Republic of Ireland V Switzerland 25th March & Slovakia 29th March 2016 - Friendlies

https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram...Njk3OA%3D%3D.2

Goalkeepers
Rob Elliot (Newcastle United)	Started
Darren Randolph (West Ham United)	Unused Substitute
David Forde (Millwall)	Unused Substitute
Defenders
Shane Duffy (Blackburn Rovers)	Started	Goal, Clean Sheet	Yellow
Richard Keogh (Derby County)	Started	Clean Sheet	Yellow
Seamus Coleman (Everton)	Started
Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa)	Started
Paul McShane (Reading)	Started
Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers)	Started
Stephen Ward (Burnley)	Started		Yellow
John O'Shea (Sunderland)	Sub (73)
Cyrus Christie (Derby County)	Sub (90)
Alex Pearce (Bristol City*)	Unused Substitute
Midfielders
Jonathan Walters (Stoke City)	Started	Goal, Assist	Yellow
Robbie Brady (Norwich City)	Started (76)	Goal
James McCarthy (Everton)	Started
Jeff Hendrick (Derby County)	Started
Glenn Whelan (Stoke City)	Started
Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City)	Started
Alan Judge (Brentford)	Started
Jonathan Hayes (Aberdeen)	Started
Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City)	Started		Yellow
Stephen Quinn (Reading)	Started (78)
Aiden McGeady (Sheffield Wednesday*)	Started (45)
Harry Arter (Bournemouth)	Started (45)
Eunan O'Kane (Bournemouth)	Sub (46)
James McClean (West Bromwich Albion)	Sub (59)
Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City)	Unused Substitute
David Meyler (Hull City)	Not in Squad	Illness
Forwards
Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)	Started	Goal
Shane Long (Southampton)	Started	Assist
Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town)	Started
Kevin Doyle (Colorado Rapids)	Sunday

Dropped
Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday)	Started	Clean Sheet
Greg Cunningham (Preston North End)	Started	Assist
Chris Forrester (Peterborough United)	Started
Paul Green (Rotherham United)	Unused Substitute
Darron Gibson (Everton)	Not in Squad
Anthony Stokes (Celtic)	Started	Goal
Simon Cox (Reading)	Sub (78)

Baffling that Alex Pearce is in there. He's played 180 minutes all season and conceded 5 goals. Couple that with a few ragged cameos for Ireland...

Thought Cunningham would have edged Doherty. Came back in from the cold for a match against Poland and didn't look like he missed a step.

Baffling that Westwood isn't in there. You need his experience if something were to happen to Randolph (Given really shouldn't be going to the tournament).

Perhaps rather than giving Cox and Stokes any more token call-ups, opportunities should be afforded to Eoin Doyle, Mason or Madden next time?

A 36 year old League One sub goalkeeper ahead of the Championship goalkeeper of the season. Absolutely bizarre, and Westwood is easily better than Elliot too.

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

Thought Cunningham would have edged Doherty. Came back in from the cold for a match against Poland and didn't look like he missed a step.

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I'm surprised Doherty got in ahead of Cunningham too.
Cunningham is a natural LB whereas Doherty as far as I know is mainly a RB and is filling a gap for Wolves at LB. Cunningham is also part of one the best defences in the Championship.
Might be my Galway bias though...

Think it's pretty clear the Forde over Westwood decision has nothing to do with form, league position or gametime, and simply a desire to have Forde around for a combination of:

a) Because he wants a third-choice goalie who will be an optimistic presence and contribute to the squad spirit.

b) Because Forde is a particularly good character more suited to the role above, rather than Westwood.

I can't comment on Westwood's character, but I wouldn't blame him if he was surly or hesitant about being a third-choice keeper in a squad/at a tournament while Forde has been used before in squads simply because he's highly professional, and almost mentor-like in his role as third choice.

You can argue Westwood is more likely to challenge, but I reckon O'Neill's made up his mind that it's Randolph followed by Elliott and the other keeper might as well be a good dirt-tracker.

I don't think that's bizarre at all, pretty common in squad building.

It is, however, much more bizarre that Westwood isn't closer to the team, for which he has legitimate beef. I can't help but feel there's some level of distrust between management and Westwood, for whatever reason.

Yep... all pretty sh!te and highly frustrating reasons though in my opinion. Maybe there's more to it that we'll find out in time. He'll probably drop Forde on his ass anyway when the other 'great lad to have around the place' regains fitness.

I remember reading what a great presence Forde was around the group. I think that's as much a part of it as any. O'Neill seems to understand group dynamics. Also a reason I believe he hasn't called up Delaney. It wouldn't help the dynamic of the group. An unhappy group will not go out and do the business on the pitch. And football teams and players can be very fickle

Clark has barely played all season. Wilson remains injured. Now O'Shea's rooted to the bench for Sunderland after a couple of high-profile gaffes.

I hope O'Neill knows what he is doing. I would be more comfortable with Delaney leading the team than anyone else in the event O'Shea were to become unavailable. And the fact that he is left-footed is a bonus.

Odd whatever way you put in when you consider he is our best PL performer in that position and Alex Pearce is ahead of him.

Total exaggeration to say Clark has barely played all season. He's been in almost as much as he's been out. Alex Pearce is ahead of Delaney because Alex Pearce isn't retired.

Clark has started 12 times and being an unused substitute 15 times so it was an exaggeration to say he's barely played, but it's still less than half of the games they have played (31).

And Delaney needs to come out and say if he is amenable to a come back instead of having Dann & Pardew do his talking but I think O'Neill should leave his pride aside and ask him if he would agree to come back with no guarantees.

Instead he's shut the door on the possibility.

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

Clark has started 12 times and being an unused substitute 15 times so it was an exaggeration to say he's barely played, but it's still less than half of the games they have played (31).

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He's also played five cup games and obviously the internationals for us. I make that twenty full games this season and he'll probably play some more before it finishes.

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

I think O'Neill should leave his pride aside and ask him if he would agree to come back with no guarantees.

Instead he's shut the door on the possibility.

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It's not about swallowing his pride. It's about consistency, team morale and the future. If you're going to take issue with O'Neill here, it should be on those points; not because you think he's being contrary. There's nothing to suggest he's just being stubborn. He has no reason to be that way, nor would there be any embarrassment for him in actually re-calling Delaney if he wanted to. There's a case to be made for Delaney's inclusion, sure, but O'Neill just doesn't favour it for a few reasons, which I think are perfectly valid.

Agree that Delaney should be in the Squad- but only if he approached it in the right manner. Firstly he should publicly withdraw his inferred criticism of O Neill given the success of the management team in securing qualification, Then he should not hide behind Scott Danns and Alan Pardew in testing the waters in relation to a possible return.

from https://twitter.com/SSEAirtricityLg/...24517539553280

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.@DundalkFC goalkeeper Gary Rogers has been invited to train with the @FAIreland senior team for the next two days.

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Attachment 2414

See who I saw on my flight from Heathrow yesterday: Messrs McShane and Judge.

The omission of Westwood from the squad is Trapesque. He is now in to his second excellent season and is generally regarded as the best Championship keeper and, but for injuries, would have been a regular Premiership player. Perhaps this goes back to issues between MON and Westwood from Sunderland days. I don't know but to leave out from the squad someone who arguably should be starting, let alone a squad player, is disappointing and this is not just my blue striped bias talking here. I was away for the past few days. Was MON queried on this at the Press Conference?

Trapesque? There was no such disquiet on your part with regards to Trap :P He was the best we had and we should have been very happy and lucky we had him... And now you say Trapesque :D

There was a post on the YBIG forum last year from a Sunderland fan theorising that Westwood blotted his copybook badly with Martin O'Neill when he was manager of Sunderland and he refused to play in a League Cup game because he was sick.

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Trapesque? There was no such disquiet on your part with regards to Trap :P He was the best we had and we should have been very happy and lucky we had him... And now you say Trapesque :D

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I don't think you'll ever find I used those words. Just about everyone agreed that Trap never picked his strongest squad and made some bizarre selections. What I did think was he got the best out of the squad and made us very competitive, away from home in particular and I didn't care about the style of football. I just hope MON isn't going to stick to the same players like Trap used to do (i.e. become Trapesque and select Forde/Given over Westwood and further down the road the likes of other established midfielders over Arter etc).

League of Ireland keeper trained with the squad today. That's gotta hurt Westwood

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

There was a post on the YBIG forum last year from a Sunderland fan theorising that Westwood blotted his copybook badly with Martin O'Neill when he was manager of Sunderland and he refused to play in a League Cup game because he was sick.

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The fact that he has played for Ireland under O'Neill kind of suggests it has little or nothing to do with his time at Sunderland though, doesn't it? I've a feeling he just got sick of him pulling out of Ireland squads.

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Originally Posted by Fixer82

League of Ireland keeper trained with the squad today. That's gotta hurt Westwood

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Would think nothing of it. Rogers works for the FAI, and is a 34 year old keeper most likely there to bump up numbers in a training match.

No doubt you're right but Westwood sitting at home seeing that might have stung a little

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

The fact that he has played for Ireland under O'Neill kind of suggests it has little or nothing to do with his time at Sunderland though, doesn't it? I've a feeling he just got sick of him pulling out of Ireland squads.

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That's exactly it I'd say.

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Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Think it's pretty clear the Forde over Westwood decision has nothing to do with form, league position or gametime, and simply a desire to have Forde around for a combination of:

a) Because he wants a third-choice goalie who will be an optimistic presence and contribute to the squad spirit.

b) Because Forde is a particularly good character more suited to the role above, rather than Westwood.

I can't comment on Westwood's character, but I wouldn't blame him if he was surly or hesitant about being a third-choice keeper in a squad/at a tournament while Forde has been used before in squads simply because he's highly professional, and almost mentor-like in his role as third choice.

You can argue Westwood is more likely to challenge, but I reckon O'Neill's made up his mind that it's Randolph followed by Elliott and the other keeper might as well be a good dirt-tracker.

I don't think that's bizarre at all, pretty common in squad building.

It is, however, much more bizarre that Westwood isn't closer to the team, for which he has legitimate beef. I can't help but feel there's some level of distrust between management and Westwood, for whatever reason.

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Clive Woodward said that he left out Austin Healy (?) from his WC2003 winning squad due to personality. Just one termite can bring the house down was how he put it. The last thing the squad needs is a guy who thinks he should be number one occupying the number three spot. This is all a bit presumptuous as for all we know KW is a great character and very team-focussed. Any squad needs good characters and Forde really does appear to be an all round good egg, a good guy to have around and, as SvD says, mentor-like.

My suspicion for a while now is that MON has been frustrated by KW's withdrawals and his omission is a combination of this and the above SvD point.

I think Elliott is very good by the way. Easy to look good in a weak team I suppose. "Optically" I always played my best games losing 2-0 but saving 5 shots. But he is good.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

The last thing the squad needs is a guy who thinks he should be number one occupying the number three spot. This is all a bit presumptuous as for all we know KW is a great character and very team-focussed.

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I'd say it's more than a bit presumptuous though as Westwood has never given us any reason whatsoever to question his character or, in my opinion, his dedication. I believe any squad he pulled out of would have been for genuine reasons as he's missed some games for Sheffield Wednesday also, and seemed to have some fitness issues where they felt it was best that he wouldn't play in the cup games, although plenty of clubs do that anyway. I've no problem with Elliot, I just think Westwood is very clearly the better goalkeeper and far more deserving of a place in the squad. I don't think it's even close between the two to be honest and Forde would be a borderline farcical inclusion at this stage on the basis that he's a great lad. I'm kind of expecting Given to take his place anyway if he returns to full fitness, and we certainly can't afford to carry the two of them.

I don't think these are the comments of a guy who would disrupt the harmony in a squad, even if he doesn't give out free hugs like Fordey :) (from The 42.ie)

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Originally Posted by Kieran Westwood

I’d love to be in the squad because I love being part of it and am proud to represent Ireland. Regardless of whether I’m in or not, it’s a really close-knit group. It’s like a family get-together when we link up, which is fantastic.

I’m a big believer in fate and going to Sheffield Wednesday has been a turnaround for me after three years at Sunderland where I played around 25 games in total.

At the end of the day you want to play football and if I’m doing well, it will put me on the radar to try and get into the squad for the Euros.

I’ve been involved for the last seven years and have been in and around the squads for the last qualification campaign even if I may not have played any games.

I’m playing well so I don’t see why I wouldn’t be in with a shout. I feel fully part of the set-up and would like to think I’ll be up for consideration at least.

To qualify was fantastic for the country, everyone involved and me included as a fan. It’s great and I’m absolutely made-up.

Either way I’ll probably be going to France anyway. Hopefully I’ll be in the squad but if not I’ll be there dancing around with the fans!

Whatever happens, there will be no hard feelings.

The goalkeepers get on really well. Whoever plays, we get around each other and try help each other as best we can. It’s a lot different to international level because we all want to achieve something so there is no real needle or ‘he took my place’ mentality.

This isn’t just about 23 players, it’s about the whole country and we’re all part of that regardless of whether we play, we’re on the bench, in the stands or at home.

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Press conference with Roy Keane due to start soon

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

I'd say it's more than a bit presumptuous though as Westwood has never given us any reason whatsoever to question his character or, in my opinion, his dedication. I believe any squad he pulled out of would have been for genuine reasons as he's missed some games for Sheffield Wednesday also, and seemed to have some fitness issues where they felt it was best that he wouldn't play in the cup games, although plenty of clubs do that anyway. I've no problem with Elliot, I just think Westwood is very clearly the better goalkeeper and far more deserving of a place in the squad. I don't think it's even close between the two to be honest and Forde would be a borderline farcical inclusion at this stage on the basis that he's a great lad. I'm kind of expecting Given to take his place anyway if he returns to full fitness, and we certainly can't afford to carry the two of them.

I don't think these are the comments of a guy who would disrupt the harmony in a squad, even if he doesn't give out free hugs like Fordey :) (from The 42.ie)

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Yeah, great quote. Even still I've often been frustrated by KW's absence and it's easy to say the right things to a hack. It's just a gut feeling I have that he has pulled out too easily and as you know I'm one of the more tolerant around these parts of players missing camps and trips etc.!

Roy Keane has confirmed that Harry Arter and Jeff Hendrick are to miss Ireland's friendlies

I was wondering who he was talking about but the feed kept jumping on me. I heard him say that somebody has gone back to their club and was just hoping it wasn't Judge or Arter really. Not ideal for Hendrick either, who may be involved in a playoff final for the Dutch game, I'm sure he'd like to have cemented his place (in the team) fully in these games, although I'd say he's safe enough.

That looked like the son of Stan making an appearance at 11.30minutes.

What a waste of time that press conference was. Wives and girlfriends??

didn't know Whelan and Gleeson were cousins!

Oh right... so that was Gleeson. I thought they were our under 21 players or something! Who was the guy with him?

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Yeah, great quote. Even still I've often been frustrated by KW's absence and it's easy to say the right things to a hack. It's just a gut feeling I have that he has pulled out too easily and as you know I'm one of the more tolerant around these parts of players missing camps and trips etc.!

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Yeah you are, and I've been frustrated when he's pulled out as well. My gut feeling is that 'maybe' he could have played if it was a playoff final for Sheffield Wednesday, but probably wasn't worth it to sit on the bench for us, which is reasonable enough if it meant getting himself right long-term. I think he's been around the scene and present in enough squads for that not to be held against him but, look, it's pure speculation on our part anyway. It would be handy if Tony O'Donoghue and the likes, for once, actually asked a question that we wanted answered. As Geysir mentioned though, the management's policy on WAG's is far more important, so important that Keane didn't even know the answer!

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Originally Posted by DeLorean

Oh right... so that was Gleeson. I thought they were our under 21 players or something! Who was the guy with him?

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Alan Judge - https://www.google.ie/search?q=alan+...YaDQ0Q_AUIBygC

Ah... I should have known him really. Gleeson threw me altogether despite seeing him play (and score) earlier in the season.

I reckon if Arter had done well in one of these two matches then he'd have been in a strong position to start at the Euros. O'Neill often references him and he's done well this season and would offer some guile coupled with workrate. Hendrick has been very good the past campaign but he's a lucky boy that Arter isn't playing these matches either!

I fancy Judge to make an impression over these two matches in a big way. He's playing with huge confidence and is involved in a huge portion of Brentford's goals. With Wes suffering a dip in form of late then we need another AM with a touch of creativity. Different player to Wes, obviously, but who doesn't like an AM with a big goal and assist record this season (even if it is only in the Championship)? Offers flexibility across the front three in midfield (if we go with a diamond or even 4-2-3-1) from what I've seen of him also.

Not sure who else will be afforded opportunities. Duffy? The Euros have probably come too soon for him. If he had played even a portion of the minutes Keogh has done in the qualifiers then he'd be in a good position but, as it stands, he'll do well to get in the squad if we have Clark, O'Shea, Keogh and Wilson for the four centre-half berths (Wilson, Brady and Ward for the left-back spots offer good versatility too).

Arter out and has gone back to England. Hendrick struggling and likely to follow in the next few days.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/...double-header/

Ever since Roy started out with one, beards are "trending" in the squad, but of course Roy's is the most overgrown.

Have Westwood or Delaney done anything to damage morale in the team though?

Delaney himself refuted rumours that there were any issues between himself and Keane.

And fair enough he's 34 (or 35 according to MON) but his Premier League experience, leadership abilities and position as captain at Palace could stand us in good stead if O'Shea were to be ruled out.

His left-footedness and distribution have also been broached as potential positives.

I just don't think MON should be so blunt about leaving him out.

Wilson's fitness is a worry, Keogh is Keogh and Duffy doesn't have the experience Delaney does.

Hmmm, probably not much in this.....
http://www.corrieredellosport.it/new...le_amichevoli/

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Originally Posted by badly translated by G. Oogle

NYON - In the next hours the Uefa convene an emergency meeting to determine what, if any friendly matches scheduled during the stop of the championships, you can play in Europe. Belgium-Portugal has already been canceled: ilm Brussels Government has declared three days of national mourning. The Uefa is considering whether to block the entire program in view of the expected European Championship tests in 2016, whose final phase will start next June 10 in France. On 13 November, at the Stade de France he was playing the friendly between France and Germany when it unleashed the murderous rage of Islamic terrorists. Today, under attack it is Brussels, the heart of Europe. After November 13, it was canceled the Belgium-Spain race. Now he threatens to blow up everything.

But there's more. In the coming days, the European Football Association will meet with leading representatives of the French government to take stock of the European Championship finals, to be held in France from June 10 to July 10 next. It grows the party of those who want to cancel the whole event, deeming insufficient the drastic security measures launched a month ago and that, fr alia, provide for certain games to be played behind closed doors. Italy, in Group E, should play in these races: June 12, at 21, Italy-Belgium; June 17, 15 hours, Italy-Sweden; June 2, at 21, Italy-Sweden.

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