Republic of Ireland v Portugal - Thursday, 13th November - 2026 World Cup Qualifier

Can't fit the year in the thread title...

Despite being minutes away from a draw in Portugal, it's hard to see us getting anything out of this one - there's a huge injury list if nothing else. Ferguson, Doherty, Brady, Lawal, Smallbone, Knight, Szmodics, plus Manning suspended. And we'll hardly be as lucky as to get another opposing red card in this one (or save another Ronaldo penalty!)

Could see a couple of left-field call-ups here, and will be hoping no more injuries at the weekend.

Hard to get too worked up about this one though given the campaign is basically over and there's then eight months of friendlies to come before another likely similarly depressing Nations League campaign gets underway.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Can't fit the year in the thread title...

Despite being minutes away from a draw in Portugal, it's hard to see us getting anything out of this one - there's a huge injury list if nothing else. Ferguson, Doherty, Brady, Lawal, Smallbone, Knight, Szmodics, plus Manning suspended. And we'll hardly be as lucky as to get another opposing red card in this one (or save another Ronaldo penalty!)

Could see a couple of left-field call-ups here, and will be hoping no more injuries at the weekend.

Hard to get too worked up about this one though given the campaign is basically over and there's then eight months of friendlies to come before another likely similarly depressing Nations League campaign gets underway.

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Other than maybe Louie Barry who could even be considered a left field call up for this?

Ah lads, as we stand here today it's hardly over... Armenia v Hungary two hours earlier is huge though and it's the biggest game ever in Yerevan, anything could still happen. I'm so done with our Irish cynicism, pessimism and blatant hurling on the ditch. Let's not get so crestfallen so easily!

Easily?

Kevin O'Toole - a new name for me, but he plays left back so welcome, Kevin!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G5EKkclW...jpg&name=small

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

Kevin O'Toole - a new name for me, but he plays left back so welcome, Kevin!

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That McGregor meme is going to be the most used meme today on social media.

No Johnny Kenny

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Originally Posted by Fixer82

No Johnny Kenny

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I think Ferguson and Sykes are both pretty unlikely. Sykes got injured last night and Ferguson last week. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Kenny get a call up.

Feel pretty sorry for O’Dowda and McGrath, considering the injuries, totally mental that they haven’t made the squad.

I would have Kenny and Browne in the squad. McGrath and O’Dowda can also feel hard done by for sure

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

Kevin O'Toole - a new name for me, but he plays left back so welcome, Kevin!

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Discussion from August in the potentially eligible thread:

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Originally Posted by elatedscum

First time hearing about this lad: https://www.irishstar.com/news/new-y...rview-32233294

Anyone know if he’s any good?

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Originally Posted by SkStu

I dont mean to sound like a smart-arse or to sh!t on him but that interview has the bang of Joey Lapira off it. Knowing what I know about MLS, I cant see that a 25 year old with 34 MLS appearances and who visited last year for the first time since he was 3 years old is the answer to our problems (and i know that is not actually the question you asked)...

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Other than maybe Louie Barry who could even be considered a left field call up for this?

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Kevin O'Toole I guess!

Never even heard of him. More left-field than I was expecting to be quite honest

Ferry gone, so this guy is our next chance it seems?

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Kevin O'Toole I guess!

Never even heard of him. More left-field than I was expecting to be quite honest

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Only natural left back in the squad to face Portugal.

Alternative choices were O’Dowda, Ndaba, Gallagher, Ferry, Honahan (if fit), Roughan, Adaramola, Bagan.

There is always a possibility that we've unearthed a late bloomer who has gone under the radar, but it doesn't say much for O'Toole that he's never had a single youth cap for the US and that the bulk of his career has been spent playing college ball, USL and MLS Next Pro football. It can happen (Max Kilman comes to mind), but let's just say I'm skeptical.

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Originally Posted by elatedscum

Only natural left back in the squad to face Portugal.

Alternative choices were O’Dowda, Ndaba, Gallagher, Ferry, Honahan (if fit), Roughan, Adaramola, Bagan.

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Scales could play there, though he's better in the centre.

Browne has played there before - although maybe more left wing-back rather than left-back I guess.

(That may be what you meant by "natural" in fairness - but they may still be preferable options)

I'd have included Kenny. Friendlies/Nations League better for trying out untested (at int. level) MLS players, IMO.

My Joey Lapira prediction is still on... :) WTF!

People will think I'm insane and that's more than fair.
But what I'm hoping for is armenia and Hungary to draw and we get well beaten by Portugal. My philosophy is we have one good game per international window and by God! Let that be against Hungary to give us a small chance of a play off. If we break our body's and souls to get a draw against Portugal, I just don't believe we can win a few days later

Couple of odd decisions alright. not really sure why we keep including Jimmy Dunne - at centre half I would suggest all of o'brien, o'shea, collins, scales, egan and maybe even coleman are ahead of him in the pecking order. I do expect to see a 5-3-2 given the number of centre halves but even so...

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Kevin O'Toole I guess!

Never even heard of him. More left-field than I was expecting to be quite honest

Ferry gone, so this guy is our next chance it seems?

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Certainly left field. Its madness really that our lack of a left back as come to this. Its not like we havent seen this coming down the tracks for years

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Certainly left field. Its madness really that our lack of a left back as come to this. Its not like we havent seen this coming down the tracks for years

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Bring back James McClean

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Originally Posted by elatedscum

Bring back James McClean

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I take it you're being facetious, sure didn't he have some words about the regime in September?

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Certainly left field. Its madness really that our lack of a left back as come to this. Its not like we havent seen this coming down the tracks for years

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A rabbit has been pulled out of a hat to a certain extent with O'Toole. He's playing regularly in MLS which is probably a higher level than I anticipated we would end up picking a right back from (League 1).

But given the likelyhood that we would face this slection crunch at left back it's madness that he's not been capped before now. In an ideal world he would have spent a window with the squad without playing, then come back for a second window and made his international debut in a friendly or getting 10 minutes at the end of a Nations League. Instead of that he'll be expected to take a transatlantic flight, overcome any jet lag, train with the squad for 2 or 3 days and somehow get up to speed with how we play, then presumably play 90 minutes of a World Cup qualifier up against Bernardo Silva?

Is there any other option at left back for that game? I can't see any in that squad.

The FAI need to explain when they became aware of his eligibility and when he became available for selection (post any paperwork with FIFA if that was necessary).

HH said yesterday that O'Toole has been working on the paperwork for the past year, and that his clearance has just come through. Missing is the motivation as to why he chose O'Toole ahead of others. Not that I think Will Ferry should be in the squad, but the lack of continunity in the addition of new faces to squad selections is troubling. As much as players need to hit the ground running when they come in, there needs to be some balance in allowing them to bed in and get to know what's wanted/ how we play. Difficult to build a team if the makeup is in constant flux.

Just on FIFA eligibility, clearance paperwork etc... it always seems to take an age with us when a player is moving from another nation to us. I was struck by how swift the Rice move to England got done by FIFA in 2018/19.....

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Originally Posted by Grafter

Just on FIFA eligibility, clearance paperwork etc... it always seems to take an age with us when a player is moving from another nation to us. I was struck by how swift the Rice move to England got done by FIFA in 2018/19.....

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Deccers got it done in 3 weeks. The IFA when dealing with Michael Duffy took a new approach by just ignoring the transfer for near 3 years until FIFA stepped in. Meant that both Martin O'Neill and Stephen Kenny couldn't call him up when he was deserving of a place in the squad and they wanted to call him up.

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Originally Posted by Grafter

I take it you're being facetious, sure didn't he have some words about the regime in September?

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Mostly. Didn't realise he had a hip injury anyway.

But honestly if there's the choice is between dropping in a debutant who is entirely unfamiliar with Irish football to play in a make or break, backs against the wall performance against Portugal, who has spent just a week of his post-toddler life in Ireland, who has never been to the stadium, probably never seen the majority of his teammates play even on tv and equally, none of his teammates have seen him play - versus James McClean who will give everything to defend and fight and bleed and sweat for the shirt. I think I'm taking James.

I don't mind calling O'Toole up - but I wouldn't want him as the only option. To say we don't have many options is an understatement:

Considering Manning, Brady, O'Dowda, Honahan and McClean were out, realistic options were:

Will Ferry - SPL player - I guess they didn't like what they saw in the last camp
Corrie Ndaba - handful of Serie A appearances after 2 years in SPL
Jon Gallagher - comfortable on either side of full back. Former MLS all-star, seems more highly rated over there than O'Toole

Joel Bagan - league 1 player, technically the best or most composed of the 3 in the same league
Sean Roughan - league 1 player, physically and mentally strongest and best left foot
Tayo Adaramola - league 1 player, quickest and best dribbler of the three