QuoteThe Armstrong choice seems to fit with HH's earlier talk of Ireland needing more intimidating physicality and presence on the pitch, no?
Doesn't Armstrong usually play out wide?Originally Posted by Razors left peg
I'd have Robinson over him any day of the week at the moment, even if he is a bit meh
The Armstrong choice seems to fit with HH's earlier talk of Ireland needing more intimidating physicality and presence on the pitch, no?
Plays CF for Bristol but can see Hallgrimsson using him as a RW if called up.
Confirmation that Vata and Abankwah are in the squad. Vata in particular is a big win as he is eligible for four countries who would all happily cap tie him at the first opportunity, so important that we do just that this month. Continues a long tradition of players from here in the west of Scotland playing for Ireland as well. Houghton, Slaven, Coyne, Coyle, McGeady, McCarthy, Johnston and now Vata that I can think of. (Edit: Charlie Gallagher in the 1960s as well, so Vata would/will be the ninth.)
I presume whichever twitter page it was that had got them panicking over in the asylum about Vata switching to Albania Under 21s had mixed up Vata and Zefi.
Last edited by Eirambler; 13/03/2025 at 11:24 AM.
James has lived all over the country but I am claiming him as an Irish International from Longford when he gets capped
Still can't believe we never signed him
O'Leary, Coleman, McGuinness, Duffy, Scales, Manning, Molumby, Browne, Moran, Cannon, Robinson is a decent team of players who haven't made the squad and who I haven't yet heard are out injured. Decent depth now.
Kasey McAteer as well. And Omobamidele, Ogbene, Ebosele and Szmodics are all out injured.
HH capping his squad at 23 once again. I'd say the opportunity to cap-tie was the deciding factor in a few 50/50 calls - definitely Vata, probably Abankwah and possibly Dunne who is still eligible for the north.
Also am a fan of us just calling it the Ireland squad now.
Last edited by tetsujin1979; 13/03/2025 at 11:56 AM. Reason: Embedded tweet
Molumby jumps out there - I know our midfield hasn't been pulling up trees but have we really replaced him with better there? He's a regular for a side in the playoff spots. Thought he was suspended for this but can't find a mention online (I could very easily be confusing it with another suspension in fairness)
Robinson can consider himself unlucky - don't think Armstrong has done much to warrant being selected ahead of him (texidub's comment on strength aside)
But overall it is what it is. I think every time I see these squads I get a feeling that it's young promising players who are at various stages of stagnation, and even being replaced by other thing promising players who'll ultimately also stagnate.
Would be confident enough of beating Bulgaria, who are on a huge slide. But it's five years since Kenny started blooding a new generation and I still don't feel we're any closer to being competitive in League B or a qualifying campaign.
Last edited by pineapple stu; 13/03/2025 at 12:21 PM.
James was born in Waterford, moved to Dublin, then onto Donegal, then to Longford and back to Dublin before moving abroad.
I don't think he can be claimed as a Longford man when there was quite a few moves in between him coming to Longford lol
He didn't even start out his youth football in Longford.
What does manning have to do to get selected?
"Now jump up there and stuff that son of a bitch in the basket, chief"
He did go to school in Melview for about 5 years while playing for Melview and the Longford Kennedy cup team, and that's how he ended up being picked up by Cherry Orchard I imagine. There is a reason I said I'm claiming him, and not that he is from Longford
Couldn't complain if Max O'Leary declined to turn up if he is included in a future squad. EFL Championship games this season: 37, 10 clean sheets, average goals/game conceded 1.08
Bazunu preferred; Belgian Pro League games : 5, clean sheets 0, average goals/game conceded 2.4.
Bazunu may in time turn out to be the better 'keeper, but what is the point of including him in this particular squad?
Decent squad, only complaint I'd have us Sykes ahead of Moran. Don't rate Sykes at all
Its really not that complicated!!!
I think the place where you live while you're at school, particularly secondary school, is probably where you feel the most affinity to, rather than where you are born or where you live later in life. So I wouldn't be surprised if Abankwah considered himself to be a Longford man.He did go to school in Melview for about 5 years while playing for Melview and the Longford Kennedy cup team, and that's how he ended up being picked up by Cherry Orchard I imagine. There is a reason I said I'm claiming him, and not that he is from Longford
I'd say in the last 3 seasons, he's probably played close to as many club games as the other trio combined, could probably have had a Randolph/Forde level career in another era.
Interestingly I don't rate Moran at all at present, while he might eventually come good I think he's powderpuff and a waste of a squad place at this point in time. Given we're down Ogbene and Ebosele on the right hand side I can see the logic of including Sykes.
I suppose if he's behind O'Dowda and Brady, I could understand that. Probably not a huge difference between playing for a mid-table Championship side and an awful Southampton one.
His international career is a bit of an enigma though, given he plays in an area we're regularly stuck for.
Good press conference from Hallgrimsson, his 6 minute run through of the squad at the start to save a load of questions was enlightening and is worth a watch back. He probably thought I can't be arsed listening the the usual questions from these idiots so I'll just do a quick run through.
In short Scales and Cannon are injured. O'Leary being given the camp off as his partner is due to give birth. Molumby is available for the second leg if needed. Coleman, Manning and Moran just not picked but probably next in line in their positions.
Says Finn is being watched but his club performances have been hit and miss. Seems to be a big fan of Vata. We are following up on some eligible players but he's not naming names at this stage.
The rest of the press conference was wasted with him responding to whatever is the latest nonsense Stephen Bradley has come out with.
There are enough good inclusions to stop me moaning about any omissions. Taylor, O'Brien, Armstrong, Abankwah, Vata and Dunne are all welcome inclusions.
Armstrong's ability to disrupt is up there with Festy's, obviously from a different position.
I hear O'Leary's wife is expecting a baby v soon explaining his omission because that stood out for me. No way Bazunu deserves a call up over him.
McGuinness and Omobamidele are both injured I think. Scales both injured and suspended.
Cannon and McAteer's omissions don't upset me.
Is Molumby suspended? Otherwise harsh.
(Edit: written before / during Eirambler's post was published)
Thats a very harsh assessment of Moran. He's playing in Championship every week (although not yesterday) and he hasn't been shown up to be too lightweight. He's eager for the ball and we don't have enough players that are.
Its really not that complicated!!!
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