What club schooled Brady?Quote:
Originally Posted by John83
What two PL regular midfielders didn't start last night?
What club schooled them?
That's my tinfoil hat moment.
"He just kicks people" I believe is one of his comments from this morning.
What club schooled Brady?Quote:
Originally Posted by John83
What two PL regular midfielders didn't start last night?
What club schooled them?
That's my tinfoil hat moment.
"He just kicks people" I believe is one of his comments from this morning.
Arsenal, Derby, Man United. I think your tinfoil hat was in the microwave.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Touché. I was more thinking St Kevins myself, but point taken.Quote:
Originally Posted by John83
Can anyone dispute that Hendrix does sound a lot better than Hendrick?Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Hendrix even had better hair than HendrickQuote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Surely we are not giving Collins a free pass on dubious club/ current form when seasoned internationals are being dropped for that reason? :-)
I've watched a bit of Collins lately, to see if there was something I was missing. The first 15 minutes of his last club start against Norwich is why I don't think he should be in the squad. Luton started the game in the ascendancy but failed to take advantage as Collins missed two good chances, one a sitter. Norwich subsequently went up the field with Pukki scoring on his first opportunity and effectively killing the game. Collins went missing after that, and left the game as an early sub. Maybe it's just the games I watched, but the same "issues" were evident against Birmingham. He worked hard but missed with the opportunities that toil gave (skewed an open goal opportunity from a tight angle wide, and Luton's goal in that game came off a deflected Collins shot (that he should have scored from himself)).
His goals per game statistics posted in another thread look fine, but his actual play is huff and puff, and no guile. He'll score goals but will need 6/7 opportunities per goal.
Agree our other striking options are weak but there's more "footballing ability" in those options and they have time to grow into their potential whereas Collins, at 30 years old, is not going to get better. Maybe the goal against Serbia will give him confidence to reveal his inner Marco van Basten …
he was far more effective on Wednesday than connolly was when he came on. no one is suggesting that he is a long term option but sometimes we have to deal with the here and now and stop always looking to the future. we need someone up top who can actually hold onto the ball and be a threat from cornersQuote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
10 min cameo when we are chasing the game and pushing bodies forward? Can be argued he is not particularly good at holding the ball up or as a threat from corners (see previous competitive internationals he has started (Georgia and Switzerland spring to mind)).Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Connolly has physical limitations that curtail possibilities. Small, so not that much of a physical threat ! Is he deceptive in that he is slower than he looks with those short legs. You have to have a lot of extra ability when you are the size Connolly is. This remains to be seen. I hope for the best.
We played Bulgaria at home as well under Kenny. We had beaten them comfortably under McCarthy with a trial team out. It was a friendly but Bulgaria are woeful, that was Kenny's gimme game. But I'm not sure of the importance of that, the performances under Kenny have been very poor. To not score for so long against opposition that wouldn't be described as top level wasn't good. I'm all for giving Kenny a go but excusing mediocrity shouldn't come into it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Now, we have seen major improvements against Serbia. It was a big step up and Kenny's willingness to change formation and personnel is great to see. He didn't stick with tactics which clearly weren't working. Obviously, the addition of Barry has been a big plus. He's top class and will make a big impact. I think Luxembourg is massive, a win is needed as we need this to work. A draw or a defeat and the negative press and reaction from supporters will make it difficult to succeed. We really need Kenny to succeed because the alternative isn't pretty.
International football can be strange. He's playing at a similar level to David Healy did for most of his career. He did OK for the north.
We're desperate for a striker, and the lad has got 2 goals from 7 caps. The chances he's had have mainly been short stints off the bench, and at the end of the day he's taken them.
Healy had a few great years with the North. We’d bite somebody’s arm off, for such a run = = Goes to show that it is possible though !Quote:
Originally Posted by backstothewall
He was given a starting position for 1 match I think, can't recall the opposition off hand but he was very poor in the game. We don't have many options up front but we have better than Collins.Quote:
Originally Posted by backstothewall
Some sense on a friday morning, thought that was usually left for sobering Mondays. I suppose if youre Kingdom there aren't too many sober reality days. : D
"Calling for Collins" does sound a little like a desperation call, but we are kind of desperate for goals, and I think its worth a try against Qatar, if not even lux to see if we can accommodate him in a two up front if we go 3-5-2 or even as the middle man in a 4-3-3. I haven't seen enough of him so I cant comment and as mentioned stats can be very misleading, especially if its goals:chances, but he has scored 2 goals for us, no one else is scoring, and no one else looks like scoring so its worth a shot, we can all judge better then. I mean our biggest problem at the moment is we have no one anticipating runs for the pull backs across the box, or for those line balls across the 6 yard box. Connolly is either too late or not there, and the midfield aren't getting in in time or are misjudging and going too early. You could put some of that down to communication and getting used to eachother and playing together, but with a proper fox in the box hed be getting on more of them - I'm not saying COllins is a fox, more of a gazelle maybe but we wont know unless we go!
The GK union was me presumably?Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Can I just say that praise from a U21 manager is no basis to be picking a 19 year old for the senior team? McCaffrey waxed lyrical about Randolph at that age and yet it took him years to get to the level needed.
I am very excited by Bazunu's potential but there's absolutely no counter-factual to prove that he'd have been better than Travers on the night.
Kelleher is probably going to top of the tree or at least ahead of the other youngsters.
Randolph makes dumb errors sometimes but I think he brings a presence and calm assurance to certain situations - corners and inswinging frees in particular - that the kids won't bring. I've seen Kelleher getting utterly lost under inswinging deliveries (more than once) for example and I think it's a real weakness. I'll stick my neck out here and say we may revert to this observation sometime!
I only made the Travers > Bazunu call because I think he's a bit ahead in his development, size and maturity and thought he was the safer pick. It was the less risky of two risky calls. I did say on another thread that each of the 3 younger keepers are exciting prospects but I'd be nervous about playing any of them in Belgrade.
I think we missed Randolph on Weds, badly.
Probably me as well I'd say.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
I pretty much agree with everything you've put in that post.
Connolly out of game tomorrow. Another blow.
Not entirely surprising given he came off on Wednesday.
I'd be ok with Long starting though. Collins - though he scored on Wednesday of course - is probably a little bit more a gamble given his lack of game time at the top level
You sort of figured it was more than just cramp with only an hour played.Quote:
Originally Posted by Exgrad
It was 1-1 with 10 mins to go. It was only comfortable in the end.Quote:
Originally Posted by BOOMSHAKALAKA
According to twitter "out" has been downgraded to "has his work cut out to make it". Parrott will be promoted to the squad if he's out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Exgrad
I see Luxembourg are 13/2 to win tomorrow. We were just slightly less unlikely at 11/2 to beat Serbia, just to put that in context.
Meanwhile hes posting videos from Brighton Seafront on his Instagram page. Hes either acting the ****** with the media or hes definitely out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
mind games :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Id imagine Parrott comes into squad to replace him and if Kenny is looking for someone with similar energy up front Long will start.
There more I think about it the more I think he should stick to similar line up as Wednesday. The main thing that has been missing from game to game with Kenny is consistency with all the withdrawals hes had to deal with, so a bit of continuity would be helpful.
You and the exotic fruit! Your arguments were on solid foundation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Fully appreciate sentence 1 - sentence 2 we can come back to another time, it ties in with certain notions that we have as a footballing identity.Quote:
Can I just say that praise from a U21 manager is no basis to be picking a 19 year old for the senior team? McCaffrey waxed lyrical about Randolph at that age and yet it took him years to get to the level needed.
Absolutely there isn't, I've agreed with you privately on this, may even have posted it elsewhere in this thread.Quote:
I am very excited by Bazunu's potential but there's absolutely no counter-factual to prove that he'd have been better than Travers on the night.
I've no doubt that we will. Listen we all work off gut feelings sometimes, and we all have our favourites and blind-spots - I'm particularly culpable here.Quote:
Randolph makes dumb errors sometimes but I think he brings a presence and calm assurance to certain situations - corners and inswinging frees in particular - that the kids won't bring. I've seen Kelleher getting utterly lost under inswinging deliveries (more than once) for example and I think it's a real weakness. I'll stick my neck out here and say we may revert to this observation sometime!
This is the most important thing about the keeper. It was the choice with least risk attached. after that, it's in the lap of the gods.Quote:
It was the less risky of two risky calls.
That's a fair call. But I also think it's fair to say that this is a situation that we let develop time and again. We let players in situ without testing options until a crisis happens - and we are far too slow to make a decisive call on a player and it is something we do time and time and time again, lurching from one stop-gap to another. And it's something that the vast majority of people don't seem to understand about players coming through now due to development structures. Just listen to people like Liamoo, Eirambler and ElatedScum who know most of the promising players in our system. The only players that the vast majority don't know about - are the surprise players - those not identified early in the system, or those who maybe themselves aren't aware of their own eligibilty.Quote:
I think we missed Randolph on Weds, badly.
how's the 11 for tomorrow...despite Kerr and Giles heavy critics I would continue with 3 at the back,
Im sure we'll find out an hour before Kick off tomorrow as usualQuote:
Originally Posted by Bielsa´s irish
I hope he does.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bielsa´s irish
Maybe it's the drink talking, but didn't Alan Browne score the other night?Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
And on his previous competitive game, had a great chance saved and another blocked when running beyond the striker?
It was a brave selection by Kenny but I'd drop Travers - he was responsible for two goals and never looked comfortable. I'd drop Molumby - disappointing and lacks discipline. Connolly is out, apparently - so he avoids being dropped. I'd prefer Bazunu, Knight and Long.
Yep. Defo Baz and knight. You've right about molumby he is a lunatic need to play more football. I think cullen and knight in the middle could be quite exciting.. I would take an outrageous chance and play Robinson and parrott in attackQuote:
Originally Posted by Snapshot
That's true but we had a scratch team out. Not beating or scoring against Bulgaria at home can only go down as a very poor performance and result.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
It will be interesting wont it. If he does then it's a near total shift in philosophy for him and it raises the issue of why did he not play it in his experimental games at least at some point?Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
At home where we want to dominate the ball if he did keep 3 at the back might he use just one true centre half centrally like say Clark and complement Coleman on the right with stevens left allowing robbie Brady or manning to play left wing back and give us more footballers in that back 5? If only Masterson was fit my dreams might come true!
I'd switch out travers for bazuna. Bazuna just has a higher ceiling even though travers will likely have a very good professional career. There was alot of love for travers playing in the lower leagues in good old mens football while people slagged off kelleher as wasting his time in the liverpool set up and laughing at him picking up a champ league medal when he could have been at Weymouth learning the game.
I think wed night showed the folly of that talk. At least tw
ice before the first goal he was terribly slow to come for through balls and had to be bailed out by Coleman and o shea I think. Then on the first goal Ireland are trying to hold a high line(which I thought was a very encouraging aspect of our set up on wed) yet travers again held an awful deep starting position in relation to the line the defence was holding. It left a massive gap that allowed the simple flicked header to create the goal. Travers needed to close down that space with a higher starting position.
The second goal is a nightmare for him and something playing in the lower leagues is never going to help you with. Again nice high line for the defence , this time travers has a brave starting position on edge of box so if that ball gets flicked on centrally like the first goal he can come and sweep into the space behind our back line. But it doesnt go centrally it gets knocked wide. The pass that knocks it wide to mitrovic is telegraphed so plenty of time for travers to see where it's going in front of him and Clark angles back to stop mitrovic running directly at goal which again gives travers more time to readjust position. But travers for some reason waits and waits at the edge of his box before back peddling only after mitrovic gets his head up. Even then his foot work going backwards when mitrovic strikes the ball is really poor. Kelleher had a similar back peddling event against wolves where he was chipped from edge of box but showed great backwards footwork and awareness of his position in relation to his goal to make a fine save.
The third goal the defence has lost faith in travers so that high line is gone now and we are sat back on the edge of the area back to the bad old habits . The defending is poor on this one but travers footwork and movement again is real sluggish he doesnt get near what ends up been a very centrally placed header
Throughout the night his distribution was average certainly more old school keeper level than allison or kelleher level. Reminds me a bit of pickford I'd be more confident that he could smash a 50 yard ball into someone's chest that hit a 10 yard pass to someones feet in a positive break the lines manner so they are on the front foot not back peddling to get it
His positioning on corners leaving that massive space at the near post is obviously what Kenny wants to encourage the opposition to target that area which is fine but you have to have very fast feet to close that gap off which I'd be concerned about for him.
To me kelleher has shown in his liverpool and underage games he has developed the fundamentals s that travers just didnt show on Wednesday.
Cullen was good on wed , I thought molumby did fine not sure why he got so much criticism that's going to be what he is all action high tempo . I would like to see knight switch in for him tonight maybe brings bit more goal threat and bit more guile.
I'd be concerned tonight that our lack of a 10 will be an issue trying to create chances with a packed defence not giving us the space we had against Serbia on the break. Is Browne going to open up a packed defence? Mcgeady tailor made for this game or god forbid even a sub at hull like crowley has the skillset for tonight that we just dont have at a higher level. I'd be tempted to play parrott as the most advance player in a midfield 3 tonight if we are playing 5 at the back.
I would have long and Robinson as the 2 up top thought Robinson did well on wed . It gives us pace and a bit of guile in Robinson. Collins might encourage us to go back to long ball game plan
Tonight's the night for the excuses to end and show that Kenny's way can be successful. We know that we don't have a brilliant squad but it's no worse than the squad McCarthy had. Results thus far have been bad but after an encouraging display against Serbia, we can now push on. I don't think it's a coincidence that tactics and performance have progressed with the addition of a highly rated coach like Barry. I expect to see further improvements the longer he is with the squad.
It's a must win tonight and I think we'll win 2-0. Time to get the Kenny era in motion!!! BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!!
Good post above by Liamo, Bazuna spelling apart. I'd worry if Omobamidile ever gets called up :)
I'm not too fussed over choice of keeper tonight though I'm itching to see Bazunu properly.
I wouldn't worry about Collins attracting the long ball game, I think we're moving beyond that these days. Long and Robinson sounds about right for me though.
People are being a bit harsh on Molumby. The kid can play, he just looked a bit off the pace on Weds. I wouldn't be disappointed if Knight started. Despite Doherty's latest uninspiring outing I'd keep him and I'd keep the back 3 too. I know Browne thinks of himself as a 10 but I prefer to see a 10 with more craft. But I think he's hard to drop and I think Brady is too hit and miss to trust. Parrott would be a brave call. So we keep Browne I think, either to replace Molumby or to stay in the same role he played on Weds.
Cullen is a nailed on starter, and possible on-field captain if Coleman is ever unavailable.
I think Luxembourg are a tidy unit. They drew in Paris and racked up a few points in the NL. I expect we'll see them more at ease with the ball at feet than we are actually, but I think if we play well we'll win. We will create a few good chances and it'll be down to whether we take them.
Just to answer the question of why only now are we playing 3 at the back, I'd say it's driven by Duffy's form at Celtic. Once Duffy isn't a certain starter the whole back 4 thing makes less sense. O'Shea had one delightful carry from defence in the second half on Wednesday. That's what Kenny wants from his CBs.
Dan McDonnell speculating on a return to 4-3-3 in the Indo today. Highlights some comments from Kenny that could imply that the 3-5-2 was implemented based on Serbia's shape.
I'd personally like to see 3-5-2 maintained. It clearly gets the best out of the players we have and it keeps 3 in midfield. Win-win as far as I am concerned. We don't have the wide forwards or centre forward for 4-3-3. Simple as that.
The draw in Paris was impressive, but Luxemburg lost their next game, away to Sweden, 8-0!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_F...n_v_Luxembourg
Is Westwood injured? I’d be annoyed if he wasn’t and Travers was thrown in there at the deep end