Netherlands V Republic of Ireland - Saturday, 18 November 2023 - Euro 2024 Qualifier

[JR89]

Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu (Southampton), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth).

Defenders: Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Festy Ebosele (Udinese), Ryan Manning (Southampton), Liam Scales (Celtic), Shane Duffy (Norwich City), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O’Shea (Burnley), Andrew Omobamidele (Nottingham Forest).

Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen), Mark Sykes (Bristol City).

Forwards: Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Callum Robinson (Cardiff City), Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton Town), Mikey Johnston (Celtic), Troy Parrott (Excelsior, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur).

[JR89]

Also to add James McClean will link up with the squad for the NZ game.

[Fixer82]

What does Szmodicz have to do to get called up?

[Diggs246]

What does Szmodicz have to do to get called up?

My guess is he is the issue. I fear ( with no proof) Hungary are sniffing around.

[nigel-harps1954]

What does Szmodicz have to do to get called up?

He dropped out of the last squad. If he's not 100% committed then let him run on.

[tetsujin1979]

Squad stats
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[Diggs246]

Anyway else get word from the clowns in the fai stating no tickets available ? Seems unbelievable to me
I bought 4 tickets on a reseller site 5 mins later

[JR89]

My guess is he is the issue. I fear ( with no proof) Hungary are sniffing around.

Callum Styles starts for Hungary in midfield and he was playing in a Barnsley team heading towards relegation to League One when he made his Hungary debut. Fact they've never sounded out Szmodics is interesting as he joined Blackburn a couple of months after Style's debut.

No squad named so far for this month but in last months squad three of their four forwards named play in Hungary (x2) and South Korea. Now that he's joint top scorer in the championship wonder will it change their minds on approaching him.

[Diggs246]

Top of their group already automatic qualification in the bag

Again worth noting where their players are playing. Although I'm sure they having a couple of Stars

[tetsujin1979]

Incidentally, if we lose to the Netherlands, it'll be the first time we've lost six games in a qualifying series.

[Diggs246]

Incidentally, if we lose to the Netherlands, it'll be the first time we've lost six games in a qualifying series.

I don't want to be a d**k as hes a decent guy, but unfortunately Stephen has had lots of "firsts" none very good.

[JR89]

Kenny says the personal reasons surrounding Szmodics leaving the last cap hasn't changed. That he wasn't considered for call up as Szmodics can't be away from home for ten days due to those personal reasons.

[passinginterest]

Squad stats
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It's a very young squad, and the 4 eldest are probably borderline at this stage. Doherty is the most important but seems to be at a really difficult stage in his career and you'd wonder about his love for the game when you see him play. Duffy is back but under pressure to keep his squad place, Browne is always little more than a utility player and Robison is another that's pretty much expendable. That's still going to be very challenging for whoever takes the team into the next campaign.

[elatedscum]

Kenny says the personal reasons surrounding Szmodics leaving the last cap hasn't changed. That he wasn't considered for call up as Szmodics can't be away from home for ten days due to those personal reasons.

One would assume, if everyone is being straight, that it’s either a family illness or else anxiety/homesickness issues

[zero]

what happened to the new mcateer? second thoughts perhaps.

[Razors left peg]

what happened to the new mcateer? second thoughts perhaps.

Kenny said last time that there was a player that was close to being over the line. He never said it was McAteer, that came from journalists. The paperwork might still be pending, and also McAteer has pretty much been injured since. Doesnt surprise me that hes not called up, but I am annoyed Moran or Azaz wasnt.

This squad is the manager going out with a whimper, hes gone against his principals of "if you're good enough you're old enough" that he had coming into the job. He had one last opportunity to be brave and he bottled it again. Jake O'Brien for Duffy or Omobamidele should have happened. Azaz or Moran instead of McGrath. The squad is just disappointing much like his whole tenure.

Next competitive games will not be until next September and they are NL games. Its gonna be a long feckin year full of shyte talk. If we pick a manager that we collectively groan at it could be very hard to win back the enthusiasm of the fans.

[elatedscum]

Kenny said last time that there was a player that was close to being over the line. He never said it was McAteer, that came from journalists. The paperwork might still be pending, and also McAteer has pretty much been injured since. Doesnt surprise me that hes not called up, but I am annoyed Moran or Azaz wasnt.

This squad is the manager going out with a whimper, hes gone against his principals of "if you're good enough you're old enough" that he had coming into the job. He had one last opportunity to be brave and he bottled it again. Jake O'Brien for Duffy or Omobamidele should have happened. Azaz or Moran instead of McGrath. The squad is just disappointing much like his whole tenure.

Next competitive games will not be until next September and they are NL games. Its gonna be a long feckin year full of shyte talk. If we pick a manager that we collectively groan at it could be very hard to win back the enthusiasm of the fans.

There's certainly an argument that Andy Moran is better playing in this camp for the 21s. You might think that Kenny would selfishly like to be the manager to give him his debut, but the 21s have two crucial games against Norway and Italy and are currently sitting top of their group. We play the Netherlands in a game that has no real competitive implications and a friendly against New Zealand...

I would have included Azaz or Connor Ronan and either McNamara or Gallagher

[Razors left peg]

There's certainly an argument that Andy Moran is better playing in this camp for the 21s. You might think that Kenny would selfishly like to be the manager to give him his debut, but the 21s have two crucial games against Norway and Italy and are currently sitting top of their group. We play the Netherlands in a game that has no real competitive implications and a friendly against New Zealand...

I would have included Azaz or Connor Ronan and either McNamara or Gallagher

I can absolutely see the reasoning for Moran with the 21s, but also the 21s are just supposed to be there as a feeder to the seniors. Its like holding someone back in their job and not giving them the promotion they deserve because they are too good at the their current one. Senior team is most important, and the under squads are just a bonus

[pineapple stu]

My guess is he is the issue. I fear ( with no proof) Hungary are sniffing around.
That sounds plausible, sadly... Especially with similar after happening with Cannon. If it is the case, it'd kind of indicate we're a bit of a last resort internationally. Not good to be continually losing out on these players.

Parrott back in place of Keane; both a bit meh at this stage, even if Parrott has scored a couple of goals in Holland. But one for the other won't change things, much and all as I'd like to see Keane given a proper run at it; he's bene unlucky with injuries.

Omobamidele has no place in the squad for me though. He's barely played since March and we have legit options at centre-back. Lenihan/Dunne the obvious ones. Egan still out unfortunately.

But no silk purse not included for sure.

[pineapple stu]

what happened to the new mcateer? second thoughts perhaps.
Injured I think; only played seven minutes in the past month. Unused sub at the weekend, so maybe this window too soon for him (assuming he's interested, etc)

[LurcherLover]

There's certainly an argument that Andy Moran is better playing in this camp for the 21s. You might think that Kenny would selfishly like to be the manager to give him his debut, but the 21s have two crucial games against Norway and Italy and are currently sitting top of their group. We play the Netherlands in a game that has no real competitive implications and a friendly against New Zealand...

I would have included Azaz or Connor Ronan and either McNamara or Gallagher

Gallagher as in Jon Gallagher?

[elatedscum]

Gallagher as in Jon Gallagher?

Yeah. I'd play Festy as a winger in the current squad, which leaves Doherty at RB/RWB against Netherlands. Might as well give someone else a try against New Zealand (where I'd be playing a back 4), and Danny McNamara or Jon Gallagher seem like two lads who might be good enough if given the opportunity. Not sure about either but they've both probably done well enough in the respective leagues to be given a look.

Alan Browne certainly isn't the heir to the throne

[LurcherLover]

Yeah. I'd play Festy as a winger in the current squad, which leaves Doherty at RB/RWB against Netherlands. Might as well give someone else a try against New Zealand (where I'd be playing a back 4), and Danny McNamara or Jon Gallagher seem like two lads who might be good enough if given the opportunity. Not sure about either but they've both probably done well enough in the respective leagues to be given a look.

Alan Browne certainly isn't the heir to the throne
Fair play, that's the first time I've seen Gallaghers name thrown in the mix! He's doing OK recently at an albeit low standard but wouldn't begrudge anybody coming in for this window. Can't ever see him making any squad at this stage if I'm honest.

[JR89]

This time of year with the MLS season over it would have been worth it to bring Gallagher and Ronan over. It's NZ and they'll have a lad playing LOI in their squad. Should be the type of game where you hand out a few debut caps to players.

[tetsujin1979]

The Dutch squad was announced last week, but Ake has withdrawn due to injury
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[weldoninhio]

My guess is he is the issue. I fear ( with no proof) Hungary are sniffing around.

His wife is heavily pregnant afaik and he doesn't want to be away from her for extended periods.

[JR89]

Andy Moran called up to the senior squad. FAI are awaiting on scan results for a number
of players so Moran gets a call up.

[JR89]

Ferguson, Ogbene, and McGrath are the three players awaiting scan results.

[JR89]

1724427457653014889

[Fixer82]

1724427457653014889


Now that he’s said we won’t lose all I think we’ll lose all

[SkStu]

It will be an unlucky loss. We nearly got them there, did all we could in the physio room, just a few lapses etc etc ;)

[JR89]

Smallbone and Ebosele ruled out for Saturday. James McClean gets a call up.

[jbyrne]

its reported that Ferguson, Ogbene and McGrath have passed fitness tests

[John83]

Smallbone and Ebosele ruled out for Saturday. James McClean gets a call up.
Moran's preemptive callup covers Smallbone, and McClean Ebosele, so that all seems sensible.

[pineapple stu]

So we've a match tomorrow...

Presumably Stephen Kenny's last competitive game in charge, and a tough one even if they're a step below France at the moment. They beat Greece 3-0 at home for example (having needed a 93rd minute to win away)

We effectively put ten men behind the ball in Paris and you wonder will the same apply tomorrow. So back to three at the back - Duffy, Scales and Collins? Manning and Doherty on the wings, the usual invisible trio in mid, Idah up front because all he's good for is holding the ball up, and Ferguson alongside to try make a silk purse out of a sow's ear?

For all Kenny's faults, we've never been hammered in a competitive game under him yet (on the scoreboard at least). Hopefully that run can continue for one more match.

[tetsujin1979]

The Dutch squad was announced last week, but Ake has withdrawn due to injury
1722932464190919100

Had a look at the squad on wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands_national_football_team#Players
It's a young squad, average age is 25, and with very few goals - Gakpo is top scorer with eight, and the average per player is 1.8. It's relatively inexperienced, despite the presence of Blind(103 caps), van Dijk(62) and de Vrij(60) the average number of caps is 20, and none of the goalkeepers have more than eight caps.

That's similar to the Ireland squad, average age is 25, average number of caps is 21, average number of goals is 2.1, McClean has the most caps(102) and most goals(11)

[JR89]

........................Bazunu
Doherty Collins Duffy Scales Manning
..Ogbene Molumby Cullen Knight
......................Ferguson

[JR89]

Ogbene ruled out for tomorrow's game but Ferguson has been passed fit.

[joey B]

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[liamoo11]

1725944460146876430

Hopefully Robinson can link midfield with ferguson. I have to say not having ogbene playing makes me hopeful that we will actually have Robinson playing centrally and trying to.make a partnership with ferguson not running in dead ends out wide hoping to win free kicks

[JR89]

Didi waffling on about how the FAI should have stepped in and blocked Kenny from being allowed call up Andy Moran this window.

Whatever about whether Moran should have stayed with the U21s (think he should have stayed for last night's match at least), but banging on about how the FAI should have a say on player selections is crazy.

[pineapple stu]

Bit pointless to be in Norway yesterday and in Holland today, no?

Agree the FAI shouldn't (and obviously didn't) be interfering in those matters

[liamoo11]

Bit pointless to be in Norway yesterday and in Holland today, no?

Agree the FAI shouldn't (and obviously didn't) be interfering in those matters

The point was that a director of football should be looking at the overall picture for irish football and saying this campaign is gone but the 31s and the 19s is very much al8ve so better to have moran do everything he can to help the 21s and Murphy should then stay with the 19s and help them qualify

[joey B]

Manning tackled Collins there,deary me awful goal,Weghorse ran 30 yards there no one near him…..

[SkStu]

Irish players clash with each other on two occasions in the space of one minute. Keystone Cops.

[passinginterest]

That start sums up the Kenny era in so many ways. Really comfortable start. Arguably the better team, then a completely terrible mistake gifts them a chance and they bury it.

[backstothewall]

This is like the Alamo.

[pineapple stu]

This is like the Alamo.
Is it? I think we're playing ok - given it's Holland away

Good early chance; still getting forward a bit. Couldn't say that about the France game

Holland's shooting is a bit wayward but I think it's half decent so far. Goal was obviously messing as noted

France 7-0 and a man up at halftime. God knows what the Gibraltar halftime talk is. They scored two own goals in the first five minutes

[passinginterest]

The last 10 minutes went into a bit of a self destructive meltdown alright. Some absolutely woeful individual errors. Sort of triggered by Knight trying to turn inside without knowing the Dutch player was there.

[jbyrne]

Manning tackled Collins there,deary me awful goal,Weghorse ran 30 yards there no one near him…..

blatent jersey pull on collins in build up to the goal. should have been disallowed