Republic of Ireland v Denmark - Dublin - 18th November 2019 - Euro 2020 Qualifier

[Fixer82]

Start Parrott against the Kiwis and wrap Connolly in cotton wool I til Denmark game

[elatedscum]

https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/mick-mccarthy-waits-on-aaron-connolly-scan that's Connolly out most likely if groin was painful enough to have to come off

Ring the Shane Long siren

[samhaydenjr]

https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/mick-mccarthy-waits-on-aaron-connolly-scan that's Connolly out most likely if groin was painful enough to have to come off

Mick has really been cursed for injuries throughout this campaign - Keogh, Clark, McCarthy, Brady, Long, McGoldrick, Obafemi and now Connolly, just as he was settling in

[geysir]

No doubt MON was immediately on the blower to Age the Danish manager, challenging his (frank and open ) comments about the upcoming match.

"No," said the Norwegian when asked if he was confident about beating Ireland again.

"Ireland are a much stronger team in this campaign. They are very difficult to break down and hit you late, as they did to us in Copenhagen.
"I was just surprised how open the team were in the World Cup play-off. This is a different team under a different manager.
"They don't score many goals but don't concede many either. It will not be an easy game."

[jbyrne]

connolly ruled out...
https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/1111/1090170-aaron-connolly-ruled-out-of-huge-danish-showdown/

[OwlsFan]

On the earlier Westwood comments, his time was during the Euros in Poland when he was at the top of his game and nominated the best goalie in the Championship. Alas Trap went with an unfit Given and the rest is history. Westwood was directly responsible for the 2 goals Wednesday conceded at the weekend by screwing up on two crosses: dropping one and misjudging another in the 94th minute :( He's still capable of world class saves but also horrendous gaffs I am afraid.

On the game itself: can history repeat itself ? Germany came to town and utterly stuffed us and on their next visit, we won. The Danes, I am cautiously optimistic. We did ok on their turf and I think we're due a big night at Lansdowne. A last minute goal by McGoldrick or someone with the prefix Mc will do. I'll take an early goal of course but I'd need to take my diapers with me in those circumstances :)

[NeverFeltBetter]

Appreciate Brady's comments today. Hopefully the memory of the 5-1 will be a badly needed motivation to fire the players up.

[Fizzer]

The Swiss just scraped by Georgia yesterday so at least we don’t have to win by two, but I think we’ll need to score more than once to win. We haven’t had a decent performance in any of the group games yet that I can remember so it’ll take our best outing yet to do it, On the plus side, all of the Sheff Utd boys have found their stride, Clarke (if he plays) and Duffy are a goal threat, and there’s a couple of peripheral players in good form. On the downside......James McLean. He’s an honest lad but it has to be incredibly demoralising as a teammate to work hard to get the ball back just to see him kicking it to touch. Not to totally slag him off but he also missed major chances to put us two nil up against France at the euros and Denmark at home in the 5-1.
I just wonder if Denmark needing a only a draw might mean they might start off cagey and give us a bit more possession than we’re used to.

[samhaydenjr]

With the play-off picture almost complete, which play-off path looks most promising? The League A path with Iceland and two from Bulgaria, Israel and Hungary, beginning with a home semi-final; or The League B path with Bosnia-Herzegovina and two from Wales, Slovakia and Northern Ireland, beginning with a semi-final away from home?

[Stuttgart88]

They both look harder to navigate than a one off home game against Denmark.

[dynamo kerry]

The Swiss just scraped by Georgia yesterday so at least we don’t have to win by two, but I think we’ll need to score more than once to win. We haven’t had a decent performance in any of the group games yet that I can remember so it’ll take our best outing yet to do it, On the plus side, all of the Sheff Utd boys have found their stride, Clarke (if he plays) and Duffy are a goal threat, and there’s a couple of peripheral players in good form. On the downside......James McLean. He’s an honest lad but it has to be incredibly demoralising as a teammate to work hard to get the ball back just to see him kicking it to touch. Not to totally slag him off but he also missed major chances to put us two nil up against France at the euros and Denmark at home in the 5-1.
I just wonder if Denmark needing a only a draw might mean they might start off cagey and give us a bit more possession than we’re used to.

Thanks for the note on the goal difference. I was wondering that. I think a fair few players are on form currently so there is that.
On James.. I love his work ethic but I think the capabilities of the squad around him has overtaken him at this stage of his career.
We have this habit of hanging onto players because they might have a moment of magic every 5 games. I'd prefer to try out some youngster than give lads the impression they just need to show up. Also we might strike gold in terms of a young mentality giant who is up to it and can keep pace with ball control.

[Diggs246]

With the play-off picture almost complete, which play-off path looks most promising? The League A path with Iceland and two from Bulgaria, Israel and Hungary, beginning with a home semi-final; or The League B path with Bosnia-Herzegovina and two from Wales, Slovakia and Northern Ireland, beginning with a semi-final away from home?

league A. Wales and I guess Bosnia will have too much for us. Also as u said in path B we are away

[Stuttgart88]

Aren't we almost certain to be in the B path, due to the host nations clause?

[Olé Olé]

league A. Wales and I guess Bosnia will have too much for us. Also as u said in path B we are away
Why would Wales and Bosnia have too much for us? We have beaten both very recently in competitive football.

[Olé Olé]

I looked at the Wales team for last night. Hennessy, Davies, Mepham, Lockyer, Roberts, Ampadu, Morrell, James, Wilson, Bale and Kieffer Moore. Aside from James and Bale (and Ramsay who came in) they are terribly mediocre or inexperienced. Stevens and Coleman are also very good full backs and you could double McClean up with Stevens also to mitigate Bale. I don't understand why anyone would say that side "will have too much for us." It's only 3 years since we put Bosnia to the sword and they are sitting behind in Greece and Armenia in their group and were beaten 3-0 at home by Italy the other night. What is your rationale on guessing that they would beat us as well?

[Diggs246]

I looked at the Wales team for last night. Hennessy, Davies, Mepham, Lockyer, Roberts, Ampadu, Morrell, James, Wilson, Bale and Kieffer Moore. Aside from James and Bale (and Ramsay who came in) they are terribly mediocre or inexperienced. Stevens and Coleman are also very good full backs and you could double McClean up with Stevens also to mitigate Bale. I don't understand why anyone would say that side "will have too much for us." It's only 3 years since we put Bosnia to the sword and they are sitting behind in Greece and Armenia in their group and were beaten 3-0 at home by Italy the other night. What is your rationale on guessing that they would beat us as well?

Wales have better players then us, some of their players are actually near world class, playing for Man utd, Chelsea, Juve and Real Madrid and the last time we played them they murdered us.. full blown murdered us . We will be playing them away in wales as well, so as I live on planet earth I believe they have too much for us.

Granted Bosnia is less clear but again we would be playing them away and they have players playing top level football across Europe. You failed to mention that in recent history they beat N. Ireland both home and away. They beat Austria and killed Finland. World beaters they are not but as things stand they are better then us.

[Olé Olé]

Based on that post I would say that you're the heart and soul of any parties you attend on "planet Earth."

[Diggs246]

Based on that post I would say that you're the heart and soul of any parties you attend on "planet Earth."

well if we do somehow win tonight, there will be a party in my pants

[jbyrne]

byrne and parrott make the bench for tonight.
Callum O'Dowda and Scott Hogan miss out. surprised at the odowda decision tbh

[seanfhear]

byrne and parrott make the bench for tonight.
Callum O'Dowda and Scott Hogan miss out. surprised at the odowda decision tbh
I have been a big fan of O'Dowda but he is one of those that Flatters to Deceive . He has been around it now quite a bit and hasn’t produced the goods .

[Diggs246]

It also means McLean is sure to start

[centre mid]

https://twitter.com/OCowzer/status/1196404568910974976?s=19

No midfield experiment tonight anyway.

[Olé Olé]

Interesting to see that pair make way. They both came in against Switzerland. I agree with the decision but I'm just a bit surprised.

[geysir]

A few of the top seeds/fancied teams struggled to win their group qualification deciders, but all came through in the end. Our game must be the one which provides the one obligatory upset.

[Fixer82]

I actually thought they both did well when they came on against the Swiss so fair play to Mick for not being afraid to change things.
I think it’s the right call.

[IsMiseSean]

Aren't we almost certain to be in the B path, due to the host nations clause?

Dan McDonnell piece in the Indo Playoff permutations (https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/euro-2020-playoff-permutations-irelands-fate-is-linked-with-wales-result-38700520.html).
If we end up in the playoffs and Wales win - we'll be away to Slovakia.
If Wales draw - we have to go to Cardiff.
It gets complicated if Wales lose.

[Fixer82]

I wonder will Mick play Robinson and McGoldrick up top with them both interchanging between the no.9 and no.10 positions

[geysir]

I wonder will Mick play Robinson and McGoldrick up top with them both interchanging between the no.9 and no.10 positions

Good to have the focus on winning tonight's game rather than the play-off consolation option.

[elatedscum]

I'd certainly have kept O'Dowda in the squad. Based on Brady's performance on Thursday, I might prefer O'Dowda coming on out wide if the game opens up

Collins would have been the one to go for me. With McGoldrick, Robinson, Maguire, Parrott there's enough firepower.

[davidatrb]

Dan McDonnell piece in the Indo Playoff permutations (https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/euro-2020-playoff-permutations-irelands-fate-is-linked-with-wales-result-38700520.html).


If we end up in the playoffs and Wales win - we'll be away to Slovakia.
If Wales draw - we have to go to Cardiff.
It gets complicated if Wales lose.


Dale Johnson on twitter for espn writes a lot about this too. Says he’ll be shocked if UEFA let Ireland out of Path B.

It’s not the opposition that really concerns me. It’s more that we give up home advantage if stuck in Path B.

Whoever drawn into Path A will at least have home advantage.

Anyway, win tonight and an added bonus is we might get home advantage vs Spain at the Finals.

[Fixer82]

Team named:

Randolph
Doherty
Egan
Duffy
Stevens
McClean
Browne
Whelan
Hendrick
Hourihane
McGoldrick

[NeverFeltBetter]

4-5-1 it is.

[shakermaker1982]

Got to win 1-0.

We need a goal from a set piece & hope the Danes are so sick of playing us that they just play in 2nd gear.

What is that right hand side of midfield all about?! The midfield 5 need to get on the front foot and boss this. If Whelan just ends up passing it back to Randolph to lump forward then we are goosed.

[irishfan86]

Wonder if in practice it will actually be Hendrick playing on the right as he often does for Burnley. That would make most sense and given the fact right midfield has been a problem position I agree with that call.

[Razors left peg]

Looks like we set up for a draw and hope we nick one. We did that away to Georgia and it cost us hugely. Hope we get a performance and we do score but right now before the game I'm not confident and think that McCarthys lack of courage again will cost us... hope I'm wrong

[NeverFeltBetter]

Hamann calling Ireland "we". ;)

[centre mid]

Hopefully we get an early penalty and hold on. C'mon Ireland, at least die with your boots on.

[tricky_colour]

Randolph
Doherty Egan Duffy Stevens
Browne Whelan Hendrick McClean
Hourihane
McGoldrick

Something like that, not sure of the formation. (chasing the danes probably ;) )



23Randolph
2Doherty
4Duffy
5Egan
3Stevens
8Browne
13Hendrick
6Whelan
14Hourihane
11McClean
9McGoldrick

[SkStu]

McCarthy says its 4-2-3-1 but McGoldrick at #9 is a poor call on the evidence of his previous games there as he drops far too deep and we lose a focal point. If it is 4231 then leaving COD out of the squad completely is the most self-defeating move he could have made as he leaves himself with only one genuine wide player in McClean (who, along with Whelan, should no longer be near the squad let alone the team). McG or Hendrick have a better case to be at #10 where they both do the most damage at club level - i would pick McG there - and drop Browne and Cullen into the defensive mid positions - both comfortable on the ball. I would probably start Robinson in at #9 with Parrott off the bench if it isnt working for him.

The scary thing is we are in the last game of the campaign and we are trying another new formation - and havent selected the personnel to make the most of it. Is that 4 formations now? 433, 4231, 352, 4321?

Goodnight (Frank and) Irene.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Some roar off the Aviva, but think the Danes already looking much the more assured and composed side. We're going to need a slice of luck here, be it a set-piece or Danish error or refereeing ****-up.

[shakermaker1982]

That looks a nasty one

[geysir]

Caveman's tackle from Delaney.

[shakermaker1982]

We look so much better when we press. Doing ok so far.

[tricky_colour]

Just to have the squad on the page

Randolph
Doherty Egan Duffy Stevens
Browne Whelan Hendrick McClean
Hourihane
McGoldrick

Something like that, not sure of the formation. (chasing the danes probably ;) )




23Randolph
2Doherty
4Duffy
5Egan
3Stevens
8Browne
13Hendrick
6Whelan
14Hourihane
11McClean
9McGoldrick

[tricky_colour]

That Cornelius is a bit of a diver.

[third policeman]

We look so much better when we press. Doing ok so far.

Reverting to type a bit now. Surrendering possession way too easily.

[shakermaker1982]

Denmark starting to play a little, we are dropping now.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Dropping like flies the Danes. Limits their options a bit, hopefully we get the chance to take advantage.

[passinginterest]

Jeff Hendrick’s lack of a brain is the biggest impediment to the team at the moment. Either gives it away or makes a stupid run away from the only place he could receive the ball resulting in lost possession.

[placid casual]

I wonder is Hendricks pass completion rate in single digits. Cos how that guy gets a game is beyond me, it really is.