Mick McCarthy names squad for September double-header
Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has named a 40-man provisional squad for next month's AVIVA Stadium double-header.
16th Aug 2019
Ireland play their UEFA EURO 2020 European Qualifier against Switzerland on September 5, followed by a Three International Friendly against Bulgaria five days later.
There are first call-ups for Stoke City's Nathan Collins, Doncaster Rovers midfielder Kieran Sadlier and Tottenham striker Troy Parrott.
Crystal Palace midfielder James McCarthy returns to the squad for the first time under McCarthy and may make his first appearance since October 2016.
Speaking to FAI TV ahead of the announcement, McCarthy said the size of his provisional squad was due to the amount of club games in the coming weeks.
"I dont know what's going to happen between now and the next couple of games. We've got Saturday games, Tuesday games, Saturday and then the Saturday before me meet up. Players could get injured before we meet up."
With focus on the European Qualifier against Switzerland, McCarthy expects a tough game against the UEFA Nations League semi-finalists.
"Switzerland are a good side. They have been in the higher echelons of the top teams in Europe for the last number of years."
To buy tickets for the Switzerland and Bulgaria matches, please visit fai.ie/tickets
Republic of Ireland squad to play Switzerland and Bulgaria
Goalkeepers:
Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough),
Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday),
Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth),
Kieran O'Hara (Burton Albion, on loan from Manchester United)
Defenders:
Seamus Coleman (Everton),
Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers),
Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion),
Richard Keogh (Derby County),
John Egan (Sheffield United),
Kevin Long (Burnley),
Nathan Collins (Stoke City),
Enda Stevens (Sheffield United),
Greg Cunningham (Blackburn Rovers, on loan from Cardiff City),
Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers),
Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers).
Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United)
Midfielders:
Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa),
Glenn Whelan (Heart of Midlothian),
Josh Cullen (Charlton Athletic, on loan from West Ham United),
Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Robbie Brady (Burnley),
Alan Browne (Preston North End),
James McClean (Stoke City),
Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City),
James McCarthy (Crystal Palace),
Jack Byrne (Shamrock Rovers),
Alan Judge (Ipswich Town),
Harry Arter (Fulham, on loan from AFC Bournemouth),
Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth),
Kieran Sadlier (Doncaster Rovers)
Forwards:
Callum Robinson (Sheffield United),
Scott Hogan (Stoke City, on loan from Aston Villa),
Shane Long (Southampton),
Michael Obafemi (Southampton),
David McGoldrick (Sheffield United),
James Collins (Luton Town),
Aiden O'Brien (Millwall),
Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur),
Sean Maguire (Preston North End)
Last edited by Closed Account; 16/08/2019 at 2:49 PM.
Surprise omission has to be Daryl Horgan. Doesn't do his hopes much good if he can't make a 40 man panel.
Disappointing that Ryan Manning is missing too
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
Republic of Ireland squad to play Switzerland and Bulgaria
Goalkeepers: 3
Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Keiren Westwood (Wednesday), Mark Travers (Bournemouth)
Defenders: 8
Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolves),
Shane Duffy (B&H A), Richard Keogh (Derby), John Egan (Blades), Nathan Collins (Stoke),
Enda Stevens (Blades), Greg Cunningham (Blackburn Rovers, on loan from Cardiff City),
Midfielders: 11
Glenn Whelan (Hearts), James McCarthy (Palace), Harry Arter (Fulham, on loan from Bournemouth),
Jeff Hendrick & Robbie Brady (Burnley), Conor Hourihane (Villa), Alan Browne (PNE), Alan Judge (Ipswich),
James McClean (Stoke City), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City),
Forwards: 5
Shane Long & Michael Obafemi (Saints), Callum Robinson & David McGoldrick (Blades), Troy Parrott (Spurs)
That's what I reckon he'll narrow it down to, with the 3 lads in Italics to miss out. Also I would expect that he'll not officially include Parrott, but keep him around.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
The person who should be most ****ed off from that FAI interview with Mick is Michael Obafemi. He is too valuable an asset for the u21s. We need goals
No Luca Connell? Would have thought he’d make a 40 man squad
Nice to see sadlier involved is that his first call up?
I see Cunningham, William's and lenihan all start for Blackburn today I assume they play a back 5. No o dowda again involvedcat Bristol city hopefully he gets foreign move in next few weeks.
Rafferty playing for Preston I wonder will we see him involved soon although I suppose we have lots of full backs
Coleman shifted to playing at LB today for Everton, he looked comfortable and he didn’t give away a penalty.
No Long or Brady in matchdsy squads in EPL today. Are they injured?
Rib injuries are really annoying. There's basically nothing you can do except rest, and any activity can set you back
Robinson came off with what seemed a muscular injury. Not serious but an injury this close to the break never looks great. Potentially serious lack of wide options:
McClean ok
Robinson injured ?
Brady injured ?
O’Dowda frozen out
Maybe you could play Long or Obafemi there at least there’d be some pace (admittedly Long hasn’t made a squad yet).
Not sure Ronan Curtis is ready yet. I like him and I think he’ll get there with maybe half a season in the championship but I’d be happier with the likes of Horgan, McGeady or Duffy - which says more about him as an international player than it does them
Last edited by elatedscum; 18/08/2019 at 5:04 PM.
Robinson says on his twitter it’s “nothing serious”. Fans seem to love him too.
https://twitter.com/callumrobinson7/...192608771?s=21
Apart from being a very skilful and quick footballer, Robinson strikes me as a really good person. I think he has been well received by fans and players.
I like to see us to start Stevens, Egan, Robinson and McGoldrick v Switzerland and try the system Sheffield United have been using.
I reckon Arter would be great in the Norwood role, and Doherty is obviously suited as a right wing back.
It feels like it would put a lot of round pegs in round holes and with quite a few of out lads playing there the others should be able to get up to speed very quickly. And Switzerland are likely to have as much trouble adapting to face it as other premier league sides seem to be having.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
I think it's generally a difficult system to implement at international level, as there's much less time on the training ground to . It's a system which requires a lot of mobility from the left and right centre halves, I remember us trying to play it against Mexico and getting absolutely murdered in a friendly two years ago – and doing it a little better, but still not particularly well against maybe Wales in the Nations League.
As for the personnel, Kevin Long can do it on the left, Duffy you'd imagine would play where Egan plays for Sheffield United. Ciaran Clark is probably the most mobile of the remaining centre halves but probably also better suited on the left. Not sure Keogh or Egan would be ideal to play on the side. I’ve seen people suggest playing Coleman in the right-centre-half slot which could work, I guess, but you’re probably losing some of his qualities. You lose your true wingers in that system, which hurts McClean and O’Dowda. A few years ago losing McClean would have been a major minus but now it’s not really much of a problem.
I think I’d still prefer to play a 4-2-3-1 type formation. Probably with Coleman on the left and Doherty on the right - or vice versa. Stevens has done pretty well for us, but I could even see an argument that Robbie Brady’s best slot for Ireland is at left back. It keeps the game in front of him, where he’s composed and distributes the ball well – and it keeps him in the side, which from a dead ball perspective is probably useful. I’ve never been convinced that he can play consistently in the centre of the park – and he doesn’t have the ability to beat player out wide that O’Dowda, Robinson or McClean would…
PS Speaking of Norwood, him retiring at 28 speaks volumes for what's going on up at Windsor Park and how committed the players are there
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