Republic of Ireland V Turkey, Italy, Costa Rica & Portugal - May/June 2014

**KK77** · 09/05/2014, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Setanta definitely showing the US games.

Does anyone know if Premier Sports in the UK does a PPV option? They show the big Setanta games but I think a permanent subscription is required.

Cheers thanks a lot.

**geysir** · 09/05/2014, 10:40 AM

Refreshingly, O'Neill was quite open and articulate about the SI self-imposed exile situation, as reported in the McDonell Indo article
O'Neill leaves little doubt that the slate is clean but wants a final decision from SI in a face to face meeting, no more fannying about.

**Stuttgart88** · 09/05/2014, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by KK77

Cheers thanks a lot.

Actually I didn't get that quite right. It's the Italy and Portugal games that are on Setanta.

http://sportsnewsireland.com/soccer/...al-2014-05-07/

**Stuttgart88** · 09/05/2014, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Gibson, Reid, Westwood and maybe Dunne would be expected to be in next autumn's squads and they would definitely strengthen things.

Apart from Wes and McGeady there is little creativity in midfield.

note to self: must not keep forgetting Robbie Brady, as I always do.

McShane is back in Hull's squad this weekend I believe, but not Brady.

**Dodge** · 09/05/2014, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by dong

It's been talked about for about two years now how Forrester needs to develop his physique. I know little about such matters but I can't understand how this hasn't been a priority for him. To me he has a lot of great attributes but he can be out muscled in games.

He's earning buttons playing part-time. He can't afford a nutrionist etc. He is certainly stronger now than 2 years ago though

Another player who might have made the grade I always thought if he was stronger was John Dillon (I know he's English but just pointing out the similarity) but again, despite all the talk about him needing to bulk up, he never did for whatever reason. Beautiful footballer though.

Dillon is an average LOI footballer. No more.

**Charlie Darwin** · 09/05/2014, 11:45 AM

I read an interview with Forrester a while back where he was saying "I know I need to bulk up, people keep telling me I need to bulk up..." I'm not sure what his implication was, whether he'd tried and found it difficult or if he just wasn't that bothered.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 09/05/2014, 2:14 PM

Squad here.
http://www.fai.ie/international/seni...nationals.html

No Andrews/Ireland, but Green/Sammon continue. Less about the former, but these latter two aren't good enough IMO.

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 09/05/2014, 2:27 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Does anyone know if Richard Keogh was interviewed after tonight's game? If he complained about not being picked for the national team, we can cross one name off the list.

Charlie, this one doesn't even make sense. He started our last game and was picked today.

**Stuttgart88** · 09/05/2014, 3:11 PM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

Squad here.
http://www.fai.ie/international/seni...nationals.html

No Andrews/Ireland, but Green/Sammon continue. Less about the former, but these latter two aren't good enough IMO.

It's a 30 (32?) man provisional squad that will be culled before the games start. Reid, Gibson, Brady (yay, I remembered), Ireland and one or two others would enhance the squad but are unavailable. Added to that is the fact that at least some players will be in the playoff final and Keane will probably stay in the US and join the squad there. All things considered, it's no biggy that some lesser lights are included as fringe options. I wouldn't rule Green out of making the cut though and I think he's decent enough. Andrews can be considered unlucky.

I'm neutral on the absence of Grealish and others. It's probably more important that the likes of Hendrick, Meyler and probably also Wes Hoolahan get given the chance to claim their jersey and for McGeady, Pilkington and McClean to learn to play O'Neill's game.

**Yard of Pace** · 09/05/2014, 8:23 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I read an interview with Forrester a while back where he was saying "I know I need to bulk up, people keep telling me I need to bulk up..." I'm not sure what his implication was, whether he'd tried and found it difficult or if he just wasn't that bothered.

I'd say he just finds it difficult. My man at Pats reckoned he'd never had a decent square meal in his life until he started playing football in the LOI. Said he'd be absolutely wasted at the end of training sessions. He was of the opinion that he could certainly make it to English Championship level anyway with his talent so I wouldn't say it's a case of Forrester not being bothered.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 09/05/2014, 10:54 PM

Agree with all of that Stutts, bar Green being good enough. Like rather too many of our players, a 'space-filler' at best...

**tricky_colour** · 09/05/2014, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Quite a conservative selection, and Cox is a surprise.

"The U21s can wait" is the clearest message.

Gibson, Reid, Westwood and maybe Dunne would be expected to be in next autumn's squads and they would definitely strengthen things.

Apart from Wes and McGeady there is little creativity in midfield.

Very Conservative, surprise David Cameron wasn't selected.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 10/05/2014, 10:17 AM

Hmmm.

**geysir** · 10/05/2014, 10:38 AM

Isn't O'Neill giving youth a chance with Delaney?

**ArdeeBhoy** · 10/05/2014, 11:18 AM

Damien?

**geysir** · 10/05/2014, 1:39 PM

Yeah Damien, who else? sprightly young in (our) centre back years and has just a handful of caps.
A mere junior of a centre half.

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 10/05/2014, 2:12 PM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

Agree with all of that Stutts, bar Green being good enough. Like rather too many of our players, a 'space-filler' at best...

While we are on the subject of space fillers, why the f*** is Stephen Kelly called up? Is O'Neill even aware that he hasn't even being getting on the bench over the last 4 months?

McShane, O'Kane, Best and Mason should be in the squad instead of Kelly, Green, Cox and Sammon.

**Charlie Darwin** · 10/05/2014, 2:16 PM

McShane's been injured for the last four months. But agree on O'Kane.

**back of the net** · 10/05/2014, 3:37 PM

Looks like we have a return friendly against oman in dublin in September. ....I know its a return friendly. ...but f#cking OMAN...seriously !!!!!!!

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 10/05/2014, 4:01 PM

Better to have an easy friendly against Oman, rack up several goals and build confidence than have a difficult friendly against i.e. Serbia or Greece and suffer a demoralising loss.

Better to get the difficult games out of the way in the next few weeks. I just hope the players take them seriously and don't fob off with fictitious injuries and excuses.