Serbia V Republic of Ireland - Wednesday, 24th March 2021 - World Cup 2022 Qualifier

[Bielsa´s irish]

The sad thing is none of the injured contingent are really of any use to be honest with exception of John Egan. Would have liked to see Caoimhin Kelleher get some games aswell so that is unfortunate. Look at the below list and although its good to have options, but there is nobody there who will substantially improve our starting XI

Kevin Long
Conor Hourihane
Callum O'Dowda
James McCarthy
Jack Byrne
Harry Arter
Adam Idah
Darren Randolph

Happy to see that Kenny has been railroaded into playing Josh Cullen, he deserved more of a look whilst at Charlton and I suspect he will come out of these games with alot of credit, but don't think he'd have got a chance if McCarthy and Arter were fit.

The players that Kenny has at his disposal are ripe for 3 at the back, he needs to adapt. 2 sets of full backs adept at playing as WB, although would like to see Coleman step in as part of back 3.

When everyone is fit i'd like to see us persevere with this:

------------------------------------------------------ Kelleher


--------------------------Coleman-----------------------Egan--------------------Clark


---------------Doherty----------Knight-----------------Cullen-------------Browne---------Stevens


----------------------------------------Parrot------------------------------Connolly

I like your team but I would get James McCarthy, Randolph and Manning, Shane Long for Parrott atm. But what about iin Belgrado? How to shield Travers?

[pineapple stu]

The sad thing is none of the injured contingent are really of any use to be honest with exception of John Egan. Would have liked to see Caoimhin Kelleher get some games aswell so that is unfortunate. Look at the below list and although its good to have options, but there is nobody there who will substantially improve our starting XI

Welcome back Strongbow!

But yeah, above is my read of it too. They'd give us more strength in depth I think - maybe better options for the last 30 minutes - but none is a particular improvement on what we have already. (They may have started, but I think their replacements are of a similar standard, which is to say not great)

[Razors left peg]

One thing I dont get from the irish football manager (the most important job in the whole Republic) is that he contradicts himself all the time. I understand that he trusts the underage players, and wont pick up "complicated senior players", will trust in the shy James McCarthy and the good captain Seamus Coleman as senior players, but Coleman didnt play the last few times.

WTF are you on about?

[Bielsa´s irish]

WTF are you on about?

the squad selection....wouldnt you have selected Westwood and Aiden?

I like kids to earn their place but we need experienced players vs Serbia.

We got a 2-2 draw last time. Daryl Murphy scored dont remember the other fellow.

we need a balanced team and football brains on the pitch. We need to nulify the serbs, frustrate them, and got them zz. We must hold the match in midfield, we need a 10 who could keep possession and carry the ball. Could be Robinson but havent seen much of his football abilities

[Razors left peg]

No as it happens I wouldnt have selected Westwood but thats not my question. Why are you talking about McCarthy when is injured

[pineapple stu]

Westwood is also injured too (officially at least)

[shakermaker1982]

I’d be truly amazed if Kenny ditches the 433.

He’ll do something daft like

Travers *

Doherty
Clarke *
Duffy
Stevens*

Browne
Hendrick
Brady

Robinson
Connolly *
Collins

I’d start the players with an asterix. I’d snap your hand off for a 1-1.

[CraftyToePoke]

I like kids to earn their place but we need experienced players vs Serbia.

Look Bielsa if you're gonna WUM the place at least be consistent, you were on about McGrath & Scully a few days ago for this match become the best WUM you can be, live your best life etc

So now you're saying experience, yes ?

[Razors left peg]

I dont know why Travers should be a guaranteed starter over Bazunu.

Travers has played a total of 35 senior games, 23 of which came for Weymouth.

Bazunu has played 32 senior games, including 4 at Shamrock Rovers.

There is only a 2 year age difference between them and Bazunu is currently the one actually playing football. For me I think Bazunu should be the one starting.

[pineapple stu]

I think games played is only one way of looking at it. Travers has spent the last two years training with a Premier League side; he'll have picked up a lot from that. Bazunu has been with an academy and now a League One side and it's just not the same thing.

Ideally I'd start neither, and I think Kenny feels the same way. But the day-to-day stuff does count.

[Diggs246]

Yep travers has played premier league football and international football. I'd go with him

[CraftyToePoke]

I think games played is only one way of looking at it.

Another way to look at it is a football coming at you fast is a football coming at you fast whatever division that footballs point of origin was in and Travers tends to drop those footballs to an extent he blew his top flight audition and ended up in an outpost like Swindon. Bazunu tends not to drop the ones he should catch and although more are flying past him due to circumstances not fully under his control, he is acquitting himself better overall maybe ?

[Razors left peg]

Yep travers has played premier league football and international football. I'd go with him

He played a 2 or 3 Premier league games and if I remember rightly he was terrible in one game and let in 4. Any game I seen him in he looked shakey.

I just hope they look at both in training this week and go with who looks better, because their career records are much of a muchness

[pineapple stu]

Did Travers blow his top-flight audition? It's very rare for a 21-year-old to get a game in the PL these days. And rarer still for a 21-year-old keeper for obvious reasons. He made errors, sure (but did has Bazunu at a lower level).

But none of that really challenges my point that experience in training can be a factor too. And just to reiterate, I wouldn't be comfortable with any of our three keepers. I don't think there's much between them at the moment really

[Razors left peg]

I actually have the opposite view Stu, Im actually very excited about the 3 young keepers we have. None of they have massive experience but I think that Bazunu and Kelleher could be special and have shown they are capable of playing mens football. I dont believe that playing international football is too big a step for them.

[pineapple stu]

I think at least two of the four (if we include Kelleher) will be mainstays for us for the next decade or more. That's very positive.

The match is on Wednesday though. The guys' futures are irrelevant for now. It's the present I'm worried about

[Bielsa´s irish]

No as it happens I wouldnt have selected Westwood but thats not my question. Why are you talking about McCarthy when is injured

The manager said McCarthy was very important for his system etc, I know he is injured, on Coleman is he gonna play ? Didnt play in Slovakia I think

[Bielsa´s irish]

Look Bielsa if you're gonna WUM the place at least be consistent, you were on about McGrath & Scully a few days ago for this match become the best WUM you can be, live your best life etc

So now you're saying experience, yes ?

We need experience in a gk, I stand by my posts, I do want the youth but we need old gloves. On McGeady , he is the in form player, on those two better than some in the squad

[Bielsa´s irish]

I’d be truly amazed if Kenny ditches the 433.

He’ll do something daft like

Travers *

Doherty
Clarke *
Duffy
Stevens*

Browne
Hendrick
Brady

Robinson
Connolly *
Collins

I’d start the players with an asterix. I’d snap your hand off for a 1-1.

And Coleman?

[Razors left peg]

I think at least two of the four (if we include Kelleher) will be mainstays for us for the next decade or more. That's very positive.

The match is on Wednesday though. The guys' futures are irrelevant for now. It's the present I'm worried about

Its not ideal for Wednesday but sometimes guys have to be thrown in at the deep end and sink or swim. Im not particularly worried about it at all. The guy is a good keeper and has stepped up to every level thrown at him in his short career so far.