Azerbaijan V Republic of Ireland - Sat, 9th October 2021 - 2022 World Cup Qualifier

[Snapshot]

Course they have, no player to ever play can say they've never made a mistake. Egan suits how Kenny wants his CBs to play and Duffy is playing week in week out now in a team that play a more possession based style than us but plays in the middle of the three whereas Clark plays on the left.

Unfortunately for Clark he doesn't suit the way he wants the CBs either side of Duffy to play, and he's not a better defender than Duffy whose been moved into centre of the three for both club and country now. Duffy doesn't play Egan goes back into the middle, and Omobamidele will move over to left (whose showed he's more comfortable going forward with the ball) with Collins coming in at RCB.
Simple as that. What could possibly go wrong.

[Olé Olé]

Two first half goals for Sammie Szmodics won't do his chances of a cap much harm.

[JR89]

Had been dropped for the last few games after the defeat to Sheffield United. Good to see him score after getting back into the starting XI.

[dynamo kerry]

(previous post went wonky when I tried to edit (sorry))

So, it's not been that hectic on this thread.

We have a few things we can assume now I think

Idah starts
Cullen starts
Duffy and Egan start
Stevens slots back in


I smell 5-3-2 being deployed so he can accomodate Parrott and Idah - the 4-3-3 just didn't work with Connolly but it's just a guess..

hendrick and knight the other 2 in midfield.

Stevens and Doherty on the wings in the their optimal club roles.

Bazanu
Stevens
Egan
Duffy
Omobamidele
Doherty
Cullen
Hendrick
Knight
Parrott
Idah

Robinson, Connolly, Mcgrath, Ogbene as attacking choices off the bench. Mcclean if we are chasing a result...

[John83]

I think he might prefer Robinson to Parrott, but broadly I agree with your predicted team.

[passinginterest]

I wouldn't be overly surprised to see a 4-3-3. But the relative success of the 3 at the back might see it persisted with.
Bazanu
Stevens
Egan
Duffy
Doherty
Cullen
Hendrick
Knight
Connolly
Idah
Robinson

[dynamo kerry]

I wouldn't be overly surprised to see a 4-3-3. But the relative success of the 3 at the back might see it persisted with.
Bazanu
Stevens
Egan
Duffy
Doherty
Cullen
Hendrick
Knight
Connolly
Idah
Robinson

robinson in place of parrott in the 4-3-3 may be the making of it. Robinson would be a bit smarter and more expereinced to make use of the space the other 2 are not occupying (I think)... if he goes 4-3-3 that would make sense.

getting nearer to a settled side finally.

[JR89]

See him trying 3-4-3 like the last game. Omobamidele in for Coleman, Hendrick in Molumby, and Robinson in for Parrott. Can see McClean keeping his starting spot over Stevens.

-----------------------Bazunu

Omobamidele - Duffy - Egan

Doherty - Hendrick - Cullen - McClean

----------Robinson - Idah - Connolly

If he doesn't go 3-4-3 I think Connolly drops out for Knight who'll play as the advanced midfielder offering support to the strikers and pushing up to make it a 3-4-3 at times like he did in Hungary.

He pulled a surprise card and started McGrath in Portugal so wouldn't rule out Keane getting a start, but think he'll probably get a start against Qatar instead.

[Olé Olé]

Bazunu
Omobamidele, Duffy, Egan
Doherty, Hendrick, Cullen, Knight, Stevens
Robinson, Connolly

This would be my pick but McClean and Idah are more than likely going to start so I'm going to be some way off with this side.

I don't think Idah has enough of a goal threat and we need a goal threat. He could be great in the future but in a game like this I am just concerned that he won't get in the position for a chance or take the chance if it comes. I could see Robinson and Connolly causing lots of bother. With Knight supporting them that would be even more bother. I like the energy and pace that front three would bring. I would say that Idah has as high a ceiling as that three but it isn't a game that we need him to run the channels or provide an out ball like he did so brilliantly against Portugal.

McClean v Stevens I'm not fussed on. McClean did well there against Serbia and I have huge respect for him. But Stevens has played that position at a higher level and consistently and his delivery should be more consistent.

I wonder if SK will revert to a 4-3-3? I don't think we have enough wide forwards to play that formation. A team of Bazunu; Doherty, Egan, Duffy, Steves; Hendrick, Cullen, Knight; Robinson, Idah, Connolly doesn't look too bad and is quite similar to the side JR89 has picked in terms of personnel (Omobamidele out for Knight). (EDIT: Passinginterest picked the same side).

I honestly haven't a clue.

[Stuttgart88]

I honestly haven't a clue.You're not alone!

[paul_oshea]

I'd like to see us either start or finish with this:

----------------------Bazunu--------------------------

----------Omobamidele - Duffy - Egan--------------

Doherty - Hendrick ----- Cullen - Stevens
----------------Robinson------------------------
-----Idah-----------------Idah---
---- Collins ----

Idah twice intentional cant really do it with newline on textbox. Point being is let Robinson be the link, Idah has all the running to cover the channels on the counter, but on slower build up we use the wingbacks, getting quick ball into Collins telling him stay in the box at all times, perhaps keane might be what Kenny is thinking .
Our crossing has been poor, so poor bar last gasp duffy bundling the ball in that we dont need anymore out on the wing with Doherty and Stevens coming forward. I'd like to see us try and play through Robinson with the wing backs overlapping but not afraid to use Idah to cover the 18 yard line with nice intricate passes commandeered through Robinson. Collins then just to find himself somewhere around the 6 yard box/10 yards out. We've been too much about getting ball out wide and having out and out wingers up top that we haven't focused on getting players into the box to finish moves off. This lineup gives us that.

[John83]

getting nearer to a settled side finally.
The lack of injuries this window helps. It does seem like we have a better idea finally of our best 11, barring some discussion around the forwards.

[dynamo kerry]

it does seem like reasonable consensus on 8 players. The question seems to be idah or robinson.. it could be connolly or robinson more like it... anyway Idah seems to be the preferred option by kenny although an * due to lack of scoring lately

the Mcclean selection is interesting. I think there is a question if James is picked when we are in a jam or if Kenny sees him as 1st choice. I think it's the former..

fascinating week though. only coleman is missing who would be an automatic pick. Mccarthy is out of action so long there's no guarantee he would start...

(edit - O'shea would maybe be ahead of Omobamidele)

[pineapple stu]

Formation is an open question too.

It's an away game, so you naturally don't want to be too attacking.

Yet it's an away game against the bottom seeds, so if we can't set up attacking-ways, when can we do it?

Yet it's an away game against the bottom seeds who we barely drew with at home, so we probably do need to show them a bit of respect on their own patch.

I worry that our forward line is too weak for two up front, like 3-5-2. 3-4-3 has the advantage of going for quantity over the quality we don't have, and hoping that the extra body in midfield isn't really missed.

[paul_oshea]

I worry that our forward line is too weak for two up front, like 3-5-2. 3-4-3 has the advantage of going for quantity over the quality we don't have, and hoping that the extra body in midfield isn't really missed.

I agree with this, but we've too many players outside the box when we finally get the ball into the box(and most of the time we hit high with perhaps one capable -size, physique and ability- headerer of the ball). We've too many players who like to be coming in with the ball , and not even 1 who just wants the ball in around the 6 yard box. Collins does give us that, even if hes fairly limited, but in the few times he's come on he's looked decent - no more no less. Decent is about as good as we can hope for for a finisher for now.

[ifk101]

Collins then just to find himself somewhere around the 6 yard box/10 yards out. We've been too much about getting ball out wide and having out and out wingers up top that we haven't focused on getting players into the box to finish moves off.

Collins has not scored in his last 20 competitive games (club + Ireland).

[Diggs246]

Collins is nowhere near good enough. He is slightly better then conor salmon
We have guys that can progress like parrott connolly and idah and of course Robinson. Give me a conor ronan ahead of collins any day

[dynamo kerry]

Collins is nowhere near good enough. He is slightly better then conor salmon
We have guys that can progress like parrott connolly and idah and of course Robinson. Give me a conor ronan ahead of collins any day

I think Collins had his brief peak and that was great. who was that guy who was stupid good in his late 20s.. lee something...

he's not the answer. I'd prefer Hogan as an old fashioned Number 9...

I agree the formation is fluid and I also agree we look light up front for 2.. I'm worried about the 3 leaving us exposed.

[paul_oshea]

Lee trundle, with his weekly appearances on soccer saturday.

Agree generally on Collins, but if anything the keane call up shows is we are desperate for anything that resembles a finisher for the short to medium term, and collins is worth a try in a game like this. Idah isnt anywhere near that level, and not sure he ever will be a finisher or a good, as in consistent, goal scorer. Connolly isnt either. We need goals and we need a win desperately - Collins might just be the wrong man at the right time.

[geysir]

I'd have a doubt that both Collins and Idah would start together, but pickings are slim.

[paul_oshea]

Again I agree, but I hope that they are on the pitch together at some point, and that Robinson is also on at that point too.

[Eirambler]

Really hope he's not tempted to try the 3-4-3 again. I know a few posters are concerned that we don't have good enough forwards to go with two, but we absolutely don't have good enough central midfielders to go with just two, and if we don't win midfield we'll just end up with forwards who don't see much of the ball and are tripping over each other when it does get to them.

The way to have both of course would be a 4-3-3, but I don't really like that either. Firstly because Doherty and Stevens/McClean are wing backs, not full backs (I'm not sure McClean is even a wing back to be honest) so we weaken both by trying to play them as full backs. Secondly we end up forcing someone to play on the right of a front three, which none of our forwards really suit.

So I would go with the 3-5-2 with Knight as a more attacking midfielder to link up with the two forwards (which for me would be Robinson and Connolly). I'm fairly sure he won't do that though, and I think we'll be weaker as a result.

[paul_oshea]

Ireland more expansive but still worryingly goal shy

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/1005/1250909-ireland-more-expansive-but-still-worryingly-goal-shy/

[ifk101]

Connolly and Robinson are too similar to play together as a front two imo. Would consider both most effective attacking and cutting in from wider positions, and neither offers an aerial threat or works as a target. Selecting them as a pair limits our options as to how we can play. I think Idah has to play as he can play as a target, is mobile enough to make runs in behind, is physically strong to challenge their backline, and has showed a good ability to link play.

[JR89]

Connolly and Robinson are too similar to play together as a front two imo. Would consider both most effective attacking and cutting in from wider positions, and neither offers an aerial threat or works as a target. Selecting them as a pair limits our options as to how we can play. I think Idah has to play as he can play as a target, is mobile enough to make runs in behind, is physically strong to challenge their backline, and has showed a good ability to link play.

Yeah I think we'll see a front two of Idah and Robinson with Knight playing as the third midfielder to support the strikers like he did against Hungary and like Browne has done in some games.

Connolly and Robinson played together against Serbia but think Kenny will want a target man in there. It's why I wouldn't be too shocked if Keane started as he provides what you described but more experienced than Idah. We saw that he threw McGrath in from the start away to Portugal, but the advantages McGrath had were other players out injured and Kenny knows him from their time at Dundalk.

I said I wouldn't be surprised to see 3-4-3 one more time because Robinson, Idah, and Connolly are all fit and selected for the first time under Kenny I think. But more than likely will be 3-5-2 with Idah and Robinson up front with Knight as the advanced midfielder. He'll probably want that extra man in midfield and Knight offers the athleticism to help out in midfield but get forward to support the strikers.

[pineapple stu]

Really hope he's not tempted to try the 3-4-3 again. I know a few posters are concerned that we don't have good enough forwards to go with two, but we absolutely don't have good enough central midfielders to go with just two, and if we don't win midfield we'll just end up with forwards who don't see much of the ball and are tripping over each other when it does get to them.
I think midfield options are much better than up front. Cullen is playing for a decent side and in Europe (albeit the Conference League, which is a drop down for them). Hendrick is an established Premier League player. Knight looks half decent and is back from injury. Our forward options, by contrast, are all ****e and I think there's still question marks over most of them as to whether they'll even manage a career in the top two divisions. (Robinson the only real exception at the moment)

But I know what you're saying though. I think there's drawbacks whichever way we line up, and that really comes down to the serious lack of quality in the squad. So we may as well consider all options.

[JR89]

Ireland more expansive but still worryingly goal shy

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/1005/1250909-ireland-more-expansive-but-still-worryingly-goal-shy/

It's probably something that's gonna burden us for a quite a time still. We know the senior strikers aren't offering us anything in terms of goals and the younger lads are still trying to find their feet at club level.

Parrott is the only one in the squad that's playing regularly at club level. Scully is playing regularly at club level but would be competing with Connolly who Kenny has said could do with a loan. Hopefully we see him in March and he moves up a level. Obafemi is another but he's out at the moment with another hamstring injury.

One pairing up front I wouldn't mind seeing sometime is Idah and Keane. If Keane actually plugs a gap left by McGoldrick then I wouldn't mind seeing Idah also play up front more as a nine than the target man. In the underage he often had Parrott supporting him as the playmaker which allowed Idah to get into the box more often.

[tetsujin1979]

The Azerbaijan squad was named at the weekend: https://www.affa.az/index.php/news/azerbaijans-squad-for-two-matches/69168


№
NAME, SURNAME
CLUB
POSITION


1
Aydin Bayramov
Sumgayit
Goalkeeper


2
Emil Balayev
Qarabag
Goalkeeper


3
Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev
Qarabag
Goalkeeper


4
Maksim Medvedev
Qarabag
Defender


5
Bahlul Mustafazada
Qarabag
Defender


6
Azer Salahli
Keshla
Defender


7
Mert Chelik
Neftchi
Defender


8
Hojjat Haggverdi
Sumgayit
Defender


9
Bakhtiyar Hasanalizada
Sabah
Defender


10
Tellur Mutallimov
Sumgayit
Defender


11
Abbas Huseynov
Qarabag
Defender


12
Anton Krivotsyuk
Wisla Plock (Poland)
Defender


13
Toral Bayramov
Qarabag
Midfielder


14
Rovlan Muradov
Gabala
Midfielder


15
Gara Garayev
Qarabag
Midfielder


16
Anatoli Nuriyev
Kolos Kovalivka (Ukraine)
Midfielder


17
Filip Ozobich
Qarabag
Midfielder


18
Vugar Mustafayev
Sumgayit
Midfielder


19
Emin Mahmudov
Neftchi
Midfielder


20
Rahim Sadikhov
Sumgayit
Midfielder


21
Murad Khachayev
Sumgayit
Midfielder


22
Namik Alaskarov
Bursaspor (Turkey)
Forward


23
Renat Dadashov
Tondela (Portugal)
Forward


24
Ramil Sheydayev
Qarabag
Forward


25
Mahir Emreli
Legia Warszawa (Poland)
Forward


26
Araz Abdullayev
Ethnikos (Cyprus)
Forward

[Snapshot]

Lee trundle, with his weekly appearances on soccer saturday.

Agree generally on Collins, but if anything the keane call up shows is we are desperate for anything that resembles a finisher for the short to medium term, and collins is worth a try in a game like this. Idah isnt anywhere near that level, and not sure he ever will be a finisher or a good, as in consistent, goal scorer. Connolly isnt either. We need goals and we need a win desperately - Collins might just be the wrong man at the right time.
Collins certainly has his limitations but (I think) he's our only forward to score a competitive goal in the Kenny era - the ugly one in added time against Serbia away.

[Diggs246]

I don't think enough is being made of the loss of Coleman for these games. he has been brilliant
To think Kenny actually dropped him! Jesus wept on a cross
Anyway what are people thinking result wise?

[Straightstory]

Two draws. (With Idah and Connolly failing to score).
This is our life now.

[Diggs246]

Two draws. (With Idah and Connolly failing to score).
This is our life now.

looks like Idah and knight might be out
Idah and Knight emerge as doubts for Azerbaijan clash · The42 (https://www.the42.ie/republic-of-ireland-6-5568568-Oct2021/)

[John83]

I don't think enough is being made of the loss of Coleman for these games. he has been brilliant
To think Kenny actually dropped him! Jesus wept on a cross
Anyway what are people thinking result wise?
He's a loss, but in Doherty we have a direct replacement. There are losses we'd feel more keenly.

[DCWA]

Time for the boss man to get his first competitive win…

0-2 Irlanda baby

[sadloserkid]

looks like Idah and knight might be out
Idah and Knight emerge as doubts for Azerbaijan clash · The42 (https://www.the42.ie/republic-of-ireland-6-5568568-Oct2021/)

Idah definitely won't score then. 😁

[Olé Olé]

Assuming Idah and Knight are out, this could work okay:
Bazunu
Duffy, Egan, Omobamidele
Doherty Hendrick Cullen McClean/Stevens
McGrath
Connolly Robinson

[JR89]

If Idah is out I can see Keane getting a start. He'll want a target man on the pitch and someone who could convert chances from crosses.

[Supreme feet]

No Keane or Knight in the 23.

Fairly quiet in here for a game day!

[pineapple stu]

Knight is a bit of a surprise, unless he's injured?

No Keane is a way makes no sense. Why make a bit of a song and dance about a new forward option and then leave him out of the squad entirely?

I have literally no idea what to expect here. If I was offered a draw now, I think I might take it even though I know it's objectively a poor result. But there's the potential for worse here. And yet I don't think they were great under set pieces in Lansdowne and if we focus on that, we could well get a win as we do keep it tight at the back and they're almost as bad as us going forward.

0-0.

[JR89]

Yeah Knight and Idah were both doubts through illness but seems Idah has recovered enough to make the squad.

I am surprised that Keane isn't even in the match day squad, especially when Idah was a doubt for the game.

Like the last game he would have been a handy option in the second half when we were putting cross after cross into the box but had no one up front to convert one of them until Duffy went up late in the game.

I'd probably go with a 1-0 win for us. If we score first I think we could get a second but concede first again and it's gonna be a similar result as last time, a scrappy 1-1.

[pineapple stu]

Forgot Knight had that fever alright; duh.

[paul_oshea]

No Keane or Knight in the 23.

Fairly quiet in here for a game day!

Thinking the same. General lack of interest around to be honest

I think we'll win. 1-0 or 2-1.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

We're playing Azerbaijan. They are ranked 117 in the world. The excuse of not having the players doesn't work against opposition like this. We should win, I think we will win. 2-0.

BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!!

[Olé Olé]

Based on his comments on Stevens and the front three, I think Gavin Cummiskey reckoned the following would be the team on Newstalk:
Bazunu
Omobamidele Egan Duffy
Doherty Hendrick Cullen Stevens
McGrath Robinson
Idah

I like that.

[pineapple stu]

We're playing Azerbaijan. They are ranked 117 in the world. The excuse of not having the players doesn't work against opposition like this. We should win, I think we will win. 2-0.
I think we should win. I'm just not so sure we will, especially having really struggled at home against them last month. And that would be (another) bad result.

Bit worried about this one tbh.

[tetsujin1979]

Based on his comments on Stevens and the front three, I think Gavin Cummiskey reckoned the following would be the team on Newstalk:
Bazunu
Omobamidele Egan Duffy
Doherty Hendrick Cullen Stevens
McGrath Robinson
Idah

I like that.
Christmas tree formation.
Venables would be proud

[elatedscum]

Narrow win I guess

[elatedscum]

Strange selection. No Stevens, McGrath or Connolly

[Olé Olé]

He's gone with Horgan. I think that decision could cost him his job. I don't think he can break down a resolute defence.

[pineapple stu]

Just so people know what we're talking about!

Bazunu
Doherty
Duffy
Egan
Cullen
Robinson
Idah
McClean
Hendrick
Horgan
Omobamidele