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

**tetsujin1979** · 23/03/2022, 9:40 AM

There are some available on toutless: https://toutless.com/viewtopic.php?f...ad17bf82c3d4d8

**ontheotherhand** · 23/03/2022, 1:51 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

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

It's nice that this forum is a place where a post like that can be assumed to be deliberate.

**Jd2793** · 23/03/2022, 4:02 PM

travers injured, talbot called in. unfortunate for him

**ontheotherhand** · 23/03/2022, 4:18 PM

Will never understand how Talbot gets near the international team. I don't think he's kept a clean sheet in something like 18 games? I think Maher is also training with them? Good experience for them both I suppose but wouldn't think either are at that level.

Feel bad for Travers. He deserved another shot. I suppose this opens the door for Bazunu and Kelleher to both get a full game each.

And nice to see Jimmy Dunne called up.

**pineapple stu** · 23/03/2022, 4:46 PM

James Talbot? Wow. Has Kenny not been reading the "Embarrassment of riches" thread?!

I think you're right on 90 minutes for each of Kelleher/Bazunu now - though I'd hate Kelleher to get 90 quiet minutes against Lithuania, and have another wasted cap like that Qatar game.

**Kingdom** · 23/03/2022, 4:55 PM

Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

Will never understand how Talbot gets near the international team. I don't think he's kept a clean sheet in something like 18 games? I think Maher is also training with them? Good experience for them both I suppose but wouldn't think either are at that level.

Feel bad for Travers. He deserved another shot. I suppose this opens the door for Bazunu and Kelleher to both get a full game each.

And nice to see Jimmy Dunne called up.

I'd say (Talbot) it's convenience to be very honest. Maher's probably committed to the 21s, and filling a gap today.

**ontheotherhand** · 23/03/2022, 4:58 PM

Well Barry's gone so it might be backs to the wall against Lithuania stu.

**elatedscum** · 23/03/2022, 5:03 PM

Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

Will never understand how Talbot gets near the international team.

Darren Randolph is making his pitch on instagram

**ontheotherhand** · 23/03/2022, 5:15 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

I'd say (Talbot) it's convenience to be very honest. Maher's probably committed to the 21s, and filling a gap today.

Sure Ed McGinty is only down the road!

**SkStu** · 23/03/2022, 5:23 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

James Talbot? Wow. Has Kenny not been reading the "Embarrassment of riches" thread?!

I think you're right on 90 minutes for each of Kelleher/Bazunu now - though I'd hate Kelleher to get 90 quiet minutes against Lithuania, and have another wasted cap like that Qatar game.

I think SK will put Kelleher in from the start for the Belgium game. He is savvy enough to know how highly rated CK is - including among a large portion of Irish fans - and to some extent might feel that CK has "earned" the big game in this window. The other option, i suppose, is that he gives them a half each like he did against Hungary but i do think he will go with CK for this one.

**JR89** · 23/03/2022, 5:26 PM

Originally Posted by elatedscum

Darren Randolph is making his pitch on instagram

Strong whiff of people are ganging up on me time to play the banter card imo now that he's saying just joking and his comments about fishing.

**Kingdom** · 23/03/2022, 5:44 PM

Originally Posted by ontheotherhand

Sure Ed McGinty is only down the road!

Talbot's been in before and is literally across the street from the National Centre. If he's acting as the third cog and doesn't rock the boat, what the harm.

**Kingdom** · 23/03/2022, 5:44 PM

Originally Posted by JR89

Strong whiff of people are ganging up on me time to play the banter card imo now that he's saying just joking and his comments about fishing.

Thought exactly the same.

**ifk101** · 23/03/2022, 5:56 PM

Is Kelleher available to play? Didn't see his face on the squad training video the FAI have up.

**ontheotherhand** · 23/03/2022, 5:59 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

Talbot's been in before and is literally across the street from the National Centre. If he's acting as the third cog and doesn't rock the boat, what the harm.

Ah yeah no harm at all and nice for the LoI to get a bit of recognition at least. Hopefully covid doesn't rip through and leave us with him facing Belgium though....

**pineapple stu** · 23/03/2022, 6:20 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

I think SK will put Kelleher in from the start for the Belgium game. He is savvy enough to know how highly rated CK is - including among a large portion of Irish fans - and to some extent might feel that CK has "earned" the big game in this window. The other option, i suppose, is that he gives them a half each like he did against Hungary but i do think he will go with CK for this one.

I was thinking that actually. 45 minutes each in each game sounds like messing a bit. But if Bazunu is his number one still, it makes sense to use a friendly to really get confidence in a second choice.

We'll see I guess.

Lenihan out as well btw, which is why Dunne's called up. That's another pity; he's been doing well at Blackburn and deserved a shot in these games

**pineapple stu** · 23/03/2022, 6:24 PM

For the record btw, the Belgian players with 50+ caps (all left out of this squad) are -

Courtois
Vertonghen
Meunier
Alderweireld
Vermaelen (who's retired from internationals anyway)
Witsel
De Bruyne
Carrasco
E Hazard
Chadli
Lukaku
Mertens

That's a serious team (plus sub!)

**Demesne Lad** · 23/03/2022, 8:11 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

Talbot's been in before and is literally across the street from the National Centre. If he's acting as the third cog and doesn't rock the boat, what the harm.

On the other hand, it could have been a chance to have a closer look at someone like Jack Bonham (Stoke); 12 senior games this season, 3 clean sheets, average goals conceded 1.25.

**Eirambler** · 23/03/2022, 9:03 PM

Originally Posted by Demesne Lad

On the other hand, it could have been a chance to have a closer look at someone like Jack Bonham (Stoke); 12 senior games this season, 3 clean sheets, average goals conceded 1.25.

What's the point though - when are we ever going to be missing all three of Kelleher, Travers and Bazunu and find ourselves needing to call on Jack Bonham or Max O'Leary? We'd nearly be just wasting their time calling them up to sit on the bench. Might as well give the call up to someone like Talbot, even though he's obviously not a serious option he can be the designated "fourth choice" who can come in and sit on the bench whenever one of the other three are unavailable. Almost like a training keeper that the likes of Liverpool tend to sign these days, he's not really there to play in matches.