Azaz is streets ahead of Moran at this point for the reasons Eirambler points out. I would definitely be open to calling up Luca Connell for a look in midfield though.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
I hope next June, if our qualifiers don't start till September, that HH gets really experimental for the summer training camp. Get a ball playing 6 like Connell or Moran next to workhorse in that double pivot with Azaz as the 10.Originally Posted by SkStu
I wouldnt be considering Moran for the England game and Im a huge fan of him. I do think hes going to be a massive player for us. Yes Azaz would be ahead of him right now but Moran will be better that Azaz in my opinion. Azaz is excellent on the ball but hes slow and not particularly mobile, but I do also like the bit of size he adds to us too. Moran is lightweight but hes been well able to handle the Championship and hes been good mostly, hes not that far from pushing for a regular place in the Ireland team, but I dont think hes there yet.
Luca Connell is a decent option to be thinking about because I think he will be in the Championship sooner than later, but we also shouldnt forget about Lawal either. Lawal will be back from injury soon and could very much be part of our midfield picture by the time March/ April games come around
Its really not that complicated!!!
Seems very attacking. And light on numbers in midfield again.
Midfield is worryingly lightweight. It’s going to be an interesting night!
Starting XI stats
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXMQorKFg9/
Johnston is lost. Midfield is almost non existent. Weird lineup, weird formation, weird performance.
Watching it on the Viaplay feed with no commentary really brings home how dead the atmosphere is. It's an awful stadium anyway in terms of atmosphere, same issues at the rugby, but it sounds particularly morgue-like so far tonight.
Really is two poor teams. Finns look much worse when we put them under some pressure. We’re giving up easy chances by losing control of the middle. On the plus side Ferguson looks much sharper than recent games. I’m not sold on Smodzics, but he took the offside goal very well. Couple of flashes from Festy but final ball not great.
Very lucky to still be at 0-0. We had one good spell for a few minutes but otherwise not much to get excited about.
Don't think we deserve to be ahead after they hit the woodwork three times but we'll take it. A lovely bit of play from our latest short arsed Scot in green to set it up. It doesn't happen without some great last gasp defending from Collins before that as well.
Really think we could do with another body in midfield all the same.
Finland will be kicking themselves there. Kamara - who I think has been one of their better players - kept the ball in for us and got himself injured in the process. Daft stuff; just give up the throw.
They've been impressive in terms of how they work the ball forward in fairness. I kind of feel we've been a bit more lively up front than they have, but that doesn't tally with how often they've hit the post. And a big save from Kelleher too
Can still see three results in this yet
Such a strange game. Could be 2 or 3 down, but also missed a few half decent chances too. Delighted for Ferguson. Great ball in by Johnston, doesn’t change the fact that he’s completely lost in a 3 man midfield. Could really do with another proper central midfield player on the pitch and would hopefully allow us to have a bit of control of the game. At the moment, it’s all a bit chaotic and disorganised but at least we look relatively dangerous in attack.
Strange half, we've been relatively bad - especially with two in midfield. Yet the first time we've given Evan Ferguson a decent ball he scores. I know we're missing 4 or 5 players but we have to be better than that first 45mins.
That goal might be appreciated by Messrs Horgan and McMillan!! It is an Irish like error to keep the ball in like that and be in no position to keep possession, dont know what he was thinkng unless he expected someone flanking him closely, Daft indeed.
Intriguing game. Amazing what a rub of the green can do for the assessment of a half, maybe a game. On the performance so far you'd have to expect Finland to take at least one of their chances. What changes can you make bar sitting in fully to hold?
I feel like all of Szmodics, Johnston and Ebosele have had good moments, but I'm not sure we can afford to have all three of them on the field at the expense of midfield, especially now we have something to defend.
A goal for Finland seems inevitable as well as another for us.
Those Finland changes have the feel of the ones Kenny would face when he'd been sussed out
Need to get back in this game again; Finland dominating the last few minutes
Not much of a defender, Evan Ferguson
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