Republic of Ireland V Qatar - Tuesday, 12th October 2021 - Friendly

[tetsujin1979]

Qatar named a 26 player squad to face Portugal this weekend and ourselves on Tuesday
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[tetsujin1979]

Spinning a new thread for the Qatar friendly from the Azerbaijan thread.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Kelleher or Travers?

[seanfhear]

Kelleher or Travers?
Both. One half each.

[elatedscum]

Kelleher or Travers?

Kelleher

[elatedscum]

Assuming he sticks to the same formation, I’d go with:


Kelleher

Doherty
N Collins
Duffy
Egan
Stevens

Hourihane/Arter
McGrath/Knight

Robinson
Idah
Connolly

-

Kelleher was excellent in his debut. Deserves another game. Nathan Collins could also use a start, to see how he compares with Andrew O. Bringing Stevens back into the fold is also worthwhile. Rotate the midfielders out. Keep Idah (he needs a goal) and bring in Connolly (he needs a goal), then keep Robinson as he actually looks like scoring...

I think I’d lean Arter. He’s been involved in the last 3 or 4 squads without getting a minute of football. Probably deserves a game. And I’d lean McGrath over Knight cause of knight’s illness...

[third policeman]

Can’t see the point in playing Arter to be honest. Without quite knowing why, his club career is in free fall and he’s not a long term option. If we’re looking to the future we should be playing Knight and bringing in the likes of Ronan and Kilkenny to strengthen our midfield options.

[pineapple stu]

Not sure about Arter, but the rest of that elatedscum team looks quite reasonable.

Not sure what to expect from this one. Azerbaijan were bad (the keeper especially), but you can only beat what's in front of you and 3-0 away isn't to be dismissed too lightly.

Qatar are better than Azerbaijan, but still the sort of team we should be beating, especially at home. If we can, maybe the Kenny era is starting to go somewhere. Equally though, maybe Azerbaijan was a one-off against a bad side on an off day, and Qatar will see us back to the form that had us bottom of the group for so long.

For once though, I'm leaning towards optimism rather than pessimism.

[elatedscum]

Can’t see the point in playing Arter to be honest. Without quite knowing why, his club career is in free fall and he’s not a long term option. If we’re looking to the future we should be playing Knight and bringing in the likes of Ronan and Kilkenny to strengthen our midfield options.

I don’t particularly disagree. But if you are going to keep calling him up and he keeps turning up, he probably deserves to get decent minutes under his belt in a friendly

[pineapple stu]

FWIW, if Qatar were actually in the group, the standings would be -

Portugal 7-6-1-0-17-5-19
Serbia 7-5-2-0-17-7-17
Qatar 7-2-2-3-6-13-8
Luxembourg 7-2-1-4-6-11-7
Ireland 7-1-3-3-9-9-6
Azerbaijan 7-0-1-6-4-14-1

They've been easily beaten by Portugal and Serbia (3-1, 3-0 and 4-0) and are unbeaten against the other dross

[third policeman]

I don’t particularly disagree. But if you are going to keep calling him up and he keeps turning up, he probably deserves to get decent minutes under his belt in a friendly

It’s a pity that when he was at his best for Bournemouth he had a tendency not to turn up.

[ifk101]

Bazunu;
Collins Egan Omobamidele;
Doherty Knight Cullen Stevens;
McGrath Robinson;
Idah.

Possibly could rotate the goalie, but if Bazunu is the accepted number one, would rather he got another game to "improve" before Luxembourg and Portugal.
Same reason I'd keep Omobamidele in.
Horgan has relegated himself to impact sub, so McGrath to start.
And I don't see an alternative to Idah in the role he plays for the team.

[JR89]

...................Kelleher/Travers
Omobamidele..Duffy..Egan
Doherty....Knight..Cullen....Stevens
...............Robinson..McGrath
.........................Parrott

I'd give both keepers a half each. Think Kenny said last month that Kelleher would get a game against Qatar but Travers has been playing week in week out this season for Bournemouth.

I'd keep four of the back five from Saturday. Only change I'd make is Stevens starting. Doherty and McClean have both impressed at LWB in the last month but still feel Stevens could push for a start. The three CBs I'd keep unchanged and let them get more game time together. Bring Collins on in the second half for Omobamidele.

The two central midfielders is a problem area for us because Cullen is the only one playing week in week out. Knight is more effective further forward but I'd play him deeper in next Cullen to see how they work as a pairing. Molumby is supposedly in Dublin and wouldn't be surprised to see him link up with the squad.

After Saturday night I'd be giving Robinson another start to try add to his international tally. Jamie McGrath deserves a start and Parrott is playing week in week out as the link up player while Idah warms the bench. He was sloppy Saturday night and while he did have a fever the lack of game time is also a problem.

Subs I'd be looking at are a keeper, Collins, Ogbene, Keane, Connolly.

[pineapple stu]

After Saturday night I'd be giving Robinson another start to try add to his international tally.
Yeah, I think Robinson has to be first name on the scoresheet because we badly need a forward who can score. That's not been Robinson up until now (1 goal in 20 is pretty crap) but if he can build on Saturday and get another goal against Qatar, he might start finding a bit of confidence at international level. I don't see that Parrott, Connolly or Idah are any closer to being up to international standard yet unfortunately, albeit that they have time on their hands of course. But the chance to get a forward in form is one we have to take.

[Diggs246]

I think the problem we have with rotation is if we lose this game (friendly or not). He is going to be sacked? So he will play his strongest team

[pineapple stu]

It depends on the manner of any defeat, but I think the Azerbaijan game has bought him some time in that regard.

[passinginterest]

I think as long as we don't lose to Luxembourg or get completely embarrassed by Qatar or Portugal, Kenny is safe for another campaign now.

I've no doubt there's going to be some rotation for Qatar, he's going to want to give Kelleher some more time and I think he'll play the 90. Idah will probably get a rest seeing as he wasn't 100% in Azerbaijan. I think Collins probably starts and at least one of Cullen or Hendrick gets a rest. Knight will start if he's fit and presumably Stephens too.

Team will be something like;
Kelleher
Doherty
Egan
Collins
Omobamidele
Stephens
Cullen
Knight
McGrath
Connolly
Parrott
Ogbene

Arter probably deserves a decent run as others have said. Presumably a debut for Keane for at least 30mins, Hourihane, Manning and Collins probably next in line for a run.

[Diggs246]

I don't 100% agree is we lose in Dublin to Qatar he is gone ( unless we beat Portugal)

[Exgrad]

I think as long as we don't lose to Luxembourg or get completely embarrassed by Qatar or Portugal, Kenny is safe for another campaign now.

I've no doubt there's going to be some rotation for Qatar, he's going to want to give Kelleher some more time and I think he'll play the 90. Idah will probably get a rest seeing as he wasn't 100% in Azerbaijan. I think Collins probably starts and at least one of Cullen or Hendrick gets a rest. Knight will start if he's fit and presumably Stephens too.

Team will be something like;
Kelleher
Doherty
Egan
Collins
Omobamidele
Stephens
Cullen
Knight
McGrath
Connolly
Parrott
Ogbene

Arter probably deserves a decent run as others have said. Presumably a debut for Keane for at least 30mins, Hourihane, Manning and Collins probably next in line for a run.

I doubt Kenny will get away with starting 12 players.

[Olé Olé]

I doubt Kenny will get away with starting 12 players.

Some will argue he's managed to get away with a lot worse.

[Diggs246]

Its was a brilliant result on Saturday, but I honesty don't think he will make it ( get the next campaign)

He needs to win or he might possibly get away with a draw tomorrow, depending on teh last two games
He would need for us not to get smashed by Portugal and he needs to beat Luxemburg to survive in my opinion
the following result imo will see him sacked
Ire v Qatar 1-1
Ire v Port 0-2
Lux v ire 0-0

[passinginterest]

I doubt Kenny will get away with starting 12 players.

Good point!
Kelleher
Doherty
Egan
Collins
Omobamidele
Stephens
Cullen
Knight
Connolly
Parrott
Ogbene

[Strongbow10]

Good point!
Kelleher
Doherty
Egan
Collins
Omobamidele
Stephens
Cullen
Knight
Connolly
Parrott
Ogbene

I like the look of that team, experimental but would be interesting to see. Robinson will surely play though, being the form player.

[Olé Olé]

I like the look of that team, experimental but would be interesting to see. Robinson will surely play though, being the form player.

Yeah, I'd agree with that- maybe in place of Connolly. This camp feels like Kenny is sending Connolly a message. See also his comments earlier in the week.

Would love a good look at Kelleher, Collins, Knight, Ogbene and Parrott myself.

Kelleher, as expected, will be starting: https://www.the42.ie/caoimhin-kelleher-9-5571380-Oct2021/

[John83]

Would love a good look at Kelleher, Collins, Knight, Ogbene and Parrott myself.
I'd agree with a lot of that. Kelleher and Knight I'm fairly confident are up to the job, but they can use the experience. Collins is worth a look, especially with O'Shea out for a while longer, Clark apparently out of favour, and a preference for three at the back. Ogbene is worth a look, as many of the players we've played at right forward are happier on the left. Parrott is a maybe for me, depending on how he's doing in training. Idah might play again, as might Omobamidele. We have too few players with even ten or twenty caps, and the lack of experience is a factor in how badly Kenny has done. The new English lad (Keane?) might get a look in too.

[jbyrne]

Its was a brilliant result on Saturday, but I honesty don't think he will make it ( get the next campaign)

He needs to win or he might possibly get away with a draw tomorrow, depending on teh last two games
He would need for us not to get smashed by Portugal and he needs to beat Luxemburg to survive in my opinion
the following result imo will see him sacked
Ire v Qatar 1-1
Ire v Port 0-2
Lux v ire 0-0

i think he might have to finish ahead of Luxembourg to get another campaign.
Although with tomorrows game a reported sell-out the FAI might decide if attendances are not being affected too badly that SK is worth another campaign.

[pineapple stu]

Is it a sellout? Wow.

I presume that's still with severely restricted capacity for covid?

It'll be a factor though for sure. A popular losing team isn't the worst thing in the world commercially

[passinginterest]

I think it's 24k capacity and they were saying yesterday 21k sold. Might get along to it myself work/ticket depending.

[JR89]

i think he might have to finish ahead of Luxembourg to get another campaign.
Although with tomorrows game a reported sell-out the FAI might decide if attendances are not being affected too badly that SK is worth another campaign.

We could batter Luxembourg 5-0 playing the best football we've ever played and could possibly still finish behind Luxembourg. They're a point ahead of us and still have two fixtures before they play us. They play Portugal tomorrow and we'll have to better their result when we play Portugal, or hope Azerbaijan take points off Luxembourg. With that in mind I don't think finishing 4th will spell the end of Kenny and it's gonna depend on the result in the Luxembourg game.

[JR89]

I think it's 24k capacity and they were saying yesterday 21k sold. Might get along to it myself work/ticket depending.

Think Dan McDonnell said this afternoon that there's 300 tickets remaining.

[Exgrad]

25,000 showing up to watch Ireland v Qatar on a Tuesday night in October, with the team all ready out of contention for qualifying, is quite impressive. There is a lot of support for Kenny and it is not just media driven or some cultish behaviour. Irish grassroots fans want this to work, i think thats clear now.

[John83]

Or maybe the support is just relatively inelastic. People show up because that's what we do, with the fact that we won on Saturday and the relative novelty of attending things again also boosting demand: the attendance is still capped due to covid. I really don't think the crowd shows much.

[Exgrad]

Weve had friendlies were there were barely 10,000 people in the Aviva. I remeber the crucial Ireland Georgia game in the Aviva for Euro 2016, i know the official attendance was higher, but there was no way the actual attendance broke 20,000 people. how many turned up for that ireland oman game? The team is at an all time low, results wise, but getting a big crowd for a crap friendly.

[Diggs246]

Or maybe the support is just relatively inelastic. People show up because that's what we do, with the fact that we won on Saturday and the relative novelty of attending things again also boosting demand: the attendance is still capped due to covid. I really don't think the crowd shows much.

The hardcore kennities, to be fair to them make the voices heard
I would say the south stand will be rocking again

[Exgrad]

The hardcore kennities, to be fair to them make the voices heard
I would say the south stand will be rocking again

They seem to pay for tickets to go and support the team anyway.

[Olé Olé]

Good point!
Kelleher
Doherty
Egan
Collins
Omobamidele
Stephens
Cullen
Knight
Connolly
Parrott
Ogbene

Cullen is out injured now apparently. Hendrick keeps his place beside Knight in your team? I would be concerned he would go with Arter or Hourihane in there. And I think these guys need to be phased out.

In terms of the front 3, I'm hoping to see McGrath and Robinson behind Parrott. Would gladly see Ogbene in there from the off.

Kelleher
Omobamidele Egan Collins
Doherty Knight Hendrick Stevens
McGrath Robinson
Parrott

Kenny always disappoints me with one selection so I do expect to see Hourihane or Arter midfield.

[JR89]

Cullen is out injured now apparently. Hendrick keeps his place beside Knight in your team? I would be concerned he would go with Arter or Hourihane in there. And I think these guys need to be phased out.

In terms of the front 3, I'm hoping to see McGrath and Robinson behind Parrott. Would gladly see Ogbene in there from the off.

Kelleher
Omobamidele Egan Collins
Doherty Knight Hendrick Stevens
McGrath Robinson
Parrott

Kenny always disappoints me with one selection so I do expect to see Hourihane or Arter midfield.

I don't see Arter starting and he wouldn't be in the squad either if Browne and Molumby were available. Arter really seems to get selected when we're missing others in midfield. Only got brought in last month as Knight and Browne were originally out, and this month with Browne and Molumby. Other than that he's only been in two other squads, the training camp in the summer and Kennys first ever squad.

Hourihane I do think might start because I feel now that Kenny might start Knight in the advanced role but have him coming back to make it a midfield three and pushing forward to support Robinson and probably Idah up front.

Hopefully Jack Taylor stays injury free and gets a good run at Peterborough and Coventry too. We're badly stuck for midfield options with Cullen being the only decent option to start in that midfield two.

Knight and McGrath are better being played in those advanced midfield roles but would like to see Knight used a bit deeper next year before the qualifiers. He's got the athleticism needed and think he would have offered more putting the Azerbaijan midfielders under pressure than Hendrick did were he available.

[paul_oshea]

Or maybe the support is just relatively inelastic. People show up because that's what we do, with the fact that we won on Saturday and the relative novelty of attending things again also boosting demand: the attendance is still capped due to covid. I really don't think the crowd shows much.

I think it's a combination of factors but definitely covid and being able to just go to events again, but I think there's also an empathy and a warmth to the young players and supporting and getting behind them

[passinginterest]

Cullen is out injured now apparently. Hendrick keeps his place beside Knight in your team? I would be concerned he would go with Arter or Hourihane in there. And I think these guys need to be phased out.

In terms of the front 3, I'm hoping to see McGrath and Robinson behind Parrott. Would gladly see Ogbene in there from the off.

Kelleher
Omobamidele Egan Collins
Doherty Knight Hendrick Stevens
McGrath Robinson
Parrott

Kenny always disappoints me with one selection so I do expect to see Hourihane or Arter midfield.

Soundings earlier today seem to be that there's going to be a limited number of changes. That makes me think Hendrick starts. I think the thinking is the team will be more like;
Kelleher
Doherty
Egan
Collins
Duffy
Stephens
Hendrick
Knight
McGrath
Idah
Robinson

Although I wouldn't be overly surprised to see Idah get a rest too. Knight could play the McGrath role with Hourihane presumably being most likely to slot in as a holding midfielder in that case.

[tetsujin1979]

I realise that things happen during the international break that the manager has no control over, but it does seem that calling up Will Keane was a bit pointless
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[pineapple stu]

Yeah, that doesn't make sense. I don't buy the "He wanted to see him in real life" excuse.

But look, much and all as we're stuck for strikers, I don't think another L1 option is going to be a huge difference to what we have, so not the end of the world.

[Siberian]

Don't understand the reason Keane was called up. I assumed it was to give him some game time against Qatar. Or maybe Kenny thinks our goal scoring problems are over after scoring 3 against a dodgy keeper.

[seanfhear]

Maybe he wants to keep the rest of the squad sweet and not just include Johnny come lately in the match day squad on his first show-up.

[pineapple stu]

If Collins, Connolly or even Idah were that concerned about losing their place in the squad, they probably could scored more than one goal in 26 appearances between them.

[Olé Olé]

https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/1447977867053260807?s=20

It looks like:
Kelleher
Omobamidele Duffy Egan
Doherty Hourihane Hendrick Stevens
Ogbene McGrath
Robinson

I like that team. I'd like to have seen Knight and Collins start and Hourihane not start.

[liamoo11]

https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/1447977867053260807?s=20

It looks like:
Kelleher
Omobamidele Duffy Egan
Doherty Hourihane Hendrick Stevens
Ogbene McGrath
Robinson

I like that team. I'd like to have seen Knight and Collins start and Hourihane not start.

If that's a flat 2 in midfield hourihane is going to have to show more legs than he has before for us

[SkStu]

I realise that things happen during the international break that the manager has no control over, but it does seem that calling up Will Keane was a bit pointless.

not picking on you Tets but more the general theme of pointlessness that has been bandied about regarding Will Keane's call up since it was announced... what would make it non-pointless (pointful? pointly? :))

There is a lot to be said for calling up #25 as "someone to take a closer look at" without having any intention of giving game time to. It seems a bit nit-picky for people to be criticising SK for calling up some fringe players for a closer look, to get to know, to start integrating with the squad etc. It would only be a negative thing if he had replaced someone (a) playing in the same position and (b) more meritous. I'm having a hard time seeing who that is.

However, i would like to see him comment on WK's impact during camp etc.

[third policeman]

not picking on you Tets but more the general theme of pointlessness that has been bandied about regarding Will Keane's call up since it was announced... what would make it non-pointless (pointful? pointly? :))

There is a lot to be said for calling up #25 as "someone to take a closer look at" without having any intention of giving game time to. It seems a bit nit-picky for people to be criticising SK for calling up some fringe players for a closer look, to get to know, to start integrating with the squad etc. It would only be a negative thing if he had replaced someone (a) playing in the same position and (b) more meritous. I'm having a hard time seeing who that is.

However, i would like to see him comment on WK's impact during camp etc.

Hogan

[SkStu]

You think Hogan and Keane are similar players and in direct competition? I don’t.

Hogan is more of a #9, a striker in the Collins mould; I see Parrott and Keane more in competition as #10’s - more like McGoldrick.

[liamoo11]

You think Hogan and Keane are similar players and in direct competition? I don’t.

Hogan is more of a #9, a striker in the Collins mould; I see Parrott and Keane more in competition as #10’s - more like McGoldrick.

Fair point. Mcholdrock was very underwhelming in his initial games for us. That night we won in Austria je was horrific when he came on missed a terrible tackle on halfway that led to great chance for them