Republic of Ireland V Norway - Thursday, 17th November 2022 - Friendly

[third policeman]

It's strange and regressive. We know what our current midfield is capable off - not qualifying for tournaments and not winning enough games. Unless he begins to integrate or at least look at younger players getting minutes in the PL, history will repeat itself. What was that definition of madness? Doing the same thing over again and expecting a different outcome.

[SkStu]

I think Hodge should have been called up for integration purposes but from a playing perspective it is marginal. Its kind of the same type of argument as was for Kelleher v Bazunu up til this season (as starter)... on one hand you have Hodge picking up minutes in the odd game and getting a start in the low profile cup games and on the other hand you have Smallbone who is getting (more or less) regular game time in the Championship and proven at U21 level or McGrath who is tried and trusted and back on form at a decent level. And thats not taking into account, as Crafty speculates above, there may be more going on behind the scenes than we are privy to.

Scales ahead of Manning is criminal though. Bad choice. Manning must have p!ssed in Kenny's cornflakes back in June.

[JR89]

I think Hodge should have been called up for integration purposes but from a playing perspective it is marginal. Its kind of the same type of argument as was for Kelleher v Bazunu up til this season (as starter)... on one hand you have Hodge picking up minutes in the odd game and getting a start in the low profile cup games and on the other hand you have Smallbone who is getting (more or less) regular game time in the Championship and proven at U21 level or McGrath who is tried and trusted and back on form at a decent level. And thats not taking into account, as Crafty speculates above, there may be more going on behind the scenes than we are privy to.

Scales ahead of Manning is criminal though. Bad choice. Manning must have p!ssed in Kenny's cornflakes back in June.

Wouldn't call second from bottom in Scotland a decent level, and think they only moved off the bottom after beating Kilmarnock 4-0 so now have a better goal difference.

[SkStu]

But you agree with the rest? I’ll take that.

FWIW, Bazunu was playing for Rochdale in a L1 relegation season when he was getting caps.

[tommy_c12000]

Agree on Hodge, I’d have him in ahead of Browne and McGrath who will never develop into any worthwhile senior internationals. Hodge has a chance, and Kenny should foster it in case he does blossom into that midfielder we are yearning for. Not starting at the moment, but in training with the squad and possibly a late sub appearance

[Kingdom]

Unless he's managing a situation where the player wants to wait & see what his international options are in time. That's one way to make sense of it, because it does go against his early press statements about not letting these dual situations go the way of others. Hodge not being called up is a marginal, but SK name dropping Jack Taylor this evening when speaking about midfield emerging options is strange when we have one getting top level minutes in Hodge in a problem position.

Can you elaborate on that CTP?

[tetsujin1979]

It's a little strange that Hodge wasn't called up, given some of Kenny's comments on dual qualified players that changed allegiance

[CraftyToePoke]

Can you elaborate on that CTP?

A potential draft dodger Kingers, but mere speculation. McGrath over Szmodics is strange too as one is doing well in the Championship, the other failed. So it might be nothing to do with it.

[JR89]

A potential draft dodger Kingers, but mere speculation. McGrath over Szmodics is strange too as one is doing well in the Championship, the other failed. So it might be nothing to do with it.

Hodge wouldn't get in the current U21s for England so doubt he's hedging his bets and holding out to see what his options are. He's not 21 till next September so playing a couple of games won't affect him and actually would do him more good at convincing England he could be an option ala Rice impressing for us on his debut season for West Ham.

[third policeman]

Failed in League 1 which makes matters worse. We've been cursed with managers with blind spots. We're a small nation with a limited pool, picking favourites ahead of form and potential is a brainless waste of scarce talent.

[Jd2793]

mcgrath just doesnt add enough to us overall , yard dog against an elite team but not strong enough with the ball against poor opponents IMO. Cant see hodge ever declaring for Eng tbh, not too worried about it. Do think himself and coventry should be in this squad though. Need more cm options and alternatives to cullen.

[elatedscum]

mcgrath just doesnt add enough to us overall , yard dog against an elite team but not strong enough with the ball against poor opponents IMO. Cant see hodge ever declaring for Eng tbh, not too worried about it. Do think himself and coventry should be in this squad though. Need more cm options and alternatives to cullen.

His caps so far have been-

2 against Portugal, 1 against Serbia - his performances were really good there.

1 against Qatar in the 4-0 win, he won a penalty early enough in the game. Those 4 games he played the majority of. Then he played 45 mins against Azerbaijan where we won 3-0 and he played a few mins at the end against Andorra where we won 4-1.

He wasn’t involved in any of our struggles against weaker opponents (Luxembourg, Azerbaijan, Armenia). Who knows what the future holds but his few international performances have made him look like a very good player

[paul_oshea]

I think McGrath has been good for us too but lots of players come on the scene and then can't sustain that initial level if they could they wouldn't be playing div 1 Scotland or L1 England. We can't be all about the future when the argument suits and then include players like McGrath and Browne or moreso hourihane(I'm aware he is not in this squad) and Browne when you could transition in players like Hodge and Coventry

[zero]

these games seem particularly meaningless to me. i really don't think we'll learn anything from them. i suppose it's good for the group to come together but that's about it.

[third policeman]

I think McGrath has been good for us too but lots of players come on the scene and then can't sustain that initial level if they could they wouldn't be playing div 1 Scotland or L1 England. We can't be all about the future when the argument suits and then include players like McGrath and Browne or moreso hourihane(I'm aware he is not in this squad) and Browne when you could transition in players like Hodge and Coventry

Absolutely agree. An utterly wasted opportunity by Kenny.

[tetsujin1979]

Haaland not in the Norway squad for Thursday. With them playing Finland at home the following Sunday, he was always more likely to play that fixture
1591846443626676224

[Fixer82]

His caps so far have been-

2 against Portugal, 1 against Serbia - his performances were really good there.

1 against Qatar in the 4-0 win, he won a penalty early enough in the game. Those 4 games he played the majority of. Then he played 45 mins against Azerbaijan where we won 3-0 and he played a few mins at the end against Andorra where we won 4-1.

He wasn’t involved in any of our struggles against weaker opponents (Luxembourg, Azerbaijan, Armenia). Who knows what the future holds but his few international performances have made him look like a very good player

I agree. I've been nothing but impressed with him when he's lined out for us. Haven't seen much of him for his cub but I believe criticism of him in a green jersey is quite unjustified

[SkStu]

Haaland not in the Norway squad for Thursday. With them playing Finland at home the following Sunday, he was always more likely to play that fixture
1591846443626676224

He might be able to light up the Premier League but he clearly just isn’t up for it on a cold Thursday night in Dublin.

[pineapple stu]

Obviously scarred by his last Dublin experience (https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/match/2023166--molde-vs-ucd/).

Good news for the team anyway, though the FAI are plugging the game based on him playing, so ticket sales may now stop dead

[seanfhear]

Obviously scarred by his last Dublin experience (https://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/match/2023166--molde-vs-ucd/).

Good news for the team anyway, though the FAI are plugging the game based on him playing, so ticket sales may now stop dead
I suppose a lot of players would like to say that they played against him. I mean if you are a professional football player you kinda have to look forward to those sort of possibilities ~ ~ Well i think so anyway.

[JR89]

Will Keane and Scott Hogan drop out of the squad with injury and Mark Sykes is called up.

[pineapple stu]

That's not good... The two guys I was most hoping to see given game time tbh

[passinginterest]

Yeah, probably the two most in form players, who both really needed a chance to establish themselves at international level and would have presumably seen some decent minutes.

Must be very hard to actually keep a decent squad together for this, seeing as the power is in the clubs' hands as it's not an official international window.

[tetsujin1979]

Just noticed the original squad announcement says it's a 26 player squad - https://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/19/2022/999948252?tab=preview

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has selected a 26-man squad for the international friendlies against Norway and Malta.

But it only lists 25 players!

Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool)
Gavin Bazunu (Southampton)
Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth).
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur)
Nathan Collins (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
John Egan (Sheffield United)
Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion)
Darragh Lenihan (Middlesbrough)
Liam Scales (Aberdeen, on loan from Celtic)
James McClean (Wigan Athletic)
Robbie Brady (Preston North End).
Josh Cullen (Burnley)
Jeff Hendrick (Reading, on loan from Newcastle United)
Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion)
Alan Browne (Preston North End)
Will Smallbone (Stoke City, on loan from Southampton)
Jamie McGrath (Dundee United).
Michael Obafemi (Swansea City)
Callum Robinson (Cardiff City)
Scott Hogan (Birmingham City)
Chiedozie Ogbene (Rotherham United)
Will Keane (Wigan Athletic)
Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion)
Callum O'Dowda (Cardiff City).

[Diggs246]

Just noticed the original squad announcement says it's a 26 player squad - https://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/19/2022/999948252?tab=preview


But it only lists 25 players!

Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool)
Gavin Bazunu (Southampton)
Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth).
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur)
Nathan Collins (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
John Egan (Sheffield United)
Dara O'Shea (West Bromwich Albion)
Darragh Lenihan (Middlesbrough)
Liam Scales (Aberdeen, on loan from Celtic)
James McClean (Wigan Athletic)
Robbie Brady (Preston North End).
Josh Cullen (Burnley)
Jeff Hendrick (Reading, on loan from Newcastle United)
Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion)
Alan Browne (Preston North End)
Will Smallbone (Stoke City, on loan from Southampton)
Jamie McGrath (Dundee United).
Michael Obafemi (Swansea City)
Callum Robinson (Cardiff City)
Scott Hogan (Birmingham City)
Chiedozie Ogbene (Rotherham United)
Will Keane (Wigan Athletic)
Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion)
Callum O'Dowda (Cardiff City).


Only u could spot that!

[Diggs246]

That's not good... The two guys I was most hoping to see given game time tbh

Yep bad news but might give Evan Ferguson a half against malta

[Stuttgart88]

Will Keane and Scott Hogan drop out of the squad It's only fair really, with Haaland pulling out for them.

[Eirambler]

To be completely fair they should also now pull out Ødegaard to even things up.

[pineapple stu]

Malta have named their squad too (https://www.maltafootball.com/2022/11/11/gilbert-agius-names-squad-ahead-of-greece-ireland/)

Mostly domestic-based. Sutton United and Ettelbruck of Luxembourg there too. Oxford United and Saint Gilloise as good as it gets. Yet they beat Israel last month so they can be a banana skin.

Especially with our diminishing forward options, let's hope we don't have another Lithuania/Armenia on our hands with this one.

[ifk101]

I don't think Ferguson is ready for this level yet, so striker options are indeed short. Probably forces Kenny's hand to play a stronger than intended lineup against the banana skin so blessing in disguise Keane is injured?

[ifk101]

No replacement for John Eustace yet? There was "hope" in have a replacement in place for the Scotland/ Armenia games.

[Diggs246]

I don't think Ferguson is ready for this level yet, so striker options are indeed short. Probably forces Kenny's hand to play a stronger than intended lineup against the banana skin so blessing in disguise Keane is injured?

Who knows. He might be totally off the pace or score twice

[elatedscum]

Think if I was planning it now, these would be my two lineups:

V Norway:
Kelleher

Doherty
O’Shea
Egan
Collins
McClean

Molumby
Cullen
Mcgrath

Ogbene
Obafemi

——————————
V Malta:
Bazunu

Doherty
Coleman
Egan
Collins
Brady

Cullen
Hendrick
Smallbone

Robinson
Obafemi

[Jd2793]

Think if I was planning it now, these would be my two lineups:

V Norway:
Kelleher

Doherty
O’Shea
Egan
Collins
McClean

Molumby
Cullen
Mcgrath

Ogbene
Obafemi

——————————
V Malta:
Bazunu

Doherty
Coleman
Egan
Collins
Brady

Cullen
Hendrick
Smallbone

Robinson
Obafemi


swpa out smallbone for mcgrath and thats what id do for the norway game. wouldnt be against seeing brady in midfield against malta more likely to be lwb alright though

[Fixer82]

Sykes called up

[SkStu]

Sykes called up

Really plays mind games with the opposition.

[CraftyToePoke]

Bazunu

Doherty / O'Shea / Egan / Collins / O'Dowda
Cullen / Molumby / Browne
Obafemi / Robinson

[third policeman]

Decent selection in terms of what's available. Personally, would have gone with Kelleher, but that may be sheer prejudice. Guess he'll play against Malta.

[passinginterest]

O’Dowda left wing back is the big experiment. If it works out it’s a big addition to the options on that side.

[pineapple stu]

Is it O'Dowda or Browne at wingback? Interesting choice either way, with McClean, Coleman and Brady all benched.

Robinson has a chance to redeem himself after a poor year since his six-goal salvo

Other than that, no real complaints. Kelleher is just back from injury and needs to play games really. Bazunu was poor against Armenia, but Kelleher can't have any complaints

Everyone else on the bench - Kelleher, Travers, Coleman, Brady, McClean, Hendrick, Smallbone, McGrath, Sykes, Ogbene (the form player benched again), Scales, Lenihan, Ferguson

You'd imagine most will get a run out over the next few days

Norway without Haaland are ok, but I think we need a performance after the last window (Scotland/Armenia) do I don't think tonight is for wholesale experimentation

[CraftyToePoke]

RTE have O'Dowda LWB

[CraftyToePoke]

RTE have O'Dowda LWB

They now have Browne at LWB, so who knows.

[osarusan]

If anybody has a stream, a PM would be nice.

[pineapple stu]

They now have Browne at LWB, so who knows.
It's O'Dowda, with Browne in the centre

All very friendly-ish so far

[Olé Olé]

It's O'Dowda, with Browne in the centre

All very friendly-ish so far

Is O'Dowda doing a good job of staking a claim for the role? He's willing to go beyond his man (not always beating him) and whip the ball in and is retaining possession well at times. Must keep an eye on his defensive impact.

[pineapple stu]

Nobody's doing a good job of anything tbh. It's as scrappy a game as I've seen under Kenny. Bazunu's distribution is poor. The defence are passing it to themselves more than to the attackers. Centre-mids are playing facing backwards. Created little up front. He's not been the worst but that's not saying much

[centre mid]

1 shot in 45 mins, not great.

[Exgrad]

Defenders and keeper taking more risks with passing than midfield and forwards.

[Trequartista20]

Uninspiring stuff; we've been poor in possession and, again, have created very, very little.

As soon as I saw the midfield selection, in particular, I knew we may be in for a difficult watch. Browne and Molumby are scrappers and are never likely going to give you much in the way of creativity.

[pineapple stu]

Ødigård with the goal. He scored home and away against UCD for Molde in the Youth League back in 2017. Haaland also played. We lost on penalties. Just shows you the value of a proper domestic league. Østigård is at Napoli. Haaland is Haaland. I think only Power from the UCD team left the LoI and he's back now.