Nations League B/C Promotion/Relegation Playoffs - March 2025

[Eirambler]

We've been clever enough about quietly cap-tieing dual eligible players in the last year or so - Cannon, Azaz, Szmodics, McAteer as examples. Bringing in Vata and Abankwah now would continue that trend, it's probably a bit premature for both to be in the seniors - particularly Abankwah - but depending on how the games go there's definitely a potential opportunity to cap-tie them both here.

[rebelmusic]

I watch a lot of QPR, Dunne has only played a hand full of games in the last few years at centre back, he's definitely a right back these days. Worth a look considering our options at right back.

Purely on stats Dunne and Duffy are around the top of the charts for a lot of defensive stats. I wonder will O'Sheas influence get Duffy a call up. You'd have him over McGuiness maybe? Dunne seems to be regularly overlooked as well.

[Razors left peg]

Is Killian Phillips an outside bet for a call up? He's played pretty well against both Old Firm teams recently

[elatedscum]

I’d go for:

Kelleher
Travers
O’Leary

Doherty
Coleman/Key (can’t see Key getting the call)

Collins
O’Shea
O’Brien
Duffy
(Scales for game 2)

Brady
Manning (id be surprised if he makes it)

Cullen
Smallbone
Taylor
Finn (surprised if he makes it)
(Molumby for the second leg)

Knight
Azaz
Moran

Johnston
Robinson
Vata
Armstrong (very surprised if he makes it)

Parrot
Ferguson
Idah
Cannon

Interested to see the squad side, we’ve constantly gone with 23 man squads when our opponents are picking much bigger squads.

Bulgaria have gone for a 27 man squad without suspensions. I’ve gone for 26 for Ireland + 2 returning, but I imagine knowing HH, we’ll go for 23 and might exclude Scales and Molumby anyway.

Coleman was an unused sub last weekend and might declare himself hit to travel, although probably unlikely. If true he’s being called up, Abankwah probably comes at the expense of someone like Josh Key in my squad. I think we’ve really struggled to integrate younger fullbacks at championship level when they’re doing well, which has led to 3 or 4 of our 4 fullbacks consistently being well into their 30s (Coleman, Doherty, Brady - and recently Stevens and McClean). Danny McNamara had a period where he was playing really well and never got a call-up, Jon Gallagher was an MLS All star and didn’t get a call up and Josh Key is probably the best option at present, to at least be seen by staff. We do have centre halves who can play at full-back (O’Brien, O’Shea, Scales) but you don’t just want those type of players as your only options for full back.

On the other side, for me, Manning was good enough against Salah at the weekend, that he’d definitely make my squad. But I’d think O’Dowda is the more likely one to make it.

Can’t see Finn making the squad but he should, Taylor’s probably 50:50, as is Moran.

I think Sinclair Armstrong would give you a really unique option given there’s a lack of real power from the wing - don’t think he’s really ready but I think he has the ability to bully defenders, which without Ogbene and Ebosele, he might be able our best bet if there’s a vulnerability there…

There’s a whole other debate about who should start but that’s probably worth having once the squad has been announced…

[Razors left peg]

I'd actually forgotten about Taylor. He was excellent in the bit of a cameo he's played for us. One to keep an eye on for a start potentially. A midfield 3 of Cullen, Taylor and Azaz could be as good as we've had in a long time

[Eirambler]

Has Finn actually done anything to warrant a call-up? A handful of appearances in a league that's closer in standard to the Championship than the Premier League. He appears to have played in six league games, his team have lost five of them and he's only lasted the full 90 once. I get that players like Cullen, Smallbone, Molumby, Knight and Taylor have their limitations, but at this point I don't see that this lad has made anything close to the impact to suggest he's of the same standard as them.

[Olé Olé]

I'd actually forgotten about Taylor. He was excellent in the bit of a cameo he's played for us. One to keep an eye on for a start potentially. A midfield 3 of Cullen, Taylor and Azaz could be as good as we've had in a long time

Taylor over Knight would be harsh on Knight. One of the best midfielders in Championship behind a lad that didn't play regularly at that level and has been bit part at very best for Ipswich pending relegation. He came in and showed legs and energy against Greece. He could be fine if used in a certain way but I have to imagine that's off the bench.

[elatedscum]

Has Finn actually done anything to warrant a call-up? A handful of appearances in a league that's closer in standard to the Championship than the Premier League. He appears to have played in six league games, his team have lost five of them and he's only lasted the full 90 once. I get that players like Cullen, Smallbone, Molumby, Knight and Taylor have their limitations, but at this point I don't see that this lad has made anything close to the impact to suggest he's of the same standard as them.

i think he's a little different, a little unique, combination of size, physicality and willingness to carry or keep the ball under pressure. not sure he'd play but i think he'd be worth a call-up to see how he looks when training with the other midfielders

[Razors left peg]

Taylor over Knight would be harsh on Knight. One of the best midfielders in Championship behind a lad that didn't play regularly at that level and has been bit part at very best for Ipswich pending relegation. He came in and showed legs and energy against Greece. He could be fine if used in a certain way but I have to imagine that's off the bench.

We've seen a Cullen Knight midfield, and I think we all agree it's the weakest part of our team. It's a very very small sample size but Taylor looked good when he played.

[elatedscum]

I think we all agree it's the weakest part of our team.

i think that is the underlying thing. our midfield hasn't really functioned for any extended time period since Euro 2016. You have to be at least willing to look at guys who maybe are doing what we need at a different or lower level. Wes was playing League 1 and The SPL and was criminally overlooked because of it. So whether it's John Patrick, Luca Connell, Connor Ronan, Killian Phillips, Baba Adeeko, Bosun Lawal, Joe Hodge, Tyler Goodrham - I always think it's worth having one out of the box candidate in the squad until we find players that stick

[Razors left peg]

i think that is the underlying thing. our midfield hasn't really functioned for any extended time period since Euro 2016. You have to be at least willing to look at guys who maybe are doing what we need at a different or lower level. Wes was playing League 1 and The SPL and was criminally overlooked because of it. So whether it's John Patrick, Luca Connell, Connor Ronan, Killian Phillips, Baba Adeeko, Bosun Lawal, Joe Hodge, Tyler Goodrham - I always think it's worth having one out of the box candidate in the squad until we find players that stick


Of that list Goodrham is definitely worth looking at, but didnt he turn down call ups to the 21s? I had big hopes for Lawal this season but at this stage the lad just needs to start playing football before he can even be considered. I think the midfielders we have are playing too well for their clubs at a higher level to have lads who are only doing ok in L1 to jump over them. I said Id probably pick Taylor ahead of Knight, but I dont think you could realistically justify picking Connell ahead of either of those lads. You'd hope that Finn can make big step forward in the next year or so, and then maybe someone like Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh emerges in the Championship next season.

[Eirambler]

I still think our midfield would look a lot better if we could get back to having three players in there. We don't have good enough central midfielders to just play two. They get overrun every time. Why not try Cullen, Knight and Taylor as a starting three in Bulgaria and see how they go as a unit?

Something like:

--------------Kelleher
O'Brien Collins O'Shea Brady
----------Cullen Knight
------Azaz Taylor Johnstone
-------------Ferguson

[tetsujin1979]

Bulgaria squad was announced on Monday: https://bfunion.bg/news/50810/0
Wikipedia has the details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria_national_football_team#Players
Squad is a little inexperienced, only an average of 14 and a half caps each

[SkStu]

I still think our midfield would look a lot better if we could get back to having three players in there. We don't have good enough central midfielders to just play two. They get overrun every time. Why not try Cullen, Knight and Taylor as a starting three in Bulgaria and see how they go as a unit?

Something like:

--------------Kelleher
O'Brien Collins O'Shea Brady
----------Cullen Knight
------Azaz Taylor Johnstone
-------------Ferguson

I think you would lose the best of Azaz putting him there. I'd rather something like the following

------------------Kelleher
O'Brien -- Collins -- O'Shea -- Brady/Manning
---------Taylor -- Cullen -- Knight -------------
------------------- Azaz -------------------------
---------- Ferguson -- Parrott ------------------

[third policeman]

Would go with that apart from Smallbone for Taylor

[Eirambler]

That looks good, but HH seems to like his wingers so I was trying to fit at least one in (Johnston). I had more of a free role in mind for Azaz.

[tetsujin1979]

Sinclair Armstrong to be included in the squad, according to the independent

[Olé Olé]

Sinclair Armstrong to be included in the squad, according to the independent

Must be a big squad in that case. He hasn't done much this season in terms of goals. Abankwah is another that must only be in if it's a bigger squad - can't see him overtaking too many of the other options just yet.

[Razors left peg]

Must be a big squad in that case. He hasn't done much this season in terms of goals. Abankwah is another that must only be in if it's a bigger squad - can't see him overtaking too many of the other options just yet.

Well Ferguson, Idah and Parrott are 3 guaranteed strikers. Cannon wasn't involved with club yesterday so might be injured. Connolly, Obafemi not close and Robinson is a bit meh... so even with a 4 striker squad Armstrong isn't a ridiculous call up

[elatedscum]

Sinclair Armstrong to be included in the squad, according to the independent

Called it first :p

[pineapple stu]

Well Ferguson, Idah and Parrott are 3 guaranteed strikers. Cannon wasn't involved with club yesterday so might be injured. Connolly, Obafemi not close and Robinson is a bit meh... so even with a 4 striker squad Armstrong isn't a ridiculous call up
Doesn't Armstrong usually play out wide?

I'd have Robinson over him any day of the week at the moment, even if he is a bit meh

[texidub]

The Armstrong choice seems to fit with HH's earlier talk of Ireland needing more intimidating physicality and presence on the pitch, no?

[~YTM~]

Doesn't Armstrong usually play out wide?

I'd have Robinson over him any day of the week at the moment, even if he is a bit meh

Plays CF for Bristol but can see Hallgrimsson using him as a RW if called up.

[Eirambler]

Confirmation that Vata and Abankwah are in the squad. Vata in particular is a big win as he is eligible for four countries who would all happily cap tie him at the first opportunity, so important that we do just that this month. Continues a long tradition of players from here in the west of Scotland playing for Ireland as well. Houghton, Slaven, Coyne, Coyle, McGeady, McCarthy, Johnston and now Vata that I can think of. (Edit: Charlie Gallagher in the 1960s as well, so Vata would/will be the ninth.)

I presume whichever twitter page it was that had got them panicking over in the asylum about Vata switching to Albania Under 21s had mixed up Vata and Zefi.

[Acornvilla]

James has lived all over the country but I am claiming him as an Irish International from Longford when he gets capped :D

Still can't believe we never signed him

[Eirambler]

1900162431508271231

O'Leary, Coleman, McGuinness, Duffy, Scales, Manning, Molumby, Browne, Moran, Cannon, Robinson is a decent team of players who haven't made the squad and who I haven't yet heard are out injured. Decent depth now.

Kasey McAteer as well. And Omobamidele, Ogbene, Ebosele and Szmodics are all out injured.

HH capping his squad at 23 once again. I'd say the opportunity to cap-tie was the deciding factor in a few 50/50 calls - definitely Vata, probably Abankwah and possibly Dunne who is still eligible for the north.

Also am a fan of us just calling it the Ireland squad now. :)

[tetsujin1979]

Squad stats. Quite young, only two players over 30
1900167261459018050

[pineapple stu]

O'Leary, Coleman, McGuinness, Duffy, Scales, Manning, Molumby, Browne, Moran, Cannon, Robinson is a decent team of players who haven't made the squad and who I haven't yet heard are out injured. Decent depth now
Molumby jumps out there - I know our midfield hasn't been pulling up trees but have we really replaced him with better there? He's a regular for a side in the playoff spots. Thought he was suspended for this but can't find a mention online (I could very easily be confusing it with another suspension in fairness)

Robinson can consider himself unlucky - don't think Armstrong has done much to warrant being selected ahead of him (texidub's comment on strength aside)

But overall it is what it is. I think every time I see these squads I get a feeling that it's young promising players who are at various stages of stagnation, and even being replaced by other thing promising players who'll ultimately also stagnate.

Would be confident enough of beating Bulgaria, who are on a huge slide. But it's five years since Kenny started blooding a new generation and I still don't feel we're any closer to being competitive in League B or a qualifying campaign.

[Town Legend]

James was born in Waterford, moved to Dublin, then onto Donegal, then to Longford and back to Dublin before moving abroad.
I don't think he can be claimed as a Longford man when there was quite a few moves in between him coming to Longford lol
He didn't even start out his youth football in Longford.

[pateen]

What does manning have to do to get selected?

[Acornvilla]

James was born in Waterford, moved to Dublin, then onto Donegal, then to Longford and back to Dublin before moving abroad.
I don't think he can be claimed as a Longford man when there was quite a few moves in between him coming to Longford lol
He didn't even start out his youth football in Longford.
He did go to school in Melview for about 5 years while playing for Melview and the Longford Kennedy cup team, and that's how he ended up being picked up by Cherry Orchard I imagine. There is a reason I said I'm claiming him, and not that he is from Longford :D

[Demesne Lad]

Couldn't complain if Max O'Leary declined to turn up if he is included in a future squad. EFL Championship games this season: 37, 10 clean sheets, average goals/game conceded 1.08
Bazunu preferred; Belgian Pro League games : 5, clean sheets 0, average goals/game conceded 2.4.

Bazunu may in time turn out to be the better 'keeper, but what is the point of including him in this particular squad?

[Razors left peg]

Decent squad, only complaint I'd have us Sykes ahead of Moran. Don't rate Sykes at all

[Eirambler]

He did go to school in Melview for about 5 years while playing for Melview and the Longford Kennedy cup team, and that's how he ended up being picked up by Cherry Orchard I imagine. There is a reason I said I'm claiming him, and not that he is from Longford :D

I think the place where you live while you're at school, particularly secondary school, is probably where you feel the most affinity to, rather than where you are born or where you live later in life. So I wouldn't be surprised if Abankwah considered himself to be a Longford man.

[Acornvilla]

Couldn't complain if Max O'Leary declined to turn up if he is included in a future squad. EFL Championship games this season: 37, 10 clean sheets, average goals/game conceded 1.08
Bazunu preferred; Belgian Pro League games : 5, clean sheets 0, average goals/game conceded 2.4.

Bazunu may in time turn out to be the better 'keeper, but what is the point of including him in this particular squad?
I'd say in the last 3 seasons, he's probably played close to as many club games as the other trio combined, could probably have had a Randolph/Forde level career in another era.

[Eirambler]

Decent squad, only complaint I'd have us Sykes ahead of Moran. Don't rate Sykes at all

Interestingly I don't rate Moran at all at present, while he might eventually come good I think he's powderpuff and a waste of a squad place at this point in time. Given we're down Ogbene and Ebosele on the right hand side I can see the logic of including Sykes.

[pineapple stu]

What does manning have to do to get selected?
I suppose if he's behind O'Dowda and Brady, I could understand that. Probably not a huge difference between playing for a mid-table Championship side and an awful Southampton one.

His international career is a bit of an enigma though, given he plays in an area we're regularly stuck for.

[Eirambler]

Good press conference from Hallgrimsson, his 6 minute run through of the squad at the start to save a load of questions was enlightening and is worth a watch back. He probably thought I can't be arsed listening the the usual questions from these idiots so I'll just do a quick run through.

In short Scales and Cannon are injured. O'Leary being given the camp off as his partner is due to give birth. Molumby is available for the second leg if needed. Coleman, Manning and Moran just not picked but probably next in line in their positions.

Says Finn is being watched but his club performances have been hit and miss. Seems to be a big fan of Vata. We are following up on some eligible players but he's not naming names at this stage.

The rest of the press conference was wasted with him responding to whatever is the latest nonsense Stephen Bradley has come out with.

[Stuttgart88]

There are enough good inclusions to stop me moaning about any omissions. Taylor, O'Brien, Armstrong, Abankwah, Vata and Dunne are all welcome inclusions.

Armstrong's ability to disrupt is up there with Festy's, obviously from a different position.

I hear O'Leary's wife is expecting a baby v soon explaining his omission because that stood out for me. No way Bazunu deserves a call up over him.

McGuinness and Omobamidele are both injured I think. Scales both injured and suspended.

Cannon and McAteer's omissions don't upset me.

Is Molumby suspended? Otherwise harsh.

(Edit: written before / during Eirambler's post was published)

[Razors left peg]

Interestingly I don't rate Moran at all at present, while he might eventually come good I think he's powderpuff and a waste of a squad place at this point in time. Given we're down Ogbene and Ebosele on the right hand side I can see the logic of including Sykes.

Thats a very harsh assessment of Moran. He's playing in Championship every week (although not yesterday) and he hasn't been shown up to be too lightweight. He's eager for the ball and we don't have enough players that are.

[Eirambler]

Thats a very harsh assessment of Moran. He's playing in Championship every week (although not yesterday) and he hasn't been shown up to be too lightweight. He's eager for the ball and we don't have enough players that are.

Most Stoke fans would disagree I'd say. They see him as being more a part of their problems this season than a solution. He has plenty of time on his side, it's a shame he's just a few months overage for the next Under 21 campaign, otherwise that would be the best place for him for now.

[Olé Olé]

Confirmation that Vata and Abankwah are in the squad. Vata in particular is a big win as he is eligible for four countries who would all happily cap tie him at the first opportunity, so important that we do just that this month. Continues a long tradition of players from here in the west of Scotland playing for Ireland as well. Houghton, Slaven, Coyne, Coyle, McGeady, McCarthy, Johnston and now Vata that I can think of. (Edit: Charlie Gallagher in the 1960s as well, so Vata would/will be the ninth.)

I presume whichever twitter page it was that had got them panicking over in the asylum about Vata switching to Albania Under 21s had mixed up Vata and Zefi.

Great news regarding Vata.

His situation is interesting in the context of the names Eirambler references.

Slaven - Irish grandfather
Houghton - Irish father
Coyne - ???
McCarthy - Irish maternal grandfather referenced as his inspiration to play for us but paternal Irish surname
Johnton - Irish grandfather
McGeady - Irish paternal grandparents
Now, Vata - Irish grandmother

Plenty of lads in Scotland happy to play for us on the basis of one grandparent. I think the Celtic connection helps.

[Eirambler]

Yes, no coincidence that it's always lads in the west of Scotland that play for us. There isn't the same connection elsewhere in the country. Here in the southside of Glasgow the Irish community is relatively small and quite intertwined still, particularly through the catholic school system. Even as a blow-in myself, albeit married to a local from the Glasgow Irish community, I would have fairly close links to more than one of the players on that list.

[Razors left peg]

Most Stoke fans would disagree I'd say. They see him as being more a part of their problems this season than a solution. He has plenty of time on his side, it's a shame he's just a few months overage for the next Under 21 campaign, otherwise that would be the best place for him for now.

I've watched probably 6 or 7 Stoke games this season and any internet warrior that's blaming Moran for anything hasn't as clue about football

[Eirambler]

Honestly he's not that good. Tidy on the ball but offers nothing off it. We're more in need midfielders who can do a bit of both, even if they're a shade off Premier League quality. Plenty of time for him to develop though.

[ifk101]

Still feels experimental/ “getting to know you” for games we need to win. Some odd selections there imo. Not arguing against the merit of including Dunne and Abankwah, but why drop McGuinness who played the full 90 mins in the last game? Seems like a squad that could do with the experience of Browne and Robinson, rather than having a look at players like Armstrong – again these are games we need to win. Vata’s inclusion must surely be to tie him to us as don’t think he has done enough to merit inclusion. Understand he had an injury that slowed him down but hasn’t played many minutes since becoming available again. Not that I’d include him either, but think Aidomo Emakhu is as good an option as Vata if not better. Think Moran can feel aggrieved.

[Eirambler]

McGuinness has been in poor form lately. Personally I'd have had Robinson in there. But then I'd also have picked about 26 players, not 23. So maybe the same squad, but with Manning, Molumby and Robinson added in.

[Razors left peg]

Is the 23 man squad thing a cost saving exercise by the FAI?

[tetsujin1979]

Couldn't complain if Max O'Leary declined to turn up if he is included in a future squad. EFL Championship games this season: 37, 10 clean sheets, average goals/game conceded 1.08
Bazunu preferred; Belgian Pro League games : 5, clean sheets 0, average goals/game conceded 2.4.

Bazunu may in time turn out to be the better 'keeper, but what is the point of including him in this particular squad?

in the press conference, Halgrimsson mentioned that O'Leary and his partner are expecting a child very soon and he was omitted because of this.

[SkStu]

Thats a very harsh assessment of Moran. He's playing in Championship every week (although not yesterday) and he hasn't been shown up to be too lightweight. He's eager for the ball and we don't have enough players that are.

Sykes offers us way more than Moran in terms of utility. And he has had a good season - last time i checked the fans love him but hes not chalking up the same level of G/A stats that he had been before. Moran would be behind Azaz (fair) and HH might also see Parrott as a stopgap in that position. I am fine with the call.