Gibraltar (H) - Sat, 11th Oct. / Germany (A) - Tues, 14th Oct.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Whelan was injured for Stockholm. Why would Hendrick be considered a more left sided player?


Henrick is a right-sided player.

Good point about Whelan, as for Hendrick, pal did a piece for the Italy programme and my Derby mate said he's better on the left cutting in from midfield so going with what he says.

[Charlie Darwin]

From what I've seen of him with Derby (admittedly only 5 or 6 games), Hendrick plays more on the right side of the centre and rotates out wide right when another player comes in. Derby play with five central midfielders, though. I think they're all right-footed, so maybe he does push out on the left, but I'd imagine that'd be somewhat negated by having two-footed McGeady and left-footed Hoolahan and/or Quinn in the team.

[zero]

I think he has added an extra dimension to our play when he has got some game time. He wants to get on the ball and dictate play.

He can be guilty of giving up possession but he is usually doing so in a forward area.

As for not winning it back I think that is a fallacy as he has shown he is well able to do that side of the game as well.

he is more creative than our other midfielders, partially because he takes more risks but it's true he has a better eye for a through ball than our other options bar andy reid and stephen ireland (theoretical options included!).

unfortunately (in my view) that's not enough. mourinho for example focuses very heavily on reclaiming possession (in any area of the pitch) and counter attacking with pace. this is what the germans do to great effect. it's pointless hoolahan having the ball in the final third unless the rest of the team comes up to support him - bringing players forward like that leaves a team defensively vulnerable so as soon as the opposition regains possession danger is imminent regardless of where on the park that happens. 2 or 3 passes and it's a goal scoring chance.

our best chance against germany in my view is to have 7/8 players sitting deep when we don't have the ball - which wll be probably 70% of the time - with one or two pacey players high up the pitch. germany play an incredibly high line and scotland caught them out on this more than once. i would go with mcgeady and long as those two.

[tricky_colour]

Delaney should be in there without doubt. He'd be a nailed-on starter for many; not merely a squad member. He's had a few run-ins with Roy throughout his career (http://www.setanta.com/ie/damien-delaney-almost-quit-english-football-because-of-roy-keane/) - once turning up late to training at Ipswich due to being caught speeding and then blaming his "unreasonable boss" for his speeding in court - but you'd imagine the management would be professional enough to see past such things now if it would be in the best interests of the team to have Delaney there?

If McCarthy doesn't recover in time for Germany, it'll be a big blow, although we do have competent cover in Gibson.

Strictness is a flaw in Keane's make up, he has to accept that not everyone share his strict ideals, no point in
having a squad which gets to training on time but loses week in week out, yes disipline is important but I think
you can go over the top.

Remember we also have competent cover for McCarthy in Stephen Ward :sneakiness:.

[Stuttgart88]

I have never once heard anyone suggesting we drop Whelan in favour of Hoolahan. That'd be ridiculous.

I too would prefer Whelan be replaced but with McCarthy out and Meyler not getting games and probably starting RB anyway, I think he should start.

Zero, did you see Hoolahan against Italy? Probably the biggest compliment of his performance was from Paul O'Shea who thought he was rubbish but when he saw the game again on telly he changed his mind. I mean that just never happens :)

He was aggressive in pursuit of the ball, aggressive in his tackling, he even won an aerial duel with an Italian CB, and his use of the ball was excellent. He and Long seem to have a good understanding. I think he is by far our best user of the ball in our opponents' half - but he is an opposition half player, whereas someone like Whelan would typically see more of the ball in our own half, Gibson a bit more of both. My only worry is Hoolahan's club form, but he excelled at times for us last year and he wasn't playing at all.

AB, picking Hendrick on the left would be a Trap like decision :) Square peg, round hole. He's a central player, and an athletic one at that, something we lack.

For those who continue to bash Paul Green (he's less popular than David Drumm I feel) he was superb that night in Stockholm alongside JMcC, our best collective central midfield showing in a long long time. Trap then picked Whelan again against Austria a few days later.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Hear what you say about Hendrick, but see him a replacement/stand-in for Hoolahan, not a main central midfielder v. a team like Germany, or even Scotland?
Maybe as a sub...

[paul_oshea]

He was great for 27 mins in slovakia as well too Stutts.

I do feel Hoolahan does concede possesion and for a team like Ireland lacking in pace, he leaves us susceptible to counter attacks or fast paced movements from the opposition half, teams can move the ball so quick now, that you cant afford to lose the ball anywhere in the field and not be left open - especially as I said with our lack of pace. I concede though he did well against Italy in that regard.

[DeLorean]

From what I've seen of him with Derby (admittedly only 5 or 6 games), Hendrick plays more on the right side of the centre and rotates out wide right when another player comes in. Derby play with five central midfielders, though. I think they're all right-footed, so maybe he does push out on the left, but I'd imagine that'd be somewhat negated by having two-footed McGeady and left-footed Hoolahan and/or Quinn in the team.

I've never seen or heard about Hendrick playing on the left. He actually came on wide right on Saturday, even that was unusual and he had little or no impact by all accounts. Will Hughes is left footed but also plays centrally, usually alongside Hendrick with a more deep lying midfield like Thorne or Eustace giving them both a licence to roam. Obviously on a team sheet Hendrick might be slightly right of centre but himself and Hughes are fully interchangeable. I don't think you could say that Derby play with five central midfielders to be honest, they generally have natural width on one side at least with Ward, Ibe or Dawkins. Johnny Russell (also left footed) tends to play a wider role than he would probably like, to leave Martin as the focal point in attack.

Hendrick and Hoolahan both started Stutts favourite game (v Italy) and both played exceptionally well, think Hendrick might have even got motm?

Coming back to that Stockhom game, I fully agree that it was probably our best midfield pairing and performance in a long time, since Paris anyway which was a bit of a one off. That Italian game was probably next on the list, second only because of it's friendly status. Both games... no Whelan. It's amazing what a difference a bit of mobility, energy and willingness to get on the ball can make. In the interest of balance, I suppose Whelan could point to our biggest capitulations being when he was out of the team also, notably the Germany 1-6.

[Kingdom]

Is Hendrick only coming back from injury - I thought he was, and that's why I hadn't given him much consideration for the German game. I've seen him less than Whelan McCarthy or Gibson, but I really rate McClaren as a coach, and this can only have helped Hendrick develop his game.

He always appears to have plenty of energy to spare in games, and he is very useful with the ball. He definitely has a big role to play for us this campaign, and in fact would be really suitable for the type of tactics I'd hope we'd employ against Germany which would require plenty of running.

He in theory would be better for us in a midfield two, rather than a midfield three whereby generally you have one sitting midfielder, and two distributors or offensive players.

Where I feel sorry for the management, and while acknowledging that every country has to contend with injuries, is that we've a select group that the managers appear to be allowing themselves to choose from, and invariably there is always 2/3 crucial injuries in critical parts of the team. Midfield is a prime example. I would love to see what the management do when we get a clean bill of health.
Arguably they have limited themselves to picking 2/3 from McCarthy, Whelan, Gibson, Hendrick, Quinn, Meyler and at a push Reid and Hoolahan. Gibson has had horrid luck with inopportune injuries. Club form has really killed momentum here. I think Gibson can be pivotal for us, his range of passing is better than any of our midfield options, he carries well, he has a good shot, and he is vocal. He isn't hugely mobile, but closes space really well, and is better at intercepting than outright tackling.
I would hope that Glenn Whelan will be phased out of being a first team starter by the end of this campaign, as I think in a two-man McCarthy and Gibson offer more, and in a three-man McCarthy Gibson and Hendrick has a nice look to it. Given that three in midfield is becoming almost essential if you play a team outside of Britain and Scandanavia, then it's always going to be three that the focus should be on.

While it's never too clever to be comparing midfield players to peers, those who have seen him such as Delorean and CD, would Hendrick be the Jordan Henderson prototype - athletic, good engine, and a combative game?

[DeLorean]

He's had two sub appearances for Derby and an U21 game. He wasn't out for very long so he's surely a starting possibility at least. Why do you think he would be better in a midfield two?

Edit- Only saw your question about the two Hendo's after posting. I suppose they're not a million miles apart in terms of box to box midfielders but I think Hendrick's primary role is an offensive one, whereas I think Henderson's is probably a bit more defensive i.e. don't leave poor Stevie G isolated but join in with the attack when you can. Henderson is definitely more combative I would say but Hendrick arguably has a bit more guile, but hard to compare when Henderson is playing at a vastly higher level.

Short interview here- (http://www.thescore.ie/jeff-hendrick-gibraltar-1711783-Oct2014/)

[Stuttgart88]

I think its funny how Hoolahan is criticised for giving the ball away whereas a collective failing of the whole team is giving the ball away a lot, and probably more so when he is not involved. What I like about him is his availability to receive balls. Without that we get our full backs playing 40 yard chips up the line and everyone else struggling to see a pass anywhere.

The standard argument - not made here yet - against Hoolahan is that old straw man "all of a sudden he's Lionel Messi, is he?". I want to make it clear that I don't think he's some supreme talent but I do think we are a better team when he plays because he's good at what he does.

Fear of giving the ball away is straight out of the Charlton and Trap manuals. No wonder our national style of play is repressed and riddled with neurosis.

Less than a year ago the Gillette Soccer Saturday guys to a man agreed that Hoolahan should start for Norwich and they specifically queried the notion that he's a luxury player. Given how badly Norwich did last season and given how infrequently he played, I'd bet anything Norwich fans wish he started more.

[Kingdom]

He's had two sub appearances for Derby and an U21 game. He wasn't out for very long so he's surely a starting possibility at least. Why do you think he would be better in a midfield two?

I'll try and not sound like I'm making it up. What I mean is a traditional Irish 2-man midfield, or traditional 4 man midfield such as the Keane-Kinsella axis, or Townsend-Keane, it sounds like he has what would be required. In a Trap 2-man midfield I don't think it would suit his discussed skillset.

In a three man midfield with 1 sitting and 2 attackers, he might just be edged out. In a 3-man with 1 sitting, 1 scavenging/marauding and 1 playmaker, then he probably would fit like a glove. The issue there is whether any of those possibilities are to be employed by the management, and if so, fitting them with the right personnel.

A few examples:

(2 sitting/1 offensive) ------ (1 sitting/1 roving/1 offensive) --- (3 sitting, with 1 slightly more withdrawn)
----JMcC -- DG ---- or ---- JMcC ---- or --- DG -- JMcC -- JH/SQ ---
-------------------- ---- JH ----
--------Wes-------- ----Wes---

or

(base of 2 sitting and 1 more traditional central midfielding playmaker)

--- JMcC -- DM---or----JMcC --- JH ---
------ DG --------------- DG ----

I think the traditional 442 is redundant, so I won't waste anyone's time with that. The thing about the above formations, is they require good attacking fullbacks. We have 1 in Coleman, and I think we could have another in McClean. It also means that you can be liberal with the interpretation of your wide forwards. They can be more central, where I think McGeady could be most effective, and would allow McGeady, Hoolahan, and potentially Grealish in the same team.
Obviously, that is ignoring Whelan, Quinn (largely) and Meyler (almost totally). I think Wes' time may have come and gone tbh, and I feel sorry for him for that.

I'll finish with (all things being equal) what I think could be our best team (excluding centre-backs) for Euro 2016 were we to reach there. I take a huge liberty in Grealish, but I think the boy is going to become a superstar, I really do. Naturally if someone such as Harry Kane declared, it would be a huge fillup, or if Joe Mason pushes on a bit. I also think it would be really prudent to look at Lukas Jutkiewicz, I think he's the kind of workhorse up front we could do with from time to time, even moreso if the Kane angle doesn't bear fruit.<sorry real tangent there!>


--------------------Westwood------------------

----------------CB1 --------- CB2---------------

--Coleman-----------------------------McClean--

--------------------McCarthy--------------------

------------Gibson ------------ Hendrick---------

-------------McGeady-------Grealish------------

----------------------Long---------------------

[DeLorean]

In a three man midfield with 1 sitting and 2 attackers, he might just be edged out. In a 3-man with 1 sitting, 1 scavenging/marauding and 1 playmaker, then he probably would fit like a glove.

I suppose the latter would be similar enough to the formation against Italy, with Meyler and Hendrick taking turns of sitting & scavenging/marauding and Hoolahan playmaking. The former is the role he plays very well for Derby. I wouldn't have an issue with him starting in either of those roles, but would worry slightly if he was in the more traditional two man midfield of a 4-4-2, but then I worry regardless of who's selected in that system.

[TrapAPony]

Cyrus Christie, the right back of Derby on the verge of a call up according to Sky Sports

[DannyInvincible]

Cyrus Christie, the right back of Derby on the verge of a call up according to Sky Sports

Pete O'Rourke of Sky Sports is making the claim: https://twitter.com/SkySportsPeteO/status/519961080010129408


Derby County's Cyrus Christie set for a call-up to Republic of Ireland squad. #dcfc (https://twitter.com/hashtag/dcfc?src=hash) #ROI (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ROI?src=hash)

That's kind of come out of leftfield. I've never even heard of the guy before, although he did provide an assist for Jeff Hendrick on his Derby debut against Rotherham. Derby won the game 1-0. How does he qualify? Is he even eligible for us in Football Manager?

[DannyInvincible]

Christie won Coventry City's 'Young Player of the Year' award two years on the trot; for 2011-12 and 2012-13: http://www.coventrycity-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/cyrus_christie_cns_young_player_of_the_season_7922 23/index.shtml

Brief write-up on him here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2734411/Lee-Tomlin-Ross-Barkley-Cyrus-Christie-s-Derby-winner-five-things-I-ve-learned-outside-Premier-League.html


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/08/26/1409040550253_Image_galleryImage_Derby_County_s_Cy rus_Chri.JPG

It’s thought Derby picked up him for a fee of around £100,000 after he ran his contract down – it’s a real bargain and I find it hard to believe no Premier League club took him. Makes you wonder how hard their scouts work.

On his debut on the opening day of the season he provided the cross for the Rams’ winner against Rotherham, and four of the five Derby goals against Fulham on Saturday were started on the right.

His attacking qualities are matched by his defensive ability. This kid is only 21 and on the evidence so far, he has got a massive future. At his current rate of progress he will be in the Premier League next season, either with Derby or somewhere else.

[gastric]

Was a bit if a talent at Coventry, and from memory, has represented England at underage level. While not probably ready yet for the senior side, I think he is one for the near future.

Edit: In fact he didn't represent England underage! Also a tall player at 6' 2, might yet develop into a very mobile CB.

[Olé Olé]

A very, very new one on me also. I will note he's form Coventry so it's conceivable that he has an Irish grandparent on this basis, for sure.

It's interesting to note that Brian Lenihan was called in ahead of Christie so O'Neill isn't willing to let this type of player jump the queue that quickly ahead of an under-age stalwart like Lenihan.

[Kingdom]

A very, very new one on me also. I will note he's form Coventry so it's conceivable that he has an Irish grandparent on this basis, for sure.

It's interesting to note that Brian Lenihan was called in ahead of Christie so O'Neill isn't willing to let this type of player jump the queue that quickly ahead of an under-age stalwart like Lenihan.


Isn't one of the facts that Lenihan hasn't actually played underage for Ireland?

[Stuttgart88]

Meanwhile Matt Doherty scratches his head in anguish.

[Olé Olé]

Isn't one of the facts that Lenihan hasn't actually played underage for Ireland?

http://www.thescore.ie/brian-lenihan-ireland-1712935-Oct2014/

"“I’ve played with the U15s, U19s, U21s so I’m kind of used to an international setup.”

The Matt Doherty point from Stutts is true though!

[Kingdom]

Meanwhile Matt Doherty scratches his head in anguish.

He is injured currently, isn't he? He definitely should be seeing some action soon for us though.
I wish the FAI/MON would see the value in B games. We really have a huge number of players that we know little about outside the current squad, while a number of the current squad that are persisted with just will never be good enough.

Cheers for that link Olé Olé, I don't know much about the kid, I thought I'd read somewhere that he hadn't featured underage. My bad.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Agreed.
Except most club managers would go rancid at the prospect of 'B' internationals...

Yet ano. reason why MO'N could/should have used these two fixtures more like 'training games'.

[DeLorean]

My Derby buddy thinks Christie is class. He says that he and many other Derby fans rate him higher than Andre Wisdom, who was their right back (successful loan spell from Liverpool) last season. Not as good as Coleman, obviously, but great backup.

[Wangball]

Meanwhile Matt Doherty scratches his head in anguish.

I wouldn't feel too sorry for Matt, he knows what he has to do to make the step up to the senior squad.......move to Derby.

[DannyInvincible]

So has he actually been called up yet or what's happening? Has he definitely played under-age for England? There's no mention of it on his Wiki (often, the profile will indicate if a player has played under-age internationals; being a Championship player, it's not as if he's all that obscure so such info should be readily available) and I can't find mention of England call-ups elsewhere having checked Google and some stats sites.

Roy will like him though. He doesn't suffer fools gladly...

http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/15720876.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/02/05/article-0-175EE6C3000005DC-876_634x465.jpg

[the doc]

http://www.thescore.ie/brian-lenihan-ireland-1712935-Oct2014/

"“I’ve played with the U15s, U19s, U21s so I’m kind of used to an international setup.”

The Matt Doherty point from Stutts is true though!

Good luck to the lad, someone who is truly honoured and thrilled to be in the senior Ireland squad.

Unlike the fake Paddys out there who only declare once England deem them not good enough.

Then again, the days of England being able to compete with the worlds elite are long gone, only a matter of time before they are picking loyd of players from outside the Premiership.

Read Barmy Brooking the FA gimp claiming that England could win the World Cup again with all the talent they have coming through.

He talks up the new elite St George's but this is just another Lilleshall and that too failed to deliver what was expected.

He also forgot to mention that only around 25% of the current Premiership squads contain English players.

Dream on!

[Kingdom]

One on of the links, it makes reference to another player being called up to this squad before Friday. Is it that Christie is this player, or are the two unrelated?

[ArdeeBhoy]

I wouldn't feel too sorry for Matt, he knows what he has to do to make the step up to the senior squad.......move to Derby.

Or Ull...

[paul_oshea]

If christie is being called up then surely he must have an irish passport? or if he doesnt make the day squad i assume he can still train.

Perhaps he could be moulded into a left back if he is that good.:)

[tetsujin1979]

One on of the links, it makes reference to another player being called up to this squad before Friday. Is it that Christie is this player, or are the two unrelated?
Could be, could be Stephen Ireland, or Jack Grealish, or AN Other.
His grandad was one of the Donegal Others, I believe

[SwanVsDalton]

It's interesting to note that Brian Lenihan was called in ahead of Christie so O'Neill isn't willing to let this type of player jump the queue that quickly ahead of an under-age stalwart like Lenihan.

I'm not sure if Lenihan is really in the queue so much as it was an opportunity to take a closer look at him. The queue is probably just Coleman with everyone else equally behind him.



Perhaps he could be moulded into a left back if he is that good.:)

Cyrus could be the next achy breaky Harte.

[paul_oshea]

HOpefully not SVD.

Perhaps Mark Noble the second one. I dont really believe this though, why call up 2 more players a day before the Gibraltar game. It makes no sense really.

[Stuttgart88]

Cyrus could be the next achy breaky Harte.genius.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

That's nice. English player gets called up ahead of an Irish player of the same profile who has played for his country all through the age levels. Calling up players for the sake of it instead of when the situation warrants it.

Noble, Naughton, Grealish etc etc... haven't worked out so has to call up some Granny ruler to prove a point, satisfy Irish journalists and prove it wasn't a fruitless exercise.

Edit: A League One player too.

[Wangball]

Edit: A League One player too.

Derby are in the Championship. He's a Championship player.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

For one match according to Wikipedia. For several reasons I think a call up can wait; that's one of them.

Doherty and/or McShane should be called up ahead of him. Try and scout Irish players and monitor players properly from underage level through their senior careers instead of pushing passports through for other players, who - let's face it - aren't much/better.

Lenihan too should be given a chance and no better time or place than the Gibraltar game. He has played for a Cork City team who were/are of a good level for God's sake. It's not much worse than the level some of the Polish players are playing at - much less Gibraltar.

But we all know the only reason he's in the squad is because he plays for Hull. Moving from Cork to Humberside has seemingly magically made him worthy of a call up all of a sudden - even though he was playing first team football at Cork (and isn't at Hull) . It's asinine.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/gibraltar-perfect-chance-to-give-lenihan-debut-says-caulfield-290363.html

[SwanVsDalton]

That's nice. English player gets called up ahead of an Irish player of the same profile who has played for his country all through the age levels. Calling up players for the sake of it instead of when the situation warrants it.

Noble, Naughton, Grealish etc etc... haven't worked out so has to call up some Granny ruler to prove a point, satisfy Irish journalists and prove it wasn't a fruitless exercise.

Edit: A League One player too.


Derby are in the Championship. He's a Championship player.

And he hasn't been called up yet. Don't worry TOWK, we're always happy to do basic fact checking.

The Irish Times says O'Neill has been in touch about him declaring (http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/cyrus-christie-unlikely-to-make-german-game-1.1957662).

[Stuttgart88]

Wrt the point of Doherty being injured, he returned for WW's last game so it'd appear he's fit, just overlooked.

If yer man Christie is actually called up this week it'd be strange alright but no need to get het up about it yet.

I bet bored of arguments about ex LOI players only being called up once they've made the move to England. It looks to me that this is a call up for the future and who knows what views management have taken on board. It's Gibraltar.

[tetsujin1979]

For one match according to Wikipedia. For several reasons I think a call up can wait; that's one of them.

Doherty and/or McShane should be called up ahead of him. Try and scout Irish players and monitor players properly from underage level through their senior careers instead of pushing passports through for other players, who - let's face it - aren't much/better.

Lenihan too should be given a chance and no better time or place than the Gibraltar game. He has played for a Cork City team who were/are of a good level for God's sake. It's not much worse than the level some of the Polish players are playing at - much less Gibraltar.

But we all know the only reason he's in the squad is because he plays for Hull. Moving from Cork to Humberside has seemingly magically made him worthy of a call up all of a sudden - even though he was playing first team football at Cork (and isn't at Hull) . It's asinine.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/gibraltar-perfect-chance-to-give-lenihan-debut-says-caulfield-290363.html

It's ten matches according to soccerbase - http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=55833 - plus one game in the League Cup against Championship side Reading.

That's more appearances this season than McShane, and only one less than Doherty. Strange you mention McShane in one sentence and then promoting underage players in the next.

BTW I would pay cash to see you tell Roy Keane this is asinine to his face.

[OwlsFan]

But we all know the only reason he's in the squad is because he plays for Hull. Moving from Cork to Humberside has seemingly magically made him worthy of a call up all of a sudden - even though he was playing first team football at Cork (and isn't at Hull) . It's asinine.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/gibraltar-perfect-chance-to-give-lenihan-debut-says-caulfield-290363.html

You've love-in with the new management hasn't even lasted until the first competitive home game.

[DeLorean]

Maybe MON has watched Doherty and wasn't impressed, or sees more value in what Christie could bring right now. Isn't that why he was hired? It's easy to look at a few team sheets, match reports and message boards every week and see which Irish guys seem to be doing okay, but decent managers are hired because they should be able to judge what is needed and who is best suited. They eventually live or die by the accumulation of their decisions and the success or failure it brings. No point in freaking out over minor judgement calls before a ball is even kicked. The Delaney thing is far more baffling but, again, we don't know his reasoning.

[backstothewall]

I'd have started Shane Duffy now that he is getting regular football at Blackburn, but who am I to tell Martin O'Neill what's what about a Derry lad

[DeLorean]

Richard Keogh is a big injury doubt now as well.

[Kingdom]

Maybe MON has watched Doherty and wasn't impressed, or sees more value in what Christie could bring right now. Isn't that why he was hired? It's easy to look at a few team sheets, match reports and message boards every week and see which Irish guys seem to be doing okay, but decent managers are hired because they should be able to judge what is needed and who is best suited. They eventually live or die by the accumulation of their decisions and the success or failure it brings. No point in freaking out over minor judgement calls before a ball is even kicked. The Delaney thing is far more baffling but, again, we don't know his reasoning.

At 6'2", quick, athletic, an eye for a forward pass but also quick to put the foot in, it's possible O'Neill has another idea.

Employing the 532/352 formation (successfully) at Celtic was a real masterstroke by O'Neill, and shows the kind of tactical nous that I hoped we could look forward to seeing - not that he would use 352 (although I'm a really big fan of it) but that he could come up with systems to suit the players strengths and skillsets and to maximise our abilities, just like Marcelo Bielsa can/does.

Now, I'm not saying O'Neill will or should be reinventing the wheel for us, but it is possible that this boy Christie could be a real budding right-side-of-a-3-centre-half, with someone like O'Shea/Pearce/Duffy anchoring, and Wilson/Clark the Christie equivalent on the left.

Or he could just be an alternative to Coleman.

[TrapAPony]

HOpefully not SVD.

Perhaps Mark Noble the second one. I dont really believe this though, why call up 2 more players a day before the Gibraltar game. It makes no sense really.

If there is a second player then it's most likely David McGoldrick

[backstothewall]

Is it allowable to keep on some of the U21s who played tonight and potentially name them on the bench against Gibralter?

[Kingdom]

Is it allowable to keep on some of the U21s who played tonight and potentially name them on the bench against Gibralter?


They can name anyone eligible they want right up until an hour before kick-off can't they>

[tetsujin1979]

40th in the world ranked Slovakia beat 8th ranked Spain tonight at home, they lead 1-0, before Spain equalised until a late winner from Stoch made it 2-1
well now, isn't that something

[gastric]

Hopefully, McGoldrick, Bamford, Grealish, Crowley, Noble, Kane and Christie all come on board soon. It will be great to have new options. Great move by O'Neill to bring in Lenihen too. Always nice to see a fresh face in the squad. It's amazing how Wikipedia has become a source of info on here, some people never learn!

What Christie might mean for Ireland is that Coleman could move into right midfield if necessary. Having two players who can attack as well as defend would certainly strengthen the team. If only Christie could play at left back!