Republic of Ireland V Switzerland- 5th September 2019 - Euro 2020 Qualifier

[zero]

25 man squad named:

Republic of Ireland Squad

Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Mark Travers (Bournemouth)

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Richard Keogh (Derby County), John Egan (Sheffield United), Kevin Long (Burnley), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United)

Midfielders: Alan Judge (Ipswich Town), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Glenn Whelan (Hearts), Josh Cullen (Charlton Athletic), James McClean (Stoke City), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth)

Forwards: Callum Robinson (Sheffield United), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Scott Hogan (Stoke City), David McGoldrick (Sheffield United)

[jbyrne]

25 man squad named:

Republic of Ireland Squad

Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Mark Travers (Bournemouth)

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Richard Keogh (Derby County), John Egan (Sheffield United), Kevin Long (Burnley), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United)

Midfielders: Alan Judge (Ipswich Town), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Glenn Whelan (Hearts), Josh Cullen (Charlton Athletic), James McClean (Stoke City), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth)

Forwards: Callum Robinson (Sheffield United), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Scott Hogan (Stoke City), David McGoldrick (Sheffield United)

no shane long? would've thought he would be a good option off the bench for the last 20 mins if we are chasing a goal

[Stuttgart88]

Delighted Byrne made it. It's a shame Browne hasn't been fit until now. It'll be a risk to test him in a game like this but he must be pushing hard for a place. Brady's absence ought to make McClean's starting certain, which it probably was anyway.

[Diggs246]

no shane long? would've thought he would be a good option off the bench for the last 20 mins if we are chasing a goal


Michael Obafami will more then likely be getting game time against Man Utd on Saturday, ( Redmond is injured, so he might even start) if he does the business surely he will be promoted to the Seniors

[third policeman]

Michael Obafami will more then likely be getting game time against Man Utd on Saturday, ( Redmond is injured, so he might even start) if he does the business surely he will be promoted to the Seniors

With Mick, I doubt it. Pleasantly surprised that Byrne made the cut, but Maguire and Hogan have done nothing to suggest they will ever be good enough to play at this level.

[jbyrne]

With Mick, I doubt it. Pleasantly surprised that Byrne made the cut, but Maguire and Hogan have done nothing to suggest they will ever be good enough to play at this level.

agree, long had a good end to last season and scored a few goals. cant see what maguire and hogan have done since then, or at any stage, to justify selection ahead of him.

[Diggs246]

This puts thats to bed anyway
www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/0829/1071631-obafemi-one-of-three-saints-to-miss-united-game

[tetsujin1979]

This puts thats to bed anyway
www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/0829/1071631-obafemi-one-of-three-saints-to-miss-united-game (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/0829/1071631-obafemi-one-of-three-saints-to-miss-united-game)

Could mean Long gets a chance, so, you know, every cloud and all that

[Fizzer]

Apart from Long being a better option to spring from the bench if we’re chasing a goal, he would be a much better option up top if we need to defend a one-nil lead. Maguire and Hogan just aren’t good enough for this level.

[Diggs246]

Apart from Long being a better option to spring from the bench if we’re chasing a goal, he would be a much better option up top if we need to defend a one-nil lead. Maguire and Hogan just aren’t good enough for this level.

Yep, Hogan and Maguire were both given golden opportunities against the worlds worst team ( Gibraltar) they were both hopeless

[DeLorean]

It does seem mad alright. For all his failings at times, Long can be a serious weapon at any level when he's in the zone. Could there be any reason for this that we don't know about?

[jbyrne]

It does seem mad alright. For all his failings at times, Long can be a serious weapon at any level when he's in the zone. Could there be any reason for this that we don't know about?

it does seem strange that he is getting no game time with Southampton given his decent end of season form for them

[seanfhear]

Perhaps Southampton wanted him to move on and are playing toughie with him for not moving on ?

[tetsujin1979]

Switzerland have announced their squad to play Ireland and Gibraltar.
Xherdan Shaqiri has decided to concentrate on his club career and is not included
1167452058217320448

[Diggs246]

Sorry for the language.
What I should have said was Harry Arter is playing for Fulham tonight and we should accept he is an English person with zero loyalty to Ireland. He makes me want to get sick tbh

[Grafter]

Sorry for the language.
What I should have said was Harry Arter is playing for Fulham tonight and we should accept he is an English person with zero loyalty to Ireland. He makes me want to get sick tbh

He has a fitness issue that needs to be managed. He has missed a lot of club games in recent years to be fair so you can understand him being reluctant to overdo it. You look at David Meyler (same age 30) having to retire early due to injury and it would make you think I'd imagine..

[Diggs246]

He has a fitness issue that needs to be managed. He has missed a lot of club games in recent years to be fair so you can understand him being reluctant to overdo it. You look at David Meyler (same age 30) having to retire early due to injury and it would make you think I'd imagine..
No sorry. He doesn't turn down an England call up to prioritise a championship game with Fulham

[Diggs246]

He has just been sent off for diving. Smashing guy.

[tetsujin1979]

Looked like he slipped more than anything else, and the ref shows him a second yellow.
Apparently he's having ankle surgery over the international break

[geysir]

Switzerland have announced their squad to play Ireland and Gibraltar.
Xherdan Shaqiri has decided to concentrate on his club career and is not included
1167452058217320448I see another first team selection, Zuber, is not in that squad either.

[Diggs246]

Do you really think that was a slip?
Its 1.19 mins secs into this clip

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DERt_DKtcGF4&ved=2ahUKEwiorPCBz6vkAhWeSBUIHTxgAKYQwqsBMAB6BAgIE AU&usg=AOvVaw11SzwYHRui2HBWN-4z4Y-v

[tetsujin1979]

Closer to a slip than a dive

[Diggs246]

Closer to a slip than a dive

In Narnia

[geysir]

In real time he dived.
In the replays he was either clipped or he dived. He has previous but his expression of disbelief/indignation to being yellow carded looked genuine enough.

According to talks his people have had with our people, Arter said he would be available for the next round of games in the group. It that comes to pass then Harry can start afresh, if not then he becomes a nobody, dead.

[CraftyToePoke]

Apparently he's having ankle surgery over the international break

Heard that too, but would certain other players miss this game for the same injury ? Naming no one in particular but McLean, Coleman, Duffy, those likes ? Can't see it myself.

[Fizzer]

I wouldn’t get too excited either way, he’s 30 and needs to try to prolong his club career.Internationally it didn’t really work out for him, his big disappointment will have been missing out on euro 2016.Probably suits us better that he’s not taking up space on the bench, he was never going to be a player that Kenny would use anyway.Better to let the likes of Cullen, Byrne, and hopefully Crowley, Connell and (possibly) Kelly get some game time as soon as possible and see how they shape up. I think it’s unrealistic to expect the likes of Arter to train/play with Ireland and potentially jeopardize the few years of club football that he has left.He spent plenty of time outside the premier league so he can’t be rolling in it. He’s a decent player who just didn’t quite make it to the very top but best of luck to him.

[seanfhear]

Do you really think that was a slip?
Its 1.19 mins secs into this clip

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DERt_DKtcGF4&ved=2ahUKEwiorPCBz6vkAhWeSBUIHTxgAKYQwqsBMAB6BAgIE AU&usg=AOvVaw11SzwYHRui2HBWN-4z4Y-vA delayed dive at that . Was his operation brought forward ?

[Diggs246]

A delayed dive at that . Was his operation brought forward ?

If there even is an operation!!. He is using the international break anyway

[tommy_c12000]

Outstanding work by Stevens down the left, great finish by Robinson. Makes it 2-1 vs Chelsea. Well worth watching the goal. McG dropped. Hogan on bench for stoke.

[Diggs246]

Outstanding work by Stevens down the left, great finish by Robinson. Makes it 2-1 vs Chelsea. Well worth watching the goal. McG dropped. Hogan on bench for stoke.

Do u have a link?

[liamoo11]

If Maguire misses out cause of head injury long coming in makes us stronger I think off the bench with mcgoldrick and Robinson likely to start in front three along with mcclean.

[Closed Account]

https://streamable.com/xlrfs

[Eirambler]

McCarthy clearly has no time for Long at all, James Collins added to the list of lower division strikers who are getting picked before him.

James McCarthy fully fit but pulls out of the squad, committed as ever. Glenn Whelan a cert to start now.

[Fixer82]

Well Mick doesn’t like Long anyway

[samhaydenjr]

McCarthy clearly has no time for Long at all, James Collins added to the list of lower division strikers who are getting picked before him.

James McCarthy fully fit but pulls out of the squad, committed as ever. Glenn Whelan a cert to start now.


Well Mick doesn’t like Long anyway

Yeah, this one I would question - I know Long has had his issues in front of goal (and that Collins has stepped up to Championship level well, scoring his third yesterday), but he's our only active striker who has actually scored internationally (unless you count Aiden O'Brien); he's our only active striker with more than one Premier League goal; and he's seventh on our all-time goalscoring list, with a goal to caps ratio comparable to Quinn and Cascarino. And as his goal against Germany showed, he's a great option to bring off the bench against a defence tired by a hardworking forward line

[tricky_colour]

Do you really think that was a slip?
Its 1.19 mins secs into this clip

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DERt_DKtcGF4&ved=2ahUKEwiorPCBz6vkAhWeSBUIHTxgAKYQwqsBMAB6BAgIE AU&usg=AOvVaw11SzwYHRui2HBWN-4z4Y-v

Actually I saw that yesterday and my first thought was yep that was a dive, you have to do what you can these says, all fair in love and war etc...

However looking at it again he has been very hard done by.

It is beyond doubt Morrison clipped his ankle, you can see Morrison is nowhere near the ball when he taps his ankle, it is a "tap tackle" as it in
known in rugby and there is no way you can stay on your feet from one
of those.

Arter might have made meal of it, not even sure of that but he was fouled so it is a free kick to him. It is very hard to stay on your feet when someone clips your ankle it affects your whole balance, I think he was very hard done by.

[tricky_colour]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49456552


Man of the match - Callum Robinson (Sheffield United)


Callum Robinson scored from one of his four shots, and was 100% accurate with his 21 passes during the game

100% is quite high for a forward, you rarely see higher.

[jbyrne]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49456552


100% is quite high for a forward, you rarely see higher.

his form on saturday (from what i saw on MOTD) would give me some hope for Thursday. Himself and enda stevens combined very well at times down the left side

[backstothewall]

Do we know the yellow card was given for simulation? Despite what the commentators said my impression was that the yellow was given for dissent. You just can't get on like that.

[Diggs246]

Actually I saw that yesterday and my first thought was yep that was a dive, you have to do what you can these says, all fair in love and war etc...

However looking at it again he has been very hard done by.

It is beyond doubt Morrison clipped his ankle, you can see Morrison is nowhere near the ball when he taps his ankle, it is a "tap tackle" as it in
known in rugby and there is no way you can stay on your feet from one
of those.

Arter might have made meal of it, not even sure of that but he was fouled so it is a free kick to him. It is very hard to stay on your feet when someone clips your ankle it affects your whole balance, I think he was very hard done by.

Watch it again and check out the little roll he does at the end, regardless of the various opinions the trip, the dive, the slip. the pathetic roll itself is deigned to fool the ref

[Fixer82]

Definite dive because he doesn’t go down with the contact.
He takes another step and then decides to hit the deck

[Diggs246]

I know I will burn in hell for this, but I think we should play the long ball system on Thursday

I had a look at the swiss defense and they were beyond hopeless dealing with balls being launched at them

Also our midfield is no match for theirs

[Eirambler]

I'm pretty sure we will, most of these lads can't string three passes together. 'Direct' football and set pieces is where we're at for now sadly.

[seanfhear]

Long is a man for the Long ball . Something is amiss here . A falling out / Shane fed up of it / something else .

[irishfan86]

If our system is some kind of 4-5-1/4-3-3 situation I actually think we’ll enjoy our share of the ball. Georgia are no Switzerland but they dominated possession against us last campaign and we had more control this time around under Mick. Having a midfield three of Whelan behind Hourihane and Hendrick if that is indeed the selection will allow us to hold our own in the middle of the park.

My main concern isn’t possession but rather the ability to create/finish chances.

I don’t see an obvious immediate solution to that with the personnel we have, just hoping it’s a matter of time before some of our young prospects break through.

For now I think Robinson is the only player capable of consistently creating something from open play. Likely we’ll be relying on set pieces — which honestly I have a lot of faith in with the quality of Hourihane’s delivery and Duffy’s capability to dominate aerially.

[samhaydenjr]

Mick says that Long's absence is purely down to lack of playing time and that he is willing to bring him back in once he's playing - I think this is a debatable rationale with a player of Long's experience and calibre (will four or five games really make that much of a difference), but it does indicate that there's still a chance we'll see him in the last three qualifiers: https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/0902/1073349-mccarthy-not-closing-the-door-on-shane-long/

Incidentally, I will say, having seen the Swiss squad sheet and where they all ply their trades, that we are definitely the underdogs again for this tie so we will have to be at our absolute best to get something from it - if we do, then Mick and the players deserve enormous credit

[Olé Olé]

I agree with Robinson. And it's a pity that he will be playing wider than he is at club level. To compound that, I don't think McClean has looked like scoring much for us so we don't have a goal threat on that side when we should. The heroics of Austria in 2016 and Wales in 2017 feel a long time ago.

[Olé Olé]

A lot of praise around for Stevens and his displays for Sheffield United. He has looked good for us at left back but I think playing in a flatter back four is depriving us of his attacking abilities. The same would be the case if Doherty was at right back. I wonder whether it will get to the point where we just need to go with the 3-5-2 to make the most of what we have. Given that we already play with a midfield 3, we can maintain that.

I don't see us getting to that point. I think McCarthy is going to stick with this 4-3-2-1.

[Fixer82]

Mick says that Long's absence is purely down to lack of playing time and that he is willing to bring him back in once he's playing -

He’d no problem playing McAteer when he couldn’t get a sniff of game time from Souness

[Eirambler]

He has no problem picking Hendrick either who has fewer minutes this season than Long. I remember this being an issue with Mick the first time around, he would make a big play on some players not being first choice at their clubs but would then completely ignore it for others like Mcateer and Mark Kennedy.