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View Full Version : Republic of Ireland V Bulgaria - Wednesday, 18th November 2020 - Nations League



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tetsujin1979
13/11/2020, 8:42 PM
Watching the Ireland - Wales game here and the pitch at Aviva stadium is in an awful state. Can't imagine it's going to be easy to play on next week.

Bielsa´s irish
14/11/2020, 3:11 PM
James McCarthy is back for the home game how is the father's illness going on?

tetsujin1979
14/11/2020, 3:31 PM
there's been no report, but it doesn't look likely.

Bielsa´s irish
14/11/2020, 5:13 PM
I think i dont mind him out of Wales but I want him in Dublinn to lead the team

Eirambler
15/11/2020, 7:28 PM
This is an absolutely massive game now for Kenny. The feeling I'm getting this evening is that the support is turning on him already. Everyone knew there would be a transition period, but I guess few thought it would be this bad.

Kenny's main advantage at the moment is that the FAI are skint and cannot afford anyone else. People point to what happened with Michael O'Neill in NI after a slow start, but there's little to suggest that we're developing something similar here. Also easy for people to fall back on the poor standard of the players we have at the moment (and there's no question - we have a poor squad), but there's still no excuse for the complete lack of cohesion in the team, the apparent lack of a gameplan other than setting up as a 4-3-3 and tapping the ball around with no penetration at all and the ease at which teams just play through us. Throw in Kenny's complete lack of interview skills and lack of achievement outside of the LoI and it's easy to see the whole thing collapsing fairly quickly for him in 2021 now.

Being honest, Bulgaria are terrible, one of the worst international teams in Europe outside of the microstates. If we fail to beat them a second time, if we fail to score yet again, his position could be untenable by the spring, if the WC qualifiers start as badly as the Autumn has gone.

John83
15/11/2020, 7:33 PM
Being honest, Bulgaria are terrible, one of the worst international teams in Europe outside of the microstates. If we fail to beat them a second time, if we fail to score yet again, his position could be untenable by the spring, if the WC qualifiers start as badly as the Autumn has gone.
We don't have any more games until spring.

I expect we'll squeak past Bulgaria; surely someone has to give us a penalty or something eventually.

pineapple stu
15/11/2020, 7:52 PM
BTW, Bulgaria aren't ahead only of the microstates. They're poor, sure, but to compare them to San Marino, Liechtenstein, etc, is unhelpful. They're 41st in Europe (https://www.eloratings.net/UEFA), which is bad, but there's a big gap back to Azerbaijan in 42nd and then 13 others.

For illustration, roughly speaking Wales to Ireland, and Ireland to Bulgaria, and Bulgaria to Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan to the microstates is all around the same gap.

Bielsa´s irish
15/11/2020, 8:17 PM
massive match for the manager and his assistants.

We were the better side again, but couldnt score. A mistake from someone or a share mistake and we are punished.
It was a foul today by Moore he blocked and hacked both our center defenders

Olé Olé
15/11/2020, 9:41 PM
There is going to be some pressure cranked up over the next few days before this match.

Eirambler
15/11/2020, 10:22 PM
BTW, Bulgaria aren't ahead only of the microstates. They're poor, sure, but to compare them to San Marino, Liechtenstein, etc, is unhelpful. They're 41st in Europe (https://www.eloratings.net/UEFA), which is bad, but there's a big gap back to Azerbaijan in 42nd and then 13 others.

For illustration, roughly speaking Wales to Ireland, and Ireland to Bulgaria, and Bulgaria to Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan to the microstates is all around the same gap.

I think we need to be honest about where they are at. In addition to their four beatings in the Nations League this year they have also been beaten at home by Hungary and, most notably, Belarus.

They beat Gibraltar in a friendly, but the fact they were even playing Gibraltar in a friendly speaks volumes about where they are at.

Make no mistake, if we can't beat them at home, having also failed to beat them over in Bulgaria, it will go down as one of our most embarrassing results. Not as bad as Liechtenstein in the 90s or Cyprus under Stan, but probably the next worst of the modern era after that, particularly if we were to lose the game.

pineapple stu
15/11/2020, 10:30 PM
I don't think it would be embarrassing to lose - we've drawn our last two games in Georgia for example, and lost at home to Belarus in our last pre-Euros friendly - but it would be a bad result for sure. They are on a horrific slide, and it's only 14 months since we beat them at home (with Byrne pulling the strings)

I think we need to keep in perspective though (once again) that a team with no forwards worth talking about can't expect to beat anyone unfortunately.

That said, I'd be hopeful here

Closed Account 2
15/11/2020, 10:38 PM
I don't think it would be embarrassing to lose - we've drawn our last two games in Georgia for example, and lost at home to Belarus in our last pre-Euros friendly - but it would be a bad result for sure. They are on a horrific slide, and it's only 14 months since we beat them at home (with Byrne pulling the strings)


I think a defeat would be embarrassing. A draw would be ok, given that's what we need, but to finish bottom of a group devoid of great teams with just two points would be embarrassing. I think it would be unacceptable to have played Finland, Bulgaria and Wales twice each and only picked up two points. That would have been unimaginable under any of our previous 2-3 managers.

passinginterest
15/11/2020, 10:50 PM
I only really half watched tonight's game on a small screen, but it looked like more of the same to the extend that we looked the better team for long spells but lacked cutting edge. That's not a bad thing considering we're almost down to the c or d squad in some positions. Kenny is getting to see a lot of players, judging by reports we were a little more direct at times when it was on so maybe he's adapting the style to suit the players a bit better too.

Having said that, I do think the win is needed now or it becomes very difficult to stop the naysayers. It would be a bit embarrassing to lose the game and a nil nil won't put anyone's mind at ease. If we have 60% possession we should having at least 20 shots and 8-10 corners, you don't need really need a striker of any kind to nick a goal in that type of scenario, never mind a good one. It will be pretty soul destroying for the players too you'd have to imagine if they blank again.

There's still plenty of flickers of promise, there's a heap of extenuating circumstances, but sometimes you really do just need to go out and win.

Bielsa´s irish
16/11/2020, 1:06 AM
We were better than the Welsh, the game was Ireland going on the attack to score that first goal, and the Welsh betting on the counterattack, holding back, and leaving fast.
We are unable to score goals and yet we put the responsibility on him and make a boy who has a handful of official matches play as a scorer, with all that pressure. We had the chance to make a friendly with someone like Latvia at home, but no, we went to Wembley with joy and did not put up a rebellion.

backstothewall
16/11/2020, 1:29 AM
Upon reflection. It's bad. But it's not hopeless.

I know a lot of people will point to the injuries and Covid withdrawals. That stuff has all happened, but that football. The countries we are playing all have to deal with injuries and they are also going through a pandemic.

I think the best thing about the situation we find ourselves in is that we have to very basic problems, and just how bad those problems are. We're easy to play against, and we can't score. At the other end we really don't conceed too many. Our defence is operating pretty well. But there can be no doubt about how serious this is. We aren't going to get out of this by slightly tweaking the system.

The way you see these things getting turned around is a new manager comes in who doesn't know a lot about the players, so he comes up with a simple plan to solve the problem with the personel available to him. But it's possible to come up with a radical and simple plan without sacking anyone

Being harder to play against is the easier of the 2 to fix. We need to close down the opposition much more. We obviously lack creativity, so forcing out opponents to make make mistakes is the next best thing. Kenny wants to try to play more football, and that's no bad thing, but being able to pass the ball and making it awkward for our opponents to play aren't mutually exclusive ideas. The last time we played in Cardiff we won because Jeff Hendrick forced a mistake and McClean scored from the subsequent attack. We can still do things like that while out of possession, and we should.

Getting goals is more difficult, but there are things we can do. I don't think there's too much between our strikers. We've invested in Idah, and i see no reason to believe that there's a better option out there for now. He'll get a goal at some point and then things will maybe start to click. The chances of him getting that goal will greatly increase if we get people around him. The idea that what we saw tonight was a 4-3-3 is ludicrous. It was a 4-5-1. Idah was completely isolated

I think that means playing a second striker. In theory it's supposed to be a 3 now, but it isn't working. Whether that means one of the guys in the squad now starting with Idah, or Shane Long is drafted in I'm fairly philosophical about. The kid needs better help than he's been getting.

We have a number of fullbacks who are suited to play as wingbacks. That's something I think we should exploit. Stevens is the first choice on the left side, but in his absense i think Manning should get his chance. Having those guys pushing forward should stretch Bulgaria and create spaces for the more central guys to play. I'd like one of those central players to be Jack Byrne. He made a mistake tonight, but we all know what they say about the man who never made a mistake. The kind of player he is purported to be should never really be playing that deep because of the risk of losing the ball in that position.

What I'm describing could either be a 5-3-2, or a 4-4-2 diamond. I'd like to see us hit a few more crosses, but we could (and I would suggest should) still follow a more posession orientated approach.

Bulgaria aren't great. despite our troubles we should be able to scofre against them and beat them.

Bielsa´s irish
16/11/2020, 2:29 AM
Upon reflection. It's bad. But it's not hopeless.

I know a lot of people will point to the injuries and Covid withdrawals. That stuff has all happened, but that football. The countries we are playing all have to deal with injuries and they are also going through a pandemic.

I think the best thing about the situation we find ourselves in is that we have to very basic problems, and just how bad those problems are. We're easy to play against, and we can't score. At the other end we really don't conceed too many. Our defence is operating pretty well. But there can be no doubt about how serious this is. We aren't going to get out of this by slightly tweaking the system.

The way you see these things getting turned around is a new manager comes in who doesn't know a lot about the players, so he comes up with a simple plan to solve the problem with the personel available to him. But it's possible to come up with a radical and simple plan without sacking anyone

Being harder to play against is the easier of the 2 to fix. We need to close down the opposition much more. We obviously lack creativity, so forcing out opponents to make make mistakes is the next best thing. Kenny wants to try to play more football, and that's no bad thing, but being able to pass the ball and making it awkward for our opponents to play aren't mutually exclusive ideas. The last time we played in Cardiff we won because Jeff Hendrick forced a mistake and McClean scored from the subsequent attack. We can still do things like that while out of possession, and we should.

Getting goals is more difficult, but there are things we can do. I don't think there's too much between our strikers. We've invested in Idah, and i see no reason to believe that there's a better option out there for now. He'll get a goal at some point and then things will maybe start to click. The chances of him getting that goal will greatly increase if we get people around him. The idea that what we saw tonight was a 4-3-3 is ludicrous. It was a 4-5-1. Idah was completely isolated

I think that means playing a second striker. In theory it's supposed to be a 3 now, but it isn't working. Whether that means one of the guys in the squad now starting with Idah, or Shane Long is drafted in I'm fairly philosophical about. The kid needs better help than he's been getting.

We have a number of fullbacks who are suited to play as wingbacks. That's something I think we should exploit. Stevens is the first choice on the left side, but in his absense i think Manning should get his chance. Having those guys pushing forward should stretch Bulgaria and create spaces for the more central guys to play. I'd like one of those central players to be Jack Byrne. He made a mistake tonight, but we all know what they say about the man who never made a mistake. The kind of player he is purported to be should never really be playing that deep because of the risk of losing the ball in that position.

What I'm describing could either be a 5-3-2, or a 4-4-2 diamond. I'd like to see us hit a few more crosses, but we could (and I would suggest should) still follow a more posession orientated approach.

Bulgaria aren't great. despite our troubles we should be able to scofre against them and beat them.

I agree with most of it could be a chance as forward Idah is not ready there , we need to try a seasoned 9, i like Cillian Sheridan in that hassling position , we have Shane Long, Collins , Hogan. Idah and Parrott coming.

He needs to bring strikers number 9, give everyone a chance to get the role.

We cannn play 4-3-3 with Long on the right Obafemi or Connolly on the left we need characteristics, the 3 midfielders one of them has to be James McCarthy

at the back will go with something like coleman----doherty----egan------stevens

Olé Olé
16/11/2020, 7:55 AM
I hope McCarthy makes it back for this. Hendrick and Molumby are big losses to our midfield. I'd worry that we will select Hourihane who ought to be left out for his last two long and short appearances. Brady, McCarthy and Byrne? Nah, it'll be Brady, McCarthy and Hourihane.

pineapple stu
16/11/2020, 9:02 AM
I think a defeat would be embarrassing. A draw would be ok, given that's what we need, but to finish bottom of a group devoid of great teams with just two points would be embarrassing. I think it would be unacceptable to have played Finland, Bulgaria and Wales twice each and only picked up two points. That would have been unimaginable under any of our previous 2-3 managers.
It would be bad, but ultimately, once again, our forwards are all ****e. Every one of them. We started yesterday with a Norwick reserve, a Wycombe winger, and an experienced player (McClean) who, much as he's a cult icon at this stage, I think his best days are behind him and he hasn't scored in three years.

Our defence is reasonably solid (one goal against per game, including the England one), our midfield is being tinkered with and options are being found, but you can't polish a turd up front. If we can't score - and this isn't a Kenny thing; this goes back to Mick getting seven goals in eight qualifying games last year, three of which were against Gibraltar, and one of those was an own goal; or Goal of the Year being effectively cancelled in 2018 because we scored four goals in nine games - then we can't complain too much about relegation to the third tier of nations.

Our squad is weaker than under the last 2-3 managers too. I don't know why you keep leaving this out of your comments, cos it's really important.

pineapple stu
16/11/2020, 9:19 AM
Actually, at the risk of sending the forum into meltdown, I'd suggest that what is embarrassing is that this weekend, tens of thousands of Irish fans will be tuning into Burnley v Palace.

The LoI is one of the most under-funded leagues in Europe. It's one of only a handful of leagues where the clubs get no TV money. It's one of the worst-supported leagues in Europe - because people here would prefer to give their money to Burnley v Palace.

But every country across Europe uses its domestic league to bring through players for the national team. Our league isn't capable of doing that any more, which is part of the reason why our squad is so weak.

We made a huge deal about the Euro 2016 squad having 8 ex-LoI players in it. That was actually really crap by international standards and shows just how much we don't understand the connection between domestic league and national squad.

But those players - Long, McClean, Houlihan, Murphy, Quinn, Coleman, Ward and Meyler - all came through the LoI in the 2000s when there was lots of money in it. Since the country (and the league) went down the pan in 2008-2010, the league has produced far fewer players, and those have been of a lower standard (Maguire, Horgan, etc)

So people not supporting the league => weaker national team => exactly what we're seeing now.

liamoo11
16/11/2020, 10:50 AM
Meyler, long and quinn hardly played league of Ireland so it's a massive stretch to say the league developed them it was no different than a lad moving over from st Kevin's or rockmount. I'd say evan ferguson has as many appearances for bohs in competitive senior games than all 3 of them put together and he is barely gone 16. The league did not develop those 3 in senior professional mens football like you are trying to suggest a strong league would

livehead1
16/11/2020, 11:04 AM
Can anyone remember a worse Irish side?

pineapple stu
16/11/2020, 11:07 AM
The league did not develop those 3 in senior professional mens football like you are trying to suggest a strong league would
Yeah, there's definitely a point there, although they did go more or less straight into their English sides' first teams, which a player from Kevin's or Rockmount wouldn't have done. Though I'm not suggesting the LoI in the 2000s was a strong league; just stronger than now.

But my point is that what we thought was great - and the 8 LoI players was trumpeted at the time (https://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/the-8-sse-airtricity-league-players-in-the-euro-2016-squad) - was really poor, despite it being the best contribution the LoI had made in decades, and even if you want to say it was really only 5 players (which would be a reasonable argument), that point still holds.

With a properly supported and funded league, more players would be coming through to the national team.

John83
16/11/2020, 11:09 AM
Meyler, long and quinn hardly played league of Ireland so it's a massive stretch to say the league developed them it was no different than a lad moving over from st Kevin's or rockmount. I'd say evan ferguson has as many appearances for bohs in competitive senior games than all 3 of them put together and he is barely gone 16. The league did not develop those 3 in senior professional mens football like you are trying to suggest a strong league would


Fair points, but that's what the league was capable of doing. It's capable of less now. And when Pineapple says the league had loads of money in the 2000s, that's a very, very, relative term.

tetsujin1979
16/11/2020, 11:51 AM
It's not like Irish football fans started watching English (or Scottish) league football yesterday. This isn't a new problem. Irish football had huge crowds in the 50s and 60s, and qualified for nothing.

pineapple stu
16/11/2020, 11:56 AM
The 50s and 60s aren't relevant now though.

Until the Premier League formed, Irish players would to English clubs and so there was a ready stream going to some of the top clubs in the world.

But as the PL got richer, it could spread its net first across Europe, and then across the world. Now an Irish player has to really stand out to sign for an English club. And so there's fewer of them making the move.

So there's less scope for a professional career in England. There's little scope for a professional career in Ireland. Is it any surprise that there's just less professional players available, and that they're less good? Irish football has failed utterly to react to the change of scene brought about by the PL's globalisation. And we're seeing the effect of that now.

Closed Account 2
16/11/2020, 12:45 PM
Our squad is weaker than under the last 2-3 managers too. I don't know why you keep leaving this out of your comments, cos it's really important.

It is weaker, but I would argue some of that is counterbalanced by the fact we've not played any truly great teams in Kenny's, with the possible exception of England (which you could argue either way on). Slovakia had a number of viral/injury absences and their best player (Hamsik) had been in limbo in terms of club football. Arguably it's the same with Wales, Ramsey was missing last night and I think Bale is a bit rusty (not the force he was at the last Euros etc) due to his lack of game time in Madrid and him only joining Spurs relatively recently. Even last night they had the second choice keeper playing. Ward is good but Hennessy has been their usual starter. Finland are very well organised and have a tactically sound manager, but I wouldn't say they outclass us player for player. The same is also true of Bulgaria, but probably their manager isn't quite as good.

lofty9
16/11/2020, 1:20 PM
Can anyone remember a worse Irish side?

Below is the worst I've watched in years. Looking at the team, we need a complete rebuild and patience.

THU 06 SEPT 2018 NATIONS LEAGUE WALEs 4 Ireland 1

23 Randolph2 Coleman
4 Duffy
5 Clark
17 Ward Substituted for Stevens at 61'minutes
3 Christie
13 Hendrick
22 Hourihane Substituted for Williams at 56'minutes
8 O'Dowda
19 Walters
14 Robinson Substituted for Horgan at 77'minutes

pineapple stu
16/11/2020, 1:41 PM
Slovakia had a number of viral/injury absences and their best player (Hamsik) had been in limbo in terms of club football. Arguably it's the same with Wales, Ramsey was missing last night and I think Bale is a bit rusty (not the force he was at the last Euros etc) due to his lack of game time in Madrid and him only joining Spurs relatively recently. Even last night they had the second choice keeper playing. Ward is good but Hennessy has been their usual starter.
Again though, why do you mention all this (which is correct) and not reference the fact that we were missing Coleman (one of our only truly decent players), Stevens, McCarthy, Arter, Browne, Robinson and Egan?

You can't have it both ways.

Stuttgart88
16/11/2020, 1:56 PM
Can anyone remember a worse Irish side?I remember friendlies against Jamaica and Nigeria at The Valley, under Kerr. Pretty poor and fringe players that never amounted to much. McGeady got cap tied though.

centre mid
16/11/2020, 1:57 PM
McClean and Doherty both out of the squad after positive covid tests. Kenny has absolutely no luck.

Stuttgart88
16/11/2020, 2:00 PM
Wow...

zero
16/11/2020, 2:04 PM
unconfirmed reports that Doherty and McClean are ruled out with covid. (edit: just saw the above after I posted)

I think Collins did enough in his cameo to earn a start. I would however stick with Idah (fitness permitting) maybe at outside right as he does have pace.

In any case I expect Kenny will play the strongest / most experienced team he can as we badly need a result.

Real ale Madrid
16/11/2020, 2:15 PM
Unless others are called up that are not in the squad.

Randolph
Christie Duffy Long O'Shea
Brady Byrne Hourihane
Curtis Idah Horgan

There will be a further 4 enforced changes from yesterday with Hendrick, Moloumby, Doherty and McClean out.

Bordering on ridiculous now. Might be a case to go 3 at the back - Bring in Clark and play Manning and Christie as wing backs.

Stuttgart88
16/11/2020, 2:16 PM
I'd call up Lee O'Connor at RB and others from U21s now that they have nothing to play for.

I thought Collins looked more than OK.

Cullen may get a run now. It'll almost certainly mean Hourihane starts again. I hope not. I'll be v annoyed if he does.


-------------Keeper
O'Connor -- O'Shea-- Long --Manning

---------Cullen-------
Knight ----------Brady
--------Byrne------
---Idah --Collins ---

That's my low conviction starting XI! I can barely even remember who's still in the squad.

Edit: I had forgotten Duffy was still around. Wishful thinking maybe. And I think Curtis should start. I'll reconsider my selection. I think we should be prepared to lose this one. I don't care if we're in League C. The games will be a better match. I don't want to see Christie and Hourihane if they're not part of the big rebuild.

Insidetherock
16/11/2020, 2:21 PM
We need a draw.. this is the biggest game Ireland will play in a decade. We have to remain in the B path, and if we do, we can relax and build through the WC qualification, with a view on Germany in 24

liamoo11
16/11/2020, 2:37 PM
Fair points, but that's what the league was capable of doing. It's capable of less now. And when Pineapple says the league had loads of money in the 2000s, that's a very, very, relative term.

Is it capable of less though? Byrne is first league of Ireland player in donkeys to play competitive international senior football for Ireland. Evan ferguson will move on to Brighton and league of Ireland apologists can say the league of Ireland produced him when he plays for Ireland. If Sinclair Armstrong plays for Ireland will people say the league developed him cause he played for rovers B. Bazuna played for rovers A and will play for Ireland so the league developed him. Lads like Tierney and devoy at bohs will likely head back to England as will Landrieu and have as good a crack at playing for Ireland as Stephen ward ability wise. You would expect someone like zefi to have good chance of Been an international and he has played for rovers B in the league. the league is producing or recycling alot of good young players who have a good chance of progressing in their careers certainly as many as back in the 2000s when lots of clubs had very little youth but lots of mid twenties and older pros who could make more money in the league here than league one or 2. I think less money means clubs invest now in youth rather than over paying lads I their mid 20s who will never play international

pineapple stu
16/11/2020, 2:43 PM
Yes, it's currently capable of less.

You're counting an awful lot of players in there who've achieved nothing yet. You could have made the same argument for Hoban, McEleney, McMillan, Clarke and Burke a couple of years ago, yet they're all back in the LoI now.

Let's stick to the key measure - capped internationals. The LoI is producing less these days. And we've generally got a lower standard of player (after all, you have to cap someone). These two things are hitting the national team quite badly now.

The Donie Forde
16/11/2020, 2:55 PM
Can anyone remember a worse Irish side?



After beating the Czechs in Prague in November 1967, the next win didn't come until June 1972 against Iran.
I can remember the Iran win, in Recife, Brazil.

backstothewall
16/11/2020, 2:58 PM
If we have any more cases of covid we could have a few more LOI players getting caps this week.

Bielsa´s irish
16/11/2020, 3:07 PM
Randolph
oshea
duffy
long
manning
hourihane
cullen
brady
horgan
collins
odowda

backstothewall
16/11/2020, 3:16 PM
Pointless even discussing a team at this stage. God knows who will be next to go down.

The good news is that a quick check on Wikipedia suggests it's causing just as much disruption to Bulgaria squad as ours. We at least have the advantage of being able to draft players in from relatively nearby.

liamoo11
16/11/2020, 3:23 PM
Randolph
oshea
duffy
long
manning
hourihane
cullen
brady
horgan
collins
odowda

I dont see horgan or Collins been our future, why not give idah another game and let Byrne play see if he can unlock a packed defence

zero
16/11/2020, 3:24 PM
If we have any more cases of covid we could have a few more LOI players getting caps this week.

Four players called up.

▪️ Aaron McEneff | Shamrock Rovers F.C.
▪️ Graham Burke | Shamrock Rovers F.C.
▪️ Jack Taylor | Peterborough United
▪️ Troy Parrott | Millwall Football Club

nigel-harps1954
16/11/2020, 3:25 PM
I dont see horgan or Collins been our future, why not give idah another game and let Byrne play see if he can unlock a packed defence

Done alright the last time we played Bulgaria. I see no reason not to play him this time.

backstothewall
16/11/2020, 3:27 PM
Idah out due to injury

nigel-harps1954
16/11/2020, 3:28 PM
Four players called up.

▪️ Aaron McEneff | Shamrock Rovers F.C.
▪️ Graham Burke | Shamrock Rovers F.C.
▪️ Jack Taylor | Peterborough United
▪️ Troy Parrott | Millwall Football Club

Idah returned to Norwich with an injury too.

pineapple stu
16/11/2020, 3:35 PM
Has there ever been an injury crisis like this?

Struggling to remember as many injuries even ahead of those pointless US tours

ColourfulPeanut
16/11/2020, 3:36 PM
Joe Lapira getting his passport and boots ready as we speak.

It's mental at the moment. I really hope this whole thing is more stable before the World Cup qualifiers kick off.

backstothewall
16/11/2020, 3:37 PM
This is essentially a scratch team at this stage. There's not going to be time for any real preparation beyond a basic strategy. Anything Kenny tried today will be null and void by Wednesday depending on who tests positive next.

I think it needs to be a case of throwing together a 4-4-2 on the day and hoping for the best. Set pieces could be vital so Hourihane or Brady should be on the field at all times if one of them ends up being available.

pineapple stu
16/11/2020, 3:37 PM
Don't joke Peanut!!