Republic of Ireland V Azerbaijan - Saturday, 4th Sep 2021 - 2022 World Cup Qualifier

[Colbert Report]

If we lose this match, we will finish bottom of the group. Azerbaijan are no pushovers, having lost by only a single goal to Serbia, Portugal, and Luxembourg.

[seanfhear]

Will there be call ups due to injuries ?

[Bielsa´s irish]

the var system yesterday was used for just one purpose , it is a tool for this scams

[passinginterest]

Have to think Scales at the very least will be added to the squad with the injury to O'Shea and Doherty also looking like he has a knock. Possibly someone will be called in to cover for Long too, although that's less likely. Hopefully there's no more Covid associated withdrawals due to Long's case.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Cillian Sheridan and that Scully kid? Ciaran Clark and Dunne?

[tetsujin1979]

The Azerbaijan Football Federations Association (AFFA) don't seem to have a twitter account, which is a little strange, but they do have an instagram account
Here's their squad: https://www.instagram.com/p/CTFlgK5orta/
And the starting lineup from last night: https://www.instagram.com/p/CTSiDwZI4pq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Fortunately, wikipedia has the squad details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan_national_football_team#Current_squad

[John83]

Have to think Scales at the very least will be added to the squad with the injury to O'Shea and Doherty also looking like he has a knock. Possibly someone will be called in to cover for Long too, although that's less likely. Hopefully there's no more Covid associated withdrawals due to Long's case.
We already have Manning and McClean for LWB. If there's a doubt over Doherty, RWB is where we need cover, no? Which probably means the maybe slightly unloved Cyrus Christie.

If O'Shea needs replacing - as seems likely - then Clark seems the obvious choice. I don't know why he wasn't in the initial squad though, so maybe there's some reason he's not available this window? Darragh Lenihan and Kevin Long are options too.

Replacing Shane Long is a bit tougher. Who's not in the squad? Maguire? Obafemi?

(As an aside, both Longs feature in this article on players 'stuck' at clubs after the transfer window: https://www.football365.com/news/players-stranded-transfer-window-ndombele-maitland-niles-rodriguez-lingard)

[zero]

Duffy and Scales are officially on 'stand by' so I assume they will come in. Scales can play left centre back or left back.

Asking Coleman to put in 3 full shifts does seem unrealistic though so if Doherty is out not sure who might fill in there.

[elatedscum]

Kenny also mentioned that it was possible that Browne and Robinson could be involved. I guess at a certain point Browne will no longer be a close contact and depending on when Robinson tests negative again, he’ll be able to rejoin the squaf

[pineapple stu]

Interesting game this one. It's tempting to say that if we play like we did last night, we should win and finally get that monkey off our back. But I don't think it'll be that straightforward - away against the top seed is a whole different ball game to home against the bottom seed. I don't expect we'll need the same backs-to-the-wall defending (which we excel at), but we do need some urgency going forward and a spark from our from two (which we've been very poor at - Luxembourg at home the glaring example, but also the entire Nations League campaign). Idah did well with his back to goal yesterday, but that's not the role he's going to have to play on Saturday for example.

Clark and Long do seem the obvious choices to call up to replace O'Shea, not Scales (much and all as I'd be biased towards Scales getting a call-up).

The other factor then is that this is the middle of three games in a week - we probably can't go with the same starting XI three times (well, starting X plus O'Shea/his replacement). Azerbaijan could be a good game for Horgan's energy for example.

I think if we don't get a win on Sat, yesterday could be forgotten and the pressure could be back on again.

It'll also be good for Kenny to get a game in front of a home crowd as well. He deserves it in fairness, and it's the kind of game where a bit of encouragement from a home crowd could impact our tempo on the pitch too.

[elatedscum]

Could be wrong but I suspect he might go back to 4-3-3 for this game. I think 5-3-2 suits us a little better when we’re soaking up pressure, in games where we’re not expected to do too much.

When teams but 11 men behind the ball, I’m not sure it’s as effective.

So imagine O’Shea comes out for a winger, let’s imagine Horgan. Probably need to freshen up the midfield as well, given 3 games in 6 days

[tetsujin1979]

Doherty might not be able for the game either, he was struggling towards the end last night.

[Kingdom]

Interesting game this one. It's tempting to say that if we play like we did last night, we should win and finally get that monkey off our back. But I don't think it'll be that straightforward - away against the top seed is a whole different ball game to home against the bottom seed. I don't expect we'll need the same backs-to-the-wall defending (which we excel at), but we do need some urgency going forward and a spark from our from two (which we've been very poor at - Luxembourg at home the glaring example, but also the entire Nations League campaign). Idah did well with his back to goal yesterday, but that's not the role he's going to have to play on Saturday for example.

It will be interesting to see if he sticks to the back 3, or if he reverts to a back 4 to give us more options going forward. I'd assume he'll stick with the three, given we've been comfortable with it.


Clark and Long do seem the obvious choices to call up to replace O'Shea, not Scales (much and all as I'd be biased towards Scales getting a call-up).

The other factor then is that this is the middle of three games in a week - we probably can't go with the same starting XI three times (well, starting X plus O'Shea/his replacement). Azerbaijan could be a good game for Horgan's energy for example.

The schedule sure is significant, thankfully the travelling is over. I'd be relatively happy for KevLong to be disregarded when it comes to consideration for the National team. He's not at the level we need, and will never be, no offence to him. If Scales is still in Dublin, then it's a sensible decision to bring him given the cover he provides, especially in the LWB position.

Any word on Doherty, Connolly? O'Shea gone obviously, ShLong too.

this is the game where we have to dictate for the majority of the game. We've got to do it. Natural inclination would be to expect Parrott to start, and that he wasn't introduced yesterday as a result. Idah needs a goal to set him off for Ireland, to build on last night's performance, and if he's fit, I'd start Connolly too. The reference earlier to Robinson is important, as if he is available for selection against Serbia, and Connolly is fit enough to start on Saturday, then I'd be looking at that. If he's not fit enough, or Robinson is unavailable, then I'd start Horgan. If Doherty is unavailable I'd love to see Manning. I would not like to see McClean.

It's what to do behind that's interesting. Cullen is cemented in as that shield in front of defence. He's not issues with stamina, he will start all three games. I'd expect to see Hendrick drop out, rotating back in possibly against Serbia. You'd have to expect McGrath would continue given how he played in the first 60 mins.
-----------Bazunu---
---- AO -- Duffy -- Egan ------
-SC -- Josh --- JMcG -- Doherty-
------- Troy ---- AC(Horgan)----
------------ Idah ------

if you're going 4 at the back as Elatedscum mentions, then it's more likely

On doherty I read that he'd been struggling all day, wonder does that mean a gastro issue? If so, he'll surely be ok. If he's not, combined with McClean's poor finish to the game, going to a flat 4, with Manning in for O'Shea, and another more attacking body in midfield. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hourihane come in, resting Hendrick for Serbia. I think he'll be eager to get Connolly Parrott and Idah on the pitch together as often as possible. Of course, the possibility exists that another central midfield player doesn't come in, and that McGrath plays in front of Cullen, with a trio of Parrott, Horgan and Connolly ahead of them and behind Idah. That wouldn't leave anything of creative consequence to come off the bench if needed though.

-------------- Bazunu
- SC ---- Duffy - - Egan --- Manning
------------- - Cullen --------------
------ McGrath - Hourihane--------
--- Parrott --------- Connolly/DH
----------- Idah --------------

or

-------------- Bazunu
- SC ---- Duffy - - Egan --- Manning
-----------Cullen - McGrath -------------
--Horgan --- Parrott ----- Connolly
--- ----------- Idah --------------

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, Kev Long is a strange one - he's a Premier League player, but a bit-part player. I can't think of anyone who's stayed at a club as long as he has and played as few games. He's into his 13th season at Burnley and hasn't reached 100 games yet. He has to have something about him, but you wonder what his career would have been like had he moved down to, say, the third tier after five years getting nowhere at Burnley (say, 2014)

I still wouldn't discard him - I wouldn't discard anyone at the moment - but that does say more about us than Long.

4-3-3 does make sense and in that regard Horgan for O'Shea is a neat forced swap.

[Olé Olé]

Wasn't there talk that Robinson and Browne might come back in?

[jbyrne]

It'll also be good for Kenny to get a game in front of a home crowd as well. He deserves it in fairness, and it's the kind of game where a bit of encouragement from a home crowd could impact our tempo on the pitch too.

yes, totally agree. irrespective of whether we can qualify or not i really hope the crowd recognize their part to play in all of this. this young team need to realize that most of us are on their side.
two home qualifying wins at this stage could be massive in terms of the progression of this team.

[DeLorean]

Interesting game this one. It's tempting to say that if we play like we did last night, we should win and finally get that monkey off our back. But I don't think it'll be that straightforward - away against the top seed is a whole different ball game to home against the bottom seed. I don't expect we'll need the same backs-to-the-wall defending (which we excel at), but we do need some urgency going forward and a spark from our from two (which we've been very poor at - Luxembourg at home the glaring example, but also the entire Nations League campaign). Idah did well with his back to goal yesterday, but that's not the role he's going to have to play on Saturday for example.

Clark and Long do seem the obvious choices to call up to replace O'Shea, not Scales (much and all as I'd be biased towards Scales getting a call-up).

The other factor then is that this is the middle of three games in a week - we probably can't go with the same starting XI three times (well, starting X plus O'Shea/his replacement). Azerbaijan could be a good game for Horgan's energy for example.

I think if we don't get a win on Sat, yesterday could be forgotten and the pressure could be back on again.

It'll also be good for Kenny to get a game in front of a home crowd as well. He deserves it in fairness, and it's the kind of game where a bit of encouragement from a home crowd could impact our tempo on the pitch too.

Yes, a different challenge entirely.

Worryingly, our three best performances under SK have been arguably our three toughest competitive fixtures, away to Slovakia, Serbia & Portugal.

Our worst have been the so-called 'must wins' at home to Bulgaria & Luxembourg.

And yes, last night will count for very little in the public mindset if we have a repeat of those on Saturday.

[pineapple stu]

Funny, the way Kenny's campaign has gone reminds me of UCD in a way. We can be very good putting it up to bigger teams and last night reminded me of our Europa League game in Dudelange in a way (except for last kick bit!). But we can often struggle in games we're expected to win because we've a very young team and they're not really used to taking charge of a game. All of that has strong parallels with Kenny's team at the moment.

Maybe we need a bit of experience in the team - McClean the obvious example - to lift the kids in the case of a lull, which will inevitably happen.

[MylesNotMiley]

I don't think SK will chop and change too much. Omobamidele in for DOS and Manning for Doherty if he isn't fit enough.

Kenny needs to win this game, changing formation and personnel is just complicating matters when he doesn't need to.

[osarusan]

Funny, the way Kenny's campaign has gone reminds me of UCD in a way.
It reminds me of Limerick under Martin Russell, as we doggedly but unsuccessfully try and play our way out from the back, with the aim of finding space in midfield, but only end up playing ourselves into real defensive trouble.

[tommy_c12000]

Have to think Scales at the very least will be added to the squad with the injury to O'Shea and Doherty also looking like he has a knock. Possibly someone will be called in to cover for Long too, although that's less likely. Hopefully there's no more Covid associated withdrawals due to Long's case.

The fascination with Scales on here is surprising to me. Let’s see what he can do outside the LOI first before considering him in a key position. We have seen multiple times that lording it in the LOI does not automatically guarantee success at a higher level. If he starts getting game time at Celtic then it’s a different conversation

[Trequartista20]

Kevin Long has been out injured since last season, so obviously isn't a realistic option to come in.

19-year-old Omobamidele having having to come on after 35 minutes against the formidable Portuguese attack demonstrated the folly of leaving out of the squad the likes of Lenihan, Williams and, especially, Clark - Williams and Clark being two of the few left-sided central defenders available to us. As it was, Egan had to play there, despite being far more effective in the middle.

[zero]

I may have missed this, but is Nathan Collins injured? He wasn't on the bench last night though was in the squad at first?

[Trequartista20]

It reminds me of Limerick under Martin Russell, as we doggedly but unsuccessfully try and play our way out from the back, with the aim of finding space in midfield, but only end up playing ourselves into real defensive trouble.

Trying to play out from the back, especially against teams that like to employ a high press, and with players who aren't comfortable dealing with the ball in tight areas, ie many defenders, strikes me as a mugs' game.

We conceded a penalty last night, that 9 times out of 10 Ronaldo would have scored from, deploying just those sort of tactics.

I was watching the League Cup highlights in Quest one evening recently and, at a conservative guess, at least 60% of the goals scored came from teams losing the ball in their defensive third of the pitch and being punished.

[Trequartista20]

I may have missed this, but is Nathan Collins injured? He wasn't on the bench last night though was in the squad at first?

I believe he simply didn't make the matchday 23 cut.

Oddly you're obliged to name two goalkeepers on the bench.

[pineapple stu]

I think the rules are tied to the finals rules, when you have to name two keepers on the bench because you have to name three keepers in the squad. (This avoids people messing around with dropping the third keeper and trying to add another outfield player)

[tetsujin1979]

Collins and Curtis were both really unlucky that Long tested positive after the squad was submitted to UEFA on Tuesday night, it meant neither player could be named as a replacement.

[passinginterest]

The fascination with Scales on here is surprising to me. Let’s see what he can do outside the LOI first before considering him in a key position. We have seen multiple times that lording it in the LOI does not automatically guarantee success at a higher level. If he starts getting game time at Celtic then it’s a different conversation

The only reason I think he'll be called up is that he was the only defender name checked as being on standby and if we need cover he can cover both centre back and wing back. For what it's worth, I think he could do a solid job, but it's unlikely he plays even if he does get called in.

[DCWA]

Kevin Long has been out injured since last season, so obviously isn't a realistic option to come in.

19-year-old Omobamidele having having to come on after 35 minutes against the formidable Portuguese attack demonstrated the folly of leaving out of the squad the likes of Lenihan, Williams and, especially, Clark - Williams and Clark being two of the few left-sided central defenders available to us. As it was, Egan had to play there, despite being far more effective in the middle.

Clark should have been called up but sorry no way can anyone be having that as regards Williams and Lenihan over Omobamidele.

He impressed far more last year in a better team at the same level as either of those and even at his young age and is already a better defender.

The defence all round was very effective with O’Shea or Omobamidele and there is no credible case to make that Derrick Williams or Lenihan would have improved that, that is absolute nonsense.

[Fixer82]

Collins and Curtis were both really unlucky that Long tested positive after the squad was submitted to UEFA on Tuesday night, it meant neither player could be named as a replacement.

Which is a ridiculous rule

[Trequartista20]

We can look back now in retrospect and say Omobamidele did fine last night playing on adrenaline having been thrown into the deep end in an ultimately fruitless backs-to-the-wall effort against Portugal. But in reality Omobamidele is a teenager with only 8 league starts to his name, leaving your 'impressed far more last year' comments looking rather over-excitable and lacking in credibility.

To say that any one of the experienced trio of the left-sided Clark and Williams and the Blackburn captain, Lenihan, wouldn't have proved a useful option in the circumstances last night is a difficult position to maintain and defend.

Omobamidele does look a very good future prospect, however.

[Olé Olé]

Playing on adrenaline? Do you really think that adrenaline gets someone through the game like he did?

And Kenny didn't have the luxury of retrospect in picking his team. He selected Omobamidele ahead of those players because he thought they'd fare better. And, as it turned out, Omobamidele probably did. Most certainly better than Lenihan and Williams would have.

We have seen Lenihan struggle against Northern Ireland. And Williams had intermittent seasons as a starter in the Championship.

[Trequartista20]

Playing on adrenaline? Do you really think that adrenaline gets someone through the game like he did?

And Kenny didn't have the luxury of retrospect in picking his team. He selected Omobamidele ahead of those players because he thought they'd fare better. And, as it turned out, Omobamidele probably did. Most certainly better than Lenihan and Williams would have.

We have seen Lenihan struggle against Northern Ireland. And Williams had intermittent seasons as a starter in the Championship.

It's not a huge deal for me, I just found it strange that in a situation where Kenny seems to have settled on playing with a back three he had left himself, when O'Shea got injured, with only a 19-year-old lad who's not started many more than half-a-dozen league games on the bench as cover. It seems a completely unnecessary gamble.

His marginalisation of Clark is perplexing to me.

[backstothewall]

Why would it matter what age he is?

He looks a better defender. That's the beginning, middle and end of the conversation. If you're good enough, you're old enough.

I'm delighted he played, and delighted he's never going to play for Nigeria.

Well done Stephen Kenny.

[John83]

I'm delighted he played, and delighted he's never going to play for Nigeria.
I think he's not locked to us until he reaches a certain age, or 3 competitive caps. Open to correction on the details there, but it's definitely more complex than it used to be.

[Kingdom]

It's not a huge deal for me, I just found it strange that in a situation where Kenny seems to have settled on playing with a back three he had left himself, when O'Shea got injured, with only a 19-year-old lad who's not started many more than half-a-dozen league games on the bench as cover. It seems a completely unnecessary gamble.

His marginalisation of Clark is perplexing to me.

This is a fair game comment I think - both parts of it. You could argue that Manning on the bench (at a push) offers cover for LW, LWB, LB & LCB given his experiences of the last 18 months (and given Kenny watched him in that last position for Swansea recently), but it's not something i'd be championing.

Clark is a specialised lcb in a 3-man defence. How good he is, is open to serious debate at times here, and scrutiny online last week suggested that he started the season badly for Newcastle - can't comment as i haven't seen it myself - but still, at that, it is somewhat remarkable that both Omabamidele and Collins were selected in the squad ahead of him. I don't think he's ever really been seen as a vital cog in the squad amongst the masses. Personally speaking I rate him a lot.

If he doesn't come in to replace Dara '****housery' O'Shea - that's a compliment - then it's a raised eyebrow.

I'm reluctant at the moment to get too hung up on squad selection decisions just because of the uncertainty in the world right now. Can't say I saw too much commentary by journo's either on the omission, which would lead me to think there's no falling out or other issue, it's simply a selection choice.

[Kingdom]

I think he's not locked to us until he reaches a certain age, or 3 competitive caps. Open to correction on the details there, but it's definitely more complex than it used to be.


Why would it matter what age he is?

He looks a better defender. That's the beginning, middle and end of the conversation. If you're good enough, you're old enough.

I'm delighted he played, and delighted he's never going to play for Nigeria.

Well done Stephen Kenny.

Lads,
He was never going to, and will never, play for anyone else apart from us.
We've simply got to stop this narrative around players who've got other nationality possibilities and drawing them, via the media, into discussions that don't need to be dwelled on, due to our own insecurities.

There are absolute worlds of difference between the likes of Bazunu, Idah, Omabamidele, and others, with that of Rice, or even perhaps a Odubeko. We've got to get to grips with it, as it's only going to become more commonplace from now on.

[John83]

If you say so, Kingdom. I have no sense of that one way or another, and was just commenting on the changed rules on switching.

[backstothewall]

Lads,
He was never going to, and will never, play for anyone else apart from us.
We've simply got to stop this narrative around players who've got other nationality possibilities and drawing them, via the media, into discussions that don't need to be dwelled on, due to our own insecurities.

There are absolute worlds of difference between the likes of Bazunu, Idah, Omabamidele, and others, with that of Rice, or even perhaps a Odubeko. We've got to get to grips with it, as it's only going to become more commonplace from now on.

That's all well and good Kingdom, but this narrative about age is part of the reason we've had so much difficulty with this.

We are far reluctant to give caps to young players. The classic example is Jack Grealish. He should have had senior caps when he was tearing things up on loan at Notts County. By the time we had finished p*ssing about waiting for him to be old enough, whatever that means, Southgate and his agent were in his ear.

If we had just brought him into the squad when he was a kid who looked like he wearing his dad's shirt, and making old pros look silly, England would never have had a look in.

[Kingdom]

That's all well and good Kingdom, but this narrative about age is part of the reason we've had so much difficulty with this.

We are far reluctant to give caps to young players. The classic example is Jack Grealish. He should have had senior caps when he was tearing things up on loan at Notts County. By the time we had finished p*ssing about waiting for him to be old enough, whatever that means, Southgate and his agent were in his ear.

Sure, but when we do cap them, then it's totally counter-productive to make a reference to what that cap does. We've got to be above that.


If we had just brought him into the squad when he was a kid who looked like he wearing his dad's shirt, and making old pros look silly, England would never have had a look in.

Sure. And maybe we don't exploit his talents in the way Villa did. Maybe we shoe-horn him - f*ck it, I'm not going down this road - he's not ours, he's gone.
Whatever about 2gers & 3gers, with respect to our own lads who were born here and families have remained here, are part of the local communities, we really need to rise above the mentality that they might "defect". If a kid talks about his parish, his old coaches - name-checking them in an interview - with his family still in that community, he's not going anywhere. If a kid has moved from club to club at schoolboy level, his family moves at the first opportunity, and then he trades clubs every year again in that new country - that there is a pragmatist, and international football has f-all meaning to a player like that. You'll have a selfish player that you can have zero guarantees about going forward.

Frankly I find it insulting to the kids and their families who might not be ethnically 100% Irish, but are as committed as those who are. It's an insult to their own backgrounds, to their local clubs and coaches, and to us as well. I'm not necessarily throwing punches at you specifically backs, but this is a narrative that's almost out of control on social media - cap him, tie him down - it's a moveable feast with FIFA, and they'll continue to change goalposts as they see fit, or as money sees fit.
Just look at the current 17s squad. On name alone - without knowing much about them - there's maybe 10 that have dual heritage at least. That's the type of ratio that we'll be looking at for years to come.

[tetsujin1979]

there's an eligibility rules thread for this discussion.
Please stay on topic.

[Snapshot]

It's not a huge deal for me, I just found it strange that in a situation where Kenny seems to have settled on playing with a back three he had left himself, when O'Shea got injured, with only a 19-year-old lad who's not started many more than half-a-dozen league games on the bench as cover. It seems a completely unnecessary gamble.

His marginalisation of Clark is perplexing to me.
Kenny obviously doesn't rate Clark - one of those now rare Irish species, a regular EPL performer over a number of seasons. The experienced Clark would have been the obvious replacement for O'Shea. As it was, young Omobamidele did well but IMO (numerous replays, camera angles) he was all over the place for the second goal. Again, I'm unashamedly pushing Clark's case here, his ridiculous omission cost Ireland a draw at least.

[CraftyToePoke]

Again, I'm unashamedly pushing Clark's case here, his ridiculous omission cost Ireland a draw at least.

You cannot say that, not to a certainty. Not even to a definite maybe in fact.

[Snapshot]

You cannot say that, not to a certainty. Not even to a definite maybe in fact.
Of course I can't be certain. But I can say it, have said it, believe it and stand by it.

[Kingdom]

Kenny obviously doesn't rate Clark - one of those now rare Irish species, a regular EPL performer over a number of seasons. The experienced Clark would have been the obvious replacement for O'Shea. As it was, young Omobamidele did well but IMO (numerous replays, camera angles) he was all over the place for the second goal. Again, I'm unashamedly pushing Clark's case here, his ridiculous omission cost Ireland a draw at least.

I think for balance it's fair to point out that Ciaran has been a bit-part EPL performer in a pretty shyte Newcastle team for the past 2/3 seasons, regularly dropping out when the squad has fully-fit status, and coming back with injury or form dictates. that would be my perception anyway. But bit-part performer is still ahead of promising but no-part performer.

On your last line, Ciaran has been rash a few times in his own right - Belgium in Euro 2016 in a run and lunge that should be meme-tastic (that act definitely cost Ireland the chance of a draw), and if memory serves me right, he was criticised for his role in either the second (the lob) or the third goal in Belgrade.

I was wondering if Clark was the player who hasn't been vaccinated (https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/we-have-to-respect-the-individual-wishes-kenny-admits-some-of-ireland-squad-decided-against-taking-covid-vaccine-40790591.html) , but a search online shows that he is (https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/citylife-news/community/covid-vaccinations-be-offered-fans-newcastle-united-matches)

[Kingdom]

Dan McDonnell in this morning's Indo (Online) is stating that Robinson is back in contention for the Azeri and Serbian games, and that Doherty is fine and likely to be in contention to play. Wonder did he have a touch of the Linekars?
Alan Browne less likely to be involved as he was carrying a knock while a close contact.

If Robinson is fit, then he's a great chance of starting. Personally, i'd play Himself, Parrott and Connolly behind Idah, with McGrath and Cullen behind.

[sbgawa]

This mornings Mirror saying that Shamrock Rovers are picking up a six figure fee from Manchester City for every appearance by Bazunu up to an additional 1 million.
Good to see some money coming into the league, he deserves to keep his place based on the Portugal game.

If Robinson is fit its a no brainer he starts, we have zero chance of qualifying at this stage but we need to back up a decent performance against Portugal with a win Saturday, Beat Serbia and you would start to think maybe we are going somewhere

[Stuttgart88]

Kenny obviously doesn't rate Clark - one of those now rare Irish species, a regular EPL performer over a number of seasons. The experienced Clark would have been the obvious replacement for O'Shea. As it was, young Omobamidele did well but IMO (numerous replays, camera angles) he was all over the place for the second goal. Again, I'm unashamedly pushing Clark's case here, his ridiculous omission cost Ireland a draw at least.Ah it's not as if Clark hasn't drawn the ire of many here with lapses in concentration and silly errors. Omobamidele did brilliantly in my book. There's no basis for being confident Clark would have done better. Maybe instead of McClean, but that's a different debate.

[seanfhear]

This mornings Mirror saying that Shamrock Rovers are picking up a six figure fee from Manchester City for every appearance by Bazunu up to an additional 1 million.
Good to see some money coming into the league, he deserves to keep his place based on the Portugal game.

If Robinson is fit its a no brainer he starts, we have zero chance of qualifying at this stage but we need to back up a decent performance against Portugal with a win Saturday, Beat Serbia and you would start to think maybe we are going somewhere
Is Stephen Kenny on a small commission ? Only kidding !

[Snapshot]

Ah it's not as if Clark hasn't drawn the ire of many here with lapses in concentration and silly errors. Omobamidele did brilliantly in my book. There's no basis for being confident Clark would have done better. Maybe instead of McClean, but that's a different debate.

The Belgium lunge has been a versatile rod for his back ever since. Egan, Duffy, O'Shea, Doherty and even Coleman have had their lapses too. Kenny has effectively told Clark to retire. This is a player with 274 EPL, Cup plus C'ship (34) games. I watched from Holte End in his early Villa days, delighted when he declared for us. Terrific bloke, friendly, approachable and proud of his Irish heritage. So OK, I'm a fan and biased, but no matter which way I look at it he's better than fifth, sixth or seventh choice CB. I'll end it there - with respect for the alternative views aired above.