QuoteHoolahan has won MOTM several times and he's in and out of the team.
It's not a knock on Jon. I just disagree that it's a disaster if he doesn't play.
And I was referring to the first leg of the Bosnia tie.
whatever two from long, walters and murphy start against wales we need a good option from the bench also. if we are missing any of those 3 we are a bit stuck for other options
Hoolahan has won MOTM several times and he's in and out of the team.
It's not a knock on Jon. I just disagree that it's a disaster if he doesn't play.
And I was referring to the first leg of the Bosnia tie.
Simply missing a natural goalscorer ala Keano or Walters if we start with Murphy and Long. Not looking good for us...Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
Oddly enough, the game will be exactly 10 years to this day:
https://youtu.be/QOkX58gChqQ?t=26
If only we had someone as hirsute as your man now:
i'm not sure we can classify walters as a natural goalscorer, though his record for ireland is better (roughly 1 in 4) than at club level (1 in 5).
long's record is fairly similar though, which perhaps illustrates that stats don't tell you everything about a forward. unless you're robbie...
Walters is no more a natural goalscorer than Long.
People fretted about whereit the goals would come from after Keane's retirement and we have continued to score.
If we can survive without him, we can survive without Walters.
We have plenty of blood and thunder players.
I think Murphy can get the best out of Long, as seen from Belgrade.
We played some of our best football in the first leg against Bosnia? Really?
I think either the positive result or the fog that night has really clouded your memory on that one.
Yes I agree, but with SJW's aeriel ability and all round game, us missing Jon evens out with Wales missing Bale. Maybe we do have a chance...
Didn't Bale play in that Croke park game 10 years ago? He wasn't up to much then.
It's Walters every time
People were more worried about where we would find a goalscorer of his class again.
Working Class , Middle Class or Upper Class....I kind of a gra for a working class kid made good......
It's completely absurd to say us missing Walters evens out with Wales missing Bale; Bale is arguably the best player in the world FGS!
He's (Walters) been poor so far in this qualifying campaign, was probably one of our worst players against Sweden and we played better football with Murphy in the team against Italy and France. Then Murphy came off the bench and scored one against Serbia and laid one on for Long within minutes of coming off the bench.
We have Long, Murphy and even McClean who can play up top. McClean, Horgan, Pilkington, Hendrick and even Coleman can occupy the wide positions.
As for Walters being better than Long in the air. I'd disagree on that one. Long wins a lot in the air. His leap is incredible. I'm not sure I'd hear Walters better than Long in the air anywhere but an Irish forum TBH.
Don't get me wrong. Walters missing is not ideal but I wouldn't lose sleep over Brady being missing let alone Walters, and Brady is more important because of his set piece ability alone.
I think if Walters missing the Wales game means he finally gets back to full fitness for the games in the summer and autumn then that's more important.
I think he hasn't been playing anywhere near 100% since March/April and in all honesty probably wasn't close to being fit enough to travel for Euro 2016 in the first place.
I was on a wind up. I'll be less subtle next time.
Any updates on Big Jon?
From stokecityfc.com
Mark Hughes said he's 2-3 weeks off which means he probably won't be fit enough to start but will anyway.
In tomorrow's squad for Stoke according to @eireguide on twitter but the link to the source doesn't work.
Mark Hughes said it in a press conference: https://twitter.com/stokecity/status/837585181657686016
MH: Jon Walters is fine and available and Glen Johnson is fine too. Like I say the only doubt for us is Xherdan. #SCFC
Are everybody (who have any chance of being in the squad for the Wales game) injury free outside of Alan Judge?
Don't. Say. Anything.
Was waiting for that!
Clean bill of health so, can't see how anything could go wrong now.
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