Slovakia v Republic of Ireland - 8th October 2020 - Euro 2020 Playoff Semi Final

Well if I needed to throw on an extra forward with 10 minutes to go to rescue a game I'd pick Obafemi over Maguire every time. Not that I'm overly sold on Obafemi either but he has something about him that makes me think he's more likely to change a game in that situation.

It's early days but I think Kenny's rigidity in terms of setup and gameplan has the potential to frustrate. I really hope he does well and is given time but if there's a flaw I see it's that you need a certain amount of pragmatism in international football, especially when you have a limited playing pool like we do. Kenny's lack of pragmatism might cost us in the upcoming playoffs.

Do we have confirmation the squad will be announced today?

I've read that it'll be tomorrow

Slovakia name their squad and, as expeted, Dubravka doesn't make it. Martin Skrtel isn't making a return from retirement either - https://www.independent.ie/sport/soc...-39571139.html

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Slovakia squad v Ireland

Goalkeepers
Marek Rodak (Fulham), Dominik Greif (Slovan Bratislava), Dusan Kuciak (Lechia Gdansk)

Defenders
Peter Pekarík (Hertha Berlin), Lubomir Satka (Lech Poznan), Martin Koscelnik (Slovan Liberec), Milan Skriniar (Inter Milan), Martin Valjent (RCD Mallorca), Norbert Gyömbér (Perugia), Lukáš Pauschek (Slovan Bratislava), Denis Vavro (Lazio Roma).

Midfielders
Stanislav Lobotka (Napoli), Patrik Hrosovsky (Genk), Jan Gregus (Minnesota), Marek Hamsik (Ta-Lien), Juraj Kucka (Parma), Ondrej Duda (Hertha Berlin)Matus Bero (Vitesse Arnhem), Róbert Mak (Ferencváros), Albert Rusnák (Salt Lake City), Lukáš Haraslín (Sassuolo), Jaroslav Mihalik (Lechia Gdansk).

Forwards
Robert Bozenik (Feyenoord), Michal Duris (Omonia Nicosia), Ivan Schranz (FK Jablonec)

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Great news on the keeper imo
What the fulham lad like

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Originally Posted by Diggs246

Great news on the keeper imo
What the fulham lad like

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Fulham are all over the place at the back. they seem to try a new keeper every few months... I suspect the keeper may not be the issue!

He's been at fulham 7 years (he's only 23) and spent most of the time on loan until last season.

Rodak seems to have only 1 cap for Slovakia.

Squad has been added to Slovakia's wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak...l_team#Players
Rodak has one cap, and has played three games this season, a 1-1 draw against Israel a month ago, a 3-0 loss to Arsenal, and the 2-0 win over Sheffield United last week.
It's not much better than Randolph's four games this season, the two Nations League games, and West Ham's two League Cup games

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Squad has been added to Slovakia's wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak...l_team#Players
Rodak has one cap, and has played three games this season, a 1-1 draw against Israel a month ago, a 3-0 loss to Arsenal, and the 2-0 win over Sheffield United last week.
It's not much better than Randolph's four games this season, the two Nations League games, and West Ham's two League Cup games

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So Dusan Kucial is probably their keeper for our game? ( he has 10 caps)

Squad to be announced at 1

Goalkeepers
Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (Bournemouth).

Defenders
Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers), Shane Duffy (Celtic, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers).

Midfielders
Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Harry Arter (Nottingham Forest), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Jayson Molumby (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers), Robbie Brady (Burnley).

Forwards
Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (Stoke City), Aaron Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), David McGoldrick (Sheffield United), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Shane Long (Southampton).

Average goals - 1

Jaysus! :eek:

WTF is Byrne doing there?!

Interesting that Lenihan > O'Shea. I think that's fair. Lenihan made a howler in one home friendly but I like the look of him. Williams too. I thought Clark was fit again but match fitness is important.

Most of the rest as expected I think. Will be interesting to see if any replacements are called up if, say, Brady and O'Dowda don't make it.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Average goals - 1

Jaysus! :eek:

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The mean is close to 2?

But yeah, we're shy in front of goal. I think it's one reason McClean is persisted with.

I got the impression from the bits of the press conference I saw that he intends to stick with Doherty ahead of Coleman and more than likely the same formation.

I don't think there's any intention to play Byrne in the playoff, he'll play in the one of the nations league games and probably be the best player on the pitch again. Most interesting decisions will be the midfield and front three. I think it'll be Arter, McCarthy, Hendrick and McGoldrick, Connolly, ??. Wouldn't be overly surprised to see Long come in, but O'Dowda seems to be liked and Robinson made a good impact in the previous games off the bench and has started the season really well.

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Originally Posted by John83

The mean is close to 2?

But yeah, we're shy in front of goal. I think it's one reason McClean is persisted with.

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I guess 1 is close to 2...

I was just going off tets' tweet - although I see the maths in it aren't entirely correct. 48 goals is mentioned, but the squad tally adds up to 40. Across 25 players, that's 1.92 or 1.6 (depending what the correct tally is), either of which rounds to 2.

But then - average goals 2. Jaysus. :eek:

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

I was just going off tets' tweet - although I see the maths in it aren't entirely correct. 48 goals is mentioned, but the squad tally adds up to 40.

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I count 48 in tets' post?

The absolute difference is small, but the relative difference is enormous!

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But then - average goals 2. Jaysus. :eek:

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Yeah. It's a bit ****e, isn't it.

Ah - I was reading Robbie Brady as 0. But he has 8. Mostly against Oman.

We're saved :p

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Most of the rest as expected I think. will be interesting to see if any replacements are called up if, say, Brady and O'Dowda don't make it.

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25 in squad so two will have to be cut for match day squads anyway, so barring any further injuries don't think there will be replacements called up.

""And some of the player who came in did terrifically well, I thought and I was very, very pleased with how some of the midfielders did.""

And here we go again on the management midfield roundabout. Bar Arter no one really came out having even played decent. Just say it as it is.

Kenny has bowed to pressure with the Byrne inclusion. He isn't even Rovers best midfielder.

Kenny isn't a manager that deals well with pressure, he's already under enough after the first 2 results, and probably took the easy option of including Byrne (who may still miss out on the 23) just so people will shut up about it.

Now that he's included, I see there's plenty complaining that Obafemi isn't in.

What is it with Irish squads and always there's a campaign for a certain player when he isn't included?!

I haven't really seen anyone complaining about Oba's omission... but yeah, there'll always be a few. It's just something to talk about I suppose.

People never seem to take group dynamic into account when discussing a group omission.
Some players inclusion is always bemoaned (McClean comes to mind) but people never think of what a player can bring to the group off the field as well as on the field.
I get the impression Kenny doesn't appreciate Obafemi's petulance online but that's just a hunch. Probably just not his kind of player. Like Wes wasn't Trap's kind of player

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Originally Posted by The Lilywhites

Kenny has bowed to pressure with the Byrne inclusion. He isn't even Rovers best midfielder.

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Who do you think is better?

Certainly in European competition, Byrne has been head and shoulders above the rest, as evidenced by the number of goals that he creates (all bar one last year for example). He took that form into his Ireland debut, where he also set up a goal. That's exactly the kind of player Ireland are crying out for, so I'd have him in the squad over Gary, Dylan, Finny and Farrugia for example, much and all as I'd love to see any of those four get a call-up.

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Originally Posted by The Lilywhites

Kenny has bowed to pressure with the Byrne inclusion. He isn't even Rovers best midfielder.

Kenny isn't a manager that deals well with pressure, he's already under enough after the first 2 results, and probably took the easy option of including Byrne (who may still miss out on the 23) just so people will shut up about it.

Now that he's included, I see there's plenty complaining that Obafemi isn't in.

What is it with Irish squads and always there's a campaign for a certain player when he isn't included?!

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The part about Byrne not being Rovers best midfielder is nonsense but I agree with you about the campaign for a player whos left out. If you look at the social media announcement all the comments are from people asking wheres Obafemi. You'd swear hes got a hattrick in every game so far this season.

Id love Byrne to come in and do very well and get a good move to the Continent

I think the main reason behind the calls for Obafemi's inclusion is as a replacement for O'Dowda. He didn't do much in either game a month ago, and is currently injured, so why is he in the squad?
I know Obafemi has only appeared twice this season, both times as a substitute, but should be there IMO. If Kenny is looking to play 4-3-3 again, and from the looks of the squad he is, I'd be much happier seeing Obafemi coming off the bench than O'Dowda.

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

The part about Byrne not being Rovers best midfielder is nonsense but I agree with you about the campaign for a player whos left out. If you look at the social media announcement all the comments are from people asking wheres Obafemi. You'd swear hes got a hattrick in every game so far this season.

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Better than O'Dowda who hasn't kicked a ball since the last two Ireland games where he has offered nothing, just like he always has. Plus he's carrying an injury yet he's still picked. Obafemi as an option off the bench to stretch tired legs is worth his inclusion alone.

I definitely wouldn't have picked Byrne either, no matter how well he played against Dundalk's reserves.

One positive is that Kelleher is in so Bazunu will definitely be starting for the u21s now.

i told you about Derrick, but never get recognition. Squad is more less the same as the one month ago. Would have liked Kevin Long and a number 9 as Sheridan or Collins or Hogan.

Obafemi or Idah i think it is,

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

I think the main reason behind the calls for Obafemi's inclusion is as a replacement for O'Dowda. He didn't do much in either game a month ago, and is currently injured, so why is he in the squad?
I know Obafemi has only appeared twice this season, both times as a substitute, but should be there IMO. If Kenny is looking to play 4-3-3 again, and from the looks of the squad he is, I'd be much happier seeing Obafemi coming off the bench than O'Dowda.

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I agree that Obafemi should be in the squad but Im also not outraged that hes not. Its not a Wes or Andy Reid situation where you feel that he could change the dynamic of the team.

If all these young lads coming through get to the levels we hope then we will always have good players left out of squad and team. Obafemi is potentially a good player, but hes also been on the bench all season for Southampton. Id love if he was banging in goals every week and giving Kenny no choice but to pick him but hes not there yet.

I didnt hear if Kenny was asked about him being left out of squad and if hes spoken to him, but I would hope that they have talked. That is something I could never understand with previous managers, you have nothing but time as International manager so communication with all the players should be a no brainer.

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Originally Posted by Bielsa´s irish

i told you about Derrick, but never get recognition. Squad is more less the same as the one month ago. Would have liked Kevin Long and a number 9 as Sheridan or Collins or Hogan.

Obafemi or Idah i think it is,

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There's at least three other posters who've mentioned Williams in the last few weeks. They didn't get recognition either. Grow up.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

I think the main reason behind the calls for Obafemi's inclusion is as a replacement for O'Dowda. He didn't do much in either game a month ago, and is currently injured, so why is he in the squad?

I know Obafemi has only appeared twice this season, both times as a substitute, but should be there IMO. If Kenny is looking to play 4-3-3 again, and from the looks of the squad he is, I'd be much happier seeing Obafemi coming off the bench than O'Dowda.

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O'Dowda got motm against Bulgaria and while I wouldn't have agreed with the selection overall, I did think he was easily our best player in the first half. Kenny obviously likes him, he started both games so pretty unlikely he was going to be dropped from the squad entirely for a player who he believes can't yet play the role required.

You'd imagine there's a good chance COD won't be fit in time anyway, but clearly SK wants to give him every chance.

You mean you'd be praying

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

You mean you'd be praying

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I don't, no. I'm still holding out that small bit of hope that he'll become a far more productive player than he's been to date. I think he has the talent. Kenny obviously thinks so too but I'd find it hard to argue that he merits his place based on the last couple of years.

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Originally Posted by The Lilywhites

What is it with Irish squads and always there's a campaign for a certain player when he isn't included?!

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Isnt that what its all about though with the exception of the 90+ minutes of game time? Supporting a team? The player left out of the squad, the player left out of the team... its the beauty and curse of being a football fan.

The city i am in they have a Canadian Football team called the Saskatchewan Roughriders (serious). Only professional sports team in town. The saying here goes "the best player in the squad is always the back-up quarterback".

Am I right in saying that there are 3 positions in the assumed 433 system up for grabs

Doherty/Coleman
Hourihane/Brady
O'Dowda/Robinson

These lads are shoe ins right or wrong
--------Randy
-----1----Duffy Egan---- Enda
----2-----mccarthy Jeff
------3----mcgoldrick ----Connelly

I'd say that's correct, and COD/Brady in a race against time so likely to be simplified further.

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Originally Posted by Diggs246

Am I right in saying that there are 3 positions in the assumed 433 system up for grabs

Doherty/Coleman
Hourihane/Brady
O'Dowda/Robinson

These lads are shoe ins right or wrong
--------Randy
-----1----Duffy Egan---- Enda
----2-----mccarthy Jeff
------3----mcgoldrick ----Connelly

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I wouldnt think Hendrick is guaranteed

Hendrick/Arter might be another that's not 100% set in stone.

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

I wouldnt think Hendrick is guaranteed

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Difficult to not see Robinson start. If no Brady then hourihane has to start, I cant see how a side like us who need the goal threat of set pieces can put out a side without dead ball specialist which hourihane certainly is.

Randolph
Coleman - Egan - Duffy - Stephens
Arter - McCarthy- Hourihane
Robinson - McGoldrick - Connolly

Thats probably what I would go with. Im not a huge fan of McGoldrick but he'll play. Think that team would be solid and would create chances