Forgive me folks. I'm totally out of the loop with the international game.
When is the squad announced, and who all are unavailable for these games?
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Kelleher a doubt too. Keeper is a major problem all of a sudden.
What should we do if they're both out? Give Travers the shot as next in line? Recall Westwood? Throw Bazunu into the deep end?
I personally don't rate Travers and it looks like he's nervous every time he plays.
Luxembourg have to be fancying their chances all of a sudden. They're on the up a bit, we're on the down and potentially three keepers injured will tax a lot of countries
Not looking forward to these games
Is this list still remotely accurate? And is it possible to get MLS players in from the States for this shindig?
On the goalkeeper situationm, has Rob Elliott formally packed in international football? Seems to be making the bench for Watford every week, and has always been a solid keeper.
Last edited by backstothewall; 11/03/2021 at 9:07 PM.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
Shay Given wasn't shipping 60+ goals at the foot of the third tier.
In fact, I think he was on a run of clean sheets for Sunderland at the top of the second. Quite a big difference
Shay wasn't exactly thrown in was he? Dean Kiely was around so also Alan Kelly.
Our problem was who to pick as nr 1
I think we should play 3 goalkeepers in these 3 games.
Randy isn't getting any younger, and with covid potentially an issue for god knows how long, this is likely to be an issue we face again.
We need more goalkeepers who have both been in or around squads, and on the field.
With the number of withdrawals we've been experiencing since the restart i think we should go back to O'Neill style 40 man squads. I'd initially name 5 goalkeepers and see who was still available after withdrawals.
Kelleher may be inexperiened, but he has played between the sticks for the Premier League champions in the Champions League. Arguably, the only reason he hasn't had a Given-Sunderland style loan at the top of the Championship, is because Liverpool can't afford to lose him with the problems they have been having in goal.
I don't think Bazunu is at that Given/Sunderland level yet, but for me Kelleher is. If available he should start in the absense of Randolph.
After that we should call up 4 others.
3 of those are Jack Bonham, Danny Rogers & Mark Travers. They've all played some kind of football this season, which means they've cleared a very low bar.
After that I'd get on the phone to Rob Elliott and Stephen Henderson to see how agreeable either of them would be to making an unlikely international comeback, on the understanding that covid/injuries allowing, the 3 keepers finally named in the squad will all start a game.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
Currently injured:
RANDOLPH
Kelleher
Westwood
Coleman
EGAN
D WILLIAMS
MCCARTHY
Arter
BYRNE
SMALLBONE
MCCLEAN
O’Dowda
Maguire
OBAFEMI
Capitalised those that are almost certain to miss out
Brady was back playing 30 mins last weekend from an ankle injury, so he should be ok.
I’d guess we’d be able to get MLS players here and play. The US isn’t a designated high risk country here, so shouldn’t be any different from the England really. Not really sure who that’d be though, Gallagher is probably the only one possible or am I missing someone? Haven’t heard of Ryan Meara in a few years, Williams is injured and Mulraney isn’t better than Shodipo, Curtis, Harness etc
Last edited by elatedscum; 12/03/2021 at 6:17 AM.
Maguire is available for the Preston NE v Wycombe Wanderers game, according to the Preston website today.
Kelleher is due to return to training this weekend, following his stomach muscle injury, and is expected to return to the Liverpool bench at the beginning of April (Empire of the Kop, today). I doubt if Watford gave Elliot a contract for sentimental reasons - given his experience of big games he should be in the squad v Serbia. On Tuesday (9th) O'Dowda played 65 minutes at right wing-back for the Bristol City U-23s.
Randolph and all that experience is obviously a big miss. In terms of who's available to step in, I don't think it makes a big difference, all pretty much as risky as each other at this point, Kelleher included. It was something we were going to have to deal with soon anyway, relying on a 34 year old bench warmer wasn't a good place to be.
Connolly out now as well. Hard to pick a strong team from what's left at this stage.
Kelleher
Coleman
Stevens
Clark
O'Shea
Cullen
Knight
Browne
Brady
Robinson
Idah
6 or 7 of those could easily be different in the team that ends up being named though. We have almost no definite starters, no established spine to the team, we really are close to starting from scratch here.
I was hopeful enough of a result up to a few weeks ago, but the team is looking pretty threadbare at this stage with injuries. Still nervous about that Luxembourg game too. On the other hand Kenny can't keep getting excused because of selection issues. I dunno.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
is connolly definitely out? cracked rib...
yep hes gone.
The starting line up? anyone hazard a guess what kenny will go with ( assuming he sticks to 433)
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