Considering the importance of the game I had expected that MON would up the stakes by naming a 45 man provisional squad, our equivalent of a red alert status
The big squad thing works. He has never had to go cap in hand to someone and ask them to come in as a second choice.
There are always going to be dropouts, so calling up a big initial squad makes sense.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
You're saying Paul McShane is not going to play? Awwwwwww.....
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
McShane must be around for a while at this stage. I remember him scoring against Wednesday for Walsall back in Division One in the early part of this century. I have never thought that he is as bad as people think he is. Reading are now front runners for promotion in the Championship since he joined them (not necessarily saying they are connected) and he was on the Hull promotion winning team I think. What I was always worried about was he was inclined to commit himself (i.e. dive in over enthusiastically) and be left scurrying back but he is not too far behind anyone else whom we might have in central defence at the moment. He can also double up as a full back.Originally Posted by Crosby87
As regards Westwood, I think he was just rested for the League Cup game against Arsenal last night as he was fit last Friday and although he is not playing with the confidence he had last season, he is still doing well and is way ahead of Given on the ground, in the air and also shot stopping as the latter's reflexes are definitely not what they used to be.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Agreed. All our centre back options are or would be top level championship centre backs or scrapping it out at the wrong end of the Premier League. Clark and Duffy have the potential to be something a little better though hopefully. O'Shea has earned his stripes obviously and was a class ahead of the rest in his prime, and probably still is. Wilson and Delaney are the only ones playing at secure PL clubs but they're struggling to make their sides. Alex Pearce looks to have made a poor career decision, for now at least, as I think he's too good to be stuck on the bench in The Championship.
i can't recall paul green being named in a while but i may well be wrong. nor stokes...
Don't forget Tommie Hoban! I still have high hopes for the 21 year old.
If you are thinking about the provisional squads, then both players have been named in previous provisional squads.
However, considering that Stokes (most probably) hasn't played a first team game since August, inclusion to the provo squad has a dubious value in relation to being near selected for the final 23 man squad, imo not even near the ballpark.
Big time yeah, I was just talking about the fellas in the squad really, well, and Delaney I suppose but he'd be included if it wasn't for other factors. Speaking of Hoban though, is he getting any look-in with Watford at all? I know they signed a load of players but surely he'd be better off going on loan somewhere? I presume some higher end Championship clubs would be interested seeing as he was a regular in a promotion winning side last season.
well I do believe he is injured as he missed the last U21 set up. So he hasn't been in and around the Watford first team but is in their first team squad. He signed a 4 year contract extension during the summer.
Discounted from future consideration, you mean, or am I misinterpreting? I think that'd be harsh. He's a good 'keeper and hasn't displayed any issues in terms of lacking commitment or that. Not that I know of anyway. He missed out on the last squad due to injury, although it wasn't much publicised. Only info we had on it seemed to be a brief response from Martin O'Neill to clarify matters in a press conference, although it wasn't documented anywhere.
He was in the Germany/Poland preliminary squad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republ...ecent_call-ups
Not sure what the last final squad he was in though. Has he been in a final O'Neill squad?
He played in those friendlies against Latvia and Poland anyway in O'Neill's early days. Not sure if he's been involved since.
No pun intended I assume about Stokes and the provo squad
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Well Seattle won 3-2 anyway. Keane not on the scoresheet.
injury / sickness update...
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2015/...a-long-bosnia/
That could actually be a good thing, keep him out of the firing line at the weekend. The stomach bug is hardly going to keep him out of the Bosnia game.
Yea he should be able to stomach the play off games.
I think if Westwood doesn't make the cut there's something up. I'd start him for the Bosnia games, Randolph no. 2. I'm not convinced by Given these days and Randolph's distribution is vastly superior. I think O'Neill will pick Randolph.
No Shay on the Stoke bench today. No disrespect to him, but I hope he's picked up a niggle that will last 2-3 weeks....
What's Bosnias nickname? Are they the Flying Bosnies?
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
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