look of him. He outshone a lot of the other Celtic defenders this season but as for a future at Celtic. Thats down to Strachan. He seems to prefer to play as many Scots as possible in his selections.Originally Posted by Bungle
I think I should the parachute, because I'm great.
In fact, I think I should get both parachutes, in case one doesn't work.
Eirebhoy, why has strachan chose pressley over o'dea when the league was clearly won a good while ago. surely he'd want to give the younger lads more experience,,,, ie. macmanus kept his place.
Did he need to make up his games at the end of the season for a winners medal like Hartley?
This U19 team seem to be an exceptional bunch of players. Rooney has already made him mark in the Championship. Treacy on the bench last night was also on the bench for Blackburn last two games.
Always look on the bright side of life
Strachan is an uber Jock who will always be more Scottish than Celtic. He trying to mould the team into a Scottish one. Celtic are on the brink of buying another overrated jock i.e Scott Brown. O Dea is far better than McManus and Pressly.
I think I should the parachute, because I'm great.
In fact, I think I should get both parachutes, in case one doesn't work.
I played Gaelic Football with both Stokes and Boca(Bayley), and was at school with stokes and can tell you that Boca is an absolute phsyco always getting in fights etc. Stokes temperment while better, was still suspect.
Stokes no dopubt in my mind has what in takes to be a top premiership player and i think we will see this next season for Sunderland and the national team. Boca i cant judge to well after only really seeing him playinng GAA for a short period but i can tell you that there are many out therer who have considered him more likely to 'make it' from a young age. As a matter of interest, those of you who think Stokes will go out on loan where do you think he will go?
I've heard it all now. O'Dea's nationality doesn't change anything. Pressley had to be signed because McManus was the only fit centre half at the club at one point. O'Dea will be at Celtic for a few years yet. Pressley has to prove himself for next season and he's getting worse with every match. There's also no better time to give Kennedy a game or 2.
As for Brown, excellent player.
Thats interesting what you say about Bayly.What he probably needs is a top manager to guide him along and keep his temperament in check so that it can work to his advantage.
Regardless of what people think of Roy Keane, I think he is the perfect manager to make sure Stokes doesn't go off the rails, as he wont take any ****.
O Dea had proved this season that he has deserved a regular turnout in the centre of defence. I never said that his nationality was a problem, I said that Strachan was an uber Jock. McManus is far too rash, Pressley is a donkey and Caldwell isn't up to it. Yet mark my words they will be ahead of O Dea next season. Not because O Dea is Irish but because they are Scots. Even Doumbe has shown that he is a decent player but Wilson will be first choice.
And Brown is good. For 4.4million, he can stay at Easter Road.
I think I should the parachute, because I'm great.
In fact, I think I should get both parachutes, in case one doesn't work.
Nothing to do with o'Dea being only a kid, the others being quite a bit older and more experienced. O'Dea has time on his side and I've no worries regarding Strachan. Aresene Wenger would be a different story though.
This is my last post on this as it's completely off topic but Wilson is a great young player, Strachan said last summer that he's the best defender in Scotland. Stop thinking it's all to do with the fact they're Scots. I was never a great fan of McManus but I can't remember ever thinking he was too rash. Solid, rarely makes a mistake, just not an outstanding player.
Cuthbert is Scottish and was rated higher than O'Dea when playing for the reserves. He captained Scotland's U19s to the final of the European Championships last year. If Strachan is so pro-Scottish as you are saying then Cuthbert should be playing instead of O'Dea.
Strachan has his ways of doing things. He'll not play O'Dea week in week out yet.
The downright brazeness of the man trying to mould a Scottish club into a Scottish club
Fair enough. My last post on the topic too. Cuthbert was on loan to Dundee Utd when O Dea got his chance. O Dea has shown he is quality yet he was not picked first choice, young/inexperienced or not. Wilson is a good attacking full back option but can be caught out defending wise and McManus is clumsy. My point is that most of the Scottish players brought in by Strachan haven't been performing and yet their places are confirmed in the side i.e Hartley, Pressley etc.
Now moving on.
I think I should the parachute, because I'm great.
In fact, I think I should get both parachutes, in case one doesn't work.
When there is better non Scots at his disposal?The downright brazeness of the man trying to mould a Scottish club into a Scottish club
Anyhow, moving on.
I think I should the parachute, because I'm great.
In fact, I think I should get both parachutes, in case one doesn't work.
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