Thanks for the note on the goal difference. I was wondering that. I think a fair few players are on form currently so there is that.
On James.. I love his work ethic but I think the capabilities of the squad around him has overtaken him at this stage of his career.
We have this habit of hanging onto players because they might have a moment of magic every 5 games. I'd prefer to try out some youngster than give lads the impression they just need to show up. Also we might strike gold in terms of a young mentality giant who is up to it and can keep pace with ball control.
Aren't we almost certain to be in the B path, due to the host nations clause?
I looked at the Wales team for last night. Hennessy, Davies, Mepham, Lockyer, Roberts, Ampadu, Morrell, James, Wilson, Bale and Kieffer Moore. Aside from James and Bale (and Ramsay who came in) they are terribly mediocre or inexperienced. Stevens and Coleman are also very good full backs and you could double McClean up with Stevens also to mitigate Bale. I don't understand why anyone would say that side "will have too much for us." It's only 3 years since we put Bosnia to the sword and they are sitting behind in Greece and Armenia in their group and were beaten 3-0 at home by Italy the other night. What is your rationale on guessing that they would beat us as well?
Wales have better players then us, some of their players are actually near world class, playing for Man utd, Chelsea, Juve and Real Madrid and the last time we played them they murdered us.. full blown murdered us . We will be playing them away in wales as well, so as I live on planet earth I believe they have too much for us.
Granted Bosnia is less clear but again we would be playing them away and they have players playing top level football across Europe. You failed to mention that in recent history they beat N. Ireland both home and away. They beat Austria and killed Finland. World beaters they are not but as things stand they are better then us.
Based on that post I would say that you're the heart and soul of any parties you attend on "planet Earth."
byrne and parrott make the bench for tonight.
Callum O'Dowda and Scott Hogan miss out. surprised at the odowda decision tbh
It also means McLean is sure to start
https://twitter.com/OCowzer/status/1...910974976?s=19
No midfield experiment tonight anyway.
Interesting to see that pair make way. They both came in against Switzerland. I agree with the decision but I'm just a bit surprised.
A few of the top seeds/fancied teams struggled to win their group qualification deciders, but all came through in the end. Our game must be the one which provides the one obligatory upset.
I actually thought they both did well when they came on against the Swiss so fair play to Mick for not being afraid to change things.
I think it’s the right call.
Dan McDonnell piece in the Indo Playoff permutations.
If we end up in the playoffs and Wales win - we'll be away to Slovakia.
If Wales draw - we have to go to Cardiff.
It gets complicated if Wales lose.
I wonder will Mick play Robinson and McGoldrick up top with them both interchanging between the no.9 and no.10 positions
I'd certainly have kept O'Dowda in the squad. Based on Brady's performance on Thursday, I might prefer O'Dowda coming on out wide if the game opens up
Collins would have been the one to go for me. With McGoldrick, Robinson, Maguire, Parrott there's enough firepower.
Dale Johnson on twitter for espn writes a lot about this too. Says he’ll be shocked if UEFA let Ireland out of Path B.
It’s not the opposition that really concerns me. It’s more that we give up home advantage if stuck in Path B.
Whoever drawn into Path A will at least have home advantage.
Anyway, win tonight and an added bonus is we might get home advantage vs Spain at the Finals.
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