Serbia V Republic of Ireland - Wednesday, 24th March 2021 - World Cup 2022 Qualifier

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Could I add in the obvious extra observation that Travers gives us an additional goalscoring threat? :ball:

Let's be honest, we need everything we can get.

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How so? Hoes he have a magnificent hoof of a goal kick in him?

Only goalkeeper I know who had a goal-per-game ratio of 1 in senior football

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUh9ucFoYv4

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Only goalkeeper I know who had a goal-per-game ratio of 1 in senior football

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUh9ucFoYv4

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But he only scores tap ins !

I think we can safely say that if Big Jack was picking the team ~ who would get the nod !

The reaction of the player in blue on the edge of the centre circle at 0:06 is priceless

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

The reaction of the player in blue on the edge of the centre circle at 0:06 is priceless

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Brilliant!

My team for tomorrow...

------------------Bazunu-------------
Coleman---O'Shea---Clarke----Stevens
------------------Cullen------------------
------Knight---------------Browne-------
Hendrick---------------------------Brady
----------------Connolly-----------------

I dont love that team but theres a goal threat from midfield with Browne and Knight. Pace up top with Connolly, and Brady and Hendrick can make a 5 in midfield to keep it tight out of possession.

For what it's worth, just to correct P.Stu, Bazunu was training with the first team at Man City prior to his loan move.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/g...onge-cz3dx3kk6

It's a toss up for me. Travers probably has the edge in terms of experience, despite not playing regularly.

Bazunu looks a great prospect, but that's what he is at the minute, a prospect. It's probably the toughest decision SK will have ahead of the game, but I would imagine Travers will get the nod.

Kenny has confirmed Travers will start in goal tomorrow (Source: the42 citing a news conference).

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Originally Posted by irishfan86

Kenny has confirmed Travers will start in goal tomorrow (Source: the42 citing a news conference).

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Kenny out, obviously doesnt know what hes doing :cool:

https://www.skysports.com/football/n...lic-of-ireland

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Kenny said: "Kieran O'Hara coming through the U21 team has been in the senior squad under Mick McCarthy before me for two years, is familiar with everyone and has made his debut; Mark Travers has been in the international squad, come through the international teams and has played, albeit only one and a half games, with Ireland before.

"Gavin is a younger one who has just now come up from the U21s and he's a very exciting prospect and has a great future ahead of him.

"I do take it on board that the players are inexperienced, I do take that on board, but we have faith in them as goalkeepers.

Mark will play and we have every faith in him."

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Ya gotta have Faith.

I always tend to get over confident as the game gets closer, I talk myself into thinking we are not bad. In the spirit of that I think we will get at least a draw tomorrow.

In pretty much the only game that Kenny had most of his squad available and he was able to prepare without a load of last minute withdrawals we were good against Slovakia. Considering it was his 1st game I was very impressed and if we had taken any of the multiple chances that we created we would have deservedly won the game. The games after that we a total sh1t show with players in and out of squad so Im giving Kenny a pass.

Serbia are very inconsistent. They were in the last play offs for a reason and the fact that Scotland went there and got a result shows we shouldnt fear them.

Im going for a 1-1 with Connolly getting his 1st international goal.

Its very noticeable how little traffic is going through this forum in the build up to a new campaign kicking off. Its obviously a sign of the apathy that has built up along with the disappointment of how little the young players have developed this season. Kenny needs a good start tomorrow to try get a buzz going again.

Is it? I would have thought a 25-page thread on the games already was quite decent for here.

Though I do remember the days when there'd also be a 20-page thread of people planning to go to the games :)

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Is it? I would have thought a 25-page thread on the games already was quite decent for here.

Though I do remember the days when there'd also be a 20-page thread of people planning to go to the games :)

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Kinda more thinking today and yesterday really. Always seemed before that there was a lot more chatter the days before the game

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Its very noticeable how little traffic is going through this forum in the build up to a new campaign kicking off. Its obviously a sign of the apathy that has built up along with the disappointment of how little the young players have developed this season. Kenny needs a good start tomorrow to try get a buzz going again.

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There is a lot of apprehension about tomorrow I think, a lot of people waiting to say I told you so, and the pro SK crew are too busy keeping everything crossed while praying silently he catches a break so they don't have to listen to it. I have this 1-1 inkling myself too because we are due a goal and they have Portugal after us, at home on Saturday so they will have to come out and try to win it tomorrow so maybe more pressure on them in certain ways. There is also that nagging fear of a good hiding tomorrow which isn't usually in the mix.

In the spirit of Crosby, my head says 3-0 Serbia, my heart says 3-1 Serbia.

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Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

There is also that nagging fear of a good hiding tomorrow which isn't usually in the mix.

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That's what I feel too. The keeper issue is one factor - we're missing three keepers and that's not good with a small panel like ours. And we've no forwards. No keepers and no forwards is never a good mix.

I also think back to how lucky we were last time in Belgrade (the 2-2) and wonder if we can get away with that.

And there's the possibility that Serbia are going to be very motivated by their Euro 2020 defeat against Scotland; they might see us as similar opposition and try to prove a point. Though maybe that point was proved in the 5-0 win over Russia a week after losing to Scotland.

So I just feel there's a lot of factors building up against us at the moment.

I hadn't realised Serbia played Panama and the Dominican Republic away last month though; two 0-0 draws. Weird games to play. Don't know what to make of those, but they're not good results on the face of it.

Edit - actually, it was almost entirely a reserve team. Still weird games, but now not great that they've a second string that can draw away against qualifiers for the last World Cup!

I think the goal keeper issue could be framed that its exciting to have young prospects ready to step in, IF we didnt have such an issue scoring goals.

The lack of an exciting striker is killing us in real terms on the pitch but also in the hype of getting the public interested.

Yeah, that's probably fair.

No goalkeepers and no forwards means our team is likely ****e.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

That's what I feel too. The keeper issue is one factor - we're missing three keepers and that's not good with a small panel like ours. And we've no forwards. No keepers and no forwards is never a good mix.

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Ah but look at that midfield of ours, the talent in there will paper over any cracks elsewhere with plenty left over.

I expect a defeat.

This is the team I'd go with, but I don't expect Kenny to abandon his 4-3-3 unfortunately

--------------- Bazunu -----------

------ Coleman Duffy Clark ------

Doherty Hendrick Cullen Stevens

--- Robinson Parrott Connolly ---

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Its very noticeable how little traffic is going through this forum in the build up to a new campaign kicking off. Its obviously a sign of the apathy that has built up along with the disappointment of how little the young players have developed this season. Kenny needs a good start tomorrow to try get a buzz going again.

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I'd put it all down to Covid, sure some journos didn't even seem to know when the game was on, saying next week instead of this! That's why I think its a great time to be an Irish manager, yes there's upheavel but there's also little interest so a pressure free environment for the past year and short term foreseeable future.

Theres a general feeling of less involvement, attachment to many things at the moment, not just sport or certainly not just soccer/football.

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

I'd put it all down to Covid, sure some journos didn't even seem to know when the game was on, saying next week instead of this! That's why I think its a great time to be an Irish manager, yes there's upheavel but there's also little interest so a pressure free environment for the past year and short term foreseeable future.

Theres a general feeling of less involvement, attachment to many things at the moment, not just sport or certainly not just soccer/football.

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Very fair point. Not evening being able to go to pub to watch game doesnt help. I kinda felt the same with the 6 Nations, just didnt have the same feel to it

I'd be curious to see what the tv viewing figures will be.
I wouldn't put the apathy all down to covid, that would be ignoring the herd of elephants in the room. Relatively speaking it's ( or near enough) the poorest quality squad ever made available to an any Irish manager for a competitive games since Irl v Austria in the early 70's and it follows that competitive performances/results on the field have suffered to degrees beyond the memory bank of most fans.

Despite their low points tally in the Euro qualifiers, Luxembourg are a very decent competitive team and will be targeting us as a good chance for an away 3 pointer.

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Originally Posted by geysir

Despite their low points tally in the Euro qualifiers, Luxembourg are a very decent competitive team and will be targeting us as a good chance for an away 3 pointer.

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Even now, they'd need a bit of luck to beat us, but it's sad that it's even a possibility.

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Originally Posted by geysir

I'd be curious to see what the tv viewing figures will be.
I wouldn't put the apathy all down to covid, that would be ignoring the herd of elephants in the room. Relatively speaking it's ( or near enough) the poorest quality squad ever made available to an any Irish manager for a competitive games since Irl v Austria in the early 70's and it follows that competitive performances/results on the field have suffered to degrees beyond the memory bank of most fans.

Despite their low points tally in the Euro qualifiers, Luxembourg are a very decent competitive team and will be targeting us as a good chance for an away 3 pointer.

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There's no elephant in the room. The apathy is down to poor results, no goals and doubts about the manager. Despite the withdrawals, the team proferred by backstothewall above contains only two players not connected to EPL clubs. Apart from Egan and the goalkeeper situation there's nobody missing who cannot be replaced adequately.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Is it? I would have thought a 25-page thread on the games already was quite decent for here.

Though I do remember the days when there'd also be a 20-page thread of people planning to go to the games :)

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I can do a historical 3 page irrational post if you like? For sentimentality purposes naturally...

whats the story ¿? how is his eleven? i would give the nod to a mixture of experienced and newcomers. First half an hour is important, but without attendance the "local or visitor" factor isnt that vital

probable Serbia eleven, with a 3-3-1-3 formation it seems an all out to attack under Stojkovic, what a great 10 he was! this 11 is not confirmed yet.


rajkovic
spahir
mitrovic
milenkovic

gudeij
maksimovic
duricic
lazovic

vlahovic
kostic
tadic

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021...-counts-kenny/

I think that answers the question of Kenny ever changing it up.

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Originally Posted by Bielsa´s irish

whats the story ¿?

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Why would you put the upside-down question mark at the end...?

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Originally Posted by geysir

I'd be curious to see what the tv viewing figures will be.
I wouldn't put the apathy all down to covid, that would be ignoring the herd of elephants in the room. Relatively speaking it's ( or near enough) the poorest quality squad ever made available to an any Irish manager for a competitive games since Irl v Austria in the early 70's and it follows that competitive performances/results on the field have suffered to degrees beyond the memory bank of most fans.

Despite their low points tally in the Euro qualifiers, Luxembourg are a very decent competitive team and will be targeting us as a good chance for an away 3 pointer.

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I don't think viewing figures will tell much, it can be argued either way, for both arguments if the numbers are low or high. My assumption is they will be relatively low, at least lower than other qualifiers pre-covid, lower than the previous opening qualifying campaign against Serbia away.

The apathy is probably not solely covid related, but when its all over and if still doing poorly it will be that we are sh1te basically : D

Snapshot makes a good point, theres little excuses anymore about missing personnel. This is it. This is where we and Kenny are at. So if he's going to have any impact it will start now.

The build up, both on here and in the media, seems pretty standard to me to be honest. Agree that viewing figures won't mean much though with the lack of alternatives and half the country out of work.

FWIW, voting in the best kit thread has seen a slight uptick this week :)

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Its very noticeable how little traffic is going through this forum in the build up to a new campaign kicking off. Its obviously a sign of the apathy that has built up along with the disappointment of how little the young players have developed this season. Kenny needs a good start tomorrow to try get a buzz going again.

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i was pleasantly surprised to see a few people with jerseys and ireland tracksuit tops walking their kids to school this morning.
i think people are more interested than might immediately be apparent. it is the start of the World cup after all.

i do think RTE could have done a far better job building up a bit of excitement. all its been for the last couple of weeks is the cheltenham horseys and the rugger and they don't have the TV rights to either!!!!!

Weren't you warned about that?

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021...-counts-kenny/

I think that answers the question of Kenny ever changing it up.

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Why would he waste 8 games trying to bring about a change in style and approach to games, to immediately bin all of that when the WC Qualifiers come around?

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Why would he waste 8 games trying to bring about a change in style and approach to games, to immediately bin all of that when the WC Qualifiers come around?

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Quite simple really. Because it hasn't worked.

Exam Day !