Portugal V Republic of Ireland - Wednesday, 1st Sep 2021 - 2022 World Cup Qualifier

[Diggs246]

I'm disappointed in this, he looked like a real livewire v Hungary

https://www.the42.ie/ogbene-5529598-Aug2021/

[pineapple stu]

Squad being announced on Thursday. Liam Scales and Michael Duffy in contention for callups (per the Examiner)

[backstothewall]

By the end of the 3 games I expect the squad will be ravaged by Covid again. Perhaps lessons will be learned from last time, and we'll enjoy an unlikely victory against a virtually unrecognisable Serbia squad, but there's a lot to be said for a Martin O'Neill style 45 man squad.

[pineapple stu]

They should be all vaccinated at this stage surely?

[seanfhear]

They should be all vaccinated at this stage surely?
That doesn’t seem to stop you getting Covid or passing it on. It may stop you getting more seriously ill.

[Eminence Grise]

There doesn't seem to be a great response among some players/clubs to get the vaccine. Newcastle, Man Utd (not a problem for us these days, sadly) and Boro all mentioned here.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/20/steve-bruce-admits-a-lot-of-newcastle-players-have-not-been-vaccinated-covid

[pineapple stu]

That doesn’t seem to stop you getting Covid or passing it on. It may stop you getting more seriously ill.
That's true, though given a cert is good enough for travel in general these days, I would have thought allowances could be made for an international squad being fully certified as vaccinated.

That said, Eminence Grise's post - which can be summed up as "footballers are stupid" - would be a hindrance to my cert theory...

[Eminence Grise]

So, you can take human rights away when it suits you = = Then they are hardly human rights.

Are you saying that a human being does not have the right to refuse a vaccine that has not gone through the usual trials ?


Yes, You can chose not to play Taxes = = You may well have to go to jail for it but you can certainly choose not to pay taxes.

Nobody has been made get the vaccine in Ireland. Pat Kenny was ranting last week about the number of healthcare workers who declined it. Of course people have a right to refuse (believers in some faiths can refuse capsules made with pig gelatin, for instance; Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions for their children - but there is compulsion there because court orders are sought and made to protect the rights of the minor) but they also have a responsibility to refuse because they are making an informed judgement, not spouting anti-vax bull-plop. In fairness, the majority of anti-vaxxers seem just like the kind of people to storm a BBC building ... that the BBC left eight years ago (https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/anti-vaccine-protesters-storm-bbc-hq-eight-years-after-it-moved-out-1.4643670#:~:text=Anti-vaccine%20protesters%20storm%20BBC%20HQ%20%E2%80%9 3%20eight%20years,like%20Loose%20Women%20Tue%2C%20 Aug%2010%2C%202021%2C%2010%3A47), or believe that Bill Gates is injecting microchips via the vaccine (have you seen the needle tip? It's a fraction of the size of one for drawing blood samples!)

I made an informed choice to be vaccinated. So did Mrs Grise. We weighed our right to bodily integrity against the common good. That and Mrs Grise's seeing some of her patients die alone - no family, no chaplains, nobody there in their last moments - during the first wave was a pretty persuasive argument. People who cite human rights, who don't get that rights are always counterbalanced by responsibility, really annoy me. I have a right to liberty; it can be taken away if I break a law. I have a right to amass a fortune (full disclosure: it’s an abstract right!) but it's counterbalanced by a responsibility to pay taxes. I have a right to bodily integrity, but I have a responsibility towards my family, friends, colleagues, students... So there is some degree of compulsion, either legal or moral. Every morning I get up and check my compass: if it's pointing the opposite direction to David Icke, Dolores Cahill, Alex Jones and all that crew, it's safe to leave the house!

Anyhoo...

What Bruce refers to is footballers being persuaded by conspiracy theories to reject vaccination – which is plain boneheaded stupidity. Man Utd, for instance, have 57 players between first team and u23, and if 85% (England average, roughly) have had at least one jab, it still leaves 9 players who haven’t been vaccinated at all. That’s considered a safe level of vaccination. (Add the u18s and Women’s teams, and it’s 89/13.)

What I take from the article is that there is a higher percentage of Newcastle and Boro players, probably Utd, who aren’t vaccinated than the general UK population, which suggests that, for these clubs if not actually football as a whole, there is going to be a problem reaching proper levels of immunity. And, sure, the vaccine doesn’t mean you won’t get Covid, but it reduces the risk, the severity and transmission rates significantly.

Sooo, back on track... is there any chance that Fernandes and Dalot are among the Man Utd unvaccinated, and might get a suspicious dose of the sniffles before the game?

[tetsujin1979]

off topic posts binned (except EG's which is excellent and should be read by everyone)
If you want to discuss the vaccine, use the Politics forum

Spoiler alert - any anti-vaccine posts will be removed.

[seanfhear]

Ronaldo’s Legs were gone ( finally, at the Euros ) but that does not mean he could not do damage.

[Eminence Grise]

Depends on how much damage Duffy might do to him first! Duffy is finding form at just the right time. Whatever about not having a silky first touch and extensive passing range, he'll be a key man for us. But the footballing gods giveth, then taketh our LB/FB, so that little shiver of optimism remains a shiver for now.



off topic posts binned (except EG's which is excellent and should be read by everyone)

Praise from Tets! Too kind, sir, but appreciated.

[lofty9]

There doesn't seem to be a great response among some players/clubs to get the vaccine. Newcastle, Man Utd (not a problem for us these days, sadly) and Boro all mentioned here.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/20/steve-bruce-admits-a-lot-of-newcastle-players-have-not-been-vaccinated-covid


Madness, especially with Darlow's case on their door. Surely teams in Europe and players of International teams (Fernandes of Portugal etc) need to have it to travel?

[John83]

Madness, especially with Darlow's case on their door. Surely teams in Europe and players of International teams (Fernandes of Portugal etc) need to have it to travel?
They can travel on recent negative tests.

[Demesne Lad]

Norwich 6-0 up against a less than full strength Bournemouth after 75 minutes, Idah still on the bench. Not good for his confidence, not good news for S Kenny. Hold on, Idah in after 77 mins.....

[passinginterest]

Norwich 6-0 up against a less than full strength Bournemouth after 75 minutes, Idah still on the bench. Not good for his confidence, not good news for S Kenny. Hold on, Idah in after 77 mins.....

Alternatively, maybe Idah is going to be starting against Leicester on Saturday? He was impressive pre-season and Norwich haven’t scored in the league yet.

[Eirambler]

I think that's an overly optimistic take unfortunately. It sounds like Farke still has issues with his all round game (not his finishing) and thinks he has work to do to get to a position where he can lead the line in the Premier League. Unfortunately that potentially means he will be sticking around Norwich and getting a football education, but not playing much.

[Colbert Report]

When will the squad be announced, does anyone know?

[elatedscum]

When will the squad be announced, does anyone know?

Think I read Thursday

[tetsujin1979]

Thursday according to the42 - https://www.the42.ie/dundalk-star-duffy-could-be-set-for-ireland-call-up-5529595-Aug2021/

DUNDALK WINGER Michael Duffy could be rewarded for his impressive recent form as Stephen Kenny prepares to name his Ireland squad on Thursday ahead of next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Portugal, Azerbaijan and Serbia

[pineapple stu]

Danny Mandroiu reckons he has a chance of a call-up (https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0824/1242586-mandroiu-eyeing-ireland-call-and-rovers-comeback/), and Liam Scales has been suggested too.

Scales maybe given he's being strongly linked with a move abroad in the next week, but Duffy and Mandroiu strike me as that we're starting to get a bit desperate to be honest...

[seanfhear]

Is it going to be a very big Squad ?

[Diggs246]

anyone know if Portugal on on the red list
Premier League clubs will not release players for games in UK 'red-list' countries (breakingnews.ie) (https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/premier-league-clubs-will-not-release-players-for-games-in-red-list-countries-1175420.html)

[Eminence Grise]

Amber at the moment.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england#red-list

[pineapple stu]

Nowhere in Europe is, except Georgia and Turkey

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england#red-list

[jbyrne]

looks like callum robinson out of qualifiers with covid. bit of a blow given his form over last few weeks

[Diggs246]

That's the 2nd time he has got it and its terrible news

[pineapple stu]

Squad announcement at 1pm today.

[tetsujin1979]

Portugal squad announced
Gulp
1430847770185900036

[Demesne Lad]

This could be rated X cert, not for those of a nervous disposition, etc.

[Eminence Grise]

'Ireland works a lot, fights a lot' - Portugal coach's warning as Cristiano Ronaldo included in squad

(https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/ireland-works-a-lot-fights-a-lot-portugal-coachs-warning-as-cristiano-ronaldo-included-in-squad-40790136.html)Carry On Cliché. He obviously hasn't seen some of our tamer midfielders, so maybe there's a glimmer of hope if he's relying on old scouting reports... Hm?

Nah, I didn't think so either.

[Olé Olé]

1430863444744548362

Bazunu, Kelleher, Travers (3)

Coleman, Doherty, Egan, O'Shea, Manning, McClean, Omobamidele, Collins, Duffy (9)

Cullen, Hendrick, Hourihane, Molumby, Arter, McGrath (6)

Parrott, Connolly, Idah, Horgan, Long, Curtis, Collins (7)

[Olé Olé]

That's a squad that screams 3-5-2 or 3-4-3.

[tommy_c12000]

Kilkenny not called up, and Arter keeps his place despite playing reserve football for Notts Forest. That is my major criticism. Other than that it is a reasonable squad selection given current pool of talent. There are some who may argue for the inclusion of some LOI or league one players, but I personally wouldn’t get too worked up over this

[pineapple stu]

Randolph the obvious omission - didn't think he was injured? Is this a sign his international career is over?

[tommy_c12000]

Randolph the obvious omission - didn't think he was injured? Is this a sign his international career is over?

It could well be.I believe he is fit. He is 3rd choice at West Ham with no consistent first team football in 2 years. I like the call, time to embrace the new generation. Bazunu and Travers are starters and doing well. Randolph is 36 for next qualifiers and has done nothing at club level to command selection.

[seanfhear]

It could well be.I believe he is fit. He is 3rd choice at West Ham with no consistent first team football in 2 years. I like the call, time to embrace the new generation. Bazunu and Travers are starters and doing well. Randolph is 36 for next qualifiers and has done nothing at club level to command selection.
You’d imagine that if Randolph really wanted to be the Irish number one, that he would have been looking for a loan move.

[elatedscum]

I think I’d personally have Randolph over Travers...

Beyond that, Ciaran Clark is probably a bit unlucky to not be ahead of one or both of the two young centre halves, given he’s played 2/3 of Newcastle’s games so far.

In terms of midfielders, Alan Browne maybe? Think he missed a few games due to close contact isolation but is back now.

It’s possibly LA Galaxy are refusing to release Williams

Can’t really argue with McCarthy, Brady, Byrne given their lack of playing time.

[Diggs246]

https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/1430863444744548362/photo/1

Bazunu, Kelleher, Travers (3)

Coleman, Doherty, Egan, O'Shea, Manning, McClean, Omobamidele, Collins, Duffy (9)

Cullen, Hendrick, Hourihane, Molumby, Arter, McGrath (6)

Parrott, Connolly, Idah, Horgan, Long, Curtis, Collins (7)

It's the worst midfield in the history of irish professional soccer. Jesus christ it will be a long weekend

[passinginterest]

I think, as others have said, there's nothing too controversial, Kilkenny and Browne behind Arter/Molumby is probably most controversial. Arter and Molumby only playing under 23 while Kilkenny has been getting a lot of praise for first team performances, not sure about Browne, would have expected him in the squad if he's available. I suppose picking Kilkenny over one of the more experienced players takes another bit of experience out of an already very inexperienced squad. I thought Elbouzedi might have sneaked in and possibly Anthony Scully or Aiden O'Brien seeing as they both got hattricks mid-week.

[ifk101]

Think it was said that Alan Browne was a close contact and can be involved yet.

Kilkenny is a bit light for me, preferably would need a full season under his belt before consideration, but yeah there're only weak arguments for those selected ahead of him.

[Stuttgart88]

Interesting squad. A squad that recognises that we have to win at least 2 of these games and also that throwing rookies in to play Portugal could be humiliating. I'm a bit underwhelmed by Arter > Kilkenny, but excited by McGrath's inclusion. Otherwise not too fussed about Scales, M. Duffy or other LOI or L1 guys not making it. If fit I'd like to have seen Ogbene keep his place and I was half hoping Scully would make it.

Best thing is to see McGrath, Omobamidele and Nathan Collins in the squad. I'm quite excited by the 3 young goalkeepers and am glad Randolph is being phased out. Goalkeeper is an area where we can afford to invest for the future now, especially with Randolph not playing club football. Forward options are a mix of young and old and it'll be interesting to see who SK trusts most.

Deep down I think we all know that qualification is already highly unlikely so the objective now is to gradually introduce younger players while preserving dignity results-wise, with the hope to surprise on the upside.

[brine3]

Randolph should have stayed at Boro.

[Eirambler]

Randolph should have stayed at Boro.

I can think of 2 million reasons a year why he might disagree with you!

Is two wins the aim here? Portugal is presumably a write off. I can see him trying to spin it as a positive if we beat Azerbaijan and draw with Serbia. One win and two defeats harder, maybe impossible even, to put a positive slant on.

Any combination of results that doesn't involve winning at least one game out of the three will surely signal the end...

[liamoo11]

It's the worst midfield in the history of irish professional soccer. Jesus christ it will be a long weekend

Very true. Maybe they are looking at manning as a potential defensive midfielder given his performances as the middle man in a back three at swansea( did any one on here ever see that as a potential position for manning?)

Curtis collins(the cardiff one) and horgan are horribly sub standard for this level and how is arter involved ? I'd certainly have taken kilkenny or scully or obafemi over any of these. Obafemi coming on with 20 minutes to go needing a goal would give me much more hope than any of those other 4 coming on.

Great decision on Randolph great servant but we need to move on.

[zero]

No james mccarthy - perhaps not fully fit. Also a bit surprised to see Long get in. Very weak looking centre midfield... I can't see what Hourihane would offer versus Portugal but he is likely to start I guess due to lack of alternatives. Perhaps Jeff gets another go...

5-3-2 / 5-3-1-1 i guess.

Bazunu
Coleman, Egan, Duffy, O'Shea, Doherty
Molumby, Cullen, Hourihane/Hendrick
2 of Parrott/Idah/Connolly

[pineapple stu]

Is two wins the aim here?
I would be delighted with two wins, given the only team we've beaten in the last 14 is Andorra.

Portugal away is a write-off. Serbia in Belgrade were technically far superior to us, even though it was one of our best performances under Kenny, and I'm not sure anything's really happened to reduce that gap. Azerbaijan have a poor record and no stand-out players - but then neither did Luxembourg and we saw what happened there.

1 or 3 points the most likely outcome for me I think.

[Diggs246]

agreed...its 1 or 3 posits, my guess is 1

I don't agree with the Serbia away game myth.
we scored an excellent opening goal and lets be honest after they equalized at no stage were Serbia not going to win that
game. Kenny has humiliated himself and the team by continuously referencing that "superb performance" what kind of loser celebrates a defeat and I don't accept we were robbed or unlucky. They beat us comfortable because they have better players

[tetsujin1979]

The press conference for the squad announcement is on YouTube. Doesn't actually start until four minutes in
He's still not very good at speaking to the press
dFK12U9qYII

[Eirambler]

Jesus, he's still going on about that Serbia game as though it was some kind of heroic display. We were soundly beaten by an average enough team. I mean if we don't beat them at home that will be 0 or 1 points out of 6 against them, really poor even allowing for our current weak state.

I think I would be able to deal with his lack of ability in press conferences and interviews if he was at least making some progress with the team. But when you watch that along with our displays in the last year, you wonder how he ever got himself this job - he seems out of his depth both tactically and in other parts of his job also.

[mark12345]

It's the worst midfield in the history of irish professional soccer. Jesus christ it will be a long weekend

Agreed. And three squad places wasted with the inclusion of Hendrick, Hourihane and After. Have a feeling we may yet see Dundalk Duffy if there are withdrawals