Republic of Ireland v Switzerland - Tuesday, 26th March 2024 - Friendly

[CraftyToePoke]

Time for a thread for it.

Who plays in goal ?

[Insidetherock]

Anyone know how/where to buy tickets...

Ticket master still selling them as a duo with Belguim

[nigel-harps1954]

Anyone know how/where to buy tickets...

Ticket master still selling them as a duo with Belguim

There's single tickets available on Ticketmaster now for €35

[passinginterest]

Time for a thread for it.

Who plays in goal ?

Bazunu starts.

Jake O’Brien, Matt Doherty, Ryan Manning, Jason Knight, Adam Idah also come in. Maybe one or two more changes.

I’d expect Cullen to start again, two of the three centre backs. After that it could be all change.

[Razors left peg]

I'd expect O'Shea to play his strongest side as he sees it rather than much experimentation. He wants to win to boost his CV

[SkStu]

I wonder if we’ll get to see Azaz. Could be the boost he needs to reignite at club level too.

Assuming he goes with the same formation, wouldn’t be surprised to see something like this.

Baz
O’Brien Collins O’Shea
Doherty Knight Cullen Manning
Azaz Idah Johnston

Could be Ebosele for Doc. Could see O’Dowda in one of the wb spots too.

[Razors left peg]

I'd like to go 4 at the back and get an extra player going forward in a 4 2 3 1, but I'd keep similar 11 with Bazunu starting and bring in Johnston for one of the defenders. That would allow Szmodics to play more central

[JR89]

Can see it being the same starting XI again.

[tetsujin1979]

I didn't know until earlier that Switzerland are managed by Murat Yakin

He has played against Ireland three times, 2-1 loss at Lansdowne in 2002, 2-0 loss in Basel in 2003, and the 1-1 draw in Basel in 2004, and his brother Hakan Yakin scored in each game

Strangely, neither brother played in Brian Kerr's final game in charge in October 2005.

They're not on a great run at the moment. Only beat Israel, Belarus, and Andorra(twice) last year.

On a five game winless run since beating Andorra in September, and had to score twice in the last few minutes to salvage a 3-3 draw at home to Belarus.

On the other hand, that's not too dissimilar to our recent record

[SkStu]

Can see it being the same starting XI again.

I could be miles off but, given the circumstances of his gig and the possibility of the new manager being in waiting, is there a chance he is under some “advice” to display as many of the players as possible?

[CraftyToePoke]

I could be miles off but, given the circumstances of his gig and the possibility of the new manager being in waiting, is there a chance he is under some “advice” to display as many of the players as possible?

Hence my keeper question, if its a two game job interview for O'Shea, which he did not shoot down in the post match, he went with his guy yesterday & effectively dropped the other. You'd expect the same again Tuesday in those circumstances.

I think there is a manager incoming though. At least I think I think that, today at least, tomorrow being another day & all things considered et cetera.

[SkStu]

Sure this is it Crafty.

[Razors left peg]

I could be miles off but, given the circumstances of his gig and the possibility of the new manager being in waiting, is there a chance he is under some “advice” to display as many of the players as possible?

I doubt he's been told who to play. I think in the post match interview yesterday he was asked if he wanted the job, apparently he just smiled and said ask me after Tuesday. That sounds like a man who thinks he might have a chance and will want to win the game

[pineapple stu]

Would like to see O'Brien get a run, probably for Omobamidele. Not sure if Coleman and Brady have two games in four days in them? Might see Doherty/Manning start if not.

Wouldn't expect wholesale changes though. Happy for Sammy to get another run in particular

[tetsujin1979]

They'll have to play an inexperienced (at international level) keeper tomorrow, Sommer is ruled out
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/switzerland-call-on-rookie-goalkeepers-for-ireland-clash-as-first-choice-yann-sommer-ruled-out/a1482911295.html

Article says that the goalkeepers in the squad have ten caps between them. FWIW, wikipedia says Mvogo(29) has seven, von Ballmoos(also 29) has yet to make his debut, but both have played more than 200 club games, and Omlin(30), who's been called into the squad, has four caps

[JR89]

No Chiedozie for tonight's game.

[Kingdom]

No Chiedozie for tonight's game.

Pineapple Stu will surely be relieved. Doubly so if Andy Omabamidele doesn't play.

[John83]

Pineapple Stu will surely be relieved. Doubly so if Andy Omabamidele doesn't play.
The important thing is that you'll get to feel superior to him.

How about you discuss the football, eh?

[Crosby87]

Exactly. Will the Swiss manager be yakin it up with the officials?

[pineapple stu]

Pineapple Stu will surely be relieved. Doubly so if Andy Omabamidele doesn't play.
Cos of Ogbene?

What have I got against him?

[Kingdom]

The important thing is that you'll get to feel superior to him.
Au contraire mon ami!


How about you discuss the football, eh?

Sure thing. I fear we'll get a wake up call tonight.

[sbgawa]

Time for a thread for it.

Who plays in goal ?

100% Bazunu , it would be incredibly bad man management to not play him , its a friendly and why on earth would you choose to **** off your second goalie when there is absolutly no need (and id say the same if Bazunu had played the last match , it should be Kelleher for this one)

If he had decided Kelleher was his man going forward (or Bazunu) then the time to make that call would be when picking the team for the next compeititive match. Why demotivate one of them now when its entirely possible one of them could miss the next squad through injury anyway making a choice now redundant

[Razors left peg]

Bazunu
Coleman Collins O'Shea Brady
Cullen Smallbone Knight
Johnston Ferguson Szmodics

Ogbene isn't my favorite player but when you take him out of team the wing options are slim enough pickings so I'd go with the extra man in midfield.

[JR89]

Bazunu
Coleman Collins O'Shea Brady
Cullen Smallbone Knight
Johnston Ferguson Szmodics

Ogbene isn't my favorite player but when you take him out of team the wing options are slim enough pickings so I'd go with the extra man in midfield.

Take Johnston out for a CB and you've probably got the starting XI spot on. Doubt he'll move away from three CBs.

[sbgawa]

Bazunu
Coleman Collins O'Shea Brady
Cullen Smallbone Knight
Johnston Ferguson Szmodics

Ogbene isn't my favorite player but when you take him out of team the wing options are slim enough pickings so I'd go with the extra man in midfield.

If i was the Everton manager and O Shea plays Coleman for a second game in 4 days id be hopping mad.
Not sure Brady has two games in him either.
Then again if O Shea is really only in for 2 games (surely he knows) he doesnt have to worry about ongoing relationships with club managers

[liamoo11]

If i was the Everton manager and O Shea plays Coleman for a second game in 4 days id be hopping mad.
Not sure Brady has two games in him either.
Then again if O Shea is really only in for 2 games (surely he knows) he doesnt have to worry about ongoing relationships with club managers

Chance to play a 532. Give azaz a chance in a midfield 3 with smallbone and Knight. Play ferguson and obafemi up top. Give ebosele a reward for 20 odd serial A appearances right wing back and let manning have a cut off left wing back.

[Razors left peg]

Chance to play a 532. Give azaz a chance in a midfield 3 with smallbone and Knight. Play ferguson and obafemi up top. Give ebosele a reward for 20 odd serial A appearances right wing back and let manning have a cut off left wing back.

I dont think you'll see that many changes. When we appointed an interim manager who might end up landing himself in the job we gave up any hope of experimentation in this window. O'Shea will want to put out the strongest team possible that he thinks gives him the best chance to win the game I think.

I actually like the suggestions you made, and if we were looking at the long term manager in charge tonight I'd probably be hoping for something similar

[Kingdom]

Assuming the management team want some structure, solidity and consistency in results, I wouldn't expect too many changes. I wouldn't play Brady or Coleman. I'd like to see O'Brien get a start. I'd like to see us revert to 4 at the back and play a bit more aggressively - i.e. further up the pitch, so that when we do win the ball, we're in a better territorial position to do something with it.

[Fixer82]

Few years since I’ve been in Aviva. Are flags allowed?
I know there’s a flag demonstration for Gaza on 46 mins but not sure I’ll be allowed in with it

[zero]

If i was the Everton manager and O Shea plays Coleman for a second game in 4 days id be hopping mad.
Not sure Brady has two games in him either.
Then again if O Shea is really only in for 2 games (surely he knows) he doesnt have to worry about ongoing relationships with club managers

Everton facing three games in a week from Saturday so I reckon no Coleman or he plays the first half. He hasn't featured too much recently but with that schedule he is likely to see minutes across those games. He'd probably request to be rested/his time managed himself.

[passinginterest]

Bazunu for Kelleher, knight for Smallbone and Johnston for Ogbene look like the only changes.

[texidub]

Was going to make a joke about the Swiss team earlier, but was afraid one of the mods might clock it. Twas a bit cheesy anyway.

Anyway, the lineup has been announced... Coleman's in....

https://twitter.com/IrelandFootball/status/1772692496528843128

[Fixer82]

Was going to make a joke about the Swiss team earlier, but was afraid one of the mods might clock it. Twas a bit cheesy anyway.

Anyway, the lineup has been announced... Coleman's in....

https://twitter.com/IrelandFootball/status/1772692496528843128

Was it something like:

‘F**k Ireland, Up the Swiss!’

[passinginterest]

Was going to make a joke about the Swiss team earlier, but was afraid one of the mods might clock it. Twas a bit cheesy anyway.

Anyway, the lineup has been announced... Coleman's in....

https://twitter.com/IrelandFootball/status/1772692496528843128

Sounds a bit cuckoo. You’d be on your Toblerone in finding Swiss jokes funny.

[texidub]

Was it something like:

‘F**k Ireland, Up the Swiss!’

No one should ever talk like about the BIG like that - even in jest. And that includes the opposition. :D

I see Omobamidele is in for Brady...

[pineapple stu]

Sounds like you have a bit of a Matter-horn for a Swiss joke passing interest...

[Fixer82]

Alp-ologise to the team after the match

[SkStu]

Been coming…has to be said. Johnston turned his back on it.

Here’s a good test of JOSH now anyway.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Had been ok up to be goal. Keeper perhaps not situated well, wall was poor.

[culloty82]

Whatever about the wall, Bazunu was about a step too far to the right to get a proper hand to the free, so mostly on him.

[SkStu]

Szmodics has been very good again so far.

[SkStu]

Awful decision making again from Baz. There was an out ball to Cullen that he turned down and ended up doing nothing and giving them a free hit. Saved by the post.

[pineapple stu]

This feels a bit too Kenny-esque so far, but without the ten minutes' pressure at the start

[CraftyToePoke]

Had been ok up to be goal.

I didn't think so, not compared to Saturday, they were comfortable, we were chasing, and they owned the ball from the off.

[passinginterest]

Fairly poor so far. Thought we were better in possession and more dangerous from open play against Belgium. Missing the directness of Ogbene and the bit of craft of Smallbone. Like much of the Kenny era there’s a drop of intensity from this game to the previous and it feels like the opposition had us figured out from the start. Smodzic probably the brightest spark and Omobamidle has been quite good I think.

[SkStu]

I think Szmodics, Omobamidele and O'Shea have done well. Wing backs have been pulled around a lot and questioning what the instructions are there as Coleman has been the furthest man forward a couple of times in that first half. Not easy to compare directly to the Saturday game but based on the evidence there is, it appears Smallbone/Cullen is a more effective/stable nexus than Knight/Cullen (and I am a Knight fan). Ferguson working hard but not much coming his way or working for him. Bazunu and Johnston have been disappointing. Overall pretty flat performance. I hate when you can hear the players call for the ball and stuff so seems the crowd is pretty muted too.

[third policeman]

Very regressive substitutions

[JR89]

Very regressive substitutions

Yeah rather than change shape we've now got Ferguson RW, Idah CF, and Szmodics LW.

[Olé Olé]

No debut for O'Brien yet?

[JR89]

Is it six or five subs for internationals? Must say off those subs tonight I dread the thoughts of O'Shea getting the job.