Bazunu, Kelleher, Travers (3)
Coleman, Doherty, Egan, O'Shea, Manning, McClean, Omobamidele, Collins, Duffy (9)
Cullen, Hendrick, Hourihane, Molumby, Arter, McGrath (6)
Parrott, Connolly, Idah, Horgan, Long, Curtis, Collins (7)
That's a squad that screams 3-5-2 or 3-4-3.
Kilkenny not called up, and Arter keeps his place despite playing reserve football for Notts Forest. That is my major criticism. Other than that it is a reasonable squad selection given current pool of talent. There are some who may argue for the inclusion of some LOI or league one players, but I personally wouldn’t get too worked up over this
Randolph the obvious omission - didn't think he was injured? Is this a sign his international career is over?
It could well be.I believe he is fit. He is 3rd choice at West Ham with no consistent first team football in 2 years. I like the call, time to embrace the new generation. Bazunu and Travers are starters and doing well. Randolph is 36 for next qualifiers and has done nothing at club level to command selection.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
You’d imagine that if Randolph really wanted to be the Irish number one, that he would have been looking for a loan move.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommy_c12000
I think I’d personally have Randolph over Travers...
Beyond that, Ciaran Clark is probably a bit unlucky to not be ahead of one or both of the two young centre halves, given he’s played 2/3 of Newcastle’s games so far.
In terms of midfielders, Alan Browne maybe? Think he missed a few games due to close contact isolation but is back now.
It’s possibly LA Galaxy are refusing to release Williams
Can’t really argue with McCarthy, Brady, Byrne given their lack of playing time.
It's the worst midfield in the history of irish professional soccer. Jesus christ it will be a long weekendQuote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
I think, as others have said, there's nothing too controversial, Kilkenny and Browne behind Arter/Molumby is probably most controversial. Arter and Molumby only playing under 23 while Kilkenny has been getting a lot of praise for first team performances, not sure about Browne, would have expected him in the squad if he's available. I suppose picking Kilkenny over one of the more experienced players takes another bit of experience out of an already very inexperienced squad. I thought Elbouzedi might have sneaked in and possibly Anthony Scully or Aiden O'Brien seeing as they both got hattricks mid-week.
Think it was said that Alan Browne was a close contact and can be involved yet.
Kilkenny is a bit light for me, preferably would need a full season under his belt before consideration, but yeah there're only weak arguments for those selected ahead of him.
Interesting squad. A squad that recognises that we have to win at least 2 of these games and also that throwing rookies in to play Portugal could be humiliating. I'm a bit underwhelmed by Arter > Kilkenny, but excited by McGrath's inclusion. Otherwise not too fussed about Scales, M. Duffy or other LOI or L1 guys not making it. If fit I'd like to have seen Ogbene keep his place and I was half hoping Scully would make it.
Best thing is to see McGrath, Omobamidele and Nathan Collins in the squad. I'm quite excited by the 3 young goalkeepers and am glad Randolph is being phased out. Goalkeeper is an area where we can afford to invest for the future now, especially with Randolph not playing club football. Forward options are a mix of young and old and it'll be interesting to see who SK trusts most.
Deep down I think we all know that qualification is already highly unlikely so the objective now is to gradually introduce younger players while preserving dignity results-wise, with the hope to surprise on the upside.
Randolph should have stayed at Boro.
I can think of 2 million reasons a year why he might disagree with you!Quote:
Originally Posted by brine3
Is two wins the aim here? Portugal is presumably a write off. I can see him trying to spin it as a positive if we beat Azerbaijan and draw with Serbia. One win and two defeats harder, maybe impossible even, to put a positive slant on.
Any combination of results that doesn't involve winning at least one game out of the three will surely signal the end...
Very true. Maybe they are looking at manning as a potential defensive midfielder given his performances as the middle man in a back three at swansea( did any one on here ever see that as a potential position for manning?)Quote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
Curtis collins(the cardiff one) and horgan are horribly sub standard for this level and how is arter involved ? I'd certainly have taken kilkenny or scully or obafemi over any of these. Obafemi coming on with 20 minutes to go needing a goal would give me much more hope than any of those other 4 coming on.
Great decision on Randolph great servant but we need to move on.
No james mccarthy - perhaps not fully fit. Also a bit surprised to see Long get in. Very weak looking centre midfield... I can't see what Hourihane would offer versus Portugal but he is likely to start I guess due to lack of alternatives. Perhaps Jeff gets another go...
5-3-2 / 5-3-1-1 i guess.
Bazunu
Coleman, Egan, Duffy, O'Shea, Doherty
Molumby, Cullen, Hourihane/Hendrick
2 of Parrott/Idah/Connolly
I would be delighted with two wins, given the only team we've beaten in the last 14 is Andorra.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
Portugal away is a write-off. Serbia in Belgrade were technically far superior to us, even though it was one of our best performances under Kenny, and I'm not sure anything's really happened to reduce that gap. Azerbaijan have a poor record and no stand-out players - but then neither did Luxembourg and we saw what happened there.
1 or 3 points the most likely outcome for me I think.
agreed...its 1 or 3 posits, my guess is 1
I don't agree with the Serbia away game myth.
we scored an excellent opening goal and lets be honest after they equalized at no stage were Serbia not going to win that
game. Kenny has humiliated himself and the team by continuously referencing that "superb performance" what kind of loser celebrates a defeat and I don't accept we were robbed or unlucky. They beat us comfortable because they have better players
The press conference for the squad announcement is on YouTube. Doesn't actually start until four minutes in
He's still not very good at speaking to the press
Jesus, he's still going on about that Serbia game as though it was some kind of heroic display. We were soundly beaten by an average enough team. I mean if we don't beat them at home that will be 0 or 1 points out of 6 against them, really poor even allowing for our current weak state.
I think I would be able to deal with his lack of ability in press conferences and interviews if he was at least making some progress with the team. But when you watch that along with our displays in the last year, you wonder how he ever got himself this job - he seems out of his depth both tactically and in other parts of his job also.
Agreed. And three squad places wasted with the inclusion of Hendrick, Hourihane and After. Have a feeling we may yet see Dundalk Duffy if there are withdrawalsQuote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
Hendrick and Hourihane should not be near the squad. That's been our downfall for years - persisting with players who cannot perform. If we're moving on from Randolph (and apparently Mccarthy too) then why not this pair?
I'm sorry to see Clark excluded; more Premier League goals (15) than any of the squad's forwards other than Long. Former captain of England U-18s, U-19s and U-20s, he opted for Ireland and I think he has always done his best for us. Sentiment aside, can we do without his experience against Portugal?
I don't see who plays right wing in a front three in that squad. Connolly and Curtis are more comfortable on the left. I'm not sure about Horgan - can he play either wing?
So maybe we're looking at a front 2, as one or two posters have suggested above.
Please God we are playing a front 2. Just no quality to play 2 wide players. Connolly does not even want to play as a wide player. Horgan just not good enough might be an option as a right wing back if everyone else was injured. Curtis is just not good enough out wide . Terrible we are this far into kennys reign and we don't know what formation we want to play. In no way are we a good enough side that we can chop and change formations .Quote:
Originally Posted by John83
Is Randolph injured?
McCarthy didn’t make Celtic bench tonight so maybe can’t complain.
But Arter, Hendrick and Hourihane hardly setting the world alight either.
Surprised at Long’s inclusion but happy to see him there.
Surprised at Clark’s omission.
It really is a shallow pool Kenny has to choose from
Ah the Hendrick hate continues
Hendrick was brilliant in Euro 2016.
And has done very little since.
He’s a frustrating player
The fustration being voiced toward Hendrick and Hourihane’s continued inclusion is understandable and I share the opinion that they have offered next to nothingz
I am just not sure Kenny had many if any alternatives?
Knight out injured, McCarthy a few minutes for Celtic but just getting there fitness wise. Jack Byrne hasn’t played in a long time. McEneff is a
sub at Hearts. Robbie Brady has no club.
What other credible options even is there in midfield ? Doyle - Hayes? I am sure I am forgetting players but I can’t see reasonable options other than Hourihane and Hendrick atm.
I'm no fan of Kenny, but you can hardly fault him for the poor midfield options available to choose from. We could end up losing all three matches.
Agree with this. Silk purse and sow's ear come to mindQuote:
Originally Posted by DCWA
Is there a spare traffic cone knocking about? If there is then that is a better alternative than Jeff Hendrick as the ball might take a lucky bounce off it in our favour.Quote:
Originally Posted by DCWA
There were times at Newcastle last year where playing with 10 men would have been more useful than having Hendrick on, he was that bad. Doesn't create anything, doesn't press, doesn't break play up, doesn't have an engine and doesn't pick out a pass. He's everything you don't want in a midfield player.
Hendrick is one of the worst irish midfielders i have watched. Being the case of James McCarthy one of the best being poorly coached by Trapattoni saying he was like Platini but with a shy personality
can anyone guess Stephen Kenny's starting 11 V Portugal
Kelleher as keeper I guess
Coleman and doherty. Duffy egan o shea at the back 3
3 midfielders. Hendrick one of them
Parrot and conolly up front
He might be loyal to Bazunu.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bielsa´s irish
I'd guess Cullen is a nailed on starter too. Third mid is a bit of a toss-up: sadly, looking for least worst option rather than anything more positive.
Idah might be in the mix up front too.
I’d guess
Bazunu
Coleman Egan Duffy O’Shea Doherty
Molumby Cullen Hendrick
Idah Connolly
-
Not the team I’d play but that’d fit previous teams. McClean could start at left wing back, Doherty shifts to the right, Coleman to the right central slot and O’Shea comes out.
Similarly 4-3-3 would have O’Shea dropping out, replaced by Parrott or Horgan out wide
I’d pick Kelleher over Bazunu personally but he selected Bazunu previously
Is there anything to be said for going with a lone striker up front to pack the defence and mid that bit more?
Idah and Connolly are going to see **** all of the ball against Portugal away; not sure if there's much to be said for playing both of them.
Everything you say CP is true. And yet we persist with Hendrick. People say Kenny doesn't have many options. True for the most part, but we cannot keep rewarding pathetic performances / performers. Alternatives - Graham Carey, Kilkenny and any Dundalk midfielder come to mindQuote:
Originally Posted by ColourfulPeanut
He'd be crucified if he picked Carey, Kilkenny or a LOI player.
He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't around here. Clark omission aside, he's picked the best fit and available squad. Kilkenny v. Arter is marginal, he went with experience.
I don't see what more he can do.
Personally I'd pick Parrott as one of the two up front but drop him a bit deeper behind whoever is up top. So more of a 5-3-1-1 than two out and out strikers.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu