I'm guessing we'll have a new home jersey for the Euros as the present one has been in use since May 2014? Hopefully, we'll see the white shorts return, if so. FIFA/UEFA seem to favour single-colour kits, but I notice that Sweden get away with yellow jerseys/blue shorts and NI get away with white shorts too.
MON was on Newstalk on Wednesday and more or less said that using friendlies to try players and tactics overrode the need for ranking points in his book. He specifically mentioned the Portugal friendly last year where although we were hammered he found out a few things about his players that stood to us this campaign. Meyler filling in at RB against Germany was an example givenOriginally Posted by Stuttgart88
Last edited by jbyrne; 20/11/2015 at 11:01 AM. Reason: bad spelling!
It's a no brainer that finding players and giving them experience is more important than ranking points. The one sure way of sliding back down the rankings is by concentrating too much on the present and not catering for the medium to long term future anyway. Like SkStu mentioned, I think we need to start preparing with the World Cup qualifiers in mind as much as the Euros. Performing well in the Euros is important, but making the WC should be an even bigger priority in terms of cementing our place at the top table again.
I wouldn't agree. I regard this tournament as every bit as important as the World Cup. Qualification for the Euros to me is just as exciting as the World Cup. It's only the 3rd one ever we have qualified for and I want us to do as well as possible in it and not be looking forward to the next tournament and experimenting and planning for the future. Tournaments for us are like hens' teeth - we can't afford to be concentrating on the next one. They are to be savoured, relished, appreciated and we can worry about what comes after when it arrives. Play the best side.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
I think you're splitting hairs with regards what I said really. They're both vitally important, nobody wants a repeat of four years ago. The WC qualifiers begin in September, two months after the Euros end. Preparing properly for one will have the knock on effect of helping out for the other anyway. Trying out players (in moderation obviously) in the build up to the Euros can only serve to benefit both campaigns, I'm not suggesting playing a bunch of kids in the friendly matches and winging it in France! Looking at the bigger picture doesn't necessarily have to jeopardise things in the short-term, but setting foundations and planning is vital.
Trap only ever looked short-term and I think it eventually backfired in his final campaign after the likes of Given, Dunne and Duff retired. We had the players like Coleman, McCarthy, McClean, etc. who should have probably seen more game time in advance of that campaign and been better prepared.
I think the goals of having the best squad available for the euros and the start of the WC campaign are mutually compatible. It's not as if MON's best XI and then, say next 6 in line, is likely to be much different between July 2016 (I'm being ambitious!) and September 2016. The marginal places are up for grabs either way. Duffy, Pearce, Arter, O'Kane, Judge et al all have something to aim for, even Gibson. I can't really see any areas for debate except for maybe Given, where I'd leave him behind, experience or not, or Kevin Doyle. Keane is nailed on in my mind.
FYI, Steven Reid doesn't pick Gibson in his final 23.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-34211795.html
Steven Reid's 23:
Randolph, Given, Forde;
Coleman, Keogh, Clark, Brady, Ward, O'Shea, Wilson, McShane;
McGeady, McClean, Meyler, Quinn, Hoolahan, Hendrick, Whelan, McCarthy;
Murphy, Keane, Long, Walters,
Last edited by Stuttgart88; 20/11/2015 at 11:18 AM.
Westwood & Elliot ahead of Given & Forde and Gibson or Arter ahead of Quinn for me. Christie should be in the 23 too ahead of McShane. We already have O'Shea, Keogh, Clark & Wilson to cover the centre back position so McShane isn't needed.
Last edited by TrapAPony; 20/11/2015 at 11:32 AM.
"We lost because we didn't win"- Ronaldo
Randolph, Forde and Westwood for me. I think Forde has a positive and “fatherly” senior presence that’d help Randolph. Good guy to have in a squad at a tournament.*
Christie should be there I agree. Sorry Paul.
Several midfield spots up for grabs. Right now I’d agree with Gibson over Quinn too, but a lot can change in the next 7 months.
4 strikers probably fair. Tough on Doyle maybe but not a biggy.
* other things being equal, having good guys in the squad when away from home in a hotel for several weeks is really important. Equally important to have no moaners.
Would have thought Given could be the same? He's even been to a World Cup, which I think only Keane has as well from the current team.
But don't think there's room for Given and Forde.
It would be bizarre to exclude Christie as he the only proper back-up to Coleman. I presume Gibson would go into exile again if left behind... maybe even retire... at least Trap brought him!
There's a long seven months between now and then, anything close to regular game time at Everton and he'll have to be on the plane.
Elliot could be our only goalkeeper after a season of regular PL football by then too.
Btw... what was the story with the Macedonia trip in 2011?
Christie will go instead of mcshane id say. would rather one of the potential midfield prospects such as arter went than Gibson really
I'd remove Given, McShane, Quinn, Murphy.
I'd add Westwood, Christie, Arter, another
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Which is exactly why he cannot be left out for the likes of Forde who's warming the Millwall bench. No room for sentiment IMO. Forde & Given can come along as support.
"We lost because we didn't win"- Ronaldo
Surely the likes of Arter have to continue playing well in the PL and impress when given an opportunity for us. Picking the squad with any degree of seriousness at this moment in time is pointless I think.
Harry was interviewed by the Bournemouth local newspaper the Daily Echo (best ever name for a newspaper).
Reflecting on the possibility of selection for the Republic's third European Championship, the former Woking man told the Daily Echo: "Going back a few years, having the chance to play in a major championship was a million miles away. It's close to becoming a reality but there is still a long way to go because it is a long season.
"I'm definitely not counting my chickens over being in the squad because I know I've still got a lot of work to do. But I would like to think that if I'm playing every week in the Premier League and doing well then I would have a good chance.
"My main objective is to play for Bournemouth and, hopefully, that will be enough to get me in the Irish squad. If I could get to the Euros, it would be a footballing dream come true."
Arter also revealed his gratitude towards Martin O'Neill for the huge confidence boost the Republic boss had given him during a frustrating spell on the sidelines.
He said: "Throughout my injury, he was calling me once a month to see how I was getting on and even though I was injured, he was still picking me in squads.
"To have backing from someone like him gave me a lot of confidence and a lot of motivation to get fit, so I'm really thankful for that and, hopefully, I can repay him."
Discussing victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, Arter added: "It was quite hard for me because I have been part of a few squads but I didn't feel I had contributed enough to celebrate as much as the other players, so it was it was a little bit of a difficult one.
"But it was nice to be part of a team that had achieved something and it was good to see all the Irish fans happy."
Roy growing as he learns from MOL, asserts the Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...ive-it-up.html
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
McGoldrick instead of Murphy (a favourite of Keane who signed him twice or at least played under him twice) although Martin seems to like the battering ram type of forward. However, I know he'll bring Murphy for the long balls although he seldom does anything with them. O'Neill has a blind sport for him, like Trap did for Cox, although somehow I don't see O'Neill moving Murphy in to midfield
Westwood and Elliott ahead of Given and Forde (if Elliott maintains his form).
Christie ahead of McShane for reasons already explained.
Too much sameness in Meyler, Quinn, Hendrick, Whelan, McCarthy - I'd like to see Arter or even Judge (if he continues his progress) instead of Meyler or Quinn (probably the latter). Arthur or Judge can add the creatively sorely lacking if Hoolahan gets injured.
However, injuries and form could play havoc with the 23 so, as the Germans would say, abwarten und tee trinken.
Last edited by OwlsFan; 20/11/2015 at 4:35 PM.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
I think there will surely be a bolter, like McClean in 2012. I reckon it could be Judge (if he gets PL move in January) or Arter. I'm not quite sure if they're convinced of O'Kane. Arter or Judge or someone else will surely bolt from January onward.
We'd be sanguine. We went four years without any home games in the 70s.
Alternatively, could go with the suggestion by British Labour MP Tessa Jowell (she was minister in charge of the 2012 Olympics). For security reasons cut the number of venues, and by association teams taking part. Say just France and the group winners, no also-rans.
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