Ireland U21 squad announced

[eirebhoy]

Darren Quigley - Derry City
Darren Randolph - Charlton Athletic

Eddie Nolan - Blackburn Rovers
Joe O'Cearuill - St. Patrick's Athletic
Darren Dennehy - Everton
Conor Powell - Bohemians
Darren O'Dea - Celtic

Stephen Gleeson - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Stephen Quinn - Sheffield United
Darron Gibson - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Chris McCann - Burnley
John-Joe O'Toole - Watford
Jim O'Brien - Dundee United
Keith Treacy - Blackburn Rovers

Billy Clarke - Ipswich Town
Anthony Stokes - Sunderland
Leon Best - Coventry City
Andy Keogh - Wolverhampton Wanderers

Republic of Ireland v Montenegro
Terryland Park
Tuesday, March 25th
Kick-off 7.30pm

[ifk101]

Owen Garvan? Injured?

[tetsujin1979]

Owen Garvan? Injured?

Isn't he suspended after getting booked against England?

[sligoman]

Anyone know how much tickets are to this? What's Montenegro's team like, any good players?

[stiffler]

Anyone know anything about Marc Wilson at Portsmouth? is he near the squad? he made the first team bench a few weeks ago against Sunderland.

[tetsujin1979]

Anyone know anything about Marc Wilson at Portsmouth? is he near the squad? he made the first team bench a few weeks ago against Sunderland.

Went off injured for the reserves against Derby a few weeks ago: http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index....&qs_media=html

signed a 2 year deal last summer: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...432588&cc=5739

Meanwhile, Pompey have handed Belfast-born reserve midfielder Marc Wilson, 19, - formerly on loan with Bournemouth - a new two-year contract

[Philly]

Might head to this game. Any word on ticket prices/availability?

[tetsujin1979]

Not on the box either
at least, not on sky sports, they're showing england VS poland on the same night

[kingdom hoop]

TG4 should show it given it's on down their neck of the woods.

Is there any reason (any good reason!) why RTÉ never show u21 matches?

[tetsujin1979]

I'd expect the team to line up

		Randolph

Nolan	Cearuill	O'Dea	Powell

O'Brien	O'Toole	Quinn	McCann	Treacy

		Stokes

I don't know enough about Quigley to say if he's better than Randolph, but Randolph (anyone else keep thinking of Trading Places when they hear that name? No? Just me then...) did start the last game against England
O'Toole and McCann in central midfield, with Quinn breaking forward.
Stokes as an out and out striker
Keogh to come on

[kingdom hoop]

Jeez Tets the centre-backs would want to play a bit closer together! ( )

Sorry. Gibson hasn't done enough at Wolves to justify a place has he? Also, only 5 defenders in the squad? Might mean a good chance of ex-schoolmate Dennehy making an appearance.

And no, "Randolph" reminds me only of reindeers and santa. Not a bad association either though I suppose.

[Dodge]

Is there any reason (any good reason!) why RTÉ never show u21 matches?

Not sure any terrestial broadcastor in the world shows u21 matches...

[amaccann]

They did show one U-21 game a couple of years back; it might have been the first game in the Euro campaign just gone by? Perhaps the WC one before that? Definitely remember watching it on the telly box.

[Superhoops]

TG4 should show it given it's on down their neck of the woods.

Is there any reason (any good reason!) why RTÉ never show u21 matches?

Aren't the u-21 games part of the SKY contract with FAI?

[Diarmo]

Yeah, good to see them there too. I would've liked to see Kevin Thornton in the squad though, we could do with some more wide players. Also, with O'Halloran out, I would've liked to see Sheehan or Painter in instead, to try out our potential left-backs.
Also, as McShane is now playing mainly for the Sunderland reserves, iI think he should start playing with the u21s instead.... try work on his form without every performance being scrutinized. Any thoughts?

[Irish_Praha]

Yeah, good to see them there too. I would've liked to see Kevin Thornton in the squad though, we could do with some more wide players. Also, with O'Halloran out, I would've liked to see Sheehan or Painter in instead, to try out our potential left-backs.
Also, as McShane is now playing mainly for the Sunderland reserves, iI think he should start playing with the u21s instead.... try work on his form without every performance being scrutinized. Any thoughts?

Are Sheehan, McShane and Painter still eligible

[tetsujin1979]

From http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...d=57&Itemid=71

Players born after 01/01/'86 are eligible for the 2009 Championship

So yes, Painter (born 17/08/86), Sheehan (born 14/09/86) and McShane (born 06/01/86) are all still eligible for the U-21's, but all will be overage for the next set of qualifiers

[Irish_Praha]

Let's throw McGeady and Ireland there too just for kicks.

I quite like the idea of having Ireland in a few U-21s squads (as an unused or late sub ).
It would be a nice little tester to see if he is stable enough to make a return to the senior setup.

[Irish_Praha]

From http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...d=57&Itemid=71

So yes, Painter (born 17/08/86), Sheehan (born 14/09/86) and McShane (born 06/01/86) are all still eligible for the U-21's, but all will be overage for the next set of qualifiers

If that's the case I agree with Dairmo and Painter should be given a call up. He's apparently playing well for Swansea who are runaway leaders of their division at the moment. If we believe the spin from Givens and Delaney the U21 team only there to develop players for the senior team, so they should be trying out all options at positions where we are weak.

If we had some decent options at CB I would also agree with McShane going back to U21s but unfortunately we need him in the senior squad at least as cover.

[tetsujin1979]

Just had a look at Swansea's site, Painter went off injured a few weeks ago against MK Dons - http://www.swanseacity.premiumtv.co....~43327,00.html - and has only just returned to training - http://www.swanseacity.premiumtv.co....264410,00.html