Kelleher reportedly ruled out. Kevin Long also out (thus the Lenihan call up).
I'd play Brady in midfield if anywhere. He's got ability, but injuries have really robbed him of his pace.
Kelleher reportedly ruled out. Kevin Long also out (thus the Lenihan call up).
Huge night coming up for Travers on Wednesday.
Kelleher and Kevin Long out
Coventry added
Hourihan and O'Dowda also confirmed out (although we kind of figured that from the weekend)
I prefer McGeady in the team as far as I am concerned. Or Connor Ronan. GK situation will destroy our confidence. Again we need some experience gloves maybe Sean McDermott or Colin Doyle, I want Dean Kiely in goals, we are in deep trouble
Never Fear ~ ~ It is when the Irish are in the Deepest of Trouble that The Spirit of the Irish Rises ! !Originally Posted by Bielsa´s irish
This was a window of international football to convince a fellow like Mikey Johnston to play for the Republic, this is a missed chance, I know this fellow has been out for 9 months and just coming back, but not included for the scottish, we need a fellow of his flair.
We are gonna need a better direction about dual players, we cant afford injury crisis this much!
James McClean also unavailable, according to his irish coach at the club
No, he's struggling with injury and O'Neill wouldn't play him on Wednesday in a club game, but he can't make him unavailable
Yeah he said everything is up to our medical staff to risk him or not. I dont think the irish doctors will make him play. I would play Manning there, or Scully or McGeady who are fit enough and that McGrath fellow in Scotland.
As I said before we must convince dual players with an abrasive approach a la Jackie C.. Players like Mikey Johnston, Connor Ronan and others must be fast tracked. Delap i believe will end up playing for Ireland because of his dad and grandpa, but we've got to move fast. I believe scottish-irish are more eager to play for Eire than english born guys with irish ancensty, but every person is a world of difference, we must ask and pronto!
Bielsa, unless you have any new evidence that Mikey Johnston will declare for Ireland, don't mention him again.
Last edited by tetsujin1979; 21/03/2021 at 9:12 PM.
I think the way Stephen Kenny sets us up to play is very naive, but to be fair to the man, the covid situation last time around followed by the injuries to the squad this time out make it hard to judge him fairly.
His team and tactics in Belgrade will be a good measure. O'Shea and/or Clark omitted to facilitate Duffy, leaving Doherty or Coleman on the bench - and playing his naive go-nowhere tip-tap will seriously undermine his credibility. I'm hopeful (but not confident) he'll produce a strategy to make a draw feasible.
Last edited by Snapshot; 22/03/2021 at 1:27 AM. Reason: grammar check
Then again would you want Clarke / O'Shea or Duffy up against Mitrovic if they play him ? If its about a nuts and bolts pragmatic eleven to not lose this game, whatever about tipping and tapping.
And before you startno I don't want Duffy in the side either overall. But picture corner after corner and ball after ball aimed at that wilder beast Mitrovic, which of the three would you want marking him ?
I don't envy the guy. Duffy in the air is our only real scoring threat, so he has to play him an omit O'Shea, no doubt in my mind.
my team:
-----------------Travers
Coleman-Duffy-Clark-Stevens
Doherty-Browne-Hendrick-Knight-Brady
----------------Long
We'll be lucky not to lose 4-0.
You make a good point - but I believe O'Shea/Clark is the way to go. Duffy's game looks shattered - he's slow, missing tackles, timing is askew, poor distributer from the back - and that's just at SPFL level (he was on the Celtic bench last game). Potter got rid of him at Brighton for the same deficiencies. Yes, he has been good for our corners - but can we afford to select a key defender in a vital game for that reason?Then again would you want Clarke / O'Shea or Duffy up against Mitrovic if they play him ? If its about a nuts and bolts pragmatic eleven to not lose this game, whatever about tipping and tapping.
And before you start
I think your selection (with O'Shea for Duffy, and Connolly, if fit, for Long) is as good as it gets. I'd give it a fighting chance of a draw. O'Shea has been consistently good at EPL level and deserves his place. At corners, Clark also has a useful scoring record with Newcastle and while at Villa.
I'd have Cullen in the team to anchor the midfield and provide the momentum link from back to front. With an untested goalkeeper, think it is advisable for Kenny to keep changes in the back line to the minimal necessary. So I'd gamble on Duffy despite concern and would lean towards packing the team with as many senior players as possible with the goalkeeper issue and Cullen starting.
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