Doesnt say much for the eircom league

[The Man Himself]

when we cant even get one player into the under 21 squad,

Republic of Ireland Under-21 Squad for Malaysia Tournament:

Darren Randolph - Charlton Athletic
Shane Redmond - Nottingham Forest
Darren Dennehy - Everton
Eddie Nolan - Blackburn Rovers
Michael Spillane - Norwich City
Shane Lowry - Aston Villa
Ian Morris - Scunthorpe
Marc Wilson - Portsmouth
Michael Collins – Huddersfield Town
Stephen Quinn - Sheffield United
Alan Power - Nottingham Forest
Keith Keane - Luton Town
Keith Treacy - Blackburn Rovers
Anthony Stokes - Sunderland
Billy Clarke - Ipswich Town
Karl Moore - Manchester City
Alan Judge - Blackburn Rovers
Stephen Maher - Yeovil Town
James Berrett - Huddersfield.

[GavinZac]

It says a lot about Don Givens though.

[superfrank]

Let them have the U-21's, we have the U-23's!

[pineapple stu]

The eL U-23s...

First time in ages it's happened. There'll be more back in.

[Rovers Maniac]

Who are the players that could be in with a shout, some might say i am biased and maybe i am but Coleman for us. It looks a fairly strongish squad to be honest although Maher from Yovil has only played once for them it says he also played for Shams last year.

[forza]

when we cant even get one player into the under 21 squad,

Its an end of season tournament considering any EL U21 contenders are in the 23's squad and with club commitments its good in my opinion the lack of EL players in the squad that is as they would face burn out especially if any of those players who would usually feature have European commitments on top of league,cup,league cup,setanta cup and U 23 games.

[BohDiddley]

Yeovil, Huddersfield and Scunthorpe. In real money, that's three Third Division clubs, with Yeovil not far off the drop to the Fourth.
Shocking lack of imagination on FAI's part.

[A face]

Yeovil, Huddersfield and Scunthorpe. In real money, that's three Third Division clubs, with Yeovil not far off the drop to the Fourth.
Shocking lack of imagination on FAI's part.

Its not the FAI at fault, its Givens. If they dont get anywhere (again) this year it'll be Givens who is at fault, not that it matters a jot because he seems to have a job for life there. Its definitely not performance related anyway.

[Gypsy1890]

http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...k=view&id=3143

...
“We have a very young squad going out”, said Givens. “The Scottish season is still underway and there are play-off matches to be played in England so we decided not to call-up any player who may be involved in those matches.

“We also decided not to involve any eircom League of Ireland players, who are currently mid-season.

“The eircom League of Ireland managers have been very co-operative with me in the past and so I don’t want to call-up players who have important league matches to play.”

He added:“The other teams involved in the tournament are all Under-23, so we will have the youngest squad there. However, I think that it is a great opportunity to have a look at players who will be eligible for the next Under-21 qualifying campaign.” ...

[skitz3]

It says a lot about Don Givens though.

Exactly, he's a horrible excuse for a man.

[L37Ultra]

I knew what the responses would be before I even read this.

Typical of this board, there's no EL players in the squad so it's clearly not because the EL isn't good enough it's a problem with the staff.

I wouldn't include any EL players over the current selection period, and that's not even getting to those who are just under 21.

I have to agree. Some people are listening to their heart ahead of their heads in this thread. I couldn't name one League of Ireland player that is U-21 that is better than the current squad. I'm pretty sure there isn't one.

[SligoBrewer]

Seamus Coleman.

[Rocky77]

Seamus Coleman.

He's got you all by the balls there

[pete]

The only eL players I can remember from recent U21 squads are Coleman alongside Bohs Powell & Kelly. Not one to defend Givens but taking those players would mean match postponements which affect Sligo, Bohs and teams they would have played.

[rod1]

i think people are missing an important point here, If el players are included in the squad for this trip, how many match postponements will this cause and i think it was deliberate decision not to include el players so that matches do not have to be cancelled. I think I am right in saying that if 1 or more player is called up for international duty, the club have the right to have their game postponed

[Greenforever]

when we cant even get one player into the under 21 squad,

Pity you didnt read Givens comments as to why EL players wern't considered.

Also as Trap has taken 4 from the squad to the training camp in Portugal, this further wakens his base from which to pick.

This squad is about giving players experience and nothing else, just like they play 7 a side instead of a 11 a side in places like Holland for kids up to round U14s so as to develop skills and not to win at a level that really doesnt count.

I wonder what our Don has done to upset so many posters when he is actually just working in conjunction with the the senior manager of the day and EL managers etc.

[drummerboy]

Ronan Finn?

[A face]

I wonder what our Don has done to upset so many posters when he is actually just working in conjunction with the the senior manager of the day and EL managers etc.

In all his time involved in Irish football at this level do you think he has improved the game, yes or no?

[drinkfeckarse]

I wonder what our Don has done to upset so many posters when he is actually just working in conjunction with the the senior manager of the day and EL managers etc.

Surprised you have to ask???? Bad man management, shocking results, poor media skills, disregard of the National League to name but a few.

In any other profession, he'd have been out of a job years ago. The U/21's do not progress with him at the helm.

[Macy]

because he seems to have a job for life there.

Which is the FAI's fault.