Under-21 Euro 2023 Qualifying

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 John Nice wrote:

 J89 wrote:

 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.

I was just reading that Azaz played a deeper role for Cheltenham in 20/21, played 37 times in a promotion winning season for the Robins, so maybe he is a real option there. Over 80 games under his belt at L2 level plus another 10 or so in L1 this season, he's pretty experienced from that pov, so who knows, certainly another option, but would be a real baptism of fire to thrown him in for his debut.

Already did it with Odubeko making his debut away to Sweden and Cashin likely would have been the same if his paperwork was sorted. He went straight in against Montenegro when his paperwork was finally cleared. 

Both lads less experienced than Azaz so something he definitely could consider to start him given his experience. Will probably depend on who he thinks partners Coventry which might see Smallbone playing higher if it's Devoy unless he reverts to old and sticks Smallbone on the right.