any excuse to post this goal from John Egan again
any excuse to post this goal from John Egan again
and this one from Liam Kelly
Happy enough with the squad notwithstanding it's usual bloated nature.
Don't rate Sheridan, though I do respect his experience and willingness to do something different. But if we're talking about looking at options, I'd rather see some of our promising midfielders included rather than a striker who won't make it imo.
In terms of potential internationals currently playing in the League of Ireland, I feel Paddy McEleney would merit immediate rather than future consideration too.Quote:
Originally Posted by zero
Lovely.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Tony O'Donoghue has stated on Soccer Republic (seemingly with the benefit of having spoken to Martin O'Neill) that John O'Shea is likely to start in defence against Wales due to the injury issues with other defenders.
Peter Collins also mentioned that one quarter of the provisional squad have played in the League of Ireland.
...except Darragh Lenihan. Which begs the question: why no love for the Blackburn trio (Lenihan, Williams, Hoban)? I mean, I know they're having a tough season but all three are young players who are firmly established in the Championship, yet can't seem to get international recognition. Also, does the absence of Hogan and Jutkiewicz mean we should give up on the possibility of them declaring for us - did MON address this issue?Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Hogan's injured for weeks. I'm not sure if there's an issue with Jutkiewicz declaring or not, we know he's eligibility don't we? Think he just hasn't got a call up.Quote:
Originally Posted by samhaydenjr
What defender would you have them there ahead of? It took Egan long enough. Hoban has been injured a bit this season. Williams is surely firmly behind Cunningham in the extended queue. Is Lenihan going to get in the squad for a crunch match ahead of McShane or Pearce? Boyle has European experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by samhaydenjr
EDIT: Is Lenihan back in midfield or still centre half for his club?
Great to see Kelly getting included. It probably came too soon for Manning but June won't be long coming for him and he's due to win his first under 21 cap too. They are too wonderfully technical midfielders for the future.
Harry Arter having a scan but it doesn't sound too serious
http://www.bournemouth.vitalfootball...e.asp?a=483976
According to Emmet Malone, O'Neill insists McClean and McGeady can play in the same team, although Malone thinks McGeady is more likely to appear from the bench if he gets game-time against Wales: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...eady-1.3008884
Quote:
Originally Posted by Emmet Malone
Danny, is there some easy way to get
http://foot.ie/images/misc/quote_icon.png Originally Posted by Emmet Malone
into a newspaper quote?
I would be shocked if McGeady wasn't starting...
When you're typing up a post, place/wrap "quote" tags around the quoted text (which I usually just copy and paste from a particular article), like so:Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
[QU*TE]Quoted text.[/QU*TE]
(I've used an asterisk there instead of an "O" as the tags won't show up in this post if I include the full word "QUOTE".)
Then include an "equals" sign (=) within the first "quote" tag after "QUOTE" followed by the name of whoever it is you are quoting.
If you wish to include Emmet Malone's name, for example, you'd do it like so:
[QU*TE=Emmet Malone]Quoted text.[/QU*TE]
(Once again, I've used asterisks there instead of the "O".)
Is that what you mean?
I've got it now, thanks Danny
Quote:
Originally Posted by Danny Invincible
McGeady needs to start. I watched the Reading game last weekend and his confidence is sky high. He changed wings, I think, when Horgan went off and this versatility might just cause lots of confusion in the Welsh defence. McClean has been great in the last few matches, so what a great headache O'Neill has.
I know there are no absolute arguments here but I would note that they all have more Championship experience than Boyle, Egan, O'Dowda, Horgan and Kelly. Hoban, in particular, could have had an even better record had it not been for injury and Watford's weird (albeit successful) loan policy and should really get a chance at some point. Williams, meanwhile, was regularly preferred to Cunningham at Bristol City. And where the much-vaunted Jack Byrne failed to nail down a place in Blackburn's first XI, Lenihan has managed to do so (I didn't know he was being used as a centre-half, but he kept his place when Hoban returned last week so I guess he might be back in midfield). Now I probably wouldn't have any of them in the final squad for the crunch game against Wales but, as I mentioned earlier in this thread, the Iceland game gives us the opportunity to experiment a little - like I said, there's no major reason why this trio should be chosen over others, but I think they should certainly be in the conversation for upcoming friendlies.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
I'm not disagreeing with you completely but there's a bit too much competition in the squad for a competitive match like Wales that we will need the defensive experience the likes of Pearce and McShane if we are struck by injuries. I think Hoban has the most potential of the lot. He showed more than the other pair at a younger age.Quote:
Originally Posted by samhaydenjr
Lenihan was playing centre half last night per LiveScore. All three started.
They definitely should be in the conversation for the upcoming friendlies, along with a lot of other players at a similar level such as Manning, Cullen, Forrester, Cunningham, potentially Robinson and I'm sure I'm missing a few.
So would I. I would give McGeady a free role in the team. Let him run through the middle, or down the wings - wherever he sees an open space.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Put Hoolahan at the top of a midfield diamond and Arter at the other end to protect our defence and go from there.
Hopefully we won't need to call on an impact player coming off the bench on the night, but that player would be Walters for me.
I think the Iceland game will be useful but not for widespread experimentation. If 2 or 3 of Doherty, Hourihane etc. get a run out it'd be great. I expect Horgan will get a start for this one.
Like your thought process and I would absolutely start McGeady. Horgan has a part to play at some stage I would suggest. One thing we have to be mindful of is tactics in this game.Quote:
Originally Posted by gastric
I would prefer to see Ireland sit back a little and then try to spring a counter attack on them, with McClean and McGeady flying at the Welsh defence. If it is the other way around, where we are caught in the Welsh half and Ramsey releases Bale or Vokes, it spells trouble. I would also be wary of Bale shooting from distance at Randolph.
Are Wales still utilising the 3 defenders and wing-back combo? Getting our own formation right will be crucial, as there'll be space to exploit down the in the Welsh third and between the midfield holder and centre-backs.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a deep-lying two if McCarthy is fit, to cover both the advancing Ramsey and the floating Bale.
-------------------------Hennessy------------------------
-------------Collins-----Williams--------Chester---------
Gunter---------------------------------------------Taylor/Davies
--------------------------Ledley------------------------------
-------------Ramsey ----------------- Allen ----------------
------------------------------------Bale----------------------
-------------------------Vokes-------------------------------
----------------Randolph---------------
Coleman --- Keogh -- Clark --- Ward
-----------Whelan --- McCarthy-------
------- Hendrick ----- McClean-------
--------------- Hoolahan-----------------
-----------------Walters----------------
That would allow for Shane Long, Aiden McGeady and possibly Horgan to come on and shore things up if we're in a positive place.
Edit. I knew Brady was suspended. So why did I not think of that when looking at the squad? D'uh. I'm supposing Arter is unfit, otherwise he has a chance. If james Mac is unfit, I wouldn't be surprised to see meyler there, but it would worry me if he has too much time to think. Personally I'd love to see McGeady start, but he won't pick both him, Wes and McClean, and wes needs to play for us to hold on to the ball.
Brady is suspended, unfortunately.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
I'd go with that team, but putting in Arter instead of Whelan and McGeady or Wes instead of Brady.
Considering O'Neill's special relationship with McGeady dating back to before his senior Celtic debut and O'Neill's fulsome opinion about his talent, if MCGeady is not starting then O'Neill has his own very good reasons.Quote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
..which may well include using him off the bench as an effective weapon for the last 35 minutes?
Too soon for Walters to lead the attack? God knows, even TOWK's Murphy might be a better option. I'd go for Long and O'Shea instead of Keogh. Arter, instead of McCarthy who won't be fit and if both are unfit, Meyler perhaps.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Bale feels great, raring to go, likely to score many goals vs Ireland.
https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017...-bale-ireland/
What is everyone predicting?
My head says 3-0 Wales, My heart says 2-0 Wales.
3-1 to us.
5-0 Ireland. Niall Quinn with a last minute header to guarantee the win.
The Welsh windbag.Quote:
Originally Posted by KrisLetang
What's Niall doing these days beside the odd bit of punditry?Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954
Alan Browne, dammit, that's who we both forgot :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
He and Nigel Harps went shopping for Disco Pants yesterday according to reports.Quote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
The faux-Cyrillic font is a nice touch.
I see Liverpool's youngest ever scorer Ben Woodburn is in there. That's his first call-up.
On paper, they're a very average (and you could say beatable side) although they clearly have a tremendous team-spirit and with world-class Bale in the team bolstered by the likes of Ramsey and Allen, they're a little less predictable.
I'd love a win by a goal - be it 1-0 or 2-1 - and we have the superior players and overall ability across our squad to do that, but I just think we'll play out a tight 1-1 draw. Hennessy is a weak keeper - a flapper - so I hope we take full advantage.
The inconsistent direction the capital "E" is facing in "TogetherStronger" is killing me!Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
I'd agree with that, their midfield is better, we have the better strikers and defence, and obviously Bale is the best player by a distance across the two squadsQuote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Yeah, although we'd be creaming ourselves if we had a young player getting game time (and scoring) up front for Liverpool.
It a shame we don't have the Brady/Duffy combination to test him.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
I get images of Soviet/Nazi/WW2/propaganda postersQuote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
http://images.tate.org.uk/sites/defa...?itok=UQH2V0F6
One of the riveting debates surrounding the Wales team, will it be Vokes or HRK up front?
http://apostlewelshfootie.proboards....ussion?page=12
Fighting Irish doing their work to bring good omens to you right now, starting to run away from Princeton in March Madness.
Edit: Irish now in a dogfight. Uh oh.