European Championships - France 2016

[Fixer82]

Did anybody get news on tickets?

[DeLorean]

Main discussion here (http://foot.ie/threads/206735-Euro-2016-away-thread?p=1858123#post1858123) Fixer

[Fixer82]

Thanks

[DeLorean]

Squad watch (http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3938/irish-abroad/2016/04/18/22495762/ireland-euro-2016-squad-watch-coleman-forced-off-injured-for/darren-randolph-republic-of-ireland-germany-08102015/2#photo)

[tetsujin1979]

Department of Foreign Affairs release list of tips for anyone travelling to France in June: https://www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/press-releases/press-release-archive/2016/april/minister-flanagan-announces-11-top-tips-for-euros/

[DeLorean]

A very convenient excuse to push sales for the new Passport Card (€35) :)


Apply for the new Irish Passport Card. This is valid for travel within Europe and can fit in your wallet, allowing you to leave your passport in a safe place.
As France is in a State of Emergency, a valid form of photo ID should be carried at all times while in France.

[BonnieShels]

A very convenient excuse to push sales for the new Passport Card (€35) :)

I rrrreeeaaalllyyyy want to get one for shiz. But my Passport is out of date in 2019. So I would be only getting 2.5 years out of it.

[DeLorean]

That's a load of balls, isn't it? I assumed you were wrong so I checked it up! Surely it should be offered at a reduced price at least.

I'm not sure I see any great advantage in it anyway.... probably end up losing my wallet with the card inside it quicker than I'd lose my regular passport. :o

[DeLorean]

What about Pilkington should Arter not make it? Difficult to justify Jack Byrne at this stage, I have never been a huge Gibson fan (and he wasn't that good on Saturday from my perspective). Obviously not like for like but Pilkington would offer versatility - wing, up front. Especially if O'Kane is on the plane...


I think Pilkington should be in the squad regardless. I wouldn't be worried about Byrne being fast-tracked.

Pilkington would definitely be a useful option to have and I agree about Byrne. I think squad places are too precious to include somebody who isn't realistically going to be used under any circumstances. We need genuine fall back options which is why I'd be tempted to bring Gibson, especially if he gets some more game time for Everton this season, but I suppose that's unlikely. I haven't been his biggest fan over the years either but he's experienced and won't be phased if called upon. If McCarthy or Whelan get injured I think he's the most adequate replacement we have, in terms of doing the same job.

Only an observation but I thought Pilkington was almost trying too hard against Slovakia, he really looked like a guy who was desperate to impress and was getting frustrated far too easily. He tore into the linesman at one stage for a decision that went against him. It's no big deal but I think he was too wound up and his game suffered a bit as a result.

This is what 'Walsall' came up with after the friendlies, I think it's useful for a bit of perspective.


This was the consensus for France in the car on the way back to Belfast tonight

Randolph, Given, Forde

Coleman, Christie, O'Shea, Keogh, Clark, Duffy, Wilson, Ward

Brady, Whelan, McCarthy, Hoolahan, McClean, McGeady, Arter, Hendrick

Murphy, Walters, Keane, Long

The guys in bold are the ones I'd consider to be not quite 100% definites.

Of those, I would say that Duffy, McGeady and Keane more than likely will make it which just leaves Wilson and Arter as the main doubts of our outfield players. It really doesn't leave much room to accommodate the likes of Pilkington (especially if you're still keen on Doyle making it Stutts?).

Like Stu said, Pilkington instead of Arter could work, but I think it leaves us a bit thin for central midfield cover.

Murphy is living a charmed life I think. At least last season he was lethal in the Championship, but given his massive dip this season and his average (at best) performances for us I think he's just taking up a place that could be utilised better. He's a MON player though so no point in quibbing about that one I suppose.

[Fixer82]

I would definitely have Pilkington in the squad. The fact that O'Neill gave him a run against Slovakia was a good sign. He's versatile also which Kilbane says can make the difference between players being on that plane come June

[DeLorean]

So who would you chop from Walsall's list Fixer?

[Stuttgart88]

For me ([ ] = omitted, bold = added)

Randolph, Westwood, Given, [Forde]

Coleman, Christie, O'Shea, Keogh, Clark, Duffy, [Wilson], Ward

Brady, Whelan, McCarthy, Hoolahan, McClean, McGeady, Arter, Hendrick

[Murphy], Walters, Keane, Long, Doyle, Pilkington

McGeady lucky to be involved
Maybe harsh on Wilson
I’d like to find room for O’Kane and also Byrne
Not fussed about bringing Given but he’s better than Forde
I’m sure Keane will be picked if fit

[SkStu]

The more I look at it and read about McGeady, the case for bringing him falls apart. The only thing, and it's a big one, in his favour is that he was ever present (or close to) throughout the campaign.

I like what Stutts has put together for the most part. Wilson is surplus - we're good on CBs and Brady can cover LB and LW. I'd like to see O'Kane for Arter (should he not be fit). I'd find room for Pilks - be it McGeady, Murphy or Doyle that misses out. Can fill a role in the right or up front.

[Stuttgart88]

Plenty of food for thought for O'Neill.

Byrne, Duffy, Cunningham, Gibson and Westwood all making a late surge up the order, maybe even McGoldrick? Arter, Hayes, O'Kane, Doyle and Pilkington already doing auditions. Given, McGeady and Wilson drifting out of the picture?

[DeLorean]

I want McGeady there. He has a more established/defined role in the team/squad and he can give us something different if needed. He deserves it anyway given his contribution in qualifying. It wouldn't sit well with me if he was excluded for Bryne, as much as I'm looking forward to him being a part of the set-up. We don't even know where Bryne will slot into the team yet really. If he sees some game time against The Netherlands and is phenomenal I might change my mind, but it still wouldn't be McGeady I'd sacrifice. Wilson must be very close to being ruled out really, there's no hope of getting him match fit at this stage?

[Stuttgart88]

Yep, and I'd expect MON agrees with you. Still there is a bit of a shift occurring outside the nailed on places, which makes things interesting. I'd say one or two marginal decisions for the summer will be decided with an eye on the WC18 squad, but probably too early for Byrne and just soon enough for McGeady.

[CraftyToePoke]

The tournament is arriving just in time for John O'Shea too, you could argue, 35 and not getting in a side likely to drop a division.

(*I am not advocating not bringning him :) here )

[geysir]

It just demonstrates the dearth of defensive talent available to us that O'Shea will not only be in the squad but vying for a starting place, despite hardly playing for his club.


Re McGeady, there's no way he'll be left behind and some almost total newcomer selected in his place. If he satisfies MO'N that he's fit enough then he will be in the squad.
MO'N will have his starting 11 from 13 or so players, he'll have his favoured options for the subs bench and McGeady at least has a copper fastened place as a viable sub option.

[paul_oshea]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/european-championships/steven-reid-im-a-believer-in-martin-oneill-and-the-unexpected-31501309.html

Interesting article when it was written. Interesting also with what has happened in the last few days and the Euros not too far away!

[colonelwest]

The tournament is arriving just in time for John O'Shea too, you could argue, 35 and not getting in a side likely to drop a division.

(*I am not advocating not bringning him :) here )


It just demonstrates the dearth of defensive talent available to us that O'Shea will not only be in the squad but vying for a starting place, despite hardly playing for his club.


Re McGeady, there's no way he'll be left behind and some almost total newcomer selected in his place. If he satisfies MO'N that he's fit enough then he will be in the squad.
MO'N will have his starting 11 from 13 or so players, he'll have his favoured options for the subs bench and McGeady at least has a copper fastened place as a viable sub option.

On the flipside it's a bit of a Stan in 2002 situation; O'Shea coming to the end of his career and Duffy will make the step up in the next campaign hopefully ala Dunne/ O'Shea back then after Stan retired. O'Shea's experience will stand to him in the finals even if he is on the downward curve of his career.

McGeady has to be on the plane, ok not a guaranteed starter for us and at club level the past year or two it's not worked out for him but he's one of the few players we have who can create something out of nothing. He's an excellent option to have off the bench to come on and run at and frighten the sh!te out of opposition defenders, along with McClean coming on and getting booked for sparking someone out within 5 minutes!

[jbyrne]

It just demonstrates the dearth of defensive talent available to us that O'Shea will not only be in the squad but vying for a starting place, despite hardly playing for his club.


I don't think MON is averse to making a surprise call on his team selections and so I wouldn't rule out keogh and clark starting against sweden. having said that o'shea has never really let us down but his lack of playing time is a problem.

[DeLorean]

I'd be surprised if it isn't Keogh and Clark to be honest.

We started off the campaign with an all-PL centre back pairing and will possibly end it with an all-Championship one.

[geysir]

It's not that we have any or much better defenders than O'Shea now but we are fortunate that Clark and Keogh have already been blooded and came through tense qualifying games with credit and even Duffy passed his preliminary test.

[SkStu]

Well the preliminary test is actually the Stutts gut test. Which he passed with flying colours.

[Stuttgart88]

But he didn't pass the Paul O'Shea test, which trumps everything

[geysir]

Well the preliminary test is actually the Stutts gut test. Which he passed with flying colours.
Nah, determining football ability is more evidenced based than a gut feeling.

I'd see the role of Stutts' gut more to do with the intangibles, eg the quality of a player's ethnicity in relation to the greater cause (our team), and questions around the mysterious art of goalkeeping.

[paul_oshea]

But he didn't pass the Paul O'Shea test, which trumps everything

It Donalds everything.

You don't get to where you are today Stutts....

[Stuttgart88]

No CJ, I didn't

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://images.cdn.fourfourtwo.com/sites/fourfourtwo.com/files/styles/inline-image/public/fft_dot_com_new_issue_ire_header_white.png?itok=z_ VsV3gr

Is one of them not out of place?

[Charlie Darwin]

Two actually. McCarthy and Coleman should switch to make it symmetrical.

[Closed Account]

Two actually. McCarthy and Coleman should switch to make it symmetrical.
I think he means print media is a dying medium, they should only be promoting the tablet and mobile versions.

[Closed Account]

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1108x567q90/922/WR040N.png
Scrape out of the group. Plucky wins against Turkey and Hungary set up Ronaldos Portugal in the Semi where a bloody head bandaged Richie Keogh goal gets us through to the Final against the Germans where a Darren Randolph sudden death penalty in the shootout sends the whole country on the lash.

http://www.nzz.ch/sport/euro-orakel-wer-wird-europameister-ld.17757#/b4f7eea7c8b270a79f3935294b3b67d9

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Darren O'Dea selects his Euro 2016 squad and explains each selection.

http://buzz.ie/do-you-agree-with-darren-odeas-euro-2016-squad/

[tetsujin1979]

Teaser released for the team song
IOp2beHvlVk
According to their facebook page, they will be playing it before the Holland game on Friday

[DeLorean]

I make out there are probably only two outfield spots up for grabs now, two out of these -

Gibson, Arter, Meyler, Quinn, O'Kane, McGoldrick and Doyle. (Anybody else?)

Would that be right or could one of my twenty-one below still be left behind? McGeady's probably the only one at risk but by the way O'Neill's been talking I'd expect him to be there. I'd take Meyler as well, he has showed versatility in qualifying and seems like a good guy to have around the squad. He's contributed more than Arter and O'Kane also I think. What is the story with Arter? Still injured?

The final call is a tough one though. Gibson is good back up to have if Whelan or McCarthy get injured. McGoldrick probably offers something nobody else does if Hoolahan needs resting. I don't think we'd need Quinn if we bring Meyler, tough on him though. Doyle would be another good man to have around but do we really need him? Ideally I'd take him instead of Murphy.




1
Randolph
4
Coleman
12
McCarthy
18
Murphy


2
Given
5
Christie
13
Whelan
19
Walters


3
Westwood/Forde
6
Brady
14
McClean
20
Keane




7
Ward
15
McGeady
21
Long




8
Keogh
16
Hoolahan






9
O'Shea
17
Hendrick






10
Duffy








11
Clark

[paul_oshea]

isnt it great to be dicussing our involvement at a championships? i wish we'd got to brazil though instead of the last 2.

[Stuttgart88]

Indo saying one of the hacks was told 21 out of the 23 are decided. O'Neill seemingly has a bit of boner for McGoldrick. I'd have much preferred Pilkington over Murphy and it'd have made sense for versatility too.

I'd definitely take Doyle.

I have a soft spot for Gibson but I think Arter is more deserving. Very harsh on Meyler but he's too ordinary for me. We need someone to deputise for Hoolahan and that'd be Arter or McGoldrick.

[paul_oshea]

ya i like the idea of mcgoldrick too but id be taking dolye over murphy any day of the week, similar enough players but doyle has the experience of playing international football and scoring murphy doesnt and hasnt shown an ability to score or get into good positions only on rare occassions has he and hten he didnt have the ability to convert those chances.

doyle over murphy for me too, id take mcgoldrick over arter or okane too.

id also take pilkington over murphy but i think its a case of send in the teaser with murphy. You wouldnt know about stallions and those things stutts, or maybe you would :D (for your friends :P)

[DeLorean]

Very harsh on Meyler but he's too ordinary for me. We need someone to deputise for Hoolahan and that'd be Arter or McGoldrick.

I'm not overly fussed in the short-term (i.e. The Euros) about the guys who've contributed little so far, within reason. Arter has only played a few minutes for us, when he came on in that friendly against England and looked like a bit of a headless chicken actually, not that he ever looks that way for Bournemouth to be fair.

I think Meyler's got a good temperament and could do a decent job in most situations we're likely to be faced with. He even seemed to have a calming effect on Hull when introduced against Derby last week, which possibly made my mind up. Sure, Arter is a more dynamic player but it will probably take him time to settle into the Irish team and really find his feet, I'm not sure a major championship is the time to start that process. Of course he could also hit the ground running.

All that being said, it's not a decision that I'd be up in arms about either way.

I found it kind of worrying when you mentioned Arter or McGoldrick being best equipped to deputise for Hoolahan actually, we really don't have a like-for-like back up. I think Brady would be the best bet in that situation, but preferably using or moving Clark to left back instead of Ward.

I suppose the conservative choices would probably be two from Meyler/Gibson/Quinn/Doyle. The bolder selections would be Arter/O'Kane/McGoldrick. Maybe it'll be one from each.


isnt it great to be dicussing our involvement at a championships? i wish we'd got to brazil though instead of the last 2.

It really is, it would have been a depressing one to miss out on with so many qualifying, including the likes of Northern Ireland and Wales. Happy enough with Poland and France but Brazil would have been class alright. Germany in 2006 was a big one to miss also I felt.

[Fixer82]

According to The Sun today we're not going to get attacked by ISIS in Bordeaux. Get in there!!!!

[Closed Account]

According to The Sun today we're not going to get attacked by ISIS in Bordeaux. Get in there!!!!
On the flip side, if we have to play out second round game in Lens, there's a 24 drinking ban outside of fanzones. That's put me off travelling.

[DannyInvincible]

Indo saying one of the hacks was told 21 out of the 23 are decided. O'Neill seemingly has a bit of boner for McGoldrick. I'd have much preferred Pilkington over Murphy and it'd have made sense for versatility too.

Any idea on keepers (or Westwood, more specifically)?

[Stuttgart88]

No clues given, sorry, provided.

[DeLorean]

Not surprising, he can't afforde to give anything anyway.

[paul_oshea]

thats very bad Delores..how long have you been storing that one up :P

[DeLorean]

The five minutes it took me to reply to Stutts one I guess :)

[DeLorean]

Martin O'Neill: Central midfield places still up for grabs (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/0525/790905-ireland_martin-oneill/) (rte.ie) (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/0525/790905-ireland_martin-oneill/)

[paul_oshea]

On the flip side, if we have to play out second round game in Lens, there's a 24 drinking ban outside of fanzones. That's put me off travelling.

we can only have 24 drinks? thats a balls

http://www.independent.ie/storyplus/8-differences-between-travelling-to-euro-88-and-france-2016-34739462.html

[paul_oshea]

You've completely got arse about face on that Joe.they can drink just not on the streets and no super strength cos we all know how much the hoolies love their tennents x 😂

[Closed Account]

You've completely got arse about face on that Joe.they can drink just not on the streets and no super strength cos we all know how much the hoolies love their tennents x 
What ya on about ya loon. I said '24' instead of '24hr'. I stand by everything else.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/24/euro-2016-town-centre-drinking-banned-for-24-hours-when-wales-fa/