I think you can take comments like that with a pinch of salt. What's he going to say, "Yeah, Caoimhín's still a bit knackered so I've no choice really but stick with this useless greenhorn"? Not every manager is like that, but Kenny will talk up Bazunu if he's playing him, not least because he can't really afford to be negative in front of the media at the moment. Maybe he rates him, maybe he doesn't. Things would be clearer if Kelleher was playing recently.
I think there has to be a better way of saying it though. It depends what the question was of course; if it was a generic team selection question, you just don't mention the keeper issue. If it was specifically about whether Kelleher was going to make his debut, then surely an answer which doesn't put the Liverpool sub keeper behind the Rochdale sub keeper for a game in September is preferable?
Though if Kelleher is in line for a run-out this evening as Kenny says, then he's probably not injured? I don't think you can't really say a keeper's not really fit enough for a full 90 minutes. They're either injured or they're not.
Is there a question mark about Randolph and the future? Reading between the lines and the way our current goalkeeping options have been talked up, it doesn't feel like he'll be available in September.
It read to me like preparing a Plan B - which makes sense given Randolph is 34 and not playing regular first-team football and isn't available tonight. All the article says is "with doubts still persisting around the fitness and standing of Darren Randolph", and that's McDonnell saying it, not a quote from Kenny.
Randolph took the money and lifestyle choice rather than football choice and at this age, I don't blame him. Trade-off is that he's going to be sitting on a bench for the rest of his career.
Both Kelleher and Bazunu will likely be playing every week next year at a decent level. Makes every sense in the world for them to play in September seeing as we're not going to qualify anyway.
I don’t think Randolph is to fond of this playing out from the back, and if he had not played that much of that in his career, who could blame him ? ?
Yeah, he reminds me a bit of Packie Bonner when the backpass rule came in.
Thing is, Bazunu can play out from the back, but the rest of his game is suspect still, so we're damned if we do and damned if we don't in a way.
Not that keeper is the only position we have that problem of course.
Hopefully more entertaining than when we played them just before Euro 2012
I haven't seen much (informed) speculation around Twitter for tonight's team. Kenny has made some comments regarding Parrott and the goalkeepers (as set out above). The Times also carried a possible team in their piece of: Bazunu; Doherty, Egan, O’Shea, Manning; Arter, Cullen, Knight; Horgan, Parrott, Idah.
I'm not sure if Manning is going to get the nod at left back. I don't think I could trust him there, personally. I also can't see Arter forcing his way in ahead of Molumby and Hourihane who both have plenty minutes under their belts for Kenny.
I can definitely see Horgan coming in for Curtis and Idah for Collins. with regards to Parrott, I think there is a little tinkering to do with the formation here. I found that against Andorra, we played something close to a 4-4-2. It was more like a 4-2-2, flexing into a 4-2-3-1 depending on where Troy was picking up space. We suffered from Cullen and Hourihane sitting too deep. Curtis and Knight were quite wide, which worked better for Knight than Curtis.
There is the potential for Kenny to shift into a 4-3-3 or maybe a 4-2-3-1 with a 10 that is more of a midfielder than a striker. I'm thinking of someone like Knight or McGrath. Troy could even shift out to the wing if it were Knight that moved into the 10 spot.
Kenny's comments on Bazunu certainly suggest he sees him as number one for the games in September. Or, at least, is concerned enough about Randolph's fitness that he's preparing him for it.
14,000 crowd at the game tonight apparently - in a 15,000 capacity stadium. So effectively a full house.
I think you could throw a hanky over the two keepers tbh. Kelleher always worries me when coming for crosses. Banuzu has had a few poor decision making occasions.
EDIT that last sentence makes no grammatical sense.
So what you're trying to say is you could throw a hanky over the two keepers and neither of them would catch it?Quote:
Originally Posted by centre mid
I'd be careful with that if I were you. A hanky can be quite a dangerous weapon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1Ym5iUPIfk
Makes me wonder what the score is with Max O'Leary is, played a few games for Bristol this season. He's not the answer ongoing most likely but surely should be around the squad.
The 2nd half against Andorra was good but against decent opponents today we need to look like we can compete. If we go out a lose 2 nil with a crappy performance where we create nothing I'd be very worried. There were plenty of positives from the Andorra game that we need to take forward to today.
Games this time of year are notoriously poor with players having one eye on the beach but given the circumstances of our record in the last year Id hope the players will be engaged for at least 1 more game.
Looks like
---------------------Bazunu---------------------
-------------Egan - Duffy - O'Shea-------------
Doherty --------------------------------McClean
------------Cullen - Hourihane - Knight----------
-------------------Idah - Parrott-------------------
So Duffy and Idah in for Collins and Curtis is it?
Hungary's players are (undeservedly) going to the Euros, their team will have different priorities. It could turn out to a typical game where the tournament bound team get turned over by the team with a point to prove.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
I don't get a 3-5-2 in this game. Why not give the players a workout with this formation against Andorra?Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
I wonder if O'Shea could be left back and McClean left of the front 3 with Parrott right of it?
EDIT: Or Parrott central and behind Idah with Knight right and McClean left. 4-2-3-1.
Very excited about the front 2, but they need service from the midfield. Hourihane and Doherty as senior players need to get the finger out and start contributing.
3 centre halves with McClean and Doherty wing backs I think. Cullen and Hourihane as 2 DMs - Parrott and Knight behind Idah?
Egan rattles the crossbar from close range,the bit of jostling in the build up probably cost him hitting the target.
We've started on the back foot again.
Ok start from us, struggling to get Parrott and Idah into the game but early days.
Is Hourihane trying to play a game of Where's Wally with all the people in the stadium? He has been non existent so far and it is killing us. We cant seem to keep possession past midfield and play through any lines.
Think after a very shaky first five minutes it’s been solid enough. By far the best chance with Egan off the bar. When we’ve mixed it up we’ve looked a lot better. We’re better keeping the ball from a break down up the field than trying to play out. Hourihane does have an incredibly and infuriating ability to put himself in positions where he’s never an option.
Standard from himQuote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
was thinking the same about Hourihane. He is such a passenger, its not even funny. Parrott, to me, looks a step or two off where he needs to be at this level. Idah on the other hand has so far shown a little better - won a throw out of nothing stands out. Still pretty laborious stuff, cant seem to get our foot on the ball and find a meaningful pass.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
I don't like hammering him too persistently but this is as bad as I've seen him do it. He will not receive possession unless he has a yard or two of space all around him.
I agree on all fronts. Idah is putting in a shift, without getting a great return but they are challenging situations. Parrott trying to knock it around the corner past a good player like Orban. He must have chuckled to himself as he guided the ball to the keeper.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
I was embarrassed for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Parrott's seems to think he's still playing against Andorra
I think Parrot has been good. He’s trying things and he’s won two or three frees. One with a lovely nutmeg and another that he took quickly in an effort to make something happen. Idah is putting in a shift but not making a lot happen either.
Hourihane made a criminally bad pass in the first minute and didn’t want to know about the ball after that. You see it happen to amateur players all the time but it shouldn’t happen with an experienced pro.
Better than the first half against Andorra (wouldn't be too hard) but still we look a bit more interested.
A lot better from Parrott there. O'Shea has been very impressive to me too. And McClean i have to say, much as that pains me :D
Not the worst first half.
Hungary are better, but they're ranked higher so that's expected.. they are also a much more settled team/squad, while Ireland are very much a work in progress.
I keep saying it.. its brave to blood so many yiung players at once, but its necessary. They're doing ok
Enjoyable enough game in that first half. The novelty of fans at the game is help aswell. It’s been a solid performance from Ireland.
We have been fairly solid defensively which is what we should expect
I hope O'Shea isn't a starter when everyone is available. Got caught out again
We have to be pretty happy with that half. Generally solid defensively, a couple of fantastic balls into the box when the chance has presented. I think we’re letting them run the ball out from the back a little too easily at times, but I suppose that’s letting us get organised in the middle rather than getting cut open by a couple of passes with a full press.
Glad to see us mix things up a bit. Duffy and McLean really lifting their games. We still lack a bit of craft around the middle. Knight is working his balls off and getting fouled repeatedly, would be nice to see Cullen or Hourihane just being a bit more assertive and creative from time to time.