It should have been called “ “ Jack Pressure “ “ or maybe “ “ Under the Jack “ "Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
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It should have been called “ “ Jack Pressure “ “ or maybe “ “ Under the Jack “ "Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
pressing in this day and age is wholly different to what big jack did though. i wouldnt call that pressing at all tbh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Is it though? I keep hearing that Ronaldo doesnt work at United because he doesnt press enough (nonsense arguement btw). Jack used to pick the likes of Tommy Coyne just so he could press from the frontQuote:
Originally Posted by Jd2793
How would you term it so ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jd2793
It was not allowing the other team time to settle, pick a pass, get in to a rhythm in possession, and force them to give it away or hit it out of play. So if it wasn't pressing, what was it ?
It wasn't pressing at all. It was a high block.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
;)
How do I block someone on here!!!!! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
Talbot and Mandriou on the standby list, but not Jack Byrne, who's injured.
https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soc...tions-27091266
Setting aside rights and wrongs of pretentious neologisms like 'low block', the main point stands. I do think we lack that little bit of guile and invention in our midfield and attack that you need in order to overcome teams who set up to defend deep. This was amply exposed in our laboured and plodding performance against a dreadful Lithuania side.
In the squad named by Kenny there was a conspicuous absence of any player that could in any way even loosely be described as a playmaker.
I assume Ronan, like Byrne, is injured. But I do find it strange that he failed to find room for Sykes.
There is a chance that Sykes is injured. He did miss out on the square for his club’s last game of the season, for whatever reasonQuote:
Originally Posted by Trequartista20
There could be a fitness issue but I think Karl Robinson made it pretty clear that Sykes was left out of Oxford's final game dead rubber because he was due to leave and the manager wanted to look at other options.
Or even better “double pivot”.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Most football terminology/commentator speak drives me up the wall. Phrases which should be banned are “Two banks of four” “Get in behind” “Played it into an area.” I’m sure there’s more, but that’s just off the top of my head.
Jaysus, some of ye are easily annoyed. Football speak is full of clichés, and always has been. What harm that people have a slightly more complex jargon available to them than "the Teddy Sherringham role"? Their meaning is clear enough if you pay any attention at all. I'm sure your grandad was yelling at a cloud about the terms "back four" and "midfield". Any formation after the WM is the tool of the devil. In my day, a playmaker got 45 minutes and 85 rods to the Melton Mobray pork pie, and that's the way I likes it darn it.
Facing criticism of his goal return rate in his early Ireland games Aldo once said "we work so hard upfront my legs are worn to stumps".Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
Any guesses/preferences on line up?
343
Baz
Collins
Duffy
Egan
Christie
Cullen
Hendrick
McClean
Ogbene
Obafemi
Robbo
though you'd have to think he'll find a spot for Coleman (possibly back 3 instead of RWB). I know that Lampard loves him but he had some awful appearances for Everton in the last stretch. At least 3-4 bad mistakes in the last 3 games. I fear that he is done at this level, as a top player, but we definitely need his leadership and personality.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
Cullen suspended for first game, hoping Knight/Molumby might play CM.
In fairness to Aldo ~ ~ He was willing to do that while being at Liverpool ( playing at the top level ) ~ ~ There would be some that wouldn’t be willing to do it playing at that club level. They might think it was Not for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Knight looks our brightest midfield prospect to me and I think he should be starting. Touch of quality about him on the ball.Quote:
Originally Posted by gally
I'm still wondering how to balance the squad out over four end-of-season games.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
Armenia should be the easiest game of the four, but if we don't win it then we've really set ourselves up for a crap campaign. So do you go full strength to win this game, knowing that means you'll probably need to rotate the squad in the harder games? Or do you field a slightly weaker team here and keep some of the others back for the harder games, but in doing so increase the risk of slipping on the banana skin? (We saw how the Lithuania game went, and these are a good bit higher-ranked).
If Coleman's form is starting to drop at PL level, I'd have him in for this one. Similarly McClean is hardly going to start all four games so you've got to choose which ones he plays. Does Obafemi want to play all four with his injury worries? He seems half decent, so while it'd be great to tie him right from the outset, I'd keep him back for the other games. Hamilton might be a bit of a risk against Ukraine/Scotland, but so do you start him here?
Probably similar calls all around the park. I don't envy Kenny plotting out the week tbh.
He is class. Kenny had been playing him in one of the three front roles though which is why i left him out as i would love to (selfishly) see that front 3 get some time together against Armenia!Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyD
I dont see him as like for like for the suspended Cullen - but could be wrong there. Not sure we have a totally natural replacement for Cullen actually.
Good points all round. Re: Coleman, i was thinking this might be the one to allow Billy Ray to get his international bearings again.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Only way Christie is starting ahead of Coleman is if Kenny wants to have him fully fit for the two home games. We saw how the three games in a single window affected our squad so we'll have to do some rotation. Probably a bit of luck that Cullen can't play the first game so, even if it's a ridiculous decision that two yellows can rule you out for a game 8 months later in a completely different competition.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
Bazunu
Collins - Duffy - Egan
Coleman - Hendrick - Hourihane - ???
Ogbene - Robinson - Knight
It's more than likely gonna be the team that started against Belgium with Coleman replacing Doherty, Collins in at RCB, and Hourihane replacing Cullen. Hourihane has started the last two friendlies Cullen hasn't, and while long term the position Hendrick plays will probably be Knights I wouldn't be moving him from the front three even with Cullen out.
As for LWB, Kenny has said both lads are coming in with injuries, and I think it's gonna come down to whoever is fittest come the first game and they'll rotate both lads each game. Coleman also came in with a groin twinge though Kenny said he'll be alright for Armenia.
Manning might be in with a shout for the first game to give the other two more time to get right for the bigger games.Quote:
Originally Posted by JR89
Both lads have been training with the rest of the squad so look ready to go but Manning already being in the squad Kenny has his concerns about one or both even seeing out the window without picking up injuries. And I'd say that's Manning's best chance of seeing any minutes.Quote:
Originally Posted by John83
I'm certain the other times he was called up with McClean and Stevens also in the squad we only named 3/4 CBs and had him in as fifth choice given he was playing their for Swansea.
Hopefully next season Bagan further pushes on and Adaramola can make a breakthrough at club level or get a loan. Need one of these young lads breaking into the squad over the next 18 months.
The DM is a big question for teh Armenia game. We have relied on Josh Cullen and he has been great
He isn't around on Saturday and I'm not sure we have a replacement. Jeff will start but will he go with Conor Hourihane who isnt very good or try Knight there. which might open a spot for Ofafemi in the attacking three.
Molumby surely? He's not the most mobile player, but he can sit deep and spray the ball around
He hasn't been good for us at senior level. I would say kenny would be afraid to throw him inQuote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
He was a complete lunatic in some of the games I saw, fouls galore and and running around out of position
not sure i'd start Jeff. Since the last international break, he's played a total of 68 minutes of football and was unused in 7 of 8 games.
I think our best midfield pairing is by far Cullen and Hendrick right now and I'd love to have them starting together for the last 3 games. Give him 30 minutes off the bench against Armenia, 60-70 minutes against Ukraine and see how he is for the Scotland game.
We should have enough about us to get past Armenia with two of Molumby, Hourihane and Knight in those holding roles. For arguments sake:
Bazunu
Coleman
Egan
Duffy
Collins
McClean
Knight
Molumby
Ogbene
Obafemi
Robinson
You'd worry about Coleman playing too many games, with Christie not really involved much so far under Kenny, but I don't think you'd want to remove too much experience from the side
The Jeff situation is unusual, he hasn't been playing for his club for quite some time, including in the last two or three international windows, but amazingly he has been excellent.Quote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
So I would be shocked if he was dropped
hendrick has been excellent needs the minutes so i see no reason to drop him here. hourihane/molumby in the 6 dont know who he'll go for.
There's going to have to be a decent amount of rotation, I can't see much more than the keeper and maybe one or two centre backs playing all 4 games. If there's a few carrying knocks coming in then it makes no sense to start them in the Armenia game. Probably no harm this is the game Cullen is suspended for, he'll be needed more in the other games and should be ok to start the three of them. I'd say Christie and Molumby have a good chance to start. I wouldn't be surprised to see Manning here ahead of McClean, I think McClean is the one they'll want to have fully fit for the later games so won't risk, although Stevens is back now too and would be ahead of them both if he's fit enough. Ogbene and Ebosele offer some versatility, both have played at wing back on a regular basis at club level so might be able to do a job at certain stages if called on. Obafemi seems most likely to get a run among the new forwards in the squad and Armenia might be the right game to do it. I think Hamilton and Ebosele are most likely players in the squad to see no game time. Kenny likes Molumby and I think he might get in for the Armenia game. He had a good end to the season at club level and offers a lot more dynamism, although it's probably at the expense of some shape and organisation compared to the safer option of Hourihane.
For Armenia I think we might see;
Bazunu
Christie
Duffy
Egan
O'Shea
Manning
Molumby
Hendrick
Ogbene
Obafemi
Knight
I would go with this.
Bazunu
coleman
Duffy
Egan
collins
Manning
Knight
Hendrick
Ogbene
Obafemi
Robinson
I don't think he'll play Knight and Hendrick at the same time unless Knight is among the front 3. Hourihane, as unfashionable as he is here, is probably the safer bet.
Knight would be wasted playing deeper in midfield, and we haven't looked good whenever we play with three actual forwards rather than a Knight or McGrath as one of the three. We don't have the midfield two to get away with playing three forwards.
Hourihane mostly likely will start since he started against Lithuania and Molumby didn't play a single minute that window. Could feel Molumby offers more energy in midfield but Knight would be there to drop in and help out if Hourihane starts.
I'd be shocked if Knight plays at the base of midfield. Playing him further forward is what allowed us to play two against Belgium. His pressing, his availability for the ball and general movement all are serious helps to us, and that is going forward- going backwards he shows immense effort too.
That's not to say he might not end up there or play there in the future. He may well do in another formation or if there is a player like him that can play further forward in his present position.
dont think knight has many of the attributes needed to play in that position at the base of midfield. kenny seems to like going 343 vs "weaker" nations id expect him to line out like that saturday, games tend to be a bit more open.
I think Molumby played well in the last few games of the season for West Brom so he'd be my choice. I think that Kenny will pick Hourihane though. Hendrick has been excellent for us so I think there is no doubt that he plays regardless of how his club situation went recently.
We really need the likes of Coventry, Kilkenny and Smallbone to kick on sooner rather than later to give us better options. If you could replace Browne and Hourihane with 2 of those lads the midfield options would start looking better.
Looks like Cullen has been cleared to play by UEFA on Saturday.
https://twitter.com/KennysKids/statu...E3E2Qs6TKNUeEg
That's good news but my favourite part is the idea of Obafemi playing through the middle. I've got really high hopes for him -- genuinely lethal pace and has shown recently he can be clinical as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
Starting Obafemi at centre forward would be interesting. But would likely mean either Robinson or Ogbene being dropped as Knight will surely start in one of the three attacking positions to help out the midfield. Probably Robinson dropping out in that case.
Great news that Cullen has been cleared to play, but is there an argument not to start him anyway? With 4 games in such a short space of time its hard to imagine any player will play every game and Armenia might be the 1 game we can rotate more.
Ukraine have 5 games in 2 weeks so they could be knackered by the last game too