Upcoming Friendlies-choose your new players

[Fixer82]

Does anyone know if it’s possible to just buy tickets for one match?
According to FAI email I have to buy a two match ticket pack which I just can’t afford at the moment

[samhaydenjr]

OK, with the squad about to be announced, I thought I'd actually answer my own question. So here are the five players I think should get serious time (notwithstanding injuries and commitment to us):

1. Jake O'Brien - playing in a defense with Tagliafico, Matic, Lovren and Caleta-Car and looking awesome!
2. Sammie Szmodics - 21 league goals... 'nuff said
3. Mikey Johnston - eight caps in, he's already vital to us... plus six goals in nine appearances for West Brom - he is on fire!
4. Finn Azaz - almost went with Moran for this spot, but Azaz is a bit more advanced and is in really good form, with nine goals and six assists this season
5. Festy Ebosele - closing in on Paddy Sloan for the title of Irishman with second most Serie A appearances. His defensive play is often lacking and he can be anonymous but when he gets a chance to run at a full-back, he just flies past. Reasonably decent crosses and has a long throw in him, as a bonus

And for a couple of runouts:
1. Andrew Omobamidele - starting to get regular time in the Premier League now. Has seven caps under his belt but five were in 2021 - a couple of runouts would be helpful
2. Andrew Moran - When I started this thread, was going to pick him as one of the five to get more time, as he had started so well for Blackburn. Hasn't been as effective recently, so I put in Azaz. But he's a creative midfielder who's only 20 so I would still give him a couple of appearances off the bench as he might have a real breakthrough later in 2024
3. Will Smallbone - seems to be solid enough, even if he hasn't set the world on fire, so probably good to have him as a backup in midfield
4. Will Keane - 12 Championship goals last season, 12 already this season, doesn't seem to be playing the full 90 all the time so his minutes per goal (152) is only 5 higher than Szmodics's. He's only played 97 minutes for us
5. Aaron Connolly - just edges it over sounding out Cannon. Mixed form so far this season, but at least he has eight goals under his belt - nine caps, but only one since 2021 - no harm in giving him a couple of half-hour runouts

What do you guys think - who would you put in instead? Scales? Armstrong? Hodge? McAteer? And why?

[elatedscum]

Does anyone know if it’s possible to just buy tickets for one match?
According to FAI email I have to buy a two match ticket pack which I just can’t afford at the moment

unless it sells out, they'll sell the second match separately once the first match is played...

[Stuttgart88]

OK, with the squad about to be announced, I thought I'd actually answer my own question. So here are the five players I think should get serious time (notwithstanding injuries and commitment to us):

1. Jake O'Brien - playing in a defense with Tagliafico, Matic, Lovren and Caleta-Car and looking awesome!
2. Sammie Szmodics - 21 league goals... 'nuff said
3. Mikey Johnston - eight caps in, he's already vital to us... plus six goals in nine appearances for West Brom - he is on fire!
4. Finn Azaz - almost went with Moran for this spot, but Azaz is a bit more advanced and is in really good form, with nine goals and six assists this season
5. Festy Ebosele - closing in on Paddy Sloan for the title of Irishman with second most Serie A appearances. His defensive play is often lacking and he can be anonymous but when he gets a chance to run at a full-back, he just flies past. Reasonably decent crosses and has a long throw in him, as a bonus

And for a couple of runouts:
1. Andrew Omobamidele - starting to get regular time in the Premier League now. Has seven caps under his belt but five were in 2021 - a couple of runouts would be helpful
2. Andrew Moran - When I started this thread, was going to pick him as one of the five to get more time, as he had started so well for Blackburn. Hasn't been as effective recently, so I put in Azaz. But he's a creative midfielder who's only 20 so I would still give him a couple of appearances off the bench as he might have a real breakthrough later in 2024
3. Will Smallbone - seems to be solid enough, even if he hasn't set the world on fire, so probably good to have him as a backup in midfield
4. Will Keane - 12 Championship goals last season, 12 already this season, doesn't seem to be playing the full 90 all the time so his minutes per goal (152) is only 5 higher than Szmodics's. He's only played 97 minutes for us
5. Aaron Connolly - just edges it over sounding out Cannon. Mixed form so far this season, but at least he has eight goals under his belt - nine caps, but only one since 2021 - no harm in giving him a couple of half-hour runouts

What do you guys think - who would you put in instead? Scales? Armstrong? Hodge? McAteer? And why?Too busy to reply but mostly right I'd say. A front 3 of Johnston-Ferguson-Ogbene could be exciting.

[SkStu]

OK, with the squad about to be announced, I thought I'd actually answer my own question. So here are the five players I think should get serious time (notwithstanding injuries and commitment to us):

1. Jake O'Brien - playing in a defense with Tagliafico, Matic, Lovren and Caleta-Car and looking awesome!
2. Sammie Szmodics - 21 league goals... 'nuff said
3. Mikey Johnston - eight caps in, he's already vital to us... plus six goals in nine appearances for West Brom - he is on fire!
4. Finn Azaz - almost went with Moran for this spot, but Azaz is a bit more advanced and is in really good form, with nine goals and six assists this season.

Would love to see Jake O'Brien called up. Szmodics a no-brainer. I'm not sold on Ebosele at all. And Finn Azaz unfortunately has been dropped to the bench for the last couple of Boro games. I think he's having a hard adjustment there. I'd like to see Moran get some game time and wouldnt be opposed to Alex Murphy getting a squad call up and maybe some minutes.

[liamoo11]

Too busy to reply but mostly right I'd say. A front 3 of Johnston-Ferguson-Ogbene could be exciting.

Ogbene has been playing as a wing back, not good enough to play in a front 3

[seanfhear]

Ogbene has been playing as a wing back, not good enough to play in a front 3
Do we have any better options ? !

[Razors left peg]

Do we have any better options ? !
Szmodics

[mark12345]

Szmodics
Build the team from the front. Szmodics has to start with Ogbene and Mikey Johnson either side of him.

[Razors left peg]

Build the team from the front. Szmodics has to start with Ogbene and Mikey Johnson either side of him.

And just like that you'd discard Ferguson?

People are fcuking hilarious

[irishfan86]

Build the team from the front. Szmodics has to start with Ogbene and Mikey Johnson either side of him.

I admit I haven’t really seen a lot of Szmodics. Is he the kind of player who can lead the line by himself?

[JR89]

Front four of:

Ogbene Szmodics Johnston
..............Ferguson

Pity our options in midfield are meh.

[ifk101]

Ferguson is ice cold atm. I’d have him involved but would be easy on the game time with one eye on future competitive games. No need to be over doing it in friendlies, especially against good opposition – likely to be a slough for the player in the 9 position. Midfield options aren’t great but Smallbone is getting plenty of game time with a good Championship side, Knight is finding momentum at Bristol, and I think Cullen would be much better if the team structure is more organised and compact. Not a great midfield, but workable.

[mark12345]

I admit I haven’t really seen a lot of Szmodics. Is he the kind of player who can lead the line by himself?

I wouldn't describe him as someone who could lead the line like a target man. He is more of a Jamie Vardy type of player (not as fast) but pacy and quick to see an opportunity. Gives defenders fits at times.

[mark12345]

And just like that you'd discard Ferguson?

People are fcuking hilarious

Not trying to be "hilarious" or funny even. And haven't forgotten Ferguson. But he is not the E100 m striker he is made out to be. He is third in the pecking order (for my money) behind Joao Pedro and Wellbeck. I have said he may even be playing Championship football next season. That may be overdoing it a bit, I don't know, but he is clearly not doing the job he is paid to do right now (and in fairness to him Brighton are not creating that many chances of late, but he still is third choice striker at the club).

[Razors left peg]

Not trying to be "hilarious" or funny even. And haven't forgotten Ferguson. But he is not the E100 m striker he is made out to be. He is third in the pecking order (for my money) behind Joao Pedro and Wellbeck. I have said he may even be playing Championship football next season. That may be overdoing it a bit, I don't know, but he is clearly not doing the job he is paid to do right now (and in fairness to him Brighton are not creating that many chances of late, but he still is third choice striker at the club).
Your not trying to be funny but think he could be in Championship next season.... right

[mark12345]

Your not trying to be funny but think he could be in Championship next season.... right

Would love to see him tear it up with 7 - 8 goals before the end of the season and kick on to become a world class striker. But right now, he has a long way to go.

[Razors left peg]

You're out of your mind if you think Ferguson isn't a top class player. He's on a bit of a rough patch, like Hoijlund at United before Xmas, but he's far too good for it to last.

For Ireland he's 1st name on team sheet and we build around him for the next 15 years.

[mark12345]

You're out of your mind if you think Ferguson isn't a top class player. He's on a bit of a rough patch, like Hoijlund at United before Xmas, but he's far too good for it to last.

For Ireland he's 1st name on team sheet and we build around him for the next 15 years.

I hope you're right and I am wrong. I honestly do.