Just noticed the keeper Rochdale had on loan last season has just been called up to the Spain squad (he's the Brighton number one now). Some good pedigree lines there for Bazunu!
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Tallaght Stadium Regular
I'd be wary of this line of thought myself. If you're good enough, you're old enough, whether you're 36 or 16. Randolph and Westwood are good enough; there's a question mark over McGeady these days, but he's probably good enough based on how poor we are. I probably would have him in the squad on balance; he's the kind of player who could unlock a stubborn Luxembourg defence with a nice pass.
It's all well and good playing for the future, but not if it means, say, drawing at home to Luxembourg and then players' morale is going through the floor, and a feeling grows that Kenny isn't up to the task. We need to be pragmatic here.
In the event, of course, Randolph and Westwood aren't available, and there's a logical reason why McGeady wasn't selected. (McGeady may feel a bit aggrieved at being told League One wasn't good enough yet we have three League One keepers and a League One forward in the squad, but we're really stuck there and I take that comment as a sure sign that Kelleher will start)
It's a fair point, I'm another one who thought McGeady was incredibly frustrating but there's no doubt he created goals and can still create (I went looking for some stats and I think in his last couple of qualifying campaigns he had something like 4 assists and 2 goals). It's definitely more of a risk to stick with the younger and unproven players, but it's also got much more potential for medium term reward (with more risk of Kenny not being there to see it too).
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Yeah, I just don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater is all.
Kenny's doing well blooding in new players already, and he's the manager to do it having worked with some of the guys at 21s level. But there is a place for experience in the squad too.
Last edited by pineapple stu; 18/03/2021 at 4:29 PM.
Definitely, I'm really disappointed with the exclusion to be honest. The standard of L1 is just an excuse I think and it must be more to do with his age or perhaps he doesn't think he'd suit the style he's trying to implement. It's obvious that McGeady's level is higher than L1, he's repeatedly been called the best player in that division. In a couple of months he could well be swapping divisions with Daryl Horgan for example, but I can't imagine that would change SK's thinking.
Hes trying to implement a keep ball, keep possession style. Of course that rules McGeady out.
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
Stephen Kenny on the goalkeeping position -
Other news is McClean is still a doubt though in the squad, while Richard Keogh may make a comeback in the autumn qualifiers and Parrott is unlikely to start given his recent form.Caoimhín has obviously played ten Under-21 internationals under me and he was brilliant, did very well. I think he's played five games for Liverpool this year too in the Champions League, so he's used to big games and it won’t be an issue for him.
Mark Travers is definitely the next one in
At the time, I argued for both Grealish and Carruthers to be called up. Saw grealish play an FA Cup game against decent opposition and he was incredible. Meanwhile, Carruthers was excellent against Liverpool for Villa. Obviously they don’t all work out, but you take your chances with really exciting youngsters...
You can't really argue too much with the squad Kenny's picked. McGeady's form maybe merited his inclusion, but given he's 35 next month and playing in the third tier, this would arguably be a regressive move. No-one can reasonably complain too much. It's good to see Bazanu in there though.
Kenny's in an invidious position really, and I do feel for him. The quality just isn't there.
I only hope Cullen is given a chance to prove himself.
I would probably have thrown a few of more of the younger players in there like Odubdko and Coventry, and perhaps Flynn and Ferry, We have little to lose. But this is more of a personal feeling than a criticism.
Ive just noticed that there is no James McCarthy included despite guarantees from our South America correspondent.
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