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

[Kingdom]

I would be entirely shocked if Bazunu isn't playing in June if he's fit at this point. I don't really have a preference for either but Kelleher's lack of playing time irritates me.

You don't just drop your #1 keeper at international level off the back of the #2 doing well in a friendly. Bazunu hasn't put a foot wrong for us and I think it'd be mad to drop him for a keeper who's not going to kick a competitive ball for 3 months after Tuesday.

isn't that what happened to Randy?

[sadloserkid]

isn't that what happened to Randy?

His entering semi-retirement, seemingly with good grace, didn't help his cause either to be fair.

[ColourfulPeanut]

isn't that what happened to Randy?

Randolph was 34, didn't suit the style of play and decided to go sit on the bench for the rest of his career. Not really similar!

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Randolph never let us down. The way he's been treated leaves a sour taste in the mouth. He deserves more respect than that.

[2 Year Contract]

Randolph never let us down. The way he's been treated leaves a sour taste in the mouth. He deserves more respect than that.

If that’s the criteria for a call up maybe we should call up David Forde seen as he never let us down either and hasn't played a minute less than Randolph has this season

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

If that’s the criteria for a call up maybe we should call up David Forde seen as he never let us down either and hasn't played a minute less than Randolph has this season

David Forde has retired. Unceremoniously dumping a loyal servant such as Randolph and calling up very average keepers is poor form. Let's not forget that Randolph wasn't a regular at club level for spells when he was excellent for us.

[tetsujin1979]

its interesting - - i thought McClean made his debut at a far earlier age than Coleman and that this would account for some of it but not the case at all. Coleman made his debut in 2011 (aged 22) with McClean making his debut the following year (aged 22). In addition to Tets' point where there were about 10 caps that Coleman would have missed out on in 2017/18, i would be interested in seeing minutes played as i would imagine that McCleans cap numbers are fairly padded by substitute appearances.

According to transfermarket McClean has 32 sub appearances while Coleman has only 2,hopefully I’ve read that right….

I've got the following numbers for both players
Coleman has 61 starts, and 2 subs appearances, roughly 60 caps of gametime.
McClean has 57 starts and 31 subs appearances, roughly 62 caps of gametime

transfetmarkt has McClean on 86 caps, wikipedia says 88. Not sure what they're missing

[2 Year Contract]

David Forde has retired. Unceremoniously dumping a loyal servant such as Randolph and calling up very average keepers is poor form. Let's not forget that Randolph wasn't a regular at club level for spells when he was excellent for us.

Im aware he’s retired 3 years. That’s my whole point, he’s still played the same amount of football as Randolph has this season, a grand total of 0 minutes. As good as Randolph was for Ireland he has no god given right to be selected because of that after barely kicking a ball in the last 2 seasons. If he wanted to play for ireland that badly he’d move to a championship club and play games but he’s instead opted for the 3rd choice goalkeeper gig in the Premier League on what’s likely a much better wage. I’ve no issue with that either for what it’s worth and I’d probably do the same if I was his age but thinking he deserves a place in the squad based on his previous international reputation is crazy stuff

[Supreme feet]

We could actually put out an entire team of veterans who are still playing professionally, and don’t have much hope of getting back into the squad.

Randolph; Wilson, Keogh, Clark, Brady; McGeady, Whelan, McCarthy, S. Quinn/Pilkington, Hoolahan; Long

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Im aware he’s retired 3 years. That’s my whole point, he’s still played the same amount of football as Randolph has this season, a grand total of 0 minutes. As good as Randolph was for Ireland he has no god given right to be selected because of that after barely kicking a ball in the last 2 seasons. If he wanted to play for ireland that badly he’d move to a championship club and play games but he’s instead opted for the 3rd choice goalkeeper gig in the Premier League on what’s likely a much better wage. I’ve no issue with that either for what it’s worth and I’d probably do the same if I was his age but thinking he deserves a place in the squad based on his previous international reputation is crazy stuff

I said he didn't deserve to be treated so poorly given his previous reputation and he deserved to get picked ahead of some very average keepers who were selected. None of what you said counteracts those points.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

We could actually put out an entire team of veterans who are still playing professionally, and don’t have much hope of getting back into the squad.

Randolph; Wilson, Keogh, Clark, Brady; McGeady, Whelan, McCarthy, S. Quinn/Pilkington, Hoolahan; Long

We don't have so many good players to be discarding some so easily.

[elatedscum]

Im aware he’s retired 3 years. That’s my whole point, he’s still played the same amount of football as Randolph has this season, a grand total of 0 minutes. As good as Randolph was for Ireland he has no god given right to be selected because of that after barely kicking a ball in the last 2 seasons. If he wanted to play for ireland that badly he’d move to a championship club and play games but he’s instead opted for the 3rd choice goalkeeper gig in the Premier League on what’s likely a much better wage. I’ve no issue with that either for what it’s worth and I’d probably do the same if I was his age but thinking he deserves a place in the squad based on his previous international reputation is crazy stuff

He thinks he deserves a place more than James Talbot, who was, last time I checked, a part time footballer and working part time postman or something for An Post.

Ability alone he’s not wrong. He’s training every day at one of the 8 best clubs in England and probably 20 best in the world and he’s got a wealth of experience with over 500 career games under his belt. Even if he did move to a championship club and was playing regularly, he’d be unlikely to be more than 4th choice.

[nigel-harps1954]

Can't believe people are actually advocating for Darren Randolph here. This is all new levels of nitpicking.

[Snapshot]

Can't believe people are actually advocating for Darren Randolph here. This is all new levels of nitpicking.

Don't be ridiculous. We're playing the world's No.1 nation. Tackling the third, fourth and fifth-choice goalkeeper conundrum is crucial.

[SkStu]

Can't believe people are actually advocating for Darren Randolph here. This is all new levels of nitpicking.

We are through the effin looking glass.

This forum needs to have a long hard look at itself.

[seanfhear]

Don't be ridiculous. We're playing the world's No.1 nation. Tackling the third, fourth and fifth-choice goalkeeper conundrum is crucial.

You can’t be too careful in todays, Ireland.

[John83]

No one is discussing the 5th choice keeper. They're discusisng who will start against Belgium if Kelleher is injured or otherwise unavailable, which has been known to happen. Would those of you above like to supply us with a list of acceptable topics of conversation? Or should we leave that to Tets?

[Snapshot]

No one is discussing the 5th choice keeper. They're discusisng who will start against Belgium if Kelleher is injured or otherwise unavailable, which has been known to happen. Would those of you above like to supply us with a list of acceptable topics of conversation? Or should we leave that to Tets?

If Kelleher pulls out, the fourth choice goalkeeper will play and the fifth choice will be on the bench. Ireland to win 1-0.

[Stuttgart88]

Randolph "unceremoniously dumped"

[paul_oshea]

Imagine if kelleher goes off injured halfway through the Belgium game and Talbot or O'Leary step in?

It sounds like Kenny hasn't even phoned him up at the start of his reign to tell him he had other plans in the keeping department "going forward"( send me to the
gulag)

You do have to feel a little sorry for him and hope Kenny doesn't end up with egg on his face with the above scenario