European Championships - France 2016

**Fixer82** · 15/02/2016, 4:29 AM

Did anybody get news on tickets?

**DeLorean** · 15/02/2016, 7:29 AM

Main discussion here Fixer

**Fixer82** · 15/02/2016, 7:53 AM

Thanks

**DeLorean** · 18/04/2016, 11:15 AM

Squad watch

**tetsujin1979** · 19/04/2016, 1:48 PM

Department of Foreign Affairs release list of tips for anyone travelling to France in June: https://www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/pr...ips-for-euros/

**DeLorean** · 19/04/2016, 2:17 PM

A very convenient excuse to push sales for the new Passport Card (€35)

Originally Posted by Minister for Foreign Affairs

Apply for the new Irish Passport Card. This is valid for travel within Europe and can fit in your wallet, allowing you to leave your passport in a safe place.
As France is in a State of Emergency, a valid form of photo ID should be carried at all times while in France.

**BonnieShels** · 19/04/2016, 7:30 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

A very convenient excuse to push sales for the new Passport Card (€35)

I rrrreeeaaalllyyyy want to get one for shiz. But my Passport is out of date in 2019. So I would be only getting 2.5 years out of it.

**DeLorean** · 20/04/2016, 7:28 AM

That's a load of balls, isn't it? I assumed you were wrong so I checked it up! Surely it should be offered at a reduced price at least.

I'm not sure I see any great advantage in it anyway.... probably end up losing my wallet with the card inside it quicker than I'd lose my regular passport.

**DeLorean** · 20/04/2016, 9:25 AM

Originally Posted by SkStu

What about Pilkington should Arter not make it? Difficult to justify Jack Byrne at this stage, I have never been a huge Gibson fan (and he wasn't that good on Saturday from my perspective). Obviously not like for like but Pilkington would offer versatility - wing, up front. Especially if O'Kane is on the plane...

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I think Pilkington should be in the squad regardless. I wouldn't be worried about Byrne being fast-tracked.

Pilkington would definitely be a useful option to have and I agree about Byrne. I think squad places are too precious to include somebody who isn't realistically going to be used under any circumstances. We need genuine fall back options which is why I'd be tempted to bring Gibson, especially if he gets some more game time for Everton this season, but I suppose that's unlikely. I haven't been his biggest fan over the years either but he's experienced and won't be phased if called upon. If McCarthy or Whelan get injured I think he's the most adequate replacement we have, in terms of doing the same job.

Only an observation but I thought Pilkington was almost trying too hard against Slovakia, he really looked like a guy who was desperate to impress and was getting frustrated far too easily. He tore into the linesman at one stage for a decision that went against him. It's no big deal but I think he was too wound up and his game suffered a bit as a result.

This is what 'Walsall' came up with after the friendlies, I think it's useful for a bit of perspective.

Originally Posted by backstothewall

This was the consensus for France in the car on the way back to Belfast tonight

Randolph, Given, Forde

Coleman, Christie, O'Shea, Keogh, Clark, Duffy, Wilson, Ward

Brady, Whelan, McCarthy, Hoolahan, McClean, McGeady, Arter, Hendrick

Murphy, Walters, Keane, Long

The guys in bold are the ones I'd consider to be not quite 100% definites.

Of those, I would say that Duffy, McGeady and Keane more than likely will make it which just leaves Wilson and Arter as the main doubts of our outfield players. It really doesn't leave much room to accommodate the likes of Pilkington (especially if you're still keen on Doyle making it Stutts?).

Like Stu said, Pilkington instead of Arter could work, but I think it leaves us a bit thin for central midfield cover.

Murphy is living a charmed life I think. At least last season he was lethal in the Championship, but given his massive dip this season and his average (at best) performances for us I think he's just taking up a place that could be utilised better. He's a MON player though so no point in quibbing about that one I suppose.

**Fixer82** · 20/04/2016, 9:30 AM

I would definitely have Pilkington in the squad. The fact that O'Neill gave him a run against Slovakia was a good sign. He's versatile also which Kilbane says can make the difference between players being on that plane come June

**DeLorean** · 20/04/2016, 9:35 AM

So who would you chop from Walsall's list Fixer?

**Stuttgart88** · 20/04/2016, 10:33 AM

For me ([ ] = omitted, bold = added)

Randolph, Westwood, Given, [Forde]

Coleman, Christie, O'Shea, Keogh, Clark, Duffy, [Wilson], Ward

Brady, Whelan, McCarthy, Hoolahan, McClean, McGeady, Arter, Hendrick

[Murphy], Walters, Keane, Long, Doyle, Pilkington

McGeady lucky to be involved
Maybe harsh on Wilson
I’d like to find room for O’Kane and also Byrne
Not fussed about bringing Given but he’s better than Forde
I’m sure Keane will be picked if fit

**SkStu** · 20/04/2016, 9:20 PM

The more I look at it and read about McGeady, the case for bringing him falls apart. The only thing, and it's a big one, in his favour is that he was ever present (or close to) throughout the campaign.

I like what Stutts has put together for the most part. Wilson is surplus - we're good on CBs and Brady can cover LB and LW. I'd like to see O'Kane for Arter (should he not be fit). I'd find room for Pilks - be it McGeady, Murphy or Doyle that misses out. Can fill a role in the right or up front.

**Stuttgart88** · 02/05/2016, 2:03 PM

Plenty of food for thought for O'Neill.

Byrne, Duffy, Cunningham, Gibson and Westwood all making a late surge up the order, maybe even McGoldrick? Arter, Hayes, O'Kane, Doyle and Pilkington already doing auditions. Given, McGeady and Wilson drifting out of the picture?

**DeLorean** · 02/05/2016, 5:18 PM

I want McGeady there. He has a more established/defined role in the team/squad and he can give us something different if needed. He deserves it anyway given his contribution in qualifying. It wouldn't sit well with me if he was excluded for Bryne, as much as I'm looking forward to him being a part of the set-up. We don't even know where Bryne will slot into the team yet really. If he sees some game time against The Netherlands and is phenomenal I might change my mind, but it still wouldn't be McGeady I'd sacrifice. Wilson must be very close to being ruled out really, there's no hope of getting him match fit at this stage?

**Stuttgart88** · 02/05/2016, 6:25 PM

Yep, and I'd expect MON agrees with you. Still there is a bit of a shift occurring outside the nailed on places, which makes things interesting. I'd say one or two marginal decisions for the summer will be decided with an eye on the WC18 squad, but probably too early for Byrne and just soon enough for McGeady.

**CraftyToePoke** · 03/05/2016, 2:10 PM

The tournament is arriving just in time for John O'Shea too, you could argue, 35 and not getting in a side likely to drop a division.

(*I am not advocating not bringning him

here )

**geysir** · 03/05/2016, 10:56 PM

It just demonstrates the dearth of defensive talent available to us that O'Shea will not only be in the squad but vying for a starting place, despite hardly playing for his club.

Re McGeady, there's no way he'll be left behind and some almost total newcomer selected in his place. If he satisfies MO'N that he's fit enough then he will be in the squad.
MO'N will have his starting 11 from 13 or so players, he'll have his favoured options for the subs bench and McGeady at least has a copper fastened place as a viable sub option.

**paul_oshea** · 05/05/2016, 2:18 PM

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-31501309.html

Interesting article when it was written. Interesting also with what has happened in the last few days and the Euros not too far away!

**colonelwest** · 05/05/2016, 3:17 PM

Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

The tournament is arriving just in time for John O'Shea too, you could argue, 35 and not getting in a side likely to drop a division.

(*I am not advocating not bringning him

here )

Originally Posted by geysir

It just demonstrates the dearth of defensive talent available to us that O'Shea will not only be in the squad but vying for a starting place, despite hardly playing for his club.

Re McGeady, there's no way he'll be left behind and some almost total newcomer selected in his place. If he satisfies MO'N that he's fit enough then he will be in the squad.
MO'N will have his starting 11 from 13 or so players, he'll have his favoured options for the subs bench and McGeady at least has a copper fastened place as a viable sub option.

On the flipside it's a bit of a Stan in 2002 situation; O'Shea coming to the end of his career and Duffy will make the step up in the next campaign hopefully ala Dunne/ O'Shea back then after Stan retired. O'Shea's experience will stand to him in the finals even if he is on the downward curve of his career.

McGeady has to be on the plane, ok not a guaranteed starter for us and at club level the past year or two it's not worked out for him but he's one of the few players we have who can create something out of nothing. He's an excellent option to have off the bench to come on and run at and frighten the sh!te out of opposition defenders, along with McClean coming on and getting booked for sparking someone out within 5 minutes!