Bulgaria V Republic of Ireland - Thursday, 3rd September 2020 - UEFA Nations League

**Olé Olé** · 02/09/2020, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by jbyrne

i think all those omitting coleman from their dream teams are forgetting that SK has already confirmed he will be his captain and that colemans form this year has been quite good.
pretty sure coleman will start thursday

I don't think they are simply "forgetting" those points. There are plenty points regarding Doherty that Kenny has made. Plenty. People are clearly siding with their own preference or putting greater weight in Kenny saying Doherty is "one of the best full backs around for sure", that "he would be very much in the frame to play" and that "Matt had probably been undervalued by Ireland, only 3 competitive starts for Ireland at 28 years of age."

I agree that they'll get a game each. And the selection for Slovakia might be a function of their strategy for dealing with Slovakia moreso than who is the better player.

**Diggs246** · 02/09/2020, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

I can see Coleman and Doherty getting match each, with Coleman more likely to play in the first one.

I wouldn't agree with that. You cant drop a guy if he is excellent for the next game just to be nice to the other guy

**seanfhear** · 02/09/2020, 1:19 PM

Originally Posted by Diggs246

I wouldn't agree with that. You cant drop a guy if he is excellent for the next game just to be nice to the other guy

Maybe Coleman in particular is happy with the situation as Captain. Hopefully he wants the best for the Team Overall. Doherty is one of our Best Players ( certainly on Club Form ). Surely we can get him in the Team.

**Diggs246** · 02/09/2020, 1:32 PM

I would be of the philosophy to play them both. This business of it didn't work against Gibraltar is nonsense. Everyone was terrible that day

**Philly** · 02/09/2020, 1:39 PM

I can see them being rotated somewhat with the next year being a transition period, with Doherty playing when we are looking to attack more in a game, and Coleman coming in when we need a more solid back 4. I think how they are used this week will give a good picture of what Kenny will do.

**geysir** · 02/09/2020, 2:13 PM

Originally Posted by Olé Olé

Dan McDonnell went with his best guess of a starting 11 on OTB last night. Generally, a decently informed and connected source on Irish football and Kenny. He's going with the following (though based a lot on guesswork more than information);
Randolph
Doherty Egan Duffy Stevens
Hendrick McCarthy Hourihane
Robinson Idah McClean

He referred to Connolly, Coleman and Long as options. Maybe O'Dowda too for Robinson.

He referred specifically to the Connolly and McClean conundrum and how Kenny may adapt that position depending on the opposition. If we are concerned with an attacking right flank by Slovakia, then this is the game where he might start McClean as an audition for Slovakia.

The game has to be an audition for the Slovakia game, otherwise ------- life has no meaning.

On Dan McDonnell being pushed into a corner on OTB to name his starting team, he wasn't at all prepared,had nothing written down and I've never heard him ramble on so aimlessly, as much as he did when hitting the wall on the last 4 or 5 players and the formation, he hedged more bets than Deutche Bank.
It just goes to show that when someone like Dan who's familiar with Kenny over the past 10 years can't 2nd guess what Kenny is likely to chose, what chance us?

**SkStu** · 02/09/2020, 2:33 PM

What we have is two players competing for only one spot in my opinion. It just doesnt work with our new formation to have them both in there unless you put one of them in left back for Stevens which would not make sense whatsoever. The shirt (and armband) are Colemans to lose but Doherty is breathing down his neck. As good as Matt has been over the last two years, Coleman has come back from a horrific injury and has for all intents and purposes matched him. He was sensational for Everton after the covid break.

**DeLorean** · 02/09/2020, 2:34 PM

Originally Posted by Diggs246

I wouldn't agree with that. You cant drop a guy if he is excellent for the next game just to be nice to the other guy

Well I think there's a good chance the team will be rotated to an extent between the two matches anyway, so it wouldn't be as cut-throat as you describe. There's a chance SK will want to look at as many players as possible, before the really big calls next month.

**Olé Olé** · 02/09/2020, 2:41 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

The game has to be an audition for the Slovakia game, otherwise ------- life has no meaning.

On Dan McDonnell being pushed into a corner on OTB to name his starting team, he wasn't at all prepared,had nothing written down and I've never heard him ramble on so aimlessly, as much as he did when hitting the wall on the last 4 or 5 players and the formation, he hedged more bets than Deutche Bank.
It just goes to show that when someone like Dan who's familiar with Kenny over the past 10 years can't 2nd guess what Kenny is likely to chose, what chance us?

It made for uncomfortable listening. Almost as uncomfortable as Joe Molloy's rant from atop his soapbox regarding the recommendation for Roy Barrett by Bank of Ireland. Utterly cringe to hear such paranoid virtue signalling from someone with no experience in corporate governance, or business in general.

**backstothewall** · 02/09/2020, 2:44 PM

Originally Posted by Olé Olé

McGoldrick is injured for Bulgaria.

Ohh. I was tempted to suggest giving Idah the run anyway. Makes that decision easy.

**zero** · 02/09/2020, 4:09 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

What we have is two players competing for only one spot in my opinion. It just doesnt work with our new formation to have them both in there unless you put one of them in left back for Stevens which would not make sense whatsoever. The shirt (and armband) are Colemans to lose but Doherty is breathing down his neck. As good as Matt has been over the last two years, Coleman has come back from a horrific injury and has for all intents and purposes matched him. He was sensational for Everton after the covid break.

I tried to post this earlier from my phone but it didn't seem to work - anyway, I wouldn't rule out Coleman starting as a centre half alongside Egan. If we do intend to play possession football it wouldn't really favour Duffy, as we've seen with Brighton since Potter came in.

**Kingdom** · 02/09/2020, 5:42 PM

------------------Randolph------
Doc-------Duffy-------------Egan (c) ---------Stevens

-------Hendrick----Jimmy Mac----Molumby---

---Long------------Idah-------------McClean

Margin calls: Hourihane; Connolly; Coleman.

**irishfan86** · 02/09/2020, 7:17 PM

Originally Posted by zero

I tried to post this earlier from my phone but it didn't seem to work - anyway, I wouldn't rule out Coleman starting as a centre half alongside Egan. If we do intend to play possession football it wouldn't really favour Duffy, as we've seen with Brighton since Potter came in.

Yes I think many here simply can't conceptualize Coleman as a centre half, but I agree this could be what Kenny has in mind. It was interesting that Kenny made reference to Coleman playing there for Everton semi-regularly. I don't watch every Everton match but I only recall him playing at centre half once as the right sided member in a back three. Maybe an Everton supporter could give us more context on how often he actually has played there.

**nigel-harps1954** · 02/09/2020, 7:50 PM

Sneaky feeling:

Randolph

Doherty Duffy Egan Stevens

Arter McCarthy Molumby

Robinson Idah McClean/Connolly

I think McClean is a perfect example of a workhorse winger that Kenny loves. But he's clearly a big fan of Connolly. That's the biggest toss up for me.

**Diggs246** · 02/09/2020, 8:06 PM

I guess it will be a 4-3-3
-----------------randy
Coleman-- duffy --Egan--- Stevens
------Hendricks - McCarthy --arter
---------Doherty-- long--- Connelly

**DCWA** · 02/09/2020, 9:10 PM

I reckon McClean is near enough first man on his team sheet.

Randolph

Coleman Duffy Egan Stevens
Hendrick McCarthy Hourihane
Long Idah McClean

**Razors left peg** · 03/09/2020, 1:04 AM

I'm only making 1 prediction. Connolly will start and score. Basing it on probably the most stupid thing, but every time I go to social media I see him banging goals into top corner in training. Just seen an absolute scorcher from their training in the stadium tonight

**Olé Olé** · 03/09/2020, 6:31 AM

Is McClean v Connolly similar to Coleman v Doherty in that only one can start? Or does Connolly play on the right side and James on the left? Or could we have two inverted wingers with James on the right and Connolly on the left? I have a recollection of James playing on the right for us before but I could be wrong. And I can't see him being capable of playing there. Could be wrong there too.

**Eirambler** · 03/09/2020, 7:39 AM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

I'm only making 1 prediction. Connolly will start and score. Basing it on probably the most stupid thing, but every time I go to social media I see him banging goals into top corner in training. Just seen an absolute scorcher from their training in the stadium tonight

I'm hoping he starts because I want to see him play in what I think is by far his more natural position, out on the left. Always feels like he's forcing it a bit at Brighton, playing through the middle. That training goal was a cracker - again it was cutting in from the left as most of his best play tends to be.