Serbia V Republic of Ireland - Wednesday, 24th March 2021 - World Cup 2022 Qualifier

[backstothewall]

Kelleher, Bazunu, Travers, O'Hara
Coleman, Doherty, Duffy, Stevens, Long, Clark, O'Shea, Manning, Christie
Hourihane, Browne, Hendrick, Molumby, Knight, Cullen
Brady, McClean, Horgan, Curtis, O'Dowda, Robinson, Connolly, Long, Collins, Parrott

The squad is what it is. It's weak, but young and weak is better than old and weak.

I'd have had Jake Mulraney instead of Daryl Horgan, and Scott Hogan instead or Ronan Curtis. But apart from that it's what we have.

[Charlie Darwin]

Mulraney hasn't played a game in three months, and only one in almost five months, so not sure this would be the ideal time to call him up for the first time.

[Snapshot]

Kelleher, Bazunu, Travers, O'Hara
Coleman, Doherty, Duffy, Stevens, Long, Clark, O'Shea, Manning, Christie
Hourihane, Browne, Hendrick, Molumby, Knight, Cullen
Brady, McClean, Horgan, Curtis, O'Dowda, Robinson, Connolly, Long, Collins, Parrott

The squad is what it is. It's weak, but young and weak is better than old and weak.

I'd have had Jake Mulraney instead of Daryl Horgan, and Scott Hogan instead or Ronan Curtis. But apart from that it's what we have.
Our two big losses are Egan and McCarthy. Clark is no step down from Egan - and McCarthy seems fragile at the best of times. We should be well capable of a draw. But we have zero chance if Kenny showcases go-nowhere tip-tap again - and that's not a call to park the bus and hoof to high heaven. The least he should provide is evidence that a gaggle of woeful performances have not been in vain.

[elatedscum]

I'd have had Jake Mulraney instead of Daryl Horgan.

Has he improved hugely since he moved stateside? No offence to the lad but didn’t look good enough for the 21s when he was at that level

[DeLorean]

Hogan hasn't really impressed for us either, I'm not sure he's worth his place due to the occasional mini goal burst at Championship level, though some of those selections are of the splitting hairs variety.

Horgan has looked better for us than his struggles to establish himself at club level would suggest. I'm not sure Curtis and Collins really merit inclusion though, Collins looked woefully out of his depth in Georgia and Switzerland, and Curtis is game but not sure he offers anything that we don't already have in abundance.

Plus L1 football has seemingly ruled an infinitely more talented player in McGeady out, if you were to take SK's explanation at face value...?

[DeLorean]

Kelleher has been very good for the 21s and has always been good for us underage

Disagree with this. He was really poor in Toulon for a start, displaying a array of different types of mistakes. He was better (or at least less tested) in the qualifiers, but still had some really ropey moments, most of which he got away with so easier to forget/ignore. But that was then I guess, he did look a more competent performer for Liverpool this season, so hopefully he's come of age.

[liamoo11]

Disagree with this. He was really poor in Toulon for a start, displaying a array of different types of mistakes. He was better (or at least less tested) in the qualifiers, but still had some really ropey moments, most of which he got away with so easier to forget/ignore. But that was then I guess, he did look a more competent performer for Liverpool this season, so hopefully he's come of age.



I'd say you would be hard pushed to find 2 or 3 mistakes he has made at under 21 level for us . He is a quality keeper and always has been since under 17 level for us. His footballing ability is always going to mean he is suited to a higher level where he can actually knock a 20 yard pass to a centre half who can control and pass it. He also makes his back line play higher because he takes up much more advanced positions himself unlike Randolph who plays so deep that it encourages Duffy to drift back and sit on the edge of our area.

[elatedscum]

He was shaky in the first game of Toulon, particularly his distribution but as far as I remember, that game was less than a day after Liverpool won the champions league and did the parade and he hadn’t really slept at all. Flew, landed, played... something like that

[DeLorean]

I'd say you would be hard pushed to find 2 or 3 mistakes he has made at under 21 level for us . He is a quality keeper and always has been since under 17 level for us. His footballing ability is always going to mean he is suited to a higher level where he can actually knock a 20 yard pass to a centre half who can control and pass it. He also makes his back line play higher because he takes up much more advanced positions himself unlike Randolph who plays so deep that it encourages Duffy to drift back and sit on the edge of our area.

You're right, I would be hard pushed to find them, as I wouldn't even know where to look. It was mostly handling errors, poor decision making, that kind of thing and not so much leaving in terrible goals, though the second one here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYYW8R-fh0E) is highly questionable. These are some comments throughout the tournament from various posters on here.


"Thought .Masterson was excellent great composure and passing range really allowed us to play into midfield and saved kelleher s blushes in first half."

"I was disappointed in Kelleher. good save with feet at a crucial time but I'm not sure he was convincing in the incident that led to Masterson clearing off the line and his late flap and miss at at a routine cross was alarmingly bad in my opinion. Having expected so much due to his reputation I was very underwhelmed."

"Agree totally on Kelleher. Thought he was very poor when called upon. Flapped at a couple of crosses and didn't look overly commanding. Let's hope it was just a hangover of sorts.."

"Kelleher is the biggest disappointment so far, looks very uncomfortable."

"I think Kelleher was unlucky with a bobble for the goal but I haven't been that convinced by him all tournament, looks to have a fairly regular mistake in him which is a concern."

"I was disappointed with Kelleher. He made some good catches, without making any good saves, if that makes sense. Despite his reputation, I didn't see any good passes or control from him either."

Your view that he's better (or will be better) with senior pros is stacking up on the little bit of evidence we have so far, so hopefully you're right, and he has probably just improved anyway. I lived around the corner from his club in Cork for a couple of years actually, it would be great to see him succeed, I just haven't been overly convinced as of yet.

[elatedscum]

These are some comments throughout the tournament from various posters on here.

As far as I remember, Idah in particular and O’Shea received criticism in Toulon. Not that the criticism is definitely wrong, but it’s easy to find criticism of almost everyone’s performance

[DeLorean]

Of course, I'm not trying to condemn the young fella, just disputing the notion he's been borderline faultless for our U21's. I don't think that's true.

[pineapple stu]

I think the quotes from the thread at the time are generally quite valid - certainly better than trying to remember back now. And yeah, they're not great.

But it was two years ago. He's had two years at one of the top clubs in the world - not with its academy, but with the club itself. A lot can happen in that time. I'm not convinced it's all that relevant now. Though I would like to be going into what is probably our biggest qualifier of the 8 with a stronger option in nets.

[elatedscum]

Yeah. I think it’s all fair enough. There were also positive quotes regarding his performance though in Toulon and if you read the negative things alone, it probably gives a harsh view of a tournament where Ireland conceded 3 goals in 5 games.

The thing I think about goalkeepers is their progression and decline isn’t really visible in a linear way like most players. When a single mistake costs a goal and confidence can be crucial, players can be developing hugely without putting the final piece together in their game, then suddenly and rapidly, they look like a real keeper. Equally, confidence and self belief can both hide a decline or rapidly accelerate it. De Gea for example went from being second best keeper in the world to a bit of a liability within a couple of months.

[seanfhear]

He was shaky in the first game of Toulon, particularly his distribution but as far as I remember, that game was less than a day after Liverpool won the champions league and did the parade and he hadn’t really slept at all. Flew, landed, played... something like that
Flying and Landing the Plane = = Fair Dues.

[elatedscum]

Flying and Landing the Plane = = Fair Dues. All while trollied off his skull

[Trequartista20]

I'm not watching the match, but according to the radio, Coleman is playing on the right of midfield for Everton today.

No excuse for not playing him and Doherty together against a superior side like Serbia in favour of a wholly inadequate League One-standard squad-filler like Horgan.

Let's try and get our best players on the field at the very least.

[Trequartista20]

I'm not watching the match, but according to the radio, Coleman is playing on the right of midfield for Everton today.

No excuse for not playing him and Doherty together against a superior side like Serbia in favour of a wholly inadequate League One-standard squad-filler like Horgan.

Let's try and get our best players on the field at the very least.

Actually he appears to be playing in a 3-5-2, but the sentiment still stands.

[Trequartista20]

Hourihane subbed off on 18 with what looks like a hamstring injury. Poor old Kenny just can't get a break at the moment.

I know many like to criticise Hourihane, but he was in very good goalscoring/goal-creation form and is a real threat in-set-piece situations.

[Bielsa´s irish]

with the players at disposal, it is really really hard. Some naive choices from the manager. Of course no public iin the stadium is a major plus for a young keeper. I would have played Sean McDermott in goals or Colin Doyle.

my team for a strategy of winning in Serbia with those players.



----------------------Kelleher------------------------------

---------Coleman-------K.Long---------C.Clark-----------

Doherty--------O'Shea/Hendrick-------Cullen-----------Stevens---

-----------------Hourihane/Brady----------------------------

----------------Connolly---------------------S.Long

[sadloserkid]

Given that the Norwegian league hasn't even started yet I'm glad you're not picking the goalkeeper.

[tetsujin1979]

Darragh Lenihan called up. No confirmation yet from the FAI, or who has pulled out
1373342717648982016

[pineapple stu]

Aaron Connolly not even on the bench for Brighton this evening. Don't know is it a punishment for the covid breach or is he not yet back from injury, though the story a couple of days ago were that he was available for selection.

Hendrick on the bench for Newcastle.

[elatedscum]

O’Dowda also taken off injured. Could be Harness or Maguire replacing him I’d guess

[Trequartista20]

O’Dowda also taken off injured. Could be Harness or Maguire replacing him I’d guess

Good God. We've got no luck at all.

[Diggs246]

Hourihane subbed off on 18 with what looks like a hamstring injury. Poor old Kenny just can't get a break at the moment.

I know many like to criticise Hourihane, but he was in very good goalscoring/goal-creation form and is a real threat in-set-piece situations.

God forgive me. but that's good news.
I know I should never say such a thing but that's my gut reaction

[Olé Olé]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/enda-stevens-chasing-timely-boost-23763455.amp

Looks like Cullen might get the nod going on these comments from Kenny. Glad to hear it. I hope Knight joins him midfield. Hendrick is likely to start. With Hourihane out, are there any other options midfield for Kenny? Molumby, Browne and Brady are surely behind the three I have just named.

Kelleher
Coleman O'Shea Clark Stevens
Cullen Knight Hendrick
Brady/Long Robinson Connolly

The above would be my selection.

[Eirambler]

I think that's pretty close to what it should be. I think Browne has done more this season than Hendrick to deserve a start despite being messed around a bit in terms of position at club level. But that old intangible - experience - will probably get Hendrick the nod.

I think Brady needs to start for set pieces if Hourihane is out, although I'd have started him before Hourihane anyway. Neither are great but Hourihane has done very little in an Irish jersey whereas at least Brady has had his moments if you go back far enough. I'd maybe be concerned whether he can last the 90 and who would take set pieces if he goes off. Long can still offer something off the bench.

Despite everything it's actually an OK team if that's the one that starts.

[CraftyToePoke]

With Hourihane out, are there any other options midfield for Kenny? Molumby, Browne and Brady are surely behind the three I have just named

He was complimentary about Browne in the Q&A last week, said he'd improved technically I think, pretty sure it was Browne anyway. That's about his lot unless he sticks Coleman in there or as Bielsa said, O'Shea holding midfield :)

[Olé Olé]

I think that's pretty close to what it should be. I think Browne has done more this season than Hendrick to deserve a start despite being messed around a bit in terms of position at club level. But that old intangible - experience - will probably get Hendrick the nod.

I think Brady needs to start for set pieces if Hourihane is out, although I'd have started him before Hourihane anyway. Neither are great but Hourihane has done very little in an Irish jersey whereas at least Brady has had his moments if you go back far enough. I'd maybe be concerned whether he can last the 90 and who would take set pieces if he goes off. Long can still offer something off the bench.

Despite everything it's actually an OK team if that's the one that starts.

Yeah, I would be inclined to agree with you. The only thing about Brady is I'm not sure whether Kenny fancies him in the wide forward role. He has played a few times in midfield alright.

[elatedscum]

Yeah, I would be inclined to agree with you. The only thing about Brady is I'm not sure whether Kenny fancies him in the wide forward role. He has played a few times in midfield alright.

I think he wants more pace in his wingers. He played him there in the first game against Wales and it was: Hendrick as the attacking midfielder, Brady on the right, McClean on the left. Let’s just say there weren’t many times when one of them got past a defender.

It’s fair enough really. I do think the value of having a dead ball specialist in Brady or Hourihane is directly linked to whether you play Shane Duffy.

[Trequartista20]

I'd play Brady in midfield if anywhere. He's got ability, but injuries have really robbed him of his pace.

[irishfan86]

Kelleher reportedly ruled out. Kevin Long also out (thus the Lenihan call up).

[Eirambler]

Huge night coming up for Travers on Wednesday.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Kelleher and Kevin Long out

[Bielsa´s irish]

Coventry added

[pineapple stu]

Hourihan and O'Dowda also confirmed out (https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/travers-in-line-for-start-in-serbia-with-kelleher-among-raft-of-further-withdrawals-from-injury-hit-ireland-squad-40222652.html) (although we kind of figured that from the weekend)

[Bielsa´s irish]

I prefer McGeady in the team as far as I am concerned. Or Connor Ronan. GK situation will destroy our confidence. Again we need some experience gloves maybe Sean McDermott or Colin Doyle, I want Dean Kiely in goals, we are in deep trouble

[seanfhear]

I prefer McGeady in the team as far as I am concerned. Or Connor Ronan. GK situation will destroy our confidence. Again we need some experience gloves maybe Sean McDermott or Colin Doyle, I want Dean Kiely in goals, we are in deep trouble
Never Fear ~ ~ It is when the Irish are in the Deepest of Trouble that The Spirit of the Irish Rises ! !

[Bielsa´s irish]

This was a window of international football to convince a fellow like Mikey Johnston to play for the Republic, this is a missed chance, I know this fellow has been out for 9 months and just coming back, but not included for the scottish, we need a fellow of his flair.

We are gonna need a better direction about dual players, we cant afford injury crisis this much!

[Bielsa´s irish]

Hourihan and O'Dowda also confirmed out (https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/travers-in-line-for-start-in-serbia-with-kelleher-among-raft-of-further-withdrawals-from-injury-hit-ireland-squad-40222652.html) (although we kind of figured that from the weekend)

James McClean also unavailable, according to his irish coach at the club

[pineapple stu]

No, he's struggling with injury and O'Neill wouldn't play him on Wednesday in a club game, but he can't make him unavailable

[Bielsa´s irish]

No, he's struggling with injury and O'Neill wouldn't play him on Wednesday in a club game, but he can't make him unavailable

Yeah he said everything is up to our medical staff to risk him or not. I dont think the irish doctors will make him play. I would play Manning there, or Scully or McGeady who are fit enough and that McGrath fellow in Scotland.

As I said before we must convince dual players with an abrasive approach a la Jackie C.. Players like Mikey Johnston, Connor Ronan and others must be fast tracked. Delap i believe will end up playing for Ireland because of his dad and grandpa, but we've got to move fast. I believe scottish-irish are more eager to play for Eire than english born guys with irish ancensty, but every person is a world of difference, we must ask and pronto!

[tetsujin1979]

Bielsa, unless you have any new evidence that Mikey Johnston will declare for Ireland, don't mention him again.

[Colbert Report]

I think the way Stephen Kenny sets us up to play is very naive, but to be fair to the man, the covid situation last time around followed by the injuries to the squad this time out make it hard to judge him fairly.

[Snapshot]

I think the way Stephen Kenny sets us up to play is very naive, but to be fair to the man, the covid situation last time around followed by the injuries to the squad this time out make it hard to judge him fairly.
His team and tactics in Belgrade will be a good measure. O'Shea and/or Clark omitted to facilitate Duffy, leaving Doherty or Coleman on the bench - and playing his naive go-nowhere tip-tap will seriously undermine his credibility. I'm hopeful (but not confident) he'll produce a strategy to make a draw feasible.

[CraftyToePoke]

O'Shea and/or Clark omitted to facilitate Duffy

Then again would you want Clarke / O'Shea or Duffy up against Mitrovic if they play him ? If its about a nuts and bolts pragmatic eleven to not lose this game, whatever about tipping and tapping.
And before you start :) no I don't want Duffy in the side either overall. But picture corner after corner and ball after ball aimed at that wilder beast Mitrovic, which of the three would you want marking him ?

[Colbert Report]

I don't envy the guy. Duffy in the air is our only real scoring threat, so he has to play him an omit O'Shea, no doubt in my mind.

my team:

-----------------Travers
Coleman-Duffy-Clark-Stevens
Doherty-Browne-Hendrick-Knight-Brady
----------------Long

We'll be lucky not to lose 4-0.

[Snapshot]

Then again would you want Clarke / O'Shea or Duffy up against Mitrovic if they play him ? If its about a nuts and bolts pragmatic eleven to not lose this game, whatever about tipping and tapping.
And before you start :) no I don't want Duffy in the side either overall. But picture corner after corner and ball after ball aimed at that wilder beast Mitrovic, which of the three would you want marking him ?

You make a good point - but I believe O'Shea/Clark is the way to go. Duffy's game looks shattered - he's slow, missing tackles, timing is askew, poor distributer from the back - and that's just at SPFL level (he was on the Celtic bench last game). Potter got rid of him at Brighton for the same deficiencies. Yes, he has been good for our corners - but can we afford to select a key defender in a vital game for that reason?

[Snapshot]

I don't envy the guy. Duffy in the air is our only real scoring threat, so he has to play him an omit O'Shea, no doubt in my mind.

my team:

-----------------Travers
Coleman-Duffy-Clark-Stevens
Doherty-Browne-Hendrick-Knight-Brady
----------------Long

We'll be lucky not to lose 4-0.
I think your selection (with O'Shea for Duffy, and Connolly, if fit, for Long) is as good as it gets. I'd give it a fighting chance of a draw. O'Shea has been consistently good at EPL level and deserves his place. At corners, Clark also has a useful scoring record with Newcastle and while at Villa.

[ifk101]

I'd have Cullen in the team to anchor the midfield and provide the momentum link from back to front. With an untested goalkeeper, think it is advisable for Kenny to keep changes in the back line to the minimal necessary. So I'd gamble on Duffy despite concern and would lean towards packing the team with as many senior players as possible with the goalkeeper issue and Cullen starting.