TFT Issue 121!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Faroe Islands U21 vs Northern Ireland U21 – lay Northern Ireland U21 at 11/10.
Today’s featured game is the UEFA European U21 Championship Qualifier between Faroe Islands and Northern Ireland. Quality-wise, you could be forgiven for leaning toward Northern Ireland U21 here for obvious reasons but I’m going against the grain today.
You see, the bookies have got Northern Ireland at around 3/4 to win this game and I’m not entirely sure why. I’d agree that Northern Irish football is ahead of Faroese football but the gap is closing each year as Faroese football advances.
Let’s look at this game more closely, though. The venue is Gundadalur in Torshavn, which has artificial turf and we all know how big an advantage that is. UEFA finally approved the repeated Faroese requests to have artificial turf for their home games as the vast majority of Meistaradeildin venues have artificial turf and that’s where most of the Faroese team play. UEFA approved their right to do this back in 2009 and since their opening 0-4 humbling against Romania U21, they’ve really developed their game at home to benefit them. Since then, they’ve held Moldova to a 1-1 draw and even beaten Russia 1-0 with a defeat in between at home against one of the most talented Latvia sides in recent years with Gauracs and Rudnevs leading the line. Somewhat amusingly, however, Faroe Islands went and won 0-1 at Latvia in the reverse fixture and have also held Andorra to a 1-1 draw away so you can see that the Faroes are improving. They’ve scored in six out of their last nine UEFA European U21 Championship Qualifiers so I think they need to be a bit more respected nowadays.
Northern Ireland are a decent side themselves and that’s only to be expected with some of their footballers playing in England. However, I feel sometimes that the odds on Northern Ireland reflect that more than they should because the majority of their team still plays in Northern Ireland and their league isn’t exactly advanced, to be fair. I mean, just take a look at their last qualifying campaign – they won just two games and both were against San Marino. They were destoyed by Iceland, Germany, and Czech Republic in all of their other games barring a shock 1-1 draw with Germany at home as their defence was vulnerable and their attacking was fairly predictable.
With the above in mind, is it only me who thinks this game will be a lot closer than the bookies? Both sides have their stars – Faroe Islands have Aberdeen midfielder Hansson and HB Torshavn midfielder Poulsen (formerly of Crewe Alexandra), not to mention OB Odense defender Davidsen and Vikingur Gotu striker Justinussen. Northern Ireland have the likes of Boyce, Norwood, Dudgeon, C.Evans, and Thompson in their ranks so I’d argue that the two sides balance each other out quite well here.
The last point I’d make is regarding fitness. The Faroese Meistaradeildin – where 90% of the Faroe Islands team play – has been underway for a couple of months now so they’re all match-fit. The Northern Irish league is not currently in operation, however – their season has ended so perhaps there’ll be an element of rusty touches/finishes/marking on the field? Additionally, Northern Ireland have to be very careful here because four of their stars – Hodson, Norwood, Carson, and Boyce – all played for the Northern Ireland senior team just four days ago in the Nations Cup with the first three playing the full ninety minutes. Manchester United midfielder Norwood is considered to be an integral part of the team, especially with his wicked set pieces, but is he really old enough to play two games in such close proximity and to be play at 100%? I don’t think so, personally.
Northern Irelandm ust look to Rangers defender Hegarty and Stoke City midfielder Lund for experience and reliability with some of their compatriots having played for the senior team a few days ago and with other players being absent through suspension and/or injury, namely Dudgeon, Thompson, Gorman, and most importantly, captain McLoughlin.
Therefore, I’ve no alternative but to lay Northern Ireland here. This isn’t an easy venue to play and with half of their side missing for varying reasons, I think the Faroese have got a good chance to make their mark here. For me, laying Northern Ireland at 11/10 has value in it today.
Team news – Northern Ireland U21 miss Dudgeon, Thompson, Gorman, and McLoughlin.
Verdict: Lay Northern Ireland U21 at 11/10.