Armenia v Republic of Ireland - Tuesday, 9 September 2025 - 2026 World Cup Qualifier

[Fixer82]

I'm pretty nervous about this. We need to score in first half I think. And not concede. I still have PTSD from San Marino when Stephen Ireland saved our bacon at the last minute

[Fixer82]

Tell me this,

Is match day squad now the full starting line up and bench or do they still name a bench with other players excluded from participating (which I always thought was really stupid and pointless)

[rebelmusic]

Tell me this,

Is match day squad now the full starting line up and bench or do they still name a bench with other players excluded from participating (which I always thought was really stupid and pointless)

It's a 23 man squad and 23 are in the match day team. If he had named more players to the squad then there would be a difference but for HHs approach it's sort of a moot point

[mark12345]

I'm pretty nervous about this. We need to score in first half I think. And not concede. I still have PTSD from San Marino when Stephen Ireland saved our bacon at the last minute

This is a win or bust game. Anything less than 3 points and it is all over for Irish football, not just for this campaign but for a very long time to come.

[SkStu]

Watched the Portugal game on Saturday and Armenia are a very weak team. Their recent record backs that up. Kenny's Ireland the only exception to that recent record. Lets see if HH's Ireland can shake that particular bogeyman off. I am confident they will.

[pineapple stu]

I think Armenia have gone backwards even since they beat us (and ran us very close in Dublin of course). I'm wary of being confident of a win because God knows how many times that's backfired of late - but I'm also confident of a win. A comfortable 2-0 would be nice for a change

[tetsujin1979]

They've conceded 21 games in five games this year, including conceding five (or more) three times. They haven't won at home in a year, including a loss to the Faroe Islands in November.
If we can't win this, it's time to give serious thought to giving up on football.

[mark12345]

They've conceded 21 games in five games this year, including conceding five (or more) three times. They haven't won at home in a year, including a loss to the Faroe Islands in November.
If we can't win this, it's time to give serious thought to giving up on football.

Agree completely. If we can't win this it is time to put our time and efforts (us fans I'm talking about) into something that pays dividends at least once in a while. It is time also, win or lose, for a complete lobotomy of our approach to the game. Coaching in Ireland is of a high standard and is improving, I keep hearing. Yet we still can't produce midfield players who crate or strikers who score for the most part. And Irish teams still do not play a passing game that involves all 10 players like those world beaters from Hungary did on Saturday and Armenia will do later on today. Hoping for an Irish win like everyone else but after being totally outclassed by Hungary in the first half, one wonders where exactly this team is going?

[elatedscum]

Team announced: Assuming it's 4-3-3 but I guess it could be a narrow 5-4-1 with Ogbene and Manning as wing backs.

Kelleher

O'Brien
O'Shea
Collins
Manning

Cullen
Knight
Taylor

Ogbene
Ferguson
Azaz

///

Personally I'd have dropped probably Cullen, lost one midfielder anyway and played a proper winger in Johnston. I suppose I can see the logic in Manning overlapping and Azaz tucking inside

[mark12345]

Team announced: Assuming it's 4-3-3 but I guess it could be a narrow 5-4-1 with Ogbene and Manning as wing backs.

Kelleher

O'Brien
O'Shea
Collins
Manning

Cullen
Knight
Taylor

Ogbene
Ferguson
Azaz

///

Personally I'd have dropped probably Cullen, lost one midfielder anyway and played a proper winger in Johnston. I suppose I can see the logic in Manning overlapping and Azaz tucking inside

I think you're spot on. Three center backs and Manning and Ogbene as wing backs. Like yourself I would have preferred Johnson started in place of Cullen, Knight, or Taylor. We cannot afford to leave his attacking abilities on the bench.

[ifk101]

Same shape as before?

Out of possession:
Kelleher;
O’Brien, O’Shea, Collins, Manning;
Ogbene, Cullen, Knight, Azaz;
Ferguson, Taylor.

In possession:
Kelleher;
O’Brien, O’Shea, Collins;
Ogbene, Cullen, Knight, Manning;
Azaz, Taylor;
Ferguson.

If the tactics are aerial, Ogbene and Taylor give extra targets.

[passinginterest]

Hard to guess the shape. It's probably just going to be some minor shuffling around. I'd say it's the same as the last day but: Manning left full, Knight left wing, Taylor beside Cullen, Ogbene on the right instead of Smodzics.

[Eirambler]

I feel like, if we just have two centre mids again, we're at risk of messing up in Yerevan, bad and all as Armenia are. I'd like to see us put an extra body in there to try and dominate the middle, but they just don't seem interested in trying it.

Something like

Kelleher
O'Brien Collins O'Shea Manning
Cullen Taylor
Johnston Azaz Knight
Ferguson

with Knight tucking in as a third centre mid when we're out of possession, and also making space for Manning to push forward onto the left wing when the opportunity arises.



Other than him going for Ogbene over Johnston that's the team. Maybe HH was reading the forum! He could play Azaz wide in a 4-3-3, or go for the kind of setup I posted there.

Needless to say I'm very happy that he's picked three centre midfielders (not including Azaz), as trying to go with two has been our downfall in these kinds of games in the recent past.

I'd probably have started Johnston over Ogbene but I can see the logic in keeping Johnston back for bench impact as well.

[Eirambler]

I think Armenia have gone backwards even since they beat us (and ran us very close in Dublin of course). I'm wary of being confident of a win because God knows how many times that's backfired of late - but I'm also confident of a win. A comfortable 2-0 would be nice for a change

It felt like a lot of these kinds of teams were claimed to be "on the up" when they beat or took points off us in recent years - Azerbaijan, Armenia, Luxembourg...when they stopped getting to play SK managed teams they seemed to drift back down again.

I think Armenia have always been a poor team, they were poor when they beat us and they're poor now. No excuses, we need to go out and get the three points one way or another here if we're to have any prospect of finishing second in this group.

However, that said, this game is probably Armenia's best hope of a result across all six of their group games, so they'll presumably throw everything at it here.

[pineapple stu]

I think Armenia have always been a poor team, they were poor when they beat us and they're poor now.
I suppose they were at a sort of a peak in that they'd just gotten promoted from League C, ahead of North Macedonia and Georgia, who both performed creditably at the Euros on either side. They had Mkhitaryan then too, which they don't now.

But there may be something in the "We made them good" alright. And there's definitely something in the idea that this is their best chance of a result, and they did us before, so they'll be up for it.

[geysir]

Team announced: Assuming it's 4-3-3 but I guess it could be a narrow 5-4-1 with Ogbene and Manning as wing backs.

Kelleher

O'Brien
O'Shea
Collins
Manning

Cullen
Knight
Taylor

Ogbene
Ferguson
Azaz

///

Personally I'd have dropped probably Cullen, lost one midfielder anyway and played a proper winger in Johnston. I suppose I can see the logic in Manning overlapping and Azaz tucking inside
You want to punish an already weak midfield with an exorcism?

[rebelmusic]

Taylor has a very strong edge of the box shot so I hope there's some thinking to use that weapon as well. We know we'll be up against a low block so good to have an alternative to the crosses

[Razors left peg]

I always think that Taylor improves us, I like this team

[Kingdom]

It felt like a lot of these kinds of teams were claimed to be "on the up" when they beat or took points off us in recent years - Azerbaijan, Armenia, Luxembourg...when they stopped getting to play SK managed teams they seemed to drift back down again.
I think Armenia have always been a poor team, they were poor when they beat us and they're poor now. No excuses, we need to go out and get the three points one way or another here if we're to have any prospect of finishing second in this group.
However, that said, this game is probably Armenia's best hope of a result across all six of their group games, so they'll presumably throw everything at it here.

We have struggled with ex-Soviet teams more than any other, going back pre-Kenny, regardless of international standing. Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, even the Baltic states on occasion. I dunno why, but it's the case. Georgia specifically have made us look very poor on occasion.
And Armenia when they reached their peak a few years ago, were never just about Henrik Mickataryan (sp?), they had an absolute ******* of a centre-forward in Movsisyan too.

[Eirambler]

Dan McD in the stadium thinks it might be a 3-5-1-1 tonight based on the warm up.

Just not sure we need to be playing three out and out centre backs. Mind you it's better than the god awful Paddy McCarthy inspired 3-4-3 we were playing a while back - three centre backs marking nobody and limited cover in front of them to boot.

[Kingdom]

Delighted Jacko is in, think it's long overdue - and there's a goal in him, that much is certain.

I'm concerned - but as ever remain hopeful we will win.

[rebelmusic]

4-5-1 based on the pre-match interview

Fair dues to Ogbene and O'Shea giving the anthem socks!

[Razors left peg]

Dan McD in the stadium thinks it might be a 3-5-1-1 tonight based on the warm up.

Just not sure we need to be playing three out and out centre backs. Mind you it's better than the god awful Paddy McCarthy inspired 3-4-3 we were playing a while back - three centre backs marking nobody and limited cover in front of them to boot.

Fotmob has it pretty much like that too

[SkStu]

touch of a McGregor there from Knight...

[Kingdom]

touch of a McGregor there from Knight...

was just thinking of the old joke of 'second touch being a tackle'

[rebelmusic]

Good start. I've a feeling we're going to be crying out for Ogbene to be replaced early. Taylor really impressive so far

[Razors left peg]

Nice to see Ferguson is already learning a bit of old fashioned Italian sh1thousing. Opening the keepers glove was funny

[Kingdom]

jesus christ Josh Cullen is such a bloody cheap ball merchant it's infuriating. Is he totally incapable of playing a ball forward into feet?

[SkStu]

Good start. I've a feeling we're going to be crying out for Ogbene to be replaced early. Taylor really impressive so far

that pass from Ogbene inside to Azaz a minute ago was unforgivable to be honest. A simple six yard pass.

[passinginterest]

As much as I love Ogbene he's had at least 3 really poor mistakes already. Hopefully cancels that out by creating or scoring soon!

[passinginterest]

Taylor is going to get booked for his next tackle. Keeps leaving a sloppy foot in. His slow pass on the counter was criminal too. He adds some much needed physical presence, but he's sloppy with it.

[The Fly]

So glad to see Doherty dropped from the starting 11.

[rebelmusic]

As much as I love Ogbene he's had at least 3 really poor mistakes already. Hopefully cancels that out by creating or scoring soon!

I've counted 5 decent attack opportunities he's needlessly thrown away. I'd be bringing on Mcateer at half time if there isn't a major improvement

[Eirambler]

Ogbene and Taylor really stunting our momentum so far. Wouldn't have Taylor that far forward or Azaz out as wide.

[pineapple stu]

Ferguson's coming off here, isn't he?

Edit - no, playing on thankfully

[the 12 th man]

Hefty blow to the head there for Ferguson.

[Razors left peg]

After starting well we've now gone into the dip that usually takes opposition goal to snap out of

[SkStu]

Taylor might have won a peno there. Should have gone down.

[Kingdom]

Why do the changes we make in one part, undermine the positive aspects that appear to have been worked towards previously?

Azaz shows positively in the previous windows playing centrally, looking to and getting onto, the ball. This window? We make him peripheral.
We make a positive move in bringing in Jack Taylor and we undermine this by unbalancing the team by putting Ogbene wide and forcing Azaz to do likewise. It's frustrating.

And I'm sorry, but the idea of having a kid who is 6ft 25 or whatever height he is, to take a long throw (anywhere) but more importantly on the furthest point away from his position is just stupid and is going to be punished at some point. Why not work on the throw-in routine to work the ball to Manning or Azaz to cross the ball for the the giant at the top of the beanstalk where he can do real damage?

[liamoo11]

I've counted 5 decent attack opportunities he's needlessly thrown away. I'd be bringing on Mcateer at half time if there isn't a major improvement

He is obviously a great person but he is and always has been woefully substandard at this level.

[Razors left peg]

He is obviously a great person but he is and always has been woefully substandard at this level.

Hes often good as an impact sub, but hes far too often a headless chicken that just runs fast

[Kingdom]

Jesus ****ing christ.

[SkStu]

Blessed there. FFS.

[Colbert Report]

Can't fault O'Shea for the bad pitch, but yes, we have burned through all our luck on that one.

[pineapple stu]

Jaysus, big let off there

This is far more first half of Hungary/entire of Luxembourg than second half of Hungary

[backstothewall]

Dear lord.

[backstothewall]

Ogbene offers a threat when he can get running with the ball but he can't cross a ball and his second touch is often a tackle.

[Kingdom]

Jaysus, big let off there

This is far more first half of Hungary/entire of Luxembourg than second half of Hungary

Of course it is, they have 11 players!!!

[Nesta99]

Pitch this pitch that, every side has to play the pitch they are on. The flat first 45 is just baffling. You can see theyre trying so its not application, its composure, fear and its an old old issue now. We're more likely to put a win worthy performance against Portugal than put the pot 4 side away....

[rebelmusic]

Looking through the options on the bench and no solution is jumping out. We need to start breaking up the play and winning free kicks. It's way too easy for them at the moment