Republic of Ireland V Netherlands 27th May 2016 & Belarus 31st May 2016 Friendlies

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

I've nothing against O'Dowda, supposed to be a fine player, but he's playing in League Two - just promoted to League One. Surely there's League One/Championship players ahead of him? Off the top of my head Paddy Madden, Stephen Gleeson, Conor Hourihane, Jack Byrne and Cillian Sheridan all have a better case for inclusion?

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

100%. Not to blow the trumpet again, but League Two players being called up ahead of League of Ireland players again is just madness. Surely Chris Forrester deserves a call up ahead of O'Dowda as well?

Looking to the future, tying him down, or whatever you want to call it, regardless of this, he's a League Two player. It's the equivalent standard of a team at the bottom of the League of Ireland Premier Division and another slap in the face to those at teams like Dundalk in particular.

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Ye're probably right but I'm still happy to see it. Nothing against him but I fail to see what the likes of Gleeson could add to the squad. We're well stocked with players of his type and even the likes of Meyler and Quinn are starting to slide down the pecking order a bit. O'Dowda's inclusion excites me far more than if Gleeson made it.

That doesn't make it fair but it'd be interesting to hear the reasoning. Byrne and even Forrester know they're on the radar to a certain extent, so maybe it's just another message being thrown out there. With McGeady's career in a bit of a shaky state and no guarantees that Hoolahan is going to stay on past the Euros, maybe they're looking to integrate a certain type of creative player and that he fits the bill better than some of the absentees.

O'Neill was at at least one of the recent U-21 games so maybe he just fancies him.

O'Dowda is a young player who by all accounts has been excellent at L2 level. Silly to say that just because he is L2 he is less deserving of someone at a higher level or LOI.

Definitely an exciting selection, and probably influenced by "politics", but by and large I'm disappointed that some other guys couldn't make a 35 man squad. Westwood is big relief. Glad to see Pilkington named too.

Happy to see Westwood named. I hope he makes the final cut, assuming there'll be a chop, and is given game-time. Had thought Scott Hogan might get a shout given the form he's in along with the fact that Roy watched him the other day. No Dan Crowley either, although I don't think anyone was really expecting him to feature despite what the Indo's online team were claiming the other week.

No major surprises really other than O'Dowda's inclusion. A senior appearance wouldn't tie him, of course, but if it helps bed him in and make him feel a part of the set-up, no harm.

Stand out performer for our U21s who's had a breakthrough season at his youth club, and being scouted by Premier League clubs, gets called up for a provisional international squad with a very small chance of making the final 23 and people are complaining?

Whingers.

Westwood's in, but he's alphabetically compromised into 4th place, is that ominous?
I thought Shay was out injured?
You'd have to admire Shay's unparalleled obsessiveness about playing for his country though.

Given is training fully according to O'Neill in the press conference

I'm as excited at O'Dowda's inclusion as I am at Jack Byrne's exclusion

Also surprised at McShane being there, surely Matt Doherty is a better option as a covering full back (refusing to entertain the notion that McShane is being considered as cover for CB).

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Originally Posted by geysir

I thought Shay was out injured?

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Hughes said this last week: “The knee was the worry but it is okay. He is not fit for this weekend but possibly next. He will be fit and available and well, if Ireland want him.”

I don't think short-term injuries matter too much with these extended squads anyway, Meyler's out at the moment too I think.

O'Neill indicates it's a Jack Byrne type situation with O'Dowda. Seems he wants to bring him in to get a feel for it. Presumably he'll train with the squad so even if he doesn't make the cut.

Independent.ie

I think Forrester, Byrne and now O'Dowda are clever nuggets of encouragement to these guys, which do no harm to the profile of these players seeking to move up you would assume also, which these extended squads allow nicely for. You can argue that certain home based lads are worthy if a L2 lad is, but those three could well have futures above where the present LOI lads are headed. Its a refreshing change from the rigidity of Traps squad announcements also.

It's ridiculous that a League Two player has been called up at the expense of Matt Doherty and Greg Cunningham who won POTY awards in the Championship.

And what of Jack Byrne, one of Cambuur's best players and acquitted himself so well against Feyenoord, Ajax and PSV.

Can't help feeling the overriding reason he has been called up is because he is eligible for England and they are attempting to assuage him.

The World Cup campaign is his platform to impress if he gets a move to the Championship and impresses.

Doherty and, in particular, Cunningham could be ready-made replacements this summer if anything happened to Christie and/or Ward.

Ominous news re: Given.

* DeLorean - Unfair comments re: Meyler. Hull play better with him in the team, proven PL performer and has deputised ably in several positions for us in the past.

Martin O'Neill said he thought about bringing in Scott Hogan but left it alone at this minute. Probably did so as he is not too long back from a bad injury.

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport...nited-11322894

If he's eager and willing, call him up.

McGoldrick is not good enough IMO and Murphy will have outlived his usefulness by next campaign. Walters no spring chicken either.

So who's in your 23?

Randolph, Given, Westwood (between him and forde, they won't drop given)
Coleman, Christie, O'Shea, Clark, Keogh, Ward, Wilson (wilson might get the shout because of CB, LB, CM)
McGeady, Hendrick, Whelan, McCarthy, Hoolahan, McClean, Brady, Arter (between Arter/Quinn and Meyler), Pilkington (pilks might get the shout because of LM, RM, ST)
Long, Walters, Keane, Doyle (doyle might get the shout because he's sound.)

Probably only 5 places up for grabs at a stretch.

Looks about right to me. Arter is a better player than Meyler and Quinn, Pilks a better player than Murphy and more versatile. He can play game in game 2after McClean gets sent off in game 1 and McGeady can play game 3 when Pilks gets injured in game 2.

Dan Crowley reject invitation?? Was it even asked about today?

Good to see Westwood in the squad. On current form he is probably our best keeper .

And no harm to see some adventure with Calum O'Dowda in the squad.

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Originally Posted by TrapAPony

Dan Crowley reject invitation?? Was it even asked about today?

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John Fallon will have two contradictory stories in tomorrow's papers.

It's a no-win for O'Neill. When he calls up O'Dowda (presumably to bed him into the set-up with an eye to the future), he's accused of ignoring other players playing at a higher level or deemed to be more deserving. But if he had ignored O'Dowda and O'Dowda did "a Grealish" a few months down the line, O'Neill would be vilified by others (or maybe even the very same people) for having "let another talent escape".

So, by calling this kid up is it an admission of sorts, or a change of course with these dual lads which suggests Grealish would have been an Ireland player if the FAI had played a different hand ?