This would be a great move. I watched a lot of Luton last season, and Ogbene is one of the fastest players I've ever seen.
And for that reason alone I'd have him as a starter for Ireland all the time, and ideally not as some auxillary defender or wing back. His speed is devastating and while his decision making can be frustrating he's one of only a few players we have who top class opponents won't like playing against.
Agreed. He brings a vitality to the team that we need. His speed is indeed devastating but he is also strong, can hold the ball up well, win set pieces and has an eye for goal. His performance against France in Dublin was exceptional.Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
Wouldn't be surprised if we stick with 3-4-3. Your three CBs and two 6s playing in front of the back three with Chiezdozie on the right and god knows who on the left.
There are a lot of good reasons why a formation with 3 at the back almost has to be our default. I've been saying that for a while. Of the usual crop (assuming there are no surprise call ups), probably O'Dowda for now is our best option on the left?
How would you structure that front 3 with two sitters? I'd probably look at tucking two in behind the front man. 3-4-2-1 - - wing backs would need to be up and down all night though. Would be tough.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
It certainly maximises our ability to get as many of our best defenders on the pitch, playing in their natural positions, as possible. On the other hand, 4-5-1 maybe squeezes more out of the attack: I'd rather Ogbene and Johnston either side of a lone striker than try to generate width using, say, Brady and Doherty. It also gives us more bodies in central midfield, where we aren't great. Your solution, with essentially 2+2 in central and attacking mid is also interesting, though I think it asks a lot of our wingbacks.
I'd written off Brady as crocked, but he played quite a lot of football last year and did well for us in the summer. He's not especially old either. Left back or wingback is going to be somewhere to explore anyway as every candidate has downsides.Of the usual crop (assuming there are no surprise call ups), probably O'Dowda for now is our best option on the left?
You can't spell failure without FAI
He's very fast, committed and has the heart of a lion
But my God his decision making skills are awful.
The issue with trying to get 3 center backs on the field is we've discovered that the wide options aren't good enough to accommodate it, and until we have a really good left sided defensive player I kind of feel like we're on a hiding to nothing with that one, you need an incredible engine for it. A 4-5-1 4-4-1-1 or 4-3-3 depending on the situation might suit better, and just keep the fullbacks at home, or let Doherty roam if he's playing and have the defense shift in to a 3 then in those specific situations. That's where I think O' Shea/Scales could be the better option on the left until someone else comes along.
I'm not sure the right wing/back hand side is really in much better shape as Doc and Coleman both age, Alan Browne had that one good game, Ogbene might be wasted there although could also be excellent. Festy needs to play football. I think our Fullback/wing back options aren't great so maybe they need to play deeper and tighter to the centre backs to get caught out of position. Play a lot of midfielders to compensate for nt having any standouts, we do at least have a few options for high energy, Moloumby/Knight, with Smallbone/Cullen being a bit better on the ball. Play Schmodics behind Idah
Everyone would have their own opinion on which options would be best from the ones below, and obviously discount the injuries in the short term, but something like:
Kelleher/O' Leary/Bazunu/Travers
Coleman/Doc -- Collins -- O' Shea/Scales/O' Brien/Omobamedele -- Scales/O' Shea
Cullen/Smallbone/Browne -- Knight/Moloumby
Schmodics/Parrott/Mcgrath/Browne
Festy/O' Dowda/Ogbene -- Idah/Parrott/Ferguson/Robinson -- McGrath/Knight/Johnston/O' Dowda/Robinson
I've left tons of players out because this post has already gotten out of hand and I probably should have just picked my preferred 11, but here we are
I could see times when we make a box in midfield, if McGrath/ knight were on the left wing, and someone like Browne behind a striker, leaving Ogbene and a front man up top to cause problems when under pressure and playing England, I just think we will die if we leave the flanks that exposed with a 3-4-3
Last edited by Acornvilla; 27/08/2024 at 4:35 PM.
Yeah - it really does and you look at the list of candidates and it just doesnt inspire. Doherty can probably still just about do it and Ogbene can, in theory at least, but neither option truly solves the problem on the left (Brady, Stevens, McClean, Manning) if you dont rate O'Dowda (and he is iffy at best at the end of the day). Has anyone seen much of Dennis Cirkin? He doesnt seem to really want to play for us but is he any good? I havent seen much of him at all to give an assessment. He fits the profile overall.
On the 2+2 in the middle, yeah, I've been trying to find a way to make it work for a while. I think it is definitely worth a look if you can solve the problems out wide and still want 3 at the back. It would be interesting to have Azaz as one of those (quick, strong, technically proficient - so can do a job facing both directions and press well) and maybe Parrott or Sammie (who can press and support well in transitions to attack). Ferguson up top. It fails quickly if you dont have proper wing backs though.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
Cirkin likely won't make a decision on his international future for another year until he's overage for the U21s. Even then could turn around and say he'd rather wait for one England cap rather than play for us or Latvia.
If I was HH and given our issues I'd be hitting him up for a chat and making him an offer to be our starting LB or LWB.
He's had his issues with injuries the last couple of seasons but fans have been full of praise for him so far this season.
Wasn't that what was reported / mentioned as being his terms when Stephen Kenny met him ?
People are talking about this guy as though it's simply a matter of talking to him and as though this hasn't already been done. Kenny met this player & that wasn't any secret.
Do we agree with a player saying he has to start in order to play for us ? I'd be inclined to give a two word answer to that, the second word is, off.
Thought that was Jack McGylnn. Kenny and Crawford spoke with him and said he'd be open to joining but would have to be for the seniors.
https://www.balls.ie/football/stephe...-cirkin-557385
& I read somewhere else around this time that yer man said he'd have to be a starter when they met, or a pundit said it, or something like that.
Anyway, the player has been met, invited, the door held open, the offer made, had his balls tongued, etc and he'll switch if & when it suits him whatever HH does or doesn't do.
Absolutely agree. Every time I hear his name I think of the game where he got sent off against our under 17s and I find it hard to imagine him in green
Is that Paul nebel of mainz still eligible or a target?
he's 22 in October, so if he is still eligible, and is interested, they'll have to act fast
Can you clarify this Tets? What would stop him from joining us at age 22, 23, etc?
Nebel played 10 minutes in an Under 21 qualifier for Germany back in March. This was after his 21st birthday. I believe he's a granny ruler, so that would mean he's now ineligible unless he had gotten his Irish citizenship sorted years ago before his first competitive appearance for Germany at Under 17 level (unlikely).
Edit - in fact he seems to have told the Mainz website in 2021 that he "doesn't have an Irish passport yet", so that means he's ineligible now.
Last edited by Eirambler; 28/08/2024 at 6:14 AM.
Move confirmed. £8m and given a reported 4- year deal.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/a...s/cdjwn348l72o
Ipswich getting promoted has been a godsend for Irish players this year. Seems the Welsh lad Burns getting injured led to this signing coming about which is a nice piece of luck for Ogbene. Can actually put together a decent looking team of Irish Premier League players for once.
Kelleher
Doherty Collins O'Brien O'Shea
Smallbone Taylor
Ogbene Szmodics McAteer
Ferguson
In fact, swap in Molumby or Knight for Taylor and that wouldn't be a bad starting team for the upcoming games.
Last edited by Eirambler; 28/08/2024 at 9:42 AM.
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