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

What time is the squad announced tomorrow ?

German Manager Lowe has decided (or had no option but) to plan 3 WC qual games without all the 5 English based players because of the UK requirement that all returning players from Germany would be required to quarantine for 10 days.
Have the FAI requested the Serbia game to be played in a 'safe neutral zone'? In any case, Serbia can refuse to comply, unless compelled to. Uk clubs are not likely to release first team players for intl duty.

That'd be great. We can just default the game if that happens. We'd have four pros, a couple of Erasmus students, and a badger liberated from some Serbian zoo available to play, and when we couldn't score it'd still argued here how much of it to pin on Kenny. The badger would win man of the match for tenacious play.

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Originally Posted by John83

That'd be great. We can just default the game if that happens. We'd have four pros, a couple of Erasmus students, and a badger liberated from some Serbian zoo available to play, and when we couldn't score it'd still argued here how much of it to pin on Kenny. The badger would win man of the match for tenacious play.

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Presumably, tetsujin1979 would demand stats for the badger within 24 hours.

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Originally Posted by John83

That'd be great. We can just default the game if that happens. We'd have four pros, a couple of Erasmus students, and a badger liberated from some Serbian zoo available to play, and when we couldn't score it'd still argued here how much of it to pin on Kenny. The badger would win man of the match for tenacious play.

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Can it be a honeybadger ? They're kinda cool. Smart too, they can change tactics, which would probably see the badger appointed manager let's face it.

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Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

Can it be a honeybadger ? They're kinda cool. Smart too, they can change tactics, which would probably see the badger appointed manager let's face it.

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I’m not facing ~ No Honey-Badger.

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Originally Posted by Snapshot

Presumably, tetsujin1979 would demand stats for the badger within 24 hours.

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Knock it off

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Knock it off

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I asked you a direct question on the eligibility thread, blatantly ignored which isn't new for you. For a man who thrives on giving 24 hour deadlines and the likes you don't exactly set a good example.

Squad named: https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status...927236/photo/1

Kelleher, Bazunu, Travers, O'Hara
Coleman, Doherty, Duffy, Stevens, Long, Clark, O'Shea, Manning, Christie
Hourihane, Browne, Hendrick, Molumby, Knight, Cullen
Brady, McClean, Horgan, Curtis, O'Dowda, Robinson, Connolly, Long, Collins, Parrott

No Westwood is the one that stands out immediately

Connolly makes it. As does Kelleher. Hopefully both are fit to play as they would need to start I think.

No recalls for Westwood or McGeady- not sure if they were even considered.

Kelleher
Coleman O'Shea Clark Stevens
Cullen Knight Hendrick
Brady Robinson/Long Connolly

That is my side based on the squad. Hourihane, Doherty, Browne, Molumby, McClean, O'Dowda and Duffy will be surely in Kenny's thoughts too.

A few positives regarding injuries I guess. Would have liked to have seen McGeady but as expected really.

Would’ve liked McGeady and Westwood.

Why are McClean, Brady, Horgan, O’Dowda classed as forwards?

I would be starting Shane Long.

I’d normally be optimistic before a qualifying campaign. Sometimes fancying our chances of nicking a 1-1 against the top seed and hoping we’d blow them away at home.....

3rd place here we come. It would need a miracle of epic proportions to finish top & 2nd place looks bloody difficult.

I hope I’m wrong.

An FAI statement said fitness checks would be needed on both Connolly and Kelleher ahead of preparations beginning on Monday morning.

Yeah, I can see a couple of players dropping out with injury yet. May explain why there's 29 in the squad.

McGeady is a player I've a love/hate relationship with, but I'd have him in the squad too for his experience, form, and the fact we've a really poor squad and he probably still has something to offer.

Other than him and Westwood, no real surprises tbh

Question actually. Is Bazunu - playing at the 68th-ranked club in England - the lowest-ranked player we've ever called up? Let's consider English clubs only to avoid comparisons across countries. I can't think of any fourth tier call-ups, though I suspect there may be one somewhere. Don't think Amond ever got called up for example. Or Kinsella/Finnan when playing that low

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Question actually. Is Bazunu - playing at the 68th-ranked club in England - the lowest-ranked player we've ever called up? Let's consider English clubs only to avoid comparisons across countries. I can't think of any fourth tier call-ups, though I suspect there may be one somewhere. Don't think Amond ever got called up for example. Or Kinsella/Finnan when playing that low

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Or Put another way.
Is Bazunu a Manchester City Player currently getting Match practise with Rochdale (and geting rave reviews) a better bet then Kelleher currently out injured from playing for the Liverpool under 23's ?

Well we've had that discussion on another thread :)

I'm interested in my question

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Question actually. Is Bazunu - playing at the 68th-ranked club in England - the lowest-ranked player we've ever called up? Let's consider English clubs only to avoid comparisons across countries. I can't think of any fourth tier call-ups, though I suspect there may be one somewhere. Don't think Amond ever got called up for example. Or Kinsella/Finnan when playing that low

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Kelham O'Hanlon was third tier when he won his cap in '87 I think? No idea where Rotherham were in the table at the time though.