Finland v Republic of Ireland - Thursday, 10th October 2024 - UEFA Nations League

[pineapple stu]

Am I the only love sick fool, who thinks we will win tomorrow?
I've temporarily given up thinking we'll win, but equally I don't think Finland are great shakes and we shouldn't be thinking we can't win.

[liamoo11]

I've temporarily given up thinking we'll win, but equally I don't think Finland are great shakes and we shouldn't be thinking we can't win.

We have to be winning this. Players need to take ownership and get the job done. Leaving out doherty hopefully has started a culture of accountability that has been sadly lacking.

[joey B]

I've temporarily given up thinking we'll win, but equally I don't think Finland are great shakes and we shouldn't be thinking we can't win.

I watched a Finnish midfielder smack in a free kick for Sparta Prague last week in the Champions League and it got me kinda worried, not many Irish midfielders doing that recently !

[CraftyToePoke]

Am I the only love sick fool, who thinks we will win tomorrow?

You can get 6.75/1 on a W D combo tomorrow and Sunday. For those who remain particularly afflicted to an extent they retain only a commuting relationship with our reality. I stuck a quid on that obviously.

[joey B]

Current Greek international George Baldock found dead today, desperately sad news at only 31 years of age......

[pineapple stu]

That's mad; drowned in his pool only a few weeks after signing for Panathanaikos it seems. Poor ****er.

Wasn't in the squad otherwise you'd imagine there'd have been serious doubts over Sunday's game. (Is there a precedent for that? Can't think of one but probably it has happened) Some of the Greek players may still want a postponement but not sure UEFA would go with it?

[tetsujin1979]

There's a few players from Panathinaikos in the Greek squad - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece_national_football_team#Current_squad
Baldock played in their two play off games in March against Kazakhstan and Georgia.
Only 31, RIP.

[Eirambler]

Pukki's finished. Ridiculous he's still included. Call up <obscure 21s international with three games in Slovakia> instead!

We know he's finnish, but the question is whether he's any good at football these days or not!

[Diggs246]

You can get 6.75/1 on a W D combo tomorrow and Sunday. For those who remain particularly afflicted to an extent they retain only a commuting relationship with our reality. I stuck a quid on that obviously.

I would say we will win tonight and lose on Sunday. Greece will be playing for their mate who passed away. They are also better at football, so i just can't see us getting anything out of that game

[John83]

Any predictions for the lineup?

[Diggs246]

Any predictions for the lineup?


Kelleher

Andrew O. OShea Collins Scales



Ogbene Cullen Jason M Mcateer


Sammie Sz

Troy

[pineapple stu]

Ogbene Cullen Jason M Mcateer

Brave call given it's 20 years since his last cap :p

[Bottle of Tonic]

Yeah, I think we'll win and I'm really looking forward to the game.

I definitely think I must have some sort of condition or ism at this rate!

[Predator]

Any predictions for the lineup?
Kelleher;
Festy, Collins, O'Shea, Brady;
Ogbene, Cullen, Molumby, Szmodics;
Parrott, Ferguson.

Bit of a shot in the dark and probably too attacking, this sort of lineup would intrigue me.

Given that Omobamidele isn't playing at all for his club, he probably has no business being in the squad, nevermind starting, but based on the last window I suspect he might well start at right back if HH goes 4-4-2. I think Festy has a strong claim to start ahead of him though - he has been playing well recently and is used to playing the right side of defence.

People groan about Robbie Brady, but I think he's in the team on merit and his set-piece deliveries are probably the best in the squad.

It wouldn't be a huge surprise, but I could see HH opting for 3-5-2 based on who he has chosen in the panel. In that case this XI might be interesting:

Kelleher
O'Shea, Collins, Scales
Ogbene, Molumby, Cullen, Brady
Szmodics
Parrott, Ferguson

Our best three CBs on paper have to be O'Shea, Collins and Scales. There's balance to that combination and they're all currently performing at a high level. McGuinness is toiling at the bottom end of the Championship with Luton, but he's been called up for a closer look and he could potentially come in for Scales. I'd be curious to see what a front three of Ferguson with Parrott and Szmodics just behind on either side would look like. They are all good enough technically to create problems for defences, but I have a feeling there might only be room for two (or even one) of them.

[elatedscum]

O’Dowda doesn’t make the squad…

What I would do:

Kelleher

O’Shea
Collins
Scales
Brady

Cullen
Molumby

Ogbene
Knight
Szmodics

Parrott

What I’d guess he might do:

Kelleher

Omobamidele
O’Shea
Collins
Brady

Cullen
Molumby

Ogbene
Knight
Szmodzics

Ferguson

[pineapple stu]

O’Dowda doesn’t make the squad…

O'Dowda withdrew injured a few days ago. Interesting that we didn't call up another left-sided option to replace him. Manning was there but overlooked (and in fairness has only played what - one game all season?) But not a great look for any sort of solution to our problems there.

[elatedscum]

O'Dowda withdrew injured a few days ago. Interesting that we didn't call up another left-sided option to replace him. Manning was there but overlooked (and in fairness has only played what - one game all season?) But not a great look for any sort of solution to our problems there.

Hadn’t seen that. Weird, made total sense not to call up Manning when the squad was announced but once he started against Arsenal, that changed. Would have been smart and easy to call him up to replace O’Dowda but feels like we’re still making strange decisions like only calling up 4 midfielders last camp. I still think choosing a camp when Coleman is injured to drop Doherty isn’t smart when we’re left with a choice of 2 centre halves or a wing back to play right back and recently we were calling up 28 man squads, so there’s no real limit to what we can choose.

[zero]

Hadn’t seen that. Weird, made total sense not to call up Manning when the squad was announced but once he started against Arsenal, that changed. Would have been smart and easy to call him up to replace O’Dowda but feels like we’re still making strange decisions like only calling up 4 midfielders last camp. I still think choosing a camp when Coleman is injured to drop Doherty isn’t smart when we’re left with a choice of 2 centre halves or a wing back to play right back and recently we were calling up 28 man squads, so there’s no real limit to what we can choose.

I'd be fairly sure that Doherty's omission was a statement along the lines of coasting along won't be tolerated, despite whatever media spin may have been put on it. As such would have looked a bit weak to back down on it.

[MeathDrog]

Even if we we had to pick full backs from the LOI I wouldn't bring Doherty back. Absolutely the correct decision and a ballsy one by Heimir.

[Eirambler]

What I’d guess he might do:

Kelleher

Omobamidele
O’Shea
Collins
Brady

Cullen
Molumby

Ogbene
Knight
Szmodzics

Ferguson

This would be my predicted team as well. Scales might challenge Brady and Parrott might challenge Szmodics for starting spots.

[rebelmusic]

I wouldn't be surprised if he gives one or two people a chance that we're not expecting. He's in a sweet spot to get a couple of lads to play their hearts out for him in the long term by showing them some trust so I think we might see Taylor or Azaz or someone somewhere noone is expecting.

[SkStu]

O'Dowda withdrew injured a few days ago. Interesting that we didn't call up another left-sided option to replace him. Manning was there but overlooked (and in fairness has only played what - one game all season?) But not a great look for any sort of solution to our problems there.

With the demands of the two positions becoming ever more similar, I know we are all used to fullbacks playing in midfield by now (Lahm, incl. inverted etc) but one of the interesting things that i have seen a little bit of recently is midfielders playing full back (in a back 4) to some degree of success - usually in a pinch, which i think applies to us in both FB positions. Garner at Everton is one. Do we have any candidates for that type of switch (recognizing Brady may already count)?

[pineapple stu]

Well have we not kind of tried that with Browne and O'Dowda to limited success (and Browne wasn't even called up this time)?

[CraftyToePoke]

Knight. Played there for Derby. Suitable skillset too maybe. Makes as much sense as putting Omobamidele there in his condition. Expect Omobamidele to play though.

[SkStu]

Well have we not kind of tried that with Browne and O'Dowda to limited success (and Browne wasn't even called up this time)?

Brady and Browne crossed my mind, yeah (Browne was deployed as more of a wing back iirc) and, just for clarity, I was referring to central mids. Knight is a great call. No one jumps out similarly on the left...

[John83]

We're not exactly flush with centre mids to be playing them at full back.

[elatedscum]

Browne did it for Kenny. Meyler did it for O'Neill. I think Knight might have played there once under Kenny and maybe Sykes off the bench...

[CraftyToePoke]

We're not exactly flush with centre mids to be playing them at full back.

He has spent time on the bench, Knight, for us despite that.
I'd look at him there if we're having to look at Omobamidele there. Cullen / Taylor / Molumby / Smallbone when back, he can probably be spared if needed if it worked.

[elatedscum]

Team announced:

Kelleher

O’Shea
Collins
Scales
Brady

Knight
Cullen
Azaz

Ogbene
Ferguson
Szmodics

[Olé Olé]

https://x.com/IrelandFootball/status/1844430193483461115

Is this 4 at the back with O'Shea right back and Brady left back?

Or 5 at the back with Ogbene or Knight right wing back and Brady left wing back?

Seems like:

Kelleher
Ogbene O'Shea Collins Scales Brady
Cullen Knight
Ogbene Szmodics Azaz
Ferguson

[Murfinator]

https://x.com/IrelandFootball/status/1844430193483461115

Is this 4 at the back with O'Shea right back and Brady left back?

Or 5 at the back with Ogbene or Knight right wing back and Brady left wing back?

Seems like:

Kelleher
Ogbene O'Shea Collins Scales Brady
Cullen Knight
Ogbene Szmodics Azaz
Ferguson

If we've managed to clone Ogbene and get away with him as a 12th man we might just have a chance!

[seanfhear]

https://x.com/IrelandFootball/status/1844430193483461115

Is this 4 at the back with O'Shea right back and Brady left back?

Or 5 at the back with Ogbene or Knight right wing back and Brady left wing back?

Seems like:

Kelleher
Ogbene O'Shea Collins Scales Brady
Cullen Knight
Ogbene Szmodics Azaz
Ferguson
There is only two Ogbenes ! !

[texidub]

We all dream of a team with two Ogbenes, a team with two Ogbenes...

[backstothewall]

To me Ogbene and Brady as wingbacks seems the most likely setup with that lineup.

[Eirambler]

4-4-1-1 it seems. Ogbene and Szmodics wide, Azaz in the 10 position behind Ferguson. Brady left back and Scales centre back, probably Collins the other CB and O'Shea at right back (those two could be the other way around but that seems more likely). HH clearly has a curve ball or two in his team selections, I definitely didn't expect Azaz to start. Other than that, close enough to earlier predictions, a bit of a shuffle at the back with AO out and Scales in.

[Predator]

It wouldn't be a huge surprise, but I could see HH opting for 3-5-2 based on who he has chosen in the panel. In that case this XI might be interesting:

Kelleher
O'Shea, Collins, Scales
Ogbene, Molumby, Cullen, Brady
Szmodics
Parrott, Ferguson

I wasn't far off. Azaz in for Parrott and Knight in for Molumby.

Interesting to see him go for Knight over Molumby. The return of Cullen evidently changes the midfield dynamic. Was Azaz injured during the last window? I can't recall. Always striking to see players who weren't involved at all in the previous window suddenly starting in the next.

[Eirambler]

Azaz was fit last time, but Hallgrimsson didn't pick the squad. O'Shea and (more likely) McCarthy did and left us woefully short on centre mids once the decision was made to switch to three in the middle.

[Insidetherock]

Why.. de f.. do I have to look at Robbie Brady.. again

Why...

[Eirambler]

Personally I'd have maybe shuffled the back four and put Scales at left back and Omobamidele in at centre back. But then Omobamidele hasn't been playing for his club at all. And Scales didn't look as confident for Celtic playing left back as he has at centre back. The other option is O'Shea at left back, but then you probably need to put Omobamidele back in at right back.

Basically there's no good option at left back, but I'm far from convinced that Brady is the least worst one.

[tetsujin1979]

Starting XI stats
https://www.instagram.com/p/DA89ob-IVsP/

[joey B]

1844443499535692001

[joey B]

That’s horrific from Collins …

[brine3]

A shame to give away that goal, considering we are actually playing decent for once.

[brine3]

What the hell was that goal disallowed for?

[lofty9]

What the hell was that goal disallowed for?

Must've gone out of play, definitely wasn't offside

[Insidetherock]

We actually look better than this crowd.. what a sickener of a goal to give away

[backstothewall]

Some of the balls being played to Ferguson are ridiculous. I've no issue with a direct style of football but he's double or treble marked and it's being sent up to him to try to win a header.

With that said he looks a shadow of the player he was 2 years ago.

I'm not at all sure about O'Shea at right back.

Cullen is very important to us.

[Insidetherock]

Can any other player take a free/throw/corner, other than Robbie Brady.. he'd sicken your hole, every single time grabbing the ball..

The first sign I'll take of leadership in that team, is when I see a player tell him eff off back to left back

[SkStu]

Tough to watch this. Don’t deserve to be behind but have done nothing to show we should be ahead. One stupid moment later and we’re behind. Aimless stuff. And Ferguson is not a target man.

Plus ça change…

[Colbert Report]

Brady is by far our best free kick taker and can still cross a ball better than anyone else. Not sure why he's in the squad though, Ryan Manning surely deserves a run?