Under-21 Euro 2023 Qualifying

Howdo wrote: wanderer wrote: Connell, Kerrigan, McGuinness & Harrington all out injured. Called up,  Garica McNulty, O'Reilly & Odumosu along with Dara Costello Connell injured, jesus wept

Howdo wrote: 10 Box wrote: Howdo wrote: wanderer wrote: Connell, Kerrigan, McGuinness & Harrington all out injured. Called up,  Garica McNulty, O'Reilly & Odumosu along with Dara Costello Connell injured, jesus wept Dawson Devoy would have started ahead of him so not sure how much how much he would have played. i was more commenting on the fact he's injured again!

Liel Abada named in the Israel senior squad so won't be featuring against us.

SC92 wrote: Fozz wrote: I agree Hodge looks very high-potential, but he's never played a single minute of U21 football for us so can't see him suddenly starting a play-off? Love to see it tho! I'd say it will be a central pairing of Smallbone & Coventry, with Devoy ahead of them. Wright and Connolly wide and Mipo/Ferguson central. It's my opinion tbf, I don't think Crawford will do it either. I don't think Smallbone or Devoy are good enough defensively to play a deeper CM role and Israel are a decent team so we can't only have 1 defensive minded CM. So Hodge works best in that role best for me. If it was me we would play 352 like the seniors. We have pretty poor winger options in all honesty.

Garcia Mcnulty should have been in the squad from the start anyways if we are being honest. Young player with big potential. 

SC92 wrote: Fozz wrote: I agree Hodge looks very high-potential, but he's never played a single minute of U21 football for us so can't see him suddenly starting a play-off? Love to see it tho! I'd say it will be a central pairing of Smallbone & Coventry, with Devoy ahead of them. Wright and Connolly wide and Mipo/Ferguson central. It's my opinion tbf, I don't think Crawford will do it either. I don't think Smallbone or Devoy are good enough defensively to play a deeper CM role and Israel are a decent team so we can't only have 1 defensive minded CM. So Hodge works best in that role best for me. If it was me we would play 352 like the seniors. We have pretty poor winger options in all honesty.

kevin100 wrote: Garcia Mcnulty should have been in the squad from the start anyways if we are being honest. Young player with big potential.  Connell the biggest loss for me. Having a cracking season at Barnsley and would have been a more than adequate replacement for Kilkenny.

J89 wrote: John Nice wrote: J89 wrote: It's been over a year since Luca was in a squad. This is the first call up he's gotten this campaign. Don't think Crawford would have thrown him straight into the XI. Should stick with Coventry and Smallbone I'd share others concerns that that might be a little lightweight. While obviously Hodge has looked like a cracking prospect at younger age levels, it may be Devoy, now getting first team minutes at MK Dons who gets the nod to play along with Coventry and Smallbone. It's hard to see what Crawford would do. Coventry, Devoy, and Smallbone would be similar to how he often lines up with Coventry and Kilkenny. But he likes Ross Tierney, and often had Smallbone on the right with Tierney as the advanced midfielder. Could see it being Coventry, Smallbone, and Tierney.

John Nice wrote: J89 wrote: John Nice wrote: J89 wrote: It's been over a year since Luca was in a squad. This is the first call up he's gotten this campaign. Don't think Crawford would have thrown him straight into the XI. Should stick with Coventry and Smallbone I'd share others concerns that that might be a little lightweight. While obviously Hodge has looked like a cracking prospect at younger age levels, it may be Devoy, now getting first team minutes at MK Dons who gets the nod to play along with Coventry and Smallbone. It's hard to see what Crawford would do. Coventry, Devoy, and Smallbone would be similar to how he often lines up with Coventry and Kilkenny. But he likes Ross Tierney, and often had Smallbone on the right with Tierney as the advanced midfielder. Could see it being Coventry, Smallbone, and Tierney. Aye, it will be interesting to see what he goes with. First leg at home also and youd imagine we'd need to take a lead to Israel. That's where I see the absence of experienced lads like Mc Guinness and Kilkenny as potentially being a problem e.g. if we are defending a 1 goal lead away from home. On the midfield issue, has anybody got any insights on Azaz? I know he plays as an attacking midfielder, but can he put a foot in, has he defensive qualities also? Maybe he could be an option in there? Reading about him, he seems a pretty exciting prospect with a fair bit of senior football under his belt. Named as L2 young player of the season last term, playing 40+ games for Newport, 7 goals.

He's a big lad but doubt he'd fit in next to Coventry. Crawford when talking about him talked up his ability to pick up pockets of space, not get attracted to the ball, and his scoring ability. Described him as a mature player. Would probably see him as the number ten.

Made the League Two team of the year and starting for a good Plymouth team. Crawford could shock us again and name him from the start. Nobody probably expected the changes he made against Montenegro in June, especially after getting a 3-0 win over Bosnia.

Edited by J89 - 19 Sep 2022 at 12:56pm