Republic of Ireland V Serbia - Tuesday, 7th September 2021 - 2022 World Cup Qualifier

[mark12345]

Until we have homegrown infrastructure and a competitive domestic league that produces players and managers that can succeed in international football, that’s a long way off. There have to be better options than a guy who was not won a single match and is utterly deluded about the trajectory of his great project.

I remember an interview with Ray Houghton round about the time he was retiring from international football. He reminisced about the great times he had with Ireland but he did offer the opinion that Ireland will never be a real force until we improve our domestic league. That was some 20 years ago and nothing has changed, and as it stands, nothing ever will.

[CSAD]

Until we have homegrown infrastructure and a competitive domestic league that produces players and managers that can succeed in international football, that’s a long way off. There have to be better options than a guy who was not won a single match and is utterly deluded about the trajectory of his great project.

It might help us find afew late bloomers but just like in most countries the very best will leave around 16-18 anyway.

[CSAD]

Bar England away we haven’t lost a game by more than a goal so would expect this to be close atleast. Obviously being glum after yesterday it’s hard to see a positive result but then again I think we all said the same thing away to Portugal and we were less then 10 minutes away from beating them so who knows. I suspect Kenny had one eye on this game after the Portugal game so I suspect we might see a better performance and it wouldn’t surprise me we come out with a great performance similar to Portugal that no one expects.

As for my prediction I feel this could be the win we need as Serbia really are a box of chocolates but I feel we will be up for it and if it wasn’t for the Azerbaijan result I could see us having a big night and nicking it 2-1 but I think we will be down after yesterday and that may stop us from winning, I’ll go Ireland - 1 Serbia -1

[Bielsa´s irish]

Hola. They were 7 defeats though. The only match we looked convincing was versus Slovakia until James McCarthy got injured by kick from behind from Hamsik. Then at parches. Against Bulgaria we were awful same as Finland. Shane Long and James McCarthy are two guys we shouldnt play without atm.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Coleman out. Another day, another injury.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Coleman out. Another day, another injury.

Another day, another excuse.

[Bielsa´s irish]

since the qualies are all over, were over I think after the Serbia game and the Lux scandal, the players will play for the manager on tuesday to save his job, that is the reality of it-

He made some progress but the results are not good, we cant progress without something to cheer up, players are down, so we are gonna see if they have some football and spirit responses to save the manager's job

[Bielsa´s irish]

my team for serbia is similar

kelleher or bazunu

obomamidele duffy egan

doherty cullen hendrick Manning

mcgrath /robinson

idah robinson / collins

[seanfhear]

Coleman out. Another day, another injury.

3 games is such a short period of time for Countries with small playing pools is pretty much impossible.

[elatedscum]

Injured:

Travers

Coleman
O’Shea
Collins
Stevens

McCarthy
Knight
Byrne

O’Dowda
Long
Ogbene

-
Is this a better side than the one that will play on Tuesday? For the lads who really don’t rate Byrne, you can swap for Smallbone

[backstothewall]

3 games is such a short period of time for Countries with small playing pools is pretty much impossible.

I disagree. It's possible if you are smart about it.

Coleman is a player who has had trouble with injuries in recent years. 3 games in a week was always likely to be too much for him. The obvious thing to do was save him for the 2 tougher opponents, and play someone else against Azerbaijan.

He shouldn't have been anywhere near that game.

[Kingdom]

What's the revised squad?
Bazunu, Kelleher, Talbot;
Doherty, Christie, Duffy, Egan, Omabamidele, Manning, McClean, Scales;
Cullen, Molumby, McGrath, Hendrick, Hourihane, Arter;
Parrott, Idah, Robinson, Connolly, Collins, Horgan, Curtis;

In me eyes, we've simply got to persist with Idah, Connolly and Parrott, while Robinson absolutely deserves his place in the side. To do that, we've to drop the back 3 and go flat. Duffy is the man for Mitrovic. Group being over or not, there will be plenty of chances for Kelleher again in the future. Right now Bazunu has the jersey, and deserves to keep it. If Doherty is fit then he has to start. I can't bear the idea of McClean starting at lb, so Manning should start. McGrath deserves to build on his solid showing in faro.

---------- Bazunu --
Doherty Duffy Egan Manning
------- Cullen - McGrath
----------- Parrott ---
-- Robinson Idah Connolly --

I wouldn't be surprised to Hendrick come back in, he seems to have settled on a back 3 & wingbacks, Doherty is wrecked, and McClean will probably keep his spot.
What I'd expect to see - truth be told I've no bloody clue what to expect to see:

----------------------- Bazunu --
----- Omabamidele -- Duffy ---- Egan --
- Christie ------------ Cullen ----------- McClean -
---------------------- Hendrick --------------------
---- Idah ------------ Collins --------- Robinson --

[Kingdom]

I disagree. It's possible if you are smart about it.

Coleman is a player who has had trouble with injuries in recent years. 3 games in a week was always likely to be too much for him. The obvious thing to do was save him for the 2 tougher opponents, and play someone else against Azerbaijan.

He shouldn't have been anywhere near that game.

I agree with you. It absolutely should be possible.
And you've a very fair point about Coleman.

Would you humour me and mention what team you'd have picked for Azerbaijan?

[backstothewall]

A 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond

GK: Kelleher
RWB: Christie
CB: Duffy
CB: Egan
LWB: Manning
DM Cullen
CM: McGrath
CM: Hourihane
AM: Robinson
CF: Idah
CF: Parrott

Wingback is a really tough job. Both Doherty and Coleman should have been rested for Tuesday. I don't see much difference in our midfield options, but set pieces were always likely to be important so McGrath and Hourihane.

My plan would be to have the wing backs push up, and try to get the front 5 in front of the ball as often as possible.

It's all ifs, buts and maybes now of course.

[Kingdom]

A 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond

GK: Kelleher
RWB: Christie
CB: Duffy
CB: Egan
LWB: Manning
DM Cullen
CM: McGrath
CM: Hourihane
AM: Robinson
CF: Idah
CF: Parrott

Wingback is a really tough job. Both Doherty and Coleman should have been rested for Tuesday. I don't see much difference in our midfield options, but set pieces were always likely to be important so McGrath and Hourihane.

My plan would be to have the wing backs push up, and try to get the front 5 in front of the ball as often as possible.

It's all ifs, buts and maybes now of course.

Thanks for going to that trouble, appreciated. I like that side, despite having no time for Hourihane in our side, but it's a positive ambitious team. It might ask a lot of Cullen covering the two wing-backs (and you make a clear distinction there).

So, based on the above, you'd have had Christie in the squad from the get go, instead of who, again purely out of interest? I can't remember who's set on which formation - but you'd have played a 3 at the back vs Portugal, or a flat 4 too?

And as you've referred to in the post that prompted my request above, it's planning in advance (taking account of the 3 games/7 days discussion) which means there's an idea of the team might line up ideally per match.
So going into tonight's match, can I assume you'd have reverted back to a back-3 with Coleman and Doherty. and you'd have dropped McGrath for Serbia allowing for the exertion of expecting him to play 3 almost full games in a row, again with who to rotate in?