Euro 2016 Play-Offs - November 13th and 16th

[Olé Olé]

What are the chances of Robbie Keane going for a beer after the home leg with the Bosnian's mercurial AS Roma midfielder and channelling his cousin Morrissey?

"Pjanic on the streets of Dublin..."

[Crosby87]

Mexico is about to get absolutely pummled by this hurricane.

[tetsujin1979]

stay someway on topic Crosby

[tricky_colour]

I think he is using Mexico as a metaphor or Ireland and hurricane as a metaphor for Bosnia.

[paul_oshea]

That's exactly what I thought.

[Fixer82]

What are the chances of Robbie Keane going for a beer after the home leg with the Bosnian's mercurial AS Roma midfielder and channelling his cousin Morrissey?

"Pjanic on the streets of Dublin..."

Think I remember hearing that it was Robbie's boyhood dream to play for AS Roma.

[Yard of Pace]

Think I remember hearing that it was Robbie's boyhood dream to play for AS Roma.

I thought it was to play rhythm guitar in The Smiths, a position later filled by Jim Gannon's brother Craig.

[Wolfman]

stay someway on topic Crosby

He makes this forum worth reading!

[Fixer82]

I thought it was to play rhythm guitar in The Smiths, a position later filled by Jim Gannon's brother Craig.
Ah yeah that was it

[tetsujin1979]

squad to be named tomorrow: https://twitter.com/RTEsoccer/status/659016053377409024

Martin O'Neill will unveil the Republic of Ireland squad for the EURO 2016 play-off with Bosnia & Herzegovina tomorrow.

[Closed Account]

O'Neill unveils provisional squad for UEFA Euro Play-Off



Name

Club
DOB
Caps
Goals


David Forde
(Millwall)
20/12/1979
23
0


Shay Given
(Stoke City)
20/04/1976
133
0


Keiren Westwood
(Sheffield Wednesday)
23/10/1984
18
0


Darren Randolph
(West Ham United)
12/05/1987
4
0


Rob Elliot
(Newcastle United)
30/04/1986
3
0


Richard Keogh
(Derby County)
11/08/1986
9
1


Marc Wilson
(Stoke City)
17/08/1987
23
1


Seamus Coleman
(Everton)
11/10/1988
30
0


Cyrus Christie
(Derby County)
30/09/1992
3
1


John O'Shea
(Sunderland)
30/04/1981
108
3


Alex Pearce
(Derby County)
09/11/1988
6
2


Shane Duffy
(Blackburn Rovers)
01/01/1992
1
0


Ciaran Clark
(Aston Villa)
26/09/1989
15
1


Paul McShane
(Reading)
06/01/1986
32
0


Stephen Ward
(Burnley)
20/08/1985
30
2


Greg Cunningham
(Preston North End)
31/01/1991
4
0


Robbie Brady
(Norwich City)
14/01/1992
18
3


James McCarthy
(Everton)
12/11/1990
31
0


Jeff Hendrick
(Derby County)
31/01/1992
17
0


Darron Gibson
(Everton)
25/10/1987
25
1


Harry Arter
(Bournemouth)
28/12/1989
1
0


Eunan O'Kane
(Bournemouth)
10/07/1990
0
0


Glenn Whelan
(Stoke City)
13/01/1984
68
2


Paul Green
(Rotherham United)
10/04/1983
20
1


Aiden McGeady
(Everton)
04/04/1986
78
5


James McClean
(West Bromwich Albion)
22/04/1989
32
4


Alan Judge
(Brentford)
11/11/1988
0
0


Anthony Pilkington
(Cardiff City)
06/06/1988
8
1


David Meyler
(Hull City)
29/05/1989
14
0


Jonathan Walters
(Stoke City)
20/09/1983
37
8


Wes Hoolahan
(Norwich City)
20/05/1982
23
2


Robbie Keane
(LA Galaxy)
08/07/1980
143
67


Shane Long
(Southampton)
22/01/1987
58
14


Daryl Murphy
(Ipswich Town)
15/03/1983
17
0


Kevin Doyle
(Colorado Rapids)
18/09/1983
61
14


Anthony Stokes
(Celtic)
25/07/1988
8
0


David McGoldrick
(Ipswich Town)
29/11/1987
2
0


Adam Rooney
(Aberdeen)
21/04/1988
0
0


Simon Cox
(Bristol City)
28/04/1987
30
4

[Crosby87]

What do the numbers mean?

Edit never mind there was an advertisement and all i could see were the first 2. When will foot.ie learn i have no desire to solicit a korean woman to become my wife?

[DeLorean]

They mean we're really gonna miss Robbie when he goes!

[DeLorean]

When will foot.ie learn i have no desire to solicit a korean woman to become my wife?

That makes one of us.

[backstothewall]

Who do we think the final 3 goalkeepers will be?

[Crosby87]

I think that LA Galaxy game tonight is a one off for the loser....if anyone is planning on a healthy, rested Keane coming on to score a big one vs Bosnia are you kinda rooting for the famed Seattle Sounders?

[Kingdom]

Who do we think the final 3 goalkeepers will be?

Will be or should be?
(Should be) If you're going on the basis of game time come match day: Westwood, Elliot, Randolph

Will be:

Given, Randolph, Elliot/Forde

[DeLorean]

Who do we think the final 3 goalkeepers will be?

Was wondering the same thing myself.


Forde: Hasn't played for Millwall (in League One or otherwise) since the middle of August, losing his place to 22 year old Jordan Archer. Archer kept his place despite conceding five at Peterborough earlier this month.

Given: Not getting a kick at Stoke but was brought back into the Ireland squad for a reason so isn't going to be dropped at this stage. They'll probably see his experience around the dressing room as important even if he doesn't start, and that's a big IF.

Westwood: By far and away our best performing goalkeeper over the last year and a half.

Randolph: Not surprisingly, Adrian has taken over in goals at West Ham again since returning from his three match suspension. Randolph's game time for us last month will surely keep him in the picture though, especially with the composure he exuded against Germany.

Elliott: Has a massive opportunity at Newcastle with Krul likely to miss the rest of the season, but there probably aren't really enough games to impress between now and Bosnia. I didn't realise he is 29, thought he was early 20's for some reason!


I think the sensible selection would have to be Given, Randolph and Westwood.

[backstothewall]

I'd imagine O'Neill will be thinking about who he wants to be looking down the bench at in the event of a crisis, and the name he will go for is Given, which leaves 1 from 2.

If Randolph hadn't got on against Germany, he would probably have been the guy missing out. As it is I suspect he is now our number 1.

[Kingdom]

If Westwood pulls out then you'd nearly be thinking he should be discounted, for whatever reason.

[geysir]

Considering the importance of the game I had expected that MON would up the stakes by naming a 45 man provisional squad, our equivalent of a red alert status

[backstothewall]

The big squad thing works. He has never had to go cap in hand to someone and ask them to come in as a second choice.

There are always going to be dropouts, so calling up a big initial squad makes sense.

[Crosby87]

You're saying Paul McShane is not going to play? Awwwwwww.....

[OwlsFan]

You're saying Paul McShane is not going to play? Awwwwwww.....

McShane must be around for a while at this stage. I remember him scoring against Wednesday for Walsall back in Division One in the early part of this century. I have never thought that he is as bad as people think he is. Reading are now front runners for promotion in the Championship since he joined them (not necessarily saying they are connected) and he was on the Hull promotion winning team I think. What I was always worried about was he was inclined to commit himself (i.e. dive in over enthusiastically) and be left scurrying back but he is not too far behind anyone else whom we might have in central defence at the moment. He can also double up as a full back.

As regards Westwood, I think he was just rested for the League Cup game against Arsenal last night as he was fit last Friday and although he is not playing with the confidence he had last season, he is still doing well and is way ahead of Given on the ground, in the air and also shot stopping as the latter's reflexes are definitely not what they used to be.

[DeLorean]

he is not too far behind anyone else whom we might have in central defence at the moment

Agreed. All our centre back options are or would be top level championship centre backs or scrapping it out at the wrong end of the Premier League. Clark and Duffy have the potential to be something a little better though hopefully. O'Shea has earned his stripes obviously and was a class ahead of the rest in his prime, and probably still is. Wilson and Delaney are the only ones playing at secure PL clubs but they're struggling to make their sides. Alex Pearce looks to have made a poor career decision, for now at least, as I think he's too good to be stuck on the bench in The Championship.

[zero]

i can't recall paul green being named in a while but i may well be wrong. nor stokes...

[SkStu]

Agreed. All our centre back options are or would be top level championship centre backs or scrapping it out at the wrong end of the Premier League. Clark and Duffy have the potential to be something a little better though hopefully. O'Shea has earned his stripes obviously and was a class ahead of the rest in his prime, and probably still is. Wilson and Delaney are the only ones playing at secure PL clubs but they're struggling to make their sides. Alex Pearce looks to have made a poor career decision, for now at least, as I think he's too good to be stuck on the bench in The Championship.

Don't forget Tommie Hoban! I still have high hopes for the 21 year old.

[geysir]

i can't recall paul green being named in a while but i may well be wrong. nor stokes...
If you are thinking about the provisional squads, then both players have been named in previous provisional squads.
However, considering that Stokes (most probably) hasn't played a first team game since August, inclusion to the provo squad has a dubious value in relation to being near selected for the final 23 man squad, imo not even near the ballpark.

[DeLorean]

Don't forget Tommie Hoban! I still have high hopes for the 21 year old.

Big time yeah, I was just talking about the fellas in the squad really, well, and Delaney I suppose but he'd be included if it wasn't for other factors. Speaking of Hoban though, is he getting any look-in with Watford at all? I know they signed a load of players but surely he'd be better off going on loan somewhere? I presume some higher end Championship clubs would be interested seeing as he was a regular in a promotion winning side last season.

[SkStu]

well I do believe he is injured as he missed the last U21 set up. So he hasn't been in and around the Watford first team but is in their first team squad. He signed a 4 year contract extension during the summer.

[DannyInvincible]

If Westwood pulls out then you'd nearly be thinking he should be discounted, for whatever reason.

Discounted from future consideration, you mean, or am I misinterpreting? I think that'd be harsh. He's a good 'keeper and hasn't displayed any issues in terms of lacking commitment or that. Not that I know of anyway. He missed out on the last squad due to injury, although it wasn't much publicised. Only info we had on it seemed to be a brief response from Martin O'Neill to clarify matters in a press conference, although it wasn't documented anywhere.


i can't recall paul green being named in a while but i may well be wrong. nor stokes...

He was in the Germany/Poland preliminary squad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ireland_national_football_team#Recent_ call-ups

Not sure what the last final squad he was in though. Has he been in a final O'Neill squad?

[DeLorean]

He played in those friendlies against Latvia and Poland anyway in O'Neill's early days. Not sure if he's been involved since.

[OwlsFan]

However, considering that Stokes (most probably) hasn't played a first team game since August, inclusion to the provo squad has a dubious value

No pun intended I assume about Stokes and the provo squad :)

[DeLorean]

I think that LA Galaxy game tonight is a one off for the loser....if anyone is planning on a healthy, rested Keane coming on to score a big one vs Bosnia are you kinda rooting for the famed Seattle Sounders?

Well Seattle won 3-2 anyway. Keane not on the scoresheet.

[jbyrne]

injury / sickness update...
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2015/1030/738483-ireland-coleman-oshea-long-bosnia/

[DeLorean]

That could actually be a good thing, keep him out of the firing line at the weekend. The stomach bug is hardly going to keep him out of the Bosnia game.

[tricky_colour]

Yea he should be able to stomach the play off games.

[Stuttgart88]

I think if Westwood doesn't make the cut there's something up. I'd start him for the Bosnia games, Randolph no. 2. I'm not convinced by Given these days and Randolph's distribution is vastly superior. I think O'Neill will pick Randolph.

[Closed Account]

I think if Westwood doesn't make the cut there's something up. I'd start him for the Bosnia games, Randolph no. 2. I'm not convinced by Given these days and Randolph's distribution is vastly superior. I think O'Neill will pick Randolph.
No Shay on the Stoke bench today. No disrespect to him, but I hope he's picked up a niggle that will last 2-3 weeks....

[Crosby87]

What's Bosnias nickname? Are they the Flying Bosnies?

[Charlie Darwin]

What's Bosnias nickname? Are they the Flying Bosnies?
Yes. Yes they are.

[IsMiseSean]

Given Out (http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/sport/irishfootball/6719307/Injury-rules-Shay-Given-out-of-play-offs.html)

And Seamus McDonagh was at Sheffield Wednesday today watching Westwood.

[Closed Account]

Given Out (http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/sport/irishfootball/6719307/Injury-rules-Shay-Given-out-of-play-offs.html)

And Seamus McDonagh was at Sheffield Wednesday today watching Westwood.
They should go cap in hand to Westwood, his distribution out in Bosnia will make a huge difference.

[Crosby87]

Westwood is in Los Angeles.

[tricky_colour]

From Westwood to Hollywood - The one thing that's understood
Is that you can't buy time - But you can sell your soul
And the closest thing to heaven is to rock and roll.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4pWcVPUybE

Scottish band but there maybe an Irish grandma somewhere ;)

[paul_oshea]

Great tune. Bit early for November but I'd like to see him in march's squad

. "There is so much more to football and life than playing in England."

http://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/other-soccer/jack-byrne-i-left-my-dublin-home-at-15-so-that-i-could-have-a-better-life-for-my-family-34158554.html

[paul_oshea]

Out of sight out of mind I hope that O'Neill shows by picking him there is more to life than English football and encourage others to follow suit.

[Olé Olé]

Great tune. Bit early for November but I'd like to see him in march's squad

. "There is so much more to football and life than playing in England."

http://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/other-soccer/jack-byrne-i-left-my-dublin-home-at-15-so-that-i-could-have-a-better-life-for-my-family-34158554.html

Special talent with an indomitable mindset. Really hope he keeps up this progress.

[DeLorean]

Coleman and McCarthy played 90mins for Everton, Gibson an unused sub, McGeady not in squad (is he still alive?). Sunderland concede six in O'Shea's absence. Long not in Southampton squad.

[Crosby87]

And Bruce Arena says Robbie Keane will not be wintering in England on loan. (Would there have been an opportunity?) He could have maybe finally got a chance to play for his boyhood club Luton Town.
When asked what the Galaxy need to bring in to have a better 2016, Arena said "we need more Robbie Keane's."