Under-21 Euro 2023 Qualifying

Afolabi hasn’t kicked on for sure but you just never know. He’s a big lad and especially strikers of his build that are young sometimes they just take a good bit of time and need to find their level. He needs to just find his level even if it’s the Scottish 3rd division or League of Ireland. I’d point to Kevin Nisbet playing for Hibernian big reputation as a young player but ended up having to drop to the Scottish 3rd division at 21 to find his level off disappointing loans in the First and 2nd divisions to allow him play every week. 3 years later he’s coming off a huge season for Hibernian linked to Championship clubs and is in the Scottish Euros squad. 

Reason I say that is Afolabi was in the U19 Euros team of the tournament 2 years ago and deserved it he was impressive. There’s a player there somewhere.  

A fella who should look at continental leagues rather than slogging in L1 or L2.

There was an article yesterday in the Herald suggesting that loads of Irish footballers should be looking to the EU to play their football. Playing for rubbish teams in L1 and L2 is doing absolutely nothing for their confidence or development.

I’d agree on players moving further afield on the continent for football but more so because at dozens of English clubs it’s a bit like a cattle mart as opposed to League 1 or 2 being terrible breeding grounds. Plenty English clubs do focus hugely on youth development we can’t complain about Southampton Derby or Norwich from an Irish perspective can we. Southampton contingent have just been a bit unlucky with injuries etc that happens.  

Coventry Connell Kilkenny Travers Mcentee etc I could go on you see loads of young Irish players hit 20,21 even 22 and they still haven’t gotten rolling playing men’s football. 

One thing I find if you look at country’s across Europe that have improved/are improving their National sides compared to where they are let’s say 10-15 years ago. Belgium,Denmark, Poland,Switzerland,Austria,Norway,Czech Republic Portugal,Cyprus, even Scotland there seems to be more of a focus on bringing through young players in recent years. 

All of these countries have improved their National team and also have decent or improving domestic Leagues in this time period where teams give a proper platform for young players to play at what are decent levels. Players with a 100 plus appearances learning thier trade by the time they reach 21/22.