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Stephen Finn

@futsalfinn.bsky.social
417 followers 211 following 61 posts

Thinking about things - UEFA A Elite Youth - Blog: futsalfinn.wordpress.com

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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Last weekend St Francis FC played its first ever home game in the new FAI National League. I put together a piece recording a special day for the club: www.instagram.com/reel/DdT4c2U... ⚽️
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
On this day, today, Mayo finally won their fourth All-Ireland Football title after a 75 year gap #gaelicfootball 🏐🟥🟩
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
How come nobody on here wants me to vote for them in a podcast competition? 🤔
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Philippe Auclair @philippeauclair.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
I wish Palace well tonight, but one thing: whatever TNT/HBO thinks, they're not wearing "Palace For Life" jerseys because they're a lovely club supporting a good cause, but because their actual sponsor, NET88, is an illegal Asian sports betting company and cannot be advertised in a UEFA competition.
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
With all that foliage, the real trick would have been to train as a gardener with poor eyesight so you could wear peculiar glasses without arousing suspicion 🌳🕵️‍♂️⚽️👨‍🌾
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Reg Coppinger @regcoppinger.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
#SpeirGorm #LOI #LeagueOfIreland #Football
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
It’s really been destroyed as an event over the past 15 years sadly ☹️⚽️
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Philip O'Connor @philipoconnor.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Who are we running football for? Players, or people in suits?
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
rip.ie/death-notice... In the village I grew up in, Norman was an ever present gentle soul always seen walking his dog & went out of his way to help humans & animals alike. I am so sad to hear of his loss 💔
rip.ie
Death Notice of Norman Burns (Coolmine, Dublin) | rip.ie
The death has occurred of Norman Burns of Coolmine, Dublin Ireland, on 22/03/2026. You can view the full death notice and add your condolences here.
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
In this graphic does ‘don’t know’ mean they don’t know what a book is? 🤔📚📖📗
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Great night at Dublin International Film Festival last night with the screening of The Charlie O’Leary Story. Brilliant to see so many great football people there & hear from the legend himself afterwards ⚽️🇮🇪
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The Independent @the-independent.com · 18/02/2026
IN DEPTH | How to change your mind — and the minds of the people around you, according to experts
trib.al
Psychologists reveal how to change your mind — and the minds of the people around you
How do you argue with your family in a productive way? How can you make sure your own belief system is serving you properly? Holly Baxter speaks with psychologists who explain why our brains are wired to prevent us from changing our minds — but how we can learn to do it anyway
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santiago salinas @ssalinas.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
1/12 Really proud of this paper! We borrowed tools from biology to ask a simple question: does who you play with actually matter in football? (Spoiler: it does, a lot.) 🧬 🤝 ⚽ Paper here: authors.elsevier.com/a/1mUusArnpe...
Photo of 3-versus-3 football game
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
Ireland U19 internationals Daniel Isichei & Billy Burrell on the bench for Birmingham City tonight ⚽️
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
I was in Tehran in 2001 & met so many friendly people. I support all these young people trying to escape the religious tyranny imposed by scared weak-minded men. A free & safe Iran would be a great thing for the world 🇮🇷
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
Evan Ferguson has shown his goal-scoring capabilities on international stage for Ireland but his most immediate challenge is to become the main striker for AS Roma. I took a look at what the data shows and how Roma can get the best out of him.
futsalfinn.wordpress.com
ANALYSIS: We need to talk about Evan
Evan Ferguson has shown his goal-scoring capabilities on international stage for Ireland but his most immediate challenge is to become the main striker for AS Roma. I took a look at what the data shows and how Roma can get the best out of him.
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
Evan Ferguson has shown his goal-scoring capabilities on international stage for Ireland but his most immediate challenge is to become the main striker for AS Roma. I took a look at what the data shows and how Roma can get the best out of him.
futsalfinn.wordpress.com
ANALYSIS: We need to talk about Evan
Evan Ferguson has shown his goal-scoring capabilities on international stage for Ireland but his most immediate challenge is to become the main striker for AS Roma. I took a look at what the data shows and how Roma can get the best out of him.
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Barry Masterson @barrymasterson.com · 07/12/2024
Hi, I'm Barry an artist from Ireland ⚽☘️ I drew that thing you like. A life long League of Ireland truther and enjoyer of old stadiums. Available for commissions in 2025, Lets work together 🤝 Portfolio: barrymasterson.com Shop: shop.barrymasterson.com Email: hello@barrymasterson.com
Illustration of the laneway down to Dalymount Park's enterance, with fans walking towards the stadium.
A scene from street level outside Richmond park at night time. Two kids playing football against the mural wall under a street lamp.
Illustration of the Entrance to The Showgrounds, home of Sligo Rovers, with some kids playing football.
illustration of the entrance to Tolka park on match night, some kids are climbing the wall to watch the game.
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Totally agree with Ken on this. This is how we beat Portugal: futsalfinn.wordpress.com/2025/11/11/a...
futsalfinn.wordpress.com
ANALYSIS: Ireland can beat Portugal if they bring back the back four
IRELAND need to go back to a four-man defence if they want to shock Portugal and turn the momentum in their World Cup qualifying campaign on its head.  It is my analysis that be…
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The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 13/11/2025
Ken Early: Portugal may have defensive frailties, but Ireland need to leave their shell
irishtimes.com
Ken Early: Portugal may have defensive frailties, but Ireland need to leave their shell
Hungary have put four past the group leaders in two games, but unlike Ireland, they had a right go
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
Here’s a deep dive into how Ireland can shock Portugal in the World Cup qualifiers this Thursday 🇮🇪⚽️🇵🇹
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
This a long read, so maybe read it with a cuppa in hand! Ireland face Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal colleagues in the World Cup qualifiers on Thursday. A win seems unlikely, but if we revert to a back four, I think we can win. This analysis shows how.
futsalfinn.wordpress.com
ANALYSIS: Ireland can beat Portugal if they bring back the back four
IRELAND need to go back to a four-man defence if they want to shock Portugal and turn the momentum in their World Cup qualifying campaign on its head. It is my analysis that because Ireland produced a brave display to go down to a narrow, late defeat by Portugal in Lisbon last month, the Irish team management (and most pundits) would believe that a similar approach is the correct course of action to use when the sides meet in Dublin this Thursday. 
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
This a long read, so maybe read it with a cuppa in hand! Ireland face Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal colleagues in the World Cup qualifiers on Thursday. A win seems unlikely, but if we revert to a back four, I think we can win. This analysis shows how.
futsalfinn.wordpress.com
ANALYSIS: Ireland can beat Portugal if they bring back the back four
IRELAND need to go back to a four-man defence if they want to shock Portugal and turn the momentum in their World Cup qualifying campaign on its head. It is my analysis that because Ireland produced a brave display to go down to a narrow, late defeat by Portugal in Lisbon last month, the Irish team management (and most pundits) would believe that a similar approach is the correct course of action to use when the sides meet in Dublin this Thursday. 
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
Ireland's World Cup hopes will depend upon securing a win over Armenia tonight. Here is my analysis of how we can press our way to success.
futsalfinn.wordpress.com
PUT EM UNDER PRESSURE: Ireland need to channel their Charlton era pressing power against Armenia
While Ireland were definitely brave and well-organised in Lisbon on Saturday, my contention regarding this Ireland pool of players is that they are better suited to the higher pressing style associated with the Jack Charlton era than they are with playing deeper and trying to be cagey.  
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
Ireland's World Cup hopes will depend upon securing a win over Armenia tonight. Here is my analysis of how we can press our way to success.
futsalfinn.wordpress.com
PUT EM UNDER PRESSURE: Ireland need to channel their Charlton era pressing power against Armenia
While Ireland were definitely brave and well-organised in Lisbon on Saturday, my contention regarding this Ireland pool of players is that they are better suited to the higher pressing style associated with the Jack Charlton era than they are with playing deeper and trying to be cagey.  
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Ireland travel with little expectation and not much hope for their next World Cup qualifier against Portugal on Saturday. The temptation is to try and be ultra conservative tactically but does that makes sense against Cristiano Ronaldo & Co? My analysis:
futsalfinn.wordpress.com
Why Ireland can’t ‘park the bus’ against Portugal
Let’s be honest, if Ireland could get a 0-0 draw at Estádio José Alvalade on Saturday, most Irish fans would not care a jot how it was achieved. 
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Ireland travel with little expectation and not much hope for their next World Cup qualifier against Portugal on Saturday. The temptation is to try and be ultra conservative tactically but does that makes sense against Cristiano Ronaldo & Co? My analysis:
futsalfinn.wordpress.com
Why Ireland can’t ‘park the bus’ against Portugal
Let’s be honest, if Ireland could get a 0-0 draw at Estádio José Alvalade on Saturday, most Irish fans would not care a jot how it was achieved. 
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
He had great movement around the box & was a brilliant volleyer. Pity about the dissent issues 🇮🇪🇺🇸
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Gary Howlett! ⚽️🇮🇪
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𝔅𝔲𝔱𝔱𝔬𝔫𝔰 𝔒'𝔊𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔦𝔥𝔞𝔫 @johnxuandou.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
This is one of the most beautiful things I have witnessed, the craft here is impeccable.
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
Why would Spotify suggest this pod with this subject to me? I just listen to music & sports podcasts. Promoting an interview with this criminal sewer rat seems at odds with my interests 🤔
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Very sad to hear this news. Mark Milligan was coaching Rangers FC in Terenure when I played for the club at U15s & was still involved his whole lifetime. facebook.com/terenurerang... RIP Mark. Condolences to Jean & family ⚽️💔
facebook.com
Terenure Rangers Football Club
It is with the greatest sadness that we share the passing of our dear friend Mark Milligan — a true Terenure Rangers legend. Mark was the heart and soul of Terenure Rangers for over 40 years,...
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Futsal finish. No doubt he has played it in his youth. Unlucky not to score ⚽️
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Irish Examiner @irishexaminer.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
dlvr.it
Former Rugby, GAA, and soccer players sought for TCD study into dementia
Trinity College Dublin's Resolve project wants to recruit men and women in their 40s and 50s who had played contact sports
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Futsal is strongly referenced in FAI’s revamped Coach Ed plan. We need to see this pushed properly nationwide ⚽️🇮🇪
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
I’m expecting a tight playoff between Ireland & Bulgaria this week. It may even go to penalties 🇮🇪⚽️🇧🇬
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
International football returns this week. Ireland meet Bulgaria in a UEFA Nations League play-off. Here is my analysis of a tricky tie in the offing for the Irish #football #soccer #ireland #uefa #NationsLeague #analysis
futsalfinn.wordpress.com
ANALYSIS: Ireland may need an Olympian effort to overcome Bulgaria
AS international rivalries go, Ireland-Bulgaria goes back more than 100 years and there is probably as much fanfare around their meeting this week as there was when they first met at the Paris Olympics in 1924. In May last year, the FAI opted to recognise that encounter at Olympique Yves-du-Manoir a century ago as the first official fixture of the Irish Free State.
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
International football returns this week. Ireland meet Bulgaria in a UEFA Nations League play-off. Here is my analysis of a tricky tie in the offing for the Irish #football #soccer #ireland #uefa #NationsLeague #analysis
futsalfinn.wordpress.com
ANALYSIS: Ireland may need an Olympian effort to overcome Bulgaria
AS international rivalries go, Ireland-Bulgaria goes back more than 100 years and there is probably as much fanfare around their meeting this week as there was when they first met at the Paris Olympics in 1924. In May last year, the FAI opted to recognise that encounter at Olympique Yves-du-Manoir a century ago as the first official fixture of the Irish Free State.
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Still waiting to test this out myself as our Junior B team sadly struggling for numbers 😢
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
2027 U21 EURO qualifying dates Qualifying group stage ▪ 17–25 March 2025 ▪ 2–10 June 2025 ▪ 1–9 September 2025 ▪ 6–14 October 2025 ▪ 10–18 November 2025 ▪ 23–31 March 2026 ▪ 21 September–6 October 2026 Play-offs ▪ 9–17 November 2026
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
UEFA U21s 2027 draw is tomorrow 8am GMT. Ireland in Pot 2. First games are next month! uefa.com/under21/draw... ⚽️🇮🇪
uefa.com
2025-27 Under-21 EURO qualifying group stage draw | UEFA Under-21 2027
European Under-21 Championship 2027 qual. draw schedule confirmed. Find out who is facing who in European Under-21 Championship 2027 qual..
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
Ireland’s men’s national team heads into 2025 with squad opportunities to be grabbed. How do LOI based options compare with those overseas? Here’s one suggestion on how to compare players across leagues 🇮🇪⚽️
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
How do you judge players from different leagues when selecting a national team squad? futsalfinn.wordpress.com/2025/01/15/a... ⚽️🇮🇪
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
How do you judge players from different leagues when selecting a national team squad? futsalfinn.wordpress.com/2025/01/15/a... ⚽️🇮🇪
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
The Ireland Men's National Team has many similar standard players to consider, but how we judge the quality of that quantity? Can we objectively value the options the Irish management team has at their disposal? I trawled the Wyscout data to find out
futsalfinn.wordpress.com
ANALYSIS: Digging into Ireland’s player pool
Heimir Hallgrimsson WHEN it comes to analysing footballers, and particularly around recruitment, data has claimed the keys to the kingdom in many clubs, but should the same approach be applied when selecting players for international football? Current Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson surprised many with his admission that he prefers to watch the broad range of potential Ireland players via the scouting platform Wyscout than by trekking around the UK looking at them in person.
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
My research into international football & what Ireland need to learn from the UEFA Nations League is here: futsalfinn.wordpress.com/2024/12/16/a... Below is a video explainer! 🇮🇪⚽️ #soccer #football #ireland #uefa #fifa #worldcup
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
You’ll never guess who I saw heading into The Square in Tallaght tonight. Probably heard about the giant Brussels Sprouts this year 🎅🏼
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
⚽️🇮🇪
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
If you hear another pundit refer to 'Back to Basics' about the Ireland Men's National Team, turn off your device. Here's why that simplistic approach is flawed... #Ireland #football #WorldCup
futsalfinn.wordpress.com
ANALYSIS: The clues from the Nations League to take into the World Cup qualifiers
Chiedozie Ogbene's goal against Greece which was ruled offside (UEFA.com) FIFA’s decision to expand the World Cup finals tournament to 48 teams means there will be as many European teams (16) in the North American event two years from now as there were in the entire tournament when it was held in Mexico in 1970. 54 UEFA nations have just learned what the path to Canada, Mexico and USA 2026 will look like – or at least most of them did, as the quarter-finalists in the UEFA Nations League are all in a situation whereby they will go into one group or another depending on whether they win their last eight tie. 
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Stephen Finn @futsalfinn.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
If you hear another pundit refer to 'Back to Basics' about the Ireland Men's National Team, turn off your device. Here's why that simplistic approach is flawed... #Ireland #football #WorldCup
futsalfinn.wordpress.com
ANALYSIS: The clues from the Nations League to take into the World Cup qualifiers
Chiedozie Ogbene's goal against Greece which was ruled offside (UEFA.com) FIFA’s decision to expand the World Cup finals tournament to 48 teams means there will be as many European teams (16) in the North American event two years from now as there were in the entire tournament when it was held in Mexico in 1970. 54 UEFA nations have just learned what the path to Canada, Mexico and USA 2026 will look like – or at least most of them did, as the quarter-finalists in the UEFA Nations League are all in a situation whereby they will go into one group or another depending on whether they win their last eight tie. 
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