Portugal announced their squad for their qualifiers against us and Serbia
That's a ridiculously talented squad
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Bit fearful about the Portugal game. Don't think they underestimated us in the last game but they'll up their game again knowing a win means a draw against Serbia is good enough to top the group.
Ireland squad announced too.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDWbkQTX...jpg&name=small
Connolly an obvious omission, but I'm not sure he's a loss really. I'm not yet convinced he (or Idah for that matter) will be a player for us going forward. I think they're more likely to be this generation's Dave Savage or Curtis Fleming.
No Clark again, so obviously the talked-about talks didn't happen or didn't work. Arter also left out, but meh on that one.
Keane back in the squad but didn't make the bench last time - so is he an option or not?
That Portugal squad is serious quality, yet they're underperforming (as we saw in Portugal). Though we've been a bit lucky in recent games (the farcical equaliser v Serbia when we should have been dead and buried, Ronaldo choking on his penalty, Bazunu's unmentionables :) ). So are we both due a mutual reversal of fortunes? That would look ugly.
But the Luxembourg one is the key one for me here.
Not one bit surprised on Connolly being omitted but we'll probably hear how he's carrying a knock.
Ronan Curtis another omission actually - I don't really rate him massively, but it's interesting because last week he went public saying he'd had it out with Kenny over being omitted from the last squad, and he's still out.
We all know League One isn't really the standard we want, but is he really worse than Keane or Parrott? He's outscored both between this year and last, all at the same level.
I see Will Keane has been called up but Connolly hasn't. Wow. Interesting.
Connolly needs to mature and learn how to pass. Keane I imagine is a more complete player, but haven't seen much of him to be fairQuote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
He does not play the same position as Keane and Parrott (who are both 10's). Curtis is a wide player. There's a case to be made that he replaces Horgan who is playing League One too so it is a bit ho-hum.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Fair point I guess. Maybe it stands out more when we're really stuck for players, but Kenny does seem to have his favourites, and then others who he's happy to ignore, even if it mayn't necessarily be the best thing.
(In this case, I'm not entirely fussed between the lot of the options, but it's interesting given the bit of media coverage around it lately)
Two different types of striker.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
not sure that anyone could claim horgan is a better option than connolly so i wonder is SK using this squad as an opportunity to fire a warning shot at connolly
I'd probably favour Connolly, but Horgan getting game time at club level so understandable pick. But otherwise I think it's a good squad, players picked complement each other and there's a versatility there for different approaches.
there may be more to it than meets the eye as it relates to Connolly's omission but even leaving that to one side, he has been in every Kenny squad. It could be argued that Kenny has dropped one of his favourites. This would support my take on him that he is an extremely pragmatic and systems-focused manager who picks the best players available to cover most bases well in the 2 - 3 systems that he has committed to. While i am sure he has his trusted foot soldiers, i do think he is far more pragmatic than many of our previous managers when it comes to formation and squad selection (where previous managers tended to pick the bunch of players that were playing - or not - at the highest level and squish them into a variation of 442. Not wrong, per se, just different).Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
This is really important and what i was getting at earlier in the thread. We have to stop comparing players that shouldn't be compared because they play in very different positions as it relates to the systems i mention above. We need to ask whether he has picked the best player available in a specific position. Curtis v Ogbene v Horgan v Elbouzedi is a fair debate. Keane v Curtis (and even Connolly v Keane) are not.Quote:
Originally Posted by JR89
I think at this stage it's becoming very clear that Kenny is looking to keep a balance to the squad, and that's not just in terms of players for certain roles, it's personalities etc. too. We hear a lot about how good the atmosphere is in the squad and how good training is from the players, if there's bad attitudes or bad trainers in the mix, I get the feeling he's willing to risk losing a small bit of individual quality in the interest of a better team dynamic. It's risky, but understandable at the same time. We all know we probably don't have the individual talents to compete at the very highest level, but eleven players all on the same page can really compensate for some of that lack.
I know. But thanks for that anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by JR89
Neither Connolly nor Keane got any minutes (Keane was dropped) during the last window. We have named one less "forward" and one more "midfielder" in this squad so Connolly is essentially losing his spot to a midfielder. Keane is probably behind Robinson, Idah and Collins in terms of the number 9 spot. I'd be surprised if he were being selected for one of the two positions behind the 9 or wide of a 9.
I don't think the need is that great for either player (should be even less great for Daryl Horgan), as the evidence bears out, so I think it's indicative of something that Keane has been called up and Connolly not.
Maybe it is indicative of a Connolly injury and all this is irrelevant.
Connolly wasn't in the last Brighton squad for the game against Liverpool so may have a knock.
Reading the Brighton Forum North Stand Chat their fans do not in general hold a high opinion of him or his attitude but he is young.
Keane was injured in the last window, and is more of a 10 than a 9.Quote:
Originally Posted by Olé Olé
Just on the Curtis references earlier. My understanding of Curtis' comments was that he had it out, and that Kenny explained the reasons for his omission from the last squads (i.e. areas to improve on, or reasons why he won't be considered) and that Curtis appreciated that, rather than "they had it out, and he'll back in the next squad" or whatever spin.
Arter out, and Molumby in, and Connolly out - there can be zero complaints. If there's a complaint to be made, it's from Zach Elbouzedi, and perhaps Obafemi given he scored midweek (it's pathetic that one goal scored can influence these things, but such is life), but I reckon Kenny will wait until March/June to bring in Zach.
Kenny's saying Connolly is injured, but potter says he isn't. Reverse management situation
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/...-40737078.html
It's stinkie Gordon
Kenny says he has a heel injury and he spoke with Connolly and Potter. Potter seems to have indicated that he was fit and not selected. Interesting one...
No real issues with the squad except I’d have Ciaran Clarke in ahead of Ryan Manning. I think your ideal option of playing Coleman and Doherty as wing backs, Stevens and McClean are available to come on the left if either is injured. I don’t see where Manning fits. Meanwhile, you’ve got 3 centre halves with just Collins as back up. I know Coleman can do a job there but I’d rather have Clarke...
Is Dara O’Shea still injured from last Ireland match?
Yep. I think the prognosis was 6 month injury at the time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
Kenny also said in his interview:Quote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
"I spoke to Aaron yesterday myself, and we both decided - he didn't feel he was really right. Although technically he could possible be available next Thursday for selection but he hasn't been able to train, or he hasn't been training at all. He feels sore."
If Connolly had been playing for Brighton regularly before the knock he'd have been named in the squad. This minor heel issue that Potter described it as has made it easier for Kenny to drop Connolly imo.
Manning has mostly played LCB this season for Swansea and is fifth choice behind Collins in that squad.
If he's being selected as a centre half, I'd just choose Clarke ahead of him. Funny player Manning, he was a centre midfielder for the 21s and initially for QPR, saying he modelled his game on Gerrard, can't remember where he played for Galway but think it might have been out wide. Gradually moved from centre mid to left mid for QPR and from there was converted to left wing back and this season has started playing left sided centre half.Quote:
Originally Posted by JR89
Hmm, that doesn't help the conspiracy theorists.Quote:
Originally Posted by JR89
Nothing to dig your heel in to.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
ok I dont like our squad i would have called Ronan and Shane Long
Manning is a versatile player I would play him as an opton for midfielder , it is a waste for talent playing this fellow as a leftback or center back, of course as a club player, but he is a midfielder they gave him more defensive qualities but they have stopped him from scoring goals, I think he was flying out as left midifelder , scored like 8 or 10 goals in a season or two ago.. I guess
He has 7 goals in 5 years at QPR, so no he didnt get close to 10 in a seasonQuote:
Originally Posted by Bielsa´s irish
He scored 9 goals in a season once. For Mervue. No doubt Bielsa will claim that's what he was referring to...
i checked he has 9 goals in 90 matches for qprQuote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
and has 5 goals in 10 games for the under 20.
how a guy who could create and score goals can be played as center back, that's dull football and is not sensible football
Well I'll put my hands up - I was wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
He was talking about QPR's U20s. Which probably isn't a million miles off Mervue in terms of relevance to the international game.
Anyhow Manning is a fantastic midfielder that swansea turned him into a límited defender
Fair enough but I think they're both down the rankings in terms of forwards and the present system we are using offers a lot of flexibility in terms of who plays 9 or who plays behind the 9. I think it would have been much of a muchness in that I don't see either playing although Connolly was good in spurts against Portugal away.Quote:
Originally Posted by JR89
Either way, it appears as though he wasn't fit per Kenny and that he agreed it with Connolly.
Interesting what Kenny had to say here.
In the Championship for example, you've got a match Saturday, you've got a match Tuesday, you've got a match Saturday. You've 44 games of that. You discipline yourself then.
"That kind of focus, rather than having one match a week where you don’t know whether you're going to play or not, and you're probably not going to play... Over a period of time, even to the strongest of characters, that can erode your spirit.
I think it's no big surprise that he hasn't been included really, he hasnt been good enough or should I say isn't good enough at present and those who have come in have shown they can offer a lot more. Personally I've seen little in him to suggest anything more than a mcgeady type career. It's interesting to read Kenny's comments on focus and discipline and effectively saying he should go to the championship
Except Hogan and Maguire are playing in The Championship and Obafemi went there to get football, and they’re all behind Idah who doesn’t play and Keane who is in League 1 and Parrott who is in League 1 and not playing much either.
Agree although Parrott was playing a good bit up to recently. Given his performances I don't think Parrott is ready for competitive international ball yet (Andorra was a nothing friendly in terms of intensity etc) I have also been slight underwhelmed by Idah who has looked ok in patches especially his lack of urgency although he is a better than Parrott at the moment. I know the lads are young but I think Long would be a more effective option.Quote:
Originally Posted by third policeman
Given that Connolly doesn't appear to be actually injured I'm amazed he was left out. Despite his inconsistencies, lack of game time etc he offers far more of a threat than the other 2....Portugal's defence struggled to contain him I thought.
All opinions of course :D