It does feel like we've strengthened the squad through injuries, strangely.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Robinson can maybe be a bit put out that he's not been brought in to replace Idah, but to be honest, much and all as he's on a purple patch right now, he's never really delivered much bar those six goals in four games three years ago. Agree we're ok with Ferguson, Cannon and Parrott there.
Robinson predicted at the beginning of the season that he would do well, because he was injury free and felt particularly fit after a good pre-season preparation. Ironically, he is now carrying an Achilles injury and was not in Cardiff's squad on Saturday.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
One thing I notice is that we're teetering on the brink of having a squad with no 30-something players in it. Brady is injured this time, Coleman and Duffy have dropped out but Doherty has snuck in late to keep a 30+ player in the squad.
It is however now a squad that has zero players that have played at major tournament finals, or even been in a finals squad. I'm not sure if we have had a squad before now where that has been the case (other than before Euro 88 obviously). Possibly we did at some point under Kenny, someone might know. There also isn't a single player with over 50 caps.
The average number of caps in the squad is 15!Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
There's been a few games recently where the starting XI had no tournament experience, the last time was the Dutch game a year ago - Bazunu, Doherty, Manning, O'Shea, Scales, Collins, Browne, Cullen, Knight, Robinson, Ferguson
Duffy was an unused sub, the only player in the team who has appeared in a tournament
I'm pretty sure the last time there was zero tournament appearances across the starters and subs is the last game before Euro 88, against Poland in May 1998
Starting XI: Peyton, Morris, Hughton, McGrath, Moran, Galvin, Whelan, Sheridan, Sheedy, Cascarino, Aldridge
Subs: Quinn, Byrne, Kelly, O'Brien
England have lost eight players from their squad - Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Saka, Palmer, Colwill, Foden, Grealish and Ramsdale - and have called up Branthwaite, Bowen, Trafford and Livramento. Still can't see us getting a result out there, mind. But nice to see Grealish and Rice won't be scoring against us again anyway.
Surprised they haven't called up Delap. He's in form and they can completely tie him with a cap in a NL game of minimal importance to them.
I guess now that he had issues returning to the Celtic first team after Aberdeen which affected his performances in August '23, issues which were quickly dealt with by Rodgers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Aberdeen had wanted a buy-in clause in that loan deal but Ange point blank refused, obviously saw something of note in Scales.
I didn't know that. I always assumed it was the opposite, Ange didn't rate him.
HH said in his press conference basically that he only called Andy Moran up because the 21s didn't have a game and wanted to see him in that environment but didn't really see him playing and saw him as more one for the future. also he has a calf knock.
the squad continues to decrease in viable options with O'Shea and Ebosele still doubts, they hadn't trained yet but were going to try today and assess if they got through training ok
Anyone going to tell him that firstly the 21s do have games and secondly Moran is now too old to play competitive games for the 21sQuote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
sorry his exact quote was "the 21s don't have a competitive game" - i was filling in the blanks "Andy Moran's 21s group don't have a game". so he might know that the 21s have a game but might not know that Moran is no longer eligibleQuote:
Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract
Or English isn't his first language and he does know but words it awkwardly.
A bit like Stephen Kenny then.Quote:
Originally Posted by ~YTM~
He didn’t sound enthusiastic about Moran. Seems his selection was swayed by others talking up Moran as a future senior international. Mentioned Moran isn’t the most physical in the squad, which is obvious to all that have seen him play.
Overall, HH talks a lot of sense and is likeable – but certainly is getting in the excuses. Spoke about not having time to train so doubtful we’ll see anything new this evening. Feels like a really low key build up for this game, a game we are expecting “not to lose”. What could go wrong … ?
Sounds a bit like a man making a plan to escape from a high security jail !Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
I like HH too, but he also talked about these games being an opportunity to test players before we get into WCQ action, so there's a bit of a contradiction going on - maybe it's a language thing.
Where we are at the moment, we need to treat every game like an existential threat to civilisation/cup final. I'll be disappointed if we don't win tonight but under no illusions that we'll have to earn it. Then off to Wembley to batter England :D
FWIW he's right about Moran. He still looks like a strong gust of wind would blow him over. It's great to see a technical player like him coming through, but it's hard to see what practical role he could play just yet. Azaz gives you more than Moran does going forward and has more presence to him as well. Maybe he could be used as a late throw of the dice off the bench if we're chasing a goal or something, but I'd say we'd be more likely to go for someone like McAteer or Johnston out wide in that situation.
I have a feeling Moran will be the golden boy for a section of the support for the next while, but that doesn't necessarily mean he should be playing.
If anyone has tickets they can’t give away, let me know. I got given 5 from my brother’s brother in law and gave them away to lads I play football with. There were a tonne of willing takers who I’ve had to say no to
Interesting to read the doubts being expressed about Moran and earlier Connell. Pretty much the reasons why Wes never got picked until we ran out of alternatives. What exactly do we have to lose giving him a chance against England? The Championship is a very physical league and thus far he’s managing pretty well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
Depends where you play him. If you play him in centre mid you risk getting walked through again like the home game where we only put two in there. You could play him wide/behind the striker instead of Szmodics. But then you wouldn't have Szmodics.
Basically you reduce the standard of the team as there's no position where he's better than the current starting player at this point in time. He's just about holding his own in a mid table Championship team. Other than at left back, that's not going to get you a start for Ireland.
Azaz is streets ahead of Moran at this point for the reasons Eirambler points out. I would definitely be open to calling up Luca Connell for a look in midfield though.
I hope next June, if our qualifiers don't start till September, that HH gets really experimental for the summer training camp. Get a ball playing 6 like Connell or Moran next to workhorse in that double pivot with Azaz as the 10.Quote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
I wouldnt be considering Moran for the England game and Im a huge fan of him. I do think hes going to be a massive player for us. Yes Azaz would be ahead of him right now but Moran will be better that Azaz in my opinion. Azaz is excellent on the ball but hes slow and not particularly mobile, but I do also like the bit of size he adds to us too. Moran is lightweight but hes been well able to handle the Championship and hes been good mostly, hes not that far from pushing for a regular place in the Ireland team, but I dont think hes there yet.
Luca Connell is a decent option to be thinking about because I think he will be in the Championship sooner than later, but we also shouldnt forget about Lawal either. Lawal will be back from injury soon and could very much be part of our midfield picture by the time March/ April games come around
Seems very attacking. And light on numbers in midfield again.
Midfield is worryingly lightweight. It’s going to be an interesting night!
Starting XI stats
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXMQorKFg9/
Johnston is lost. Midfield is almost non existent. Weird lineup, weird formation, weird performance.
Watching it on the Viaplay feed with no commentary really brings home how dead the atmosphere is. It's an awful stadium anyway in terms of atmosphere, same issues at the rugby, but it sounds particularly morgue-like so far tonight.
Really is two poor teams. Finns look much worse when we put them under some pressure. We’re giving up easy chances by losing control of the middle. On the plus side Ferguson looks much sharper than recent games. I’m not sold on Smodzics, but he took the offside goal very well. Couple of flashes from Festy but final ball not great.
Very lucky to still be at 0-0. We had one good spell for a few minutes but otherwise not much to get excited about.
Don't think we deserve to be ahead after they hit the woodwork three times but we'll take it. A lovely bit of play from our latest short arsed Scot in green to set it up. It doesn't happen without some great last gasp defending from Collins before that as well.
Really think we could do with another body in midfield all the same.
Finland will be kicking themselves there. Kamara - who I think has been one of their better players - kept the ball in for us and got himself injured in the process. Daft stuff; just give up the throw.
They've been impressive in terms of how they work the ball forward in fairness. I kind of feel we've been a bit more lively up front than they have, but that doesn't tally with how often they've hit the post. And a big save from Kelleher too
Can still see three results in this yet
Such a strange game. Could be 2 or 3 down, but also missed a few half decent chances too. Delighted for Ferguson. Great ball in by Johnston, doesn’t change the fact that he’s completely lost in a 3 man midfield. Could really do with another proper central midfield player on the pitch and would hopefully allow us to have a bit of control of the game. At the moment, it’s all a bit chaotic and disorganised but at least we look relatively dangerous in attack.
Strange half, we've been relatively bad - especially with two in midfield. Yet the first time we've given Evan Ferguson a decent ball he scores. I know we're missing 4 or 5 players but we have to be better than that first 45mins.
That goal might be appreciated by Messrs Horgan and McMillan!! It is an Irish like error to keep the ball in like that and be in no position to keep possession, dont know what he was thinkng unless he expected someone flanking him closely, Daft indeed.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Intriguing game. Amazing what a rub of the green can do for the assessment of a half, maybe a game. On the performance so far you'd have to expect Finland to take at least one of their chances. What changes can you make bar sitting in fully to hold?
I feel like all of Szmodics, Johnston and Ebosele have had good moments, but I'm not sure we can afford to have all three of them on the field at the expense of midfield, especially now we have something to defend.
A goal for Finland seems inevitable as well as another for us.
Those Finland changes have the feel of the ones Kenny would face when he'd been sussed out
Need to get back in this game again; Finland dominating the last few minutes
Not much of a defender, Evan Ferguson