Republic of Ireland V Belgium - Saturday, 26th March 2022 - Friendly

[ontheotherhand]

I’m biased, obviously, but I don’t think Forrestor would be out of place. I’m not expecting him to be called up, but I think he’s upped his game again this season, and is a class act. I think only personal issues stopped him making a real go of it across the water. I’m delighted he’s back with us though.

Yeah I think Forrester is among a very select group of LoI players from my time following the league who wouldn't look out of place a few levels up. And in his case we know that's the case as he played League 1 and did very well. That said, I also don't think he'd add much more than we have available at the moment at least. It would be great to see him in a squad but I don't think he has the same level of ability as Jack Byrne did when he was flying. Subjective obviously. Forrester is class and I'd love to watch him every week. Nice lad too from interviews etc.

[John83]

Haven’t really seen Manning do it - Christie has looked the more impressive player when I’ve seen Swansea play this season. But Scales hasn’t been involved for Celtic in ages I think since they got knocked out of the Europa league and there are few alternatives: Enda Stevens is still injured, not sure if Derrick Williams is playing for LA Galaxy since their season started - I think Robbie Brady could do a job at left back but he can’t stay fit either. Bagan is an option but I don’t think he’s quite there yet either, so no real complaints about Manning.

Left wing back is a bit of a long term concern, with Stevens getting on and everyone else unconvincing to some degree or other: out of position, fading with age, or not yet proven. I don't know if Manning is going to be the long term solution there because he's been playing a different position at club level. I thought he looked shakey there when he's played, but maybe the England game has biased my opinion of him a little unfairly. I'd probably be using Christie too, or rather Doherty with Christie covering Coleman on the right, but there's good reason to try Manning in some friendlies.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Vs Belgium I would go with

..,........................Bazunu................. ......

.............O Shea.....Duffy....Egan............

Coleman....Cullen......Hendrick....Doherty

Knight...............Robinson.........Ronan

[elatedscum]

Vs Belgium I would go with

..,........................Bazunu................. ......

.............O Shea.....Duffy....Egan............

Coleman....Cullen......Hendrick....Doherty

Knight...............Robinson.........Ronan

Ogbene is starting all day long. His raw pace caused Portugal so many problems. He could do the same against Belgium. Knight probably starts on the left and Ronan plays against Latvia

[JR89]

The team that started against Luxembourg bar Knight for Idah obviously will more than likely start against Belgium depending on the fitness of lads. Lined up as 3-4-3 but Knight will probably spend most of the game central.


...........................Bazunu


..........Coleman - Duffy - Egan


Doherty - Hendrick - Cullen - McClean


..........Ogbene - Robinson - Knight

[Eirambler]

Yes I think that will be the team Kenny picks. I don't really like seeing Coleman as a makeshift centre back when we have so many good young centre backs (I'd use these games to bring Collins into the team) and I don't think McClean is good enough defensively to play LWB (so I'd play Doherty over there and start Coleman at RWB), but I think that's what Kenny will go for.

[Diggs246]

Absolutely. Put Doherty in for McLean, push Coleman up and play around centre half

[JR89]

Left wing back is a bit of a long term concern, with Stevens getting on and everyone else unconvincing to some degree or other: out of position, fading with age, or not yet proven. I don't know if Manning is going to be the long term solution there because he's been playing a different position at club level. I thought he looked shakey there when he's played, but maybe the England game has biased my opinion of him a little unfairly. I'd probably be using Christie too, or rather Doherty with Christie covering Coleman on the right, but there's good reason to try Manning in some friendlies.

Watching the EFL highlights and Bagan going forward suits how Kenny wants his WBs to get involved in attacks. Found himself in the box early in the game and the keeper pulled off a good save to tip onto the crossbar, and got the assist for Cardiff's opener. Often finds himself in good attacking positions that you'd think he's playing as one of the two behind the striker, his chance and assist showing that.

Defensively though he can be poor. Can switch off at times and think he needs to be more aggressive at times. It's an area he needs to improve on but going forward he's decent. Definitely more of a WB rather than FB ATM. Hopefully keeps on improving and we see him in the squad for November. Would definitely be a good time to bring him.

[JR89]

Yes I think that will be the team Kenny picks. I don't really like seeing Coleman as a makeshift centre back when we have so many good young centre backs (I'd use these games to bring Collins into the team) and I don't think McClean is good enough defensively to play LWB (so I'd play Doherty over there and start Coleman at RWB), but I think that's what Kenny will go for.

Yeah I'd much prefer seeing Doherty on the left and Coleman on the right. Doherty probably had his best game for us on the left against Portugal and Collins I think is good enough to start RCB. Hope he gets the 90mins against Lithuania at least.

While he's not playing weekly for Burnley the fans have mostly been impressed whenever he's stepped in to cover for Tarkowski or Mee. Pity he'll probably be back in the championship next season.

[third policeman]

Left wing back is a bit of a long term concern, with Stevens getting on and everyone else unconvincing to some degree or other: out of position, fading with age, or not yet proven. I don't know if Manning is going to be the long term solution there because he's been playing a different position at club level. I thought he looked shakey there when he's played, but maybe the England game has biased my opinion of him a little unfairly. I'd probably be using Christie too, or rather Doherty with Christie covering Coleman on the right, but there's good reason to try Manning in some friendlies.

Christie has been in outstanding form for Swansea and is unlucky not to have been included. I could have understood had he called up Festy, but this squad is neither obviously for the future or the present. Long is playing today and is certainly, even at this stage in his career, an upgrade on some of those selected.

[Kingdom]

The most important match of the two (in terms of not being embarassed/taking a tanking, but also a real possibility to get a result that would look impressive even against a top tier side) even if the Lithuania game is the real important game (imo - in terms of giving real minutes to those fringe players).

In light of the former, there's no chance he doesn't start Bazunu, Doherty, McClean, Duffy, Egan, Cullen, Hendrick, Ogbene & Robinson. They will all be nailed on.

Bazunu


X1 - Collins
Duffy
Egan


Doherty
Hendrick
Cullen
McClean

Ogbene
Robinson
x2 - Knight

x1 - at some stage he's got to blood Collins or Lenihan. He knows he can rely on Dara, and the Lithuania game is probably better for someone who is unlikely to be matchfit.
x2 - Now that I've established football is an 11 player game - - Knight is a more likely starter than Molumby as he gives more going forward and defending from the front.

If he lines out above, then he's got to give lads game time against Lithuania.

Kelleher

Duffy
OShea
Lenihan

Coleman
Molumby
Hourihane
Manning

Sykes
Keane

Hogan

Again, now that rules of composition of sides has been established, I don't believe he'd call Sykes in without giving him a start. Maybe we'll see something a little different, without natural wide players - two sort of supporting Hogan, Keane slightly withdrawn and Sykes attacking from deeper.

Ugh that was awkward

[paul_oshea]

I hope we go into this game as players and fans with the right temperament for all intents and purposes this is their AB side. A good performance and a win from Ireland should be the goal here. But if we get beaten by 2-3 then we're back where we started, and it asks a lot of questions again.

[Eirambler]

Kingdom I think we'll get in trouble if we try to start 12 players in both games.

[SkStu]

Kingdom I think we'll get in trouble if we try to start 12 players in both games.

"can we be team number 33 at the world cup and play with 12 players?" They asked that. Really.

[seanfhear]

Would football be better if teams could only field 10 players each ( including goalkeepers ) ?

[paul_oshea]

And called it 10-a-side?

[ontheotherhand]

I've been screaming for rank based player allocations for a long time. As the gap grows between the top nations and the likes of us, handicaps for rank need to be introduced.

Belgium should only be able to field 11 players - the handicap rank of their opposition. So if they are playing us, ranked 49, we should have a handicap of, for example, 2. So Belgium should start the game with 9 players.

Rank and handicap scale
1-20: no handicap
21-40: handicap of 1
41-60: handicap of 2
61-80: handicap of 3

[Kingdom]

Kingdom I think we'll get in trouble if we try to start 12 players in both games.

Nah, it'll be fine trust me.

That's what happens when you've got hybrid on the brain. Hmmm, a hybrid 433/352/343 formation - I know: 12 players!

morto.

[Kingdom]

I've been screaming for rank based player allocations for a long time. As the gap grows between the top nations and the likes of us, handicaps for rank need to be introduced.

Belgium should only be able to field 11 players - the handicap rank of their opposition. So if they are playing us, ranked 49, we should have a handicap of, for example, 2. So Belgium should start the game with 9 players.

Rank and handicap scale
1-20: no handicap
21-40: handicap of 1
41-60: handicap of 2
61-80: handicap of 3

My post with 12 players was an accident. I'm assuming the above is deliberate?

[jbyrne]

was looking to get another 2 tickets for Belgium this morning but it appears there are only single tickets available except for the premium.
looks like a crowd well in excess of 40,000