Portugal V Republic of Ireland - Wednesday, 1st Sep 2021 - 2022 World Cup Qualifier

I had a more general post on the pre-season thread about how our squad options might be positioned after pre-season. Using it for the basis of what I think this squad could be/should be having seen a few games, and with injuries etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lúdramhan mhór

https://foot.ie/threads/268458-Pre-S...=1#post2083965

1- absolute first-choice,
2- option/backup,
no distinction between full-back or Wing-back,

Keepers:
2- Bazunu, Travers, Kelleher (3)

RB:
1- Coleman,
2- Doherty, (2)

LB:
2- Manning, Scales, (2)

CB:
1- Duffy
2- O'Shea, Egan, Clark (4)

CM (6/8/10):
1- Cullen
2- Hendrick, McCarthy, Browne, Molumby, Kilkenny, McGrath (7)

RW:
2- Horgan, Elbouzedi (2)

LW:
2- McClean, Connolly, (2)

CF:
1- Robinson,
2- Collins, Parrot, Idah, (4)

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I think that's a good fist of what the eventual squad might be. I reckon there's going to be a call between Hendrick and McCarthy on which gets selected. I wouldn't be hugely surprised if neither is selected to be honest. Likewise, I'm not sure he'll give Cunningham or Manning a shout, with Doherty and McClean seen as options there, although I think it would be wrong not to have one of them in the squad at least. And finally, I think we'll have seen the last of Randolph.

I can't make an universal statement such as "you can't pick players who aren't playing first team football" given the nadir we're in at the moment, but I certainly don't think we can afford to pick older, injury-prone players who aren't even making the first-team squad at their club, or not multiples. I suspect McClean will be ok, because he's earmarked for the LWB slot. The flipside of that, is can he realistically call up Molumby, who hasn't played a single game all summer, ahead of someone like Hendrick, or Gavin Kilkenny, even allowing for his loyalty. Jason Knight is a loss.

At the moment, this is how the side could look:

------------------ Bazunu
------------O'Shea Duffy Egan
Coleman -------- Cullen -------- Doherty
------------------An Other---
---Smokie----------------------Parrott
--------------------Idah--

Is it fair, is it realistic, to throw someone like Kilkenny in for his international debut in Lisbon? probably not, and we probably need some athleticism in that spot, so An Other could easily be Hendrick if he's in the squad. It could be exactly the type of game that Kenny looks to James McCarthy if he's willing (or able) to sit in and hold and use his experience to guide the younger lads through.

Edit: Liam Scales is deserving of a call-up at this stage. He's actually playing LWB for Rovers, and hopefully will be doing so in Europe as well. Given he's likely to be around the senior squad for some time to come, and Kenny does like him, I think it's a good possibility.

Ive never heard Smokie before!!

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Ive never heard Smokie before!!

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I second that emotion!
Although, maybe it was just a mirage

Misspelled, should have put Smokey, as in Smokey Robinson.

Then i panicked just now, in case that was considered racist. So I looked it up, and it was a nickname he gave himself, way back in the day - the singer, not the baller.

https://lasentinel.net/smokey-robins...u-knoweth.html

There’s no real resemblance, maybe…

https://www.udiscovermusic.com/wp-co...mised-1000.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kingdom

Misspelled, should have put Smokey, as in Smokey Robinson.

Then i panicked just now, in case that was considered racist. So I looked it up, and it was a nickname he gave himself, way back in the day - the singer, not the baller.

https://lasentinel.net/smokey-robins...u-knoweth.html

There’s no real resemblance, maybe…

https://www.udiscovermusic.com/wp-co...mised-1000.jpg

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So your team has Smokey on one wing and The Bandit on the other?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kingdom

Misspelled, should have put Smokey, as in Smokey Robinson.

Then i panicked just now, in case that was considered racist. So I looked it up, and it was a nickname he gave himself, way back in the day - the singer, not the baller.

https://lasentinel.net/smokey-robins...u-knoweth.html

There’s no real resemblance, maybe…

https://www.udiscovermusic.com/wp-co...mised-1000.jpg

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Hahaha, this is why we should stay away from player nicknames on here. I was always irrationally mad when posters would use Didsey

Anyone know when the squad will be announced?

Could be Monday, after the next round of fixtures in England?

<EDIT>

Actually, there's games on the weekend of the 28th as well, so maybe before those games, on the 27th.
Would have thought that was too close to the Portugal game on the 1st?

Yeah, you can't announce a squad four days in advance surely?

Really like kenny to pick a team that shows us he has a plan. Are we 532 or 433? I think we are most suited to 2 up top with the players we have . I'd go

Kelleher
Coleman egan Duffy oshea manning

Cullen mccarthy

Robinson


Idah parrott

I don't see the point of including horgan in the squad he will never be good enough for this level same as Collins from cardiff.

Manning playing as a left sided centre half at Swansea hopefully has improved his defensive awareness to compliment his attacking prowess. I think Robinson has all the tools to be the most advanced of a 3 man midfield with solidity and passing abilities behind him in Cullen and mccarthy. Robinson offers a bit of guile good running ability and a bit of a goal threat.

If doherty isn't good enough to get in ahead of Coleman then he should sit on the bench he has been a real disappointment under Kenny. Parrott is always going to be suited to playing off a strong fast companion and idah gives you that with good finishing ability. Partott playing wide in a 3 is a waste he doesn't have the pace or trickery for it. His guile and footballing ability has to have him centrally where he will make chances for others and score a hood few himself , he is a 9 and a half which in a team with no obvious 10 is just what we need. Connolly a nice option off the bench.

That’s a great lineup, Liam. Although if Randolph is fit I’d tend to go with him in goal. Overall like the vision. I’d be fine with Cunningham instead of Manning on the left as well, but I think they’re of a similar level.

It's a good team but I think we'll get overrun in midfield if we don't have three out and out midfielders in there, I don't think we can start all three of Robinson, Parrott and Idah. Two of them with a third midfielder and the rest of the team as you have suggested makes sense though. It's a shame Knight is injured as he'd be the obvious choice there, but Browne, Molumby, or even Hendrick/Hourihane would be other options open to Kenny.

I'd start Bazunu in goal personally also.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by liamoo11

Really like kenny to pick a team that shows us he has a plan. Are we 532 or 433? I think we are most suited to 2 up top with the players we have . I'd go

Kelleher
Coleman egan Duffy oshea manning

Cullen mccarthy

Robinson


Idah parrott

I don't see the point of including horgan in the squad he will never be good enough for this level same as Collins from cardiff.

Manning playing as a left sided centre half at Swansea hopefully has improved his defensive awareness to compliment his attacking prowess. I think Robinson has all the tools to be the most advanced of a 3 man midfield with solidity and passing abilities behind him in Cullen and mccarthy. Robinson offers a bit of guile good running ability and a bit of a goal threat.

If doherty isn't good enough to get in ahead of Coleman then he should sit on the bench he has been a real disappointment under Kenny. Parrott is always going to be suited to playing off a strong fast companion and idah gives you that with good finishing ability. Partott playing wide in a 3 is a waste he doesn't have the pace or trickery for it. His guile and footballing ability has to have him centrally where he will make chances for others and score a hood few himself , he is a 9 and a half which in a team with no obvious 10 is just what we need. Connolly a nice option off the bench.

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You think McCarthy is still enthusiastic about international football?

If McCarthy pulls out, he should just retire. He is a very good player but no point if he cant play

We sure can't depend on his availability, but I'm not sure we can afford to write him off when we're likely to call up a lad in his position who is playing in a Championship team's U23s.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

It's a good team but I think we'll get overrun in midfield if we don't have three out and out midfielders in there, I don't think we can start all three of Robinson, Parrott and Idah. Two of them with a third midfielder and the rest of the team as you have suggested makes sense though. It's a shame Knight is injured as he'd be the obvious choice there, but Browne, Molumby, or even Hendrick/Hourihane would be other options open to Kenny.

I'd start Bazunu in goal personally also.

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I see your point and yiu are most likely correct browne will play id say. To me that gives you an 8 2 defensive offensive split in your 10 outfield players and I don't think you can expect to get much out of games when you are that defensive minded.

For Portugal, I think that balance may be about right. Longer term, there's a real problem with uncertainty around our best midfield and attack; lots of options, none of which really stand out.

I'm not sure Idah and Parrott are the right pairing though. Robinson is playing at far a higher level than Parrott, has already scored for his club this season, and is more suited to build up play with wing backs. If Kenny goes with a trio up front, I'd guess it'll be Robinson - Idah - Horgan. Am I right in thinking Parrott looks most comfortable in a front 2, or am I doing him a disservice?

It's interesting that Knight being injured seems a big deal. He was quickly becoming a default starter while still a teenager.

---------------Kelleher------------------
Coleman – Egan – Duffy – O’Shea – Doherty
--------- Cullen---Kilkenny (McCarthy) ----
--------------Parrott------------
Robinson ---Idah--- Horgan

I don’t think he’ll pick both Parrott & Idah though and just can’t escape the thought that McClean, Collins and others like Hendrick will somehow feature.

Ogbene impressed in Hungary. Will he not make the squad?

Stuff the level he’s playing at, Horgan has looked our most dangerous / creative player in recent games. Has to start imho.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

---------------Kelleher------------------
Coleman – Egan – Duffy – O’Shea – Doherty
--------- Cullen---Kilkenny (McCarthy) ----
--------------Parrott------------
Robinson ---Idah--- Horgan

I don’t think he’ll pick both Parrott & Idah though and just can’t escape the thought that McClean, Collins and others like Hendrick will somehow feature.

Ogbene impressed in Hungary. Will he not make the squad?

Stuff the level he’s playing at, Horgan has looked our most dangerous / creative player in recent games. Has to start imho.

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Even we could beat Portugal with 12 or 13 players as you have suggested!!

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Originally Posted by Diggs246

Even we could beat Portugal with 12 or 13 players as you have suggested!!

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We're gonna get Horgan to hide behind Idah & hope the ref doesn't spot him, or the Portguese until its too late, and he has pounced.