Oddly, he isn't even in the provisional squad despite having racked up more EPL appearances now than when he was last included in a training squad in May.Originally Posted by Fizzer
When is the squad to be whittled down?
Today supposedly, although I trust very little from this article. - http://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer...-36184748.html
The Ireland manager will trim it further today, hoping he will make the decisions, not the medics.
Squad finalised, Westwood (rib) and Doyle (retirement) are the only players to leave the provisional squad so far, with more to be assessed this week: http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/oneil...va-wales-games
Republic of Ireland MNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Rob Elliot (Newcastle United), Colin Doyle (Bradford City)
Defenders: Cyrus Christie (Middlesbrough), Richard Keogh (Derby County), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Kevin Long, Stephen Ward (Burnley)
Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Sunderland), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion), Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady (Burnley), James McCarthy (Everton), David Meyler (Hull City), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Eunan O'Kane (Leeds United), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Jonathan Hayes (Celtic), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City), Daryl Horgan (Preston North End)
Forwards: Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Nottingham Forest), David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Scott Hogan (Aston Villa), Aiden O'Brien (Millwall)
There's to be another update at 5PM this evening and the press conference will be broadcast live on RTÉ Player: https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017...o-give-update/
Edit: The press conference will be live here: https://www.rte.ie/player/ie/live/3/
Last edited by DannyInvincible; 02/10/2017 at 3:51 PM.
They seem to have scrapped this idea.
Seems so. There are updates on the FAI's Twitter feed though. O'Neill says that McGoldrick has had a scan and seems OK. McCarthy hasn't been ruled out just yet either.
According to photos, Arter and McCarthy took part in (at least some form of) training today.
Pretty certain that's McCarthy in the foreground of the second photo.
Photos (from the FAI's Twitter feed) of Hogan and Maguire in training earlier today:
That definitely was McCarthy training earlier as there's another photo of him in this tweet:
49,000 tickets have been sold, so the game is nearly a sell-out.That's it for today. Over 49,000 tickets for Friday's game have been sold already. Remaining tickets available now: https://www1.ticketmaster.ie/fifa-wo...atid=741&bba=1
Word this morning (in the Daily Mail) that O'Neill could play McCarthy. Seriously hoping this doesn't happen. Not because I dislike JM (which I don't) but because it would be a huge risk to play a player who has not kicked a ball all season and a real kick in the teeth to those midfielders in the squad who have.
Crazy if he starts McCarthy with not a jot of football played in months and only just back from his latest injury. Myler in there for me on Friday anyway, whatever about Mondays game then.
I'm guessing the start 11 will be
Randy
Christe Duffy Clark ward
McGeady, Jeff, Wes, Meyler, Arter
Long
Anyone agree?
'Shane Long provides Ireland boost after coming through training': https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017...ough-training/
Not sure. I agree on the 11 but if McGeady gets free rein we look very narrow. Would like to see another wide option. A front three of McGeady, Long and Maguire would be lovely, given that is where Maguire has been for Preston.
Hendrick is ruled out, isn't he?
don't think he is. Long was reported this morning as being the only major injury concern but I see he came through training today.
I can see Wes playing V Moldova but not starting against Wales. I hope I’m wrong but if O’Neill does that and we lose, it’ll be his own fault.
Of course if he does that and we win he’ll be a tactical genius. I always despair when Wes is left out though. Whelan no doubt will be in there somewhere. I like Whelan but his time is up I think
Last edited by Fixer82; 04/10/2017 at 1:55 PM.
I reckon he might play Daryl Murphy instead of McGeady and Conor Hourihane may be an option? He will stick to his tried and tested with Hogan or Maguire possible subs. There is no hope of the manager putting on real strikers that may cause something to happen in the box.
And his team for Wales will be along the same lines with Brady, Walters & McClean coming straight back into the line up no matter what the team does on Friday!
Even if we had a 17 year old Ben Woodburn or a 16-year-old Ethan Ampadu he would only have them in the squad, but not really be prepared to take a chance and play them!
If he's fit though, is there anything to be said for giving him some minutes against Moldova with a view to starting him in Cardiff? Just say we are 2-0 up at half time, maybe bring him on for the second half. He played well in some crunch games at the end of the last campaign and against Italy at the Euros, it could be his kind of night but I totally get your reservations.
Randolph (no problems)
Christie (shouldn't be starting but for some reason Doherty can't get a look in.)
Duffy (no problems)
Clark (no problems)
Ward (no problems)
The only time we look a unit under MON is 4-4-f-2
McClean (no problems)
Hourihane (not going to happen, Whelan will play safe choice)
Meyler (50/50 with Arter/Hendrick. McCarthy/O'Kane prob not going to be considered)
Brady (no problems)
Murphy (no problems)
Long (no problems)
Wes misses out but for gods sake get him on the pitch 60-70 min mark.
It might not be enough but theres no evidence that throwing Maguire, Hogan, Horgan, O'Dowda, O'Brien, McGoldrick etc will do/would have done any better than the lads have done so far.
We're lacking a talisman, someone to drag performances out of the other players and not only worry about their own game. I like Meylers attitude, he's not the worlds greatest footballer but I think the positivity he brings trumps the limitations.
We have enough to win the next two games, but I wouldn't be suprised by 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 pts. It all depends on which Irish 'squad' shows up.
Bar injury or suspension, Hendrick will start both matches for sure I think.
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