Slovakia v Republic of Ireland - 8th October 2020 - Euro 2020 Playoff Semi Final

**irishfan86** · 07/09/2020, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

I asked this in another forum. Exactly what i was wondering too. Hes quick over a couple of yards, and hes pacey, tenacious, and not easily beaten off the ball, can receive in tight spaces and still not be dispossessed(switzerland exception), hes also a very good tackler generally.

Not to say it�s the same calibre of player we�re talking about here, but I can understand if Kenny is reluctant to experiment too extremely with a Coleman in midfield approach given what happened with Cyrus Christie during the O�Neill era.

That said given our problems with finding a defensive midfielder and the real benefit of getting both Coleman and Doherty on the pitch, I�d love to see it tried out at some point, in the Nations League perhaps or a friendly (will those ever come back?).

**paul_oshea** · 07/09/2020, 12:44 PM

For me it's an obvious experiment to try. He can cover for Doherty if he bombs forward. We get the best of Doherty going forward and the best of Coleman defensively. It also keeps the same formation and system that Kenny seems strongly about.

**passinginterest** · 07/09/2020, 1:48 PM

Might as well have a guess at team selection after what we've seen. I think it'll be 4-3-3 again, no point spending this camp getting used to it if it's not the planned formation for Slovakia. I think he'll pick players who are getting game time, it was obvious from the two games that the middle three in particular will need to be playing every week. Of the options, I'd say Arter, Hendrick and McCarthy might be in pole position. Brady for all the nice flashes left us badly exposed defensively and died a death. I saw a position chart at half time and Brady, Connolly and Stevens were on top of each other and very advanced, it explained the big hole behind Brady that was exposed a few times in the first half an hour. Jack Byrne might come into consideration, offers something different in terms of unlocking a defense, allegedly carrying a niggle and Rovers had a huge game at the weekend so might explain his absence this time around.

The back four and keeper, the only real dilemma is likely to be Doherty or Coleman. Will Coleman start for Everton, if so I have a suspicion he might get back in for the Slovakia game. He offers more solidity defensively and can still get up the pitch when needed.

Front three is probably the most unpredictable. Connolly has probably done enough to be sure of a start, especially if he starts the season well. McGoldrick is a very different forward to Idah, but possible offers something that we're missing in the midfield in terms of ability to pick open a defense. Robinson made an impact when introduced, so maybe Connolly, McGoldrick, Robinson the favorites now, but Long and Idah wouldn't be too far away and again, playing time and form will be important. Does Obafemi find a way in if he's scoring and playing in the opening weeks of the season? He might work alongside McGoldrick if there's a midfielder like O'Dowda or Byrne in the third forward role?

Likely team;
Randolph
Coleman
Duffy
Egan
Stevens
McCarthy
Arter
Hendrick
Robinson
McGoldrick
Connolly

Options; Doherty, Molumby, Hourihane, Idah, O'Dowda, Long, Obafemi, Byrne

**paul_oshea** · 07/09/2020, 1:50 PM

Interesting passinginterest, i was the only one to comment on here about players being bunched in small areas further up on the field, and now you've said that there was a player chart shown at half time( i am not aware but would like to see it) that showed them bunched. It was anathema to our attacking flow and options. THey looked clueless. That suggests lack of understanding and preparation in training.

Agree re brady that ball he thought was going out he just left and didnt even bother to follow the finnish runner - who subsequently kept it in.

**seanfhear** · 07/09/2020, 2:37 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

I asked this in another forum. Exactly what i was wondering too. Hes quick over a couple of yards, and hes pacey, tenacious, and not easily beaten off the ball, can receive in tight spaces and still not be dispossessed(switzerland exception), hes also a very good tackler generally.

I�d like to see it tried somewhere along the line. The Germans had great success for a few years when they put Lahm in midfield . Slightly off topic. I thought Lahm should have played on a bit longer for the Germans.

**Stuttgart88** · 07/09/2020, 3:43 PM

30 is past it in Germany, unless you're a keeper or a 6 foot 7 forward!

**passinginterest** · 07/09/2020, 3:56 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Interesting passinginterest, i was the only one to comment on here about players being bunched in small areas further up on the field, and now you've said that there was a player chart shown at half time( i am not aware but would like to see it) that showed them bunched. It was anathema to our attacking flow and options. THey looked clueless. That suggests lack of understanding and preparation in training.

Agree re brady that ball he thought was going out he just left and didnt even bother to follow the finnish runner - who subsequently kept it in.

It was a retweet around half time by a jouro type as far as I can remember, sorry I didn't follow the account that tweeted it and now I can't find it. I do enjoy some stats and visualisations!

**eekers** · 07/09/2020, 5:45 PM

There is a case that the players are better suited to 352.
Duffy and Egan are used to plying 3 at the back at club level.
The two full backs play as wingbacks at club level.
There already is a three man midfield.
McGoldrick and Connolly play 2 up front at club level.

This would get our most dangerous player Connolly into the penalty box instead stuck out wide.
Coleman could come in as the third centre half on the right.
We don't have to find the defensive midfielder we simply don't have.
Obafemi can now be an option as a second striker. Kenny didn't think he was an option out wide or had the physicality to play in the middle on his own.

Something like

-----------------Randolph----------------
--------Coleman - Egan - Duffy---------
Doherty--------McCarthy-------Stevens
----------Hendrick------Brady-----------
--------Mc Goldrick---Connolly----------

**Bielsa�s irish** · 07/09/2020, 9:15 PM

Originally Posted by eekers

There is a case that the players are better suited to 352.
Duffy and Egan are used to plying 3 at the back at club level.
The two full backs play as wingbacks at club level.
There already is a three man midfield.
McGoldrick and Connolly play 2 up front at club level.

This would get our most dangerous player Connolly into the penalty box instead stuck out wide.
Coleman could come in as the third centre half on the right.
We don't have to find the defensive midfielder we simply don't have.
Obafemi can now be an option as a second striker. Kenny didn't think he was an option out wide or had the physicality to play in the middle on his own.

Something like

-----------------Randolph----------------
--------Coleman - Egan - Duffy---------
Doherty--------McCarthy-------Stevens
----------Hendrick------Brady-----------
--------Mc Goldrick---Connolly----------

I like the team but dont know about Connolly yet. I think of Long...better plus another number 9 from the bench. I agree with the rest.

but I think he is gonna play a back 4.

-------------------------randolph--------------------

coleman----------duffy-----------egan-------stevens

--------hendrick------mccarthy--------brady/arter

S.Long/Robinson--------mcgoldrick-----connolly/mcclean

**Diggs246** · 07/09/2020, 9:29 PM

https://www.google.com/amp/s/extra.i...-kenny-era/amp

Everytime I see or hear from Noel King I just want to shout "KNACKER"!!

**Bielsa�s irish** · 20/09/2020, 7:20 PM

squad expected according to games and SK taste

Randolph
Travers
O'Hara/Kelleher

Coleman
Duffy
Long
Lenihan/Clark
Williams
Stevens
Egan

Arter
Doherty
McCarthy
Hendrick
Hourihane
Cullen/Molumby
Byrne
Brady

Long
McClean
Robinson/Odowda
McGoldrick
Connolly
Collins/Idah

**mark12345** · 21/09/2020, 12:22 AM

I like Noel King and he was my coach many moons ago. But he is clearly wrong in this instance. Those people who are knocking Stephen Kenny need to ask themselves one simple question. How the hell did Finland get so good, so good that they could play us off the park? And if they can do it, can we not do it? So give Stephen Kenny time, plenty of time.

**elatedscum** · 21/09/2020, 1:41 AM

I�ve met Noel King a number of times over the last decade and on a personal level have found him a nice person and someone who cares about football in ireland...

Saying that, this strikes me as him waiting for 2 years to dig the knife. When people compared how Stephen fared as manager of the 21s to Noel, there was natural criticism of King.

Seems to me like King was waiting for the first opportunity to question Kenny�s attributes. Considering King is an employee of the FAI, does him authoring this piece not seem a little questionable?

If I was the person signing his cheques, I�d have a few words with him...

**Stuttgart88** · 21/09/2020, 8:57 AM

I think Noel King left the FAI in June

**Diggs246** · 21/09/2020, 9:09 AM

His track record with the u21s was hysterically bad. Any stats on this very welcome as I need a laugh

**Ol� Ol�** · 21/09/2020, 9:29 AM

With Slovakia on the horizon, I am looking forward to Tets stats from the weekend. I think this could be one of the best weekends in a while for Irish starters. 12 players appeared last weekend. I think 10 players have started already this this game week and there could be up to 4 starters tonight in Villa v Sheffield United.

Starters: Coleman, Robinson, O'Shea, McCarthy, Doherty, Hendrick, Connolly, Long, Brady, Dunne.

Subs: Long and Smallbone off the bench for Southampton.

**Fixer82** · 21/09/2020, 9:57 AM

Originally Posted by Diggs246

https://www.google.com/amp/s/extra.i...-kenny-era/amp

Everytime I see or hear from Noel King I just want to shout "KNACKER"!!

You need to maybe have a look at that behaviour

**Diggs246** · 21/09/2020, 1:23 PM

Fair enough. The phase was wrong and inappropriate but he was all the was wrong with the FAI and company man with no ability

**Ol� Ol�** · 21/09/2020, 4:18 PM

Originally Posted by Ol� Ol�

With Slovakia on the horizon, I am looking forward to Tets stats from the weekend. I think this could be one of the best weekends in a while for Irish starters. 12 players appeared last weekend. I think 10 players have started already this this game week and there could be up to 4 starters tonight in Villa v Sheffield United.

Starters: Coleman, Robinson, O'Shea, McCarthy, Doherty, Hendrick, Connolly, Long, Brady, Dunne.

Subs: Long and Smallbone off the bench for Southampton.

Hourihane, Egan, Stevens and McGoldrick all start. 14 Irish starters this weekend.

**paul_oshea** · 21/09/2020, 5:08 PM

I know Kenny would never say it, but its kinda annoying that we have to be at this stage now when any manager of the previous decade would have used that as their first line of defence. I'm sure it would have then moved to, we dont have the players in the top 6. Like international football is only made up of top 6 players.