Really have not been impressed with Cunningham when I’ve seen him. The term flat footed really applies. Always seems one step behind.
Like much of the Cardiff squad, he looks to be a Chamionship player playing in the Premier League. If he’s our best option, so be it, but I won’t be criticizing O’Neill for leaving him out of final squad.
It will be interesting to see what style of football we will TRY and play. We have some competent players on the ball, albeit mostly of Championship ilk, in midfield and midgets for the most part up front, assuming Long won't be fit. We did ok against Poland. Whatever style, let's get back to the quick tempo and put them under pressure style which has served us well in the past rather than sitting back and letting them dictate play.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
I'm kind of hoping we go 5-3-2 / 5-4-1-1 just to see if that Poland game was any kind of barometer for how it could work or as meaningless as it seemed when watching.
Something like:
Randolph
Doherty Long Duffy Clark/Keogh/Egan Stevens
Arter Hendrick McClean
Long
O'Brien
Possibly McClean behing O'Brien and O'Dowda coming in. Williams may also deserve the nod over Hendrick/Arter.
Zero i thought it was meaningless too, so I'd like to see it against Denmark, especially now as Eriksen is out we can be on the front foot mroe and leave space in behind without being worried about being punished. Like the home leg playoff.
I'm a bloke,I'm an ocker
And I really love your knockers,I'm a labourer by day,
I **** up all me pay,Watching footy on TV,
Just feed me more VB,Just pour my beer,And get my smokes, And go away
Bale likely to miss Ireland game: https://www.skysports.com/football/n...lic-of-ireland
I can't see how we can fit Mcclean into any side playing 3 at the back. But it might be worth starting him on the bench to see how we look in a competitive game set up that way. It would probably get the best out most players in our squad.
Thought about it for a while more.
I came up with this
---------------- Randolph ----------------
-------- Duffy(c) Williams Egan ---------
Doherty ------------------------- Stevens
------------ Arter - Hourihane -----------
---------------- Hendrick -----------------
------------ Maguire Robinson -----------
Doherty has to start and we looked better with the back 3 against Poland.
With 3 at the back i think it's of benefit to have one of the 3 be a ball player than the typical Irish centre back. It would be great to have someone who can step out of defence with the ball and give it to Arter etc. We all know how difficult we've found it to play that 10 yard pass in the last few years. Ideally Rice will take this role for if we go with a back 3 in future, but Coleman could be another option if he isn't available to us. But for tomorrow Williams is available and has played there before from what i can work out so I'd give him a go as a shot to nothing.
Hourihane gets the nod in midfield as he offers balance and a threat from self pieces, and I'm going with the established partnership from Preston up front.
Last edited by backstothewall; 12/10/2018 at 10:46 PM.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
What's the clamour for Williams? He has 6 Championship appearances this season. I would much rather see Lenihan get a start. Looked good in the match in the US and has been ever-present for Blackburn.
Williams was excellent against Poland and did what we’ve been crying out for our midfielders to do for a long time.
I assumed he meant Derrick as opposed to Shaun. He meant Shaun so, I'll assume. In that case, I would definitely start Shaun but in midfield. I don't see what Hourihane has done to merit starting in midfield ahead of Williams. I know he's older but at least he can play a part in this campaign. Hourihane is hardly one for the long-term and needs to show more.
I would love to see Browne getting a good run. I don't think he has done much to merit starting based on past appearances but his age and form for Preston make me think he's worth persisting with for the long-term.
I picked Hourihane in midfield as he is younger and is excellent at taking direct free-kick. Think Robbie Brady, with the one slight difference being that they go in fairly regularly.
"We lost because we didn't win"- Ronaldo
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