Finland v Republic of Ireland - Thursday, 10th October 2024 - UEFA Nations League
Squad announced on Thursday, I’m sure we’re all hoping that HH has a far more hands on role in this window. I think we’ll know a good bit more once the squad is announced. In my mind, there were two big mistakes with the squad last time. 1) overall size of squad 2) lack of midfielders, which was linked to the size of the squad. We ended up starting all of our midfielders in the second game. Really poor squad management to be left in a situation where you’ve got absolutely no midfielders on a 12 man bench.
Worth noting the turnaround between the games is really tight (Thursday night + Sunday night, both away games). So I think you’ll need to use more players to keep legs fresh etc. And maybe rotate a few players as well.
This is the squad I’d like for this group of games:
Goalkeepers:
Kelleher
Traver
O’Leary
Pretty much picks itself with Bazunu injured.
Right backs:
Doherty
Key/Gallagher
Assuming Coleman is injured, no idea who you pick. I’d be inclined to have a look at a genuine full back in training - I don’t think Ebosele is a right back, a wing back or a winger but not a right back yet. Danny McNamara hasn’t really been playing so I think you’re left with either Josh Key or Jon Gallagher.
Centre halves:
O’Shea
Collins
Scales
O’Brien
Omobamidele
O’Shea, Collins and Scales are all shoo-ins. O’Brien and Omobamidele haven’t played enough really - but on talent they’re very much deserving of a place and Omobamidele was decent covering for Coleman at RB against Greece. There’s always a few lads down in the championship who have a case for a call-up: all of McNally, McGuinness and Clarke-Salter are doing well at the moment (JCS missed the game on Saturday with injury). There’s an argument that a back to basics Hallgrimsson/O’Shea Ireland could use Duffy’s defensive instincts and threat from set pieces. John Egan is also back fit if you’re looking for an old head amongst a pretty young group.
Left back:
Brady
O’Dowda/Manning/Gallagher
A problem position for Ireland. None of the kids are good enough yet, so you’re left with Robbie Brady. Manning is probably actually the best option we have but he’s played 0 mins of first team football this season and has only made a squad once (also played 90 mins in centre midfield for the reserves about 10 days ago). Not convinced O’Dowda has the defensive chops to play left back, as opposed to wingback. Jon Gallagher is once again a somewhat left field option. You could also end up playing a centre half in this position, but i do think you want a more natural option that say Dara O'Shea playing there.
Defensive midfielders:
Cullen
Molumby
Taylor
Connell
Serious lack of options for a multitude of reasons. Lawal and Smallbone both unavailable due to injury doesn’t help. Taylor is getting minutes in the premier league and looking ok, so deserves a call-up. Meanwhile Luca Connell is doing excellently at a low level, so also worth a glance.
Attacking midfielders:
Knight
Browne
McGrath
Azaz
Think all 4 have earned their place and we missed Jamie and Finn last time out. In principle, I’d love to see Connor Ronan get a call up but unless there’s an injury, I don’t think you could justify it. Mark Sykes is the other name you could bring into the conversation.
Wingers:
Ogbene
Johnston
McAteer
Robinson
Ogbene is an automatic choice. I thought Johnston had done enough and was surprised by he exclusion from the last camp. McAteer looked bright during the last camp and Robinson was surprisingly good in the last few mins v Greece and he’s scored against Hull last weekend. You could certainly argue for Ebosele or O’Dowda who made the squad last time around. Harness would have been in my squad last time - he impressed against both Liverpool and City but he hasn’t really established himself at Derby, so hard to call him up. Maybe by the next camp, Connolly will be a name worth talking about or Farrugia will have won a few MOTM awards in the Europa League.
Strikers:
Ferguson
Idah
Parrot
Szmodics
Pretty obvious choices. Beyond them, Obafemi is starting on the left wing for Plymouth. Not sure I trust Wayne Rooney to get the best out of him. Tom Cannon is starting for Stoke but not scoring - can’t really argue for either being selected over the 4 on the list.
