Bulgaria V Republic of Ireland - Thursday, 3rd September 2020 - UEFA Nations League

Ireland squad v Bulgaria and Finland

Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Mark Travers (Bournemouth), Kieran O’Hara (unattached)

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolves), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers).

Midfielders: James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Harry Arter (Fulham), Jeff Hendrick (unattached), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Jayson Molumby (Brighton and Hove Albion), Robbie Brady (Burnley).

Forwards: Callum Robinson (Sheffield United), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (Stoke City), Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur – on loan at Millwall), Shane Long (Southampton).

Note: David McGoldrick (Sheffield United) will join the squad for the Finland game.

Josh Cullen. Will smallbone and obafemi
Should be in... I'm happy troy is in nice surprise there

Very few defenders

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Originally Posted by Diggs246

Josh Cullen. Will smallbone and obafemi
Should be in... I'm happy troy is in nice surprise there

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I would be disappointed if I were Obafemi and I had scored goals against United and Chelsea and played far more games in the league than Parrott and Idah combined. Is he injured?

Cullen was probably a 50/50 with Molumby. Smallbone has plenty time.

Hope the new jersey is better than the rugby counterpart which is truly horrific

https://www.elverys.ie/elverys/en/El...BoCe-IQAvD_BwE

A few surprises there. Thought it might be too soon for Parrott and Idah but it's good that Kenny thinks they are ready. No Cullen is a surprise. Thought he'd include O'Shea as the defence looks light on cover and he plays right across the back four.

Thought he would include Byrne also to keep the LoI fans happy, but he's clearly picking on merit as he sees it, which is good.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

I would be disappointed if I were Obafemi and I had scored goals against United and Chelsea and played far more games in the league than Parrott and Idah combined. Is he injured?

Cullen was probably a 50/50 with Molumby. Smallbone has plenty time.

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Cullen would just bring so much more to the party then Browne. And I would have went with smallbone ahead of odowda

Squad details

Interesting squad. Is it a 3-5-2 squad given the limited number of defenders? Or a 3-4-2-1, or 3-4-1-2? Brady and McClean could be wing back cover, Coleman as a right sided defender in the back 3? Otherwise, it's just a statement that the same back 4 is likely to start both games and Kenny is happy to have one full back and one centre back on the bench? Obafemi, Jack Byrne and Dara O'Shea maybe the most controversial omissions?

cullen and obafemi surprise omissions. i guess any of mccarthy, arter and molumby can do the defensive midfield job so maybe that's the thinking there.

idah and parrott ahead of oba (unless injured) is notable.

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Originally Posted by backstothewall

Ireland squad v Bulgaria and Finland

Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Mark Travers (Bournemouth), Kieran O’Hara (unattached)

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolves), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers).

Midfielders: James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Harry Arter (Fulham), Jeff Hendrick (unattached), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Jayson Molumby (Brighton and Hove Albion), Robbie Brady (Burnley).

Forwards: Callum Robinson (Sheffield United), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (Stoke City), Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur – on loan at Millwall), Shane Long (Southampton).

Note: David McGoldrick (Sheffield United) will join the squad for the Finland game.

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Do the FAI know something we (and possibly Bournemouth) don't?

Disapponted that there is no room for Cullen or Byrne, but Molumby is a welcome and expected inclusion.

Good to see McCarthy and Long back.

Robinson was excellent in WBA's last game but he needs to take this chance to impress. O'Dowda too.

Parrott and Idah over Obafemi is a value judgment I can live with. Defence as expected for me. O'Hara lucky to be ahead of O'Leary.

Overall I'm a little underwhelmed. I wasn't expecting wholesale changes but I'm struggling to agree with all the midfield / forward selections. Of course the first team selections will be critical, and the performances.

Good point. With no mcgoldrick for Bulgaria. What will our attacking line up be?

I didn't notice first time around (which says it all) but Sean Maguire misses out too. If he can find his goalscoring touch he'll get back in I'm sure. I am a bit surprised about Idah to be honest, but I guess that u21 connection is significant.

In terms of formation I would expect the 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 - maybe Long through the middle, with Connolly and Robinson/McClean?

He could go with Idah through the middle though which gives a better balance...

A little childish by Obafemi: https://twitter.com/michaelobafemi_/...036566020?s=19

He should have been picked. But dont be a lemon about it. Call kenny and chat about it. Dont show that u cant spell and are a baby

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

A little childish by Obafemi: https://twitter.com/michaelobafemi_/...036566020?s=19

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Shame he can’t spell too 🤦🏼*♂️

its hardly a surprise that idah and parrott are picked ahead of him given that has been the case to date for the u21s. it appears parrott is only included due to mcgoldricks unavailability for bulgaria

To be fair Obafemi has generally been seen as being behind the likes of Parrott and Idah at underage level, even though he's older than both. I'm happy enough to leave him with the under 21s for now, other than maybe to cynically cap him again just because of the new rules.

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Originally Posted by jbyrne

its hardly a surprise that idah and parrott are picked ahead of him given that has been the case to date for the u21s. it appears parrott is only included due to mcgoldricks unavailability for bulgaria

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But it should be a surprise, since the last u21 game(s) things have happened.
Obafemi is a premier league player and goal scorer. We know for a fact he can do the business against some of the best teams in the world ( man utd and Chelsea)
He is also one of the fastest players in the league. I accept he is far from the finished article but he should be in the squad.