Manning might be in with a shout for the first game to give the other two more time to get right for the bigger games.Originally Posted by JR89
Only way Christie is starting ahead of Coleman is if Kenny wants to have him fully fit for the two home games. We saw how the three games in a single window affected our squad so we'll have to do some rotation. Probably a bit of luck that Cullen can't play the first game so, even if it's a ridiculous decision that two yellows can rule you out for a game 8 months later in a completely different competition.
Bazunu
Collins - Duffy - Egan
Coleman - Hendrick - Hourihane - ???
Ogbene - Robinson - Knight
It's more than likely gonna be the team that started against Belgium with Coleman replacing Doherty, Collins in at RCB, and Hourihane replacing Cullen. Hourihane has started the last two friendlies Cullen hasn't, and while long term the position Hendrick plays will probably be Knights I wouldn't be moving him from the front three even with Cullen out.
As for LWB, Kenny has said both lads are coming in with injuries, and I think it's gonna come down to whoever is fittest come the first game and they'll rotate both lads each game. Coleman also came in with a groin twinge though Kenny said he'll be alright for Armenia.
Last edited by JR89; 30/05/2022 at 8:33 PM.
Manning might be in with a shout for the first game to give the other two more time to get right for the bigger games.
Both lads have been training with the rest of the squad so look ready to go but Manning already being in the squad Kenny has his concerns about one or both even seeing out the window without picking up injuries. And I'd say that's Manning's best chance of seeing any minutes.
I'm certain the other times he was called up with McClean and Stevens also in the squad we only named 3/4 CBs and had him in as fifth choice given he was playing their for Swansea.
Hopefully next season Bagan further pushes on and Adaramola can make a breakthrough at club level or get a loan. Need one of these young lads breaking into the squad over the next 18 months.
The DM is a big question for teh Armenia game. We have relied on Josh Cullen and he has been great
He isn't around on Saturday and I'm not sure we have a replacement. Jeff will start but will he go with Conor Hourihane who isnt very good or try Knight there. which might open a spot for Ofafemi in the attacking three.
He hasn't been good for us at senior level. I would say kenny would be afraid to throw him in
He was a complete lunatic in some of the games I saw, fouls galore and and running around out of position
not sure i'd start Jeff. Since the last international break, he's played a total of 68 minutes of football and was unused in 7 of 8 games.
I think our best midfield pairing is by far Cullen and Hendrick right now and I'd love to have them starting together for the last 3 games. Give him 30 minutes off the bench against Armenia, 60-70 minutes against Ukraine and see how he is for the Scotland game.
We should have enough about us to get past Armenia with two of Molumby, Hourihane and Knight in those holding roles. For arguments sake:
Bazunu
Coleman
Egan
Duffy
Collins
McClean
Knight
Molumby
Ogbene
Obafemi
Robinson
You'd worry about Coleman playing too many games, with Christie not really involved much so far under Kenny, but I don't think you'd want to remove too much experience from the side
The Jeff situation is unusual, he hasn't been playing for his club for quite some time, including in the last two or three international windows, but amazingly he has been excellent.
So I would be shocked if he was dropped
hendrick has been excellent needs the minutes so i see no reason to drop him here. hourihane/molumby in the 6 dont know who he'll go for.
There's going to have to be a decent amount of rotation, I can't see much more than the keeper and maybe one or two centre backs playing all 4 games. If there's a few carrying knocks coming in then it makes no sense to start them in the Armenia game. Probably no harm this is the game Cullen is suspended for, he'll be needed more in the other games and should be ok to start the three of them. I'd say Christie and Molumby have a good chance to start. I wouldn't be surprised to see Manning here ahead of McClean, I think McClean is the one they'll want to have fully fit for the later games so won't risk, although Stevens is back now too and would be ahead of them both if he's fit enough. Ogbene and Ebosele offer some versatility, both have played at wing back on a regular basis at club level so might be able to do a job at certain stages if called on. Obafemi seems most likely to get a run among the new forwards in the squad and Armenia might be the right game to do it. I think Hamilton and Ebosele are most likely players in the squad to see no game time. Kenny likes Molumby and I think he might get in for the Armenia game. He had a good end to the season at club level and offers a lot more dynamism, although it's probably at the expense of some shape and organisation compared to the safer option of Hourihane.
For Armenia I think we might see;
Bazunu
Christie
Duffy
Egan
O'Shea
Manning
Molumby
Hendrick
Ogbene
Obafemi
Knight
Tallaght Stadium Regular
I would go with this.
Bazunu
coleman
Duffy
Egan
collins
Manning
Knight
Hendrick
Ogbene
Obafemi
Robinson
I don't think he'll play Knight and Hendrick at the same time unless Knight is among the front 3. Hourihane, as unfashionable as he is here, is probably the safer bet.
Knight would be wasted playing deeper in midfield, and we haven't looked good whenever we play with three actual forwards rather than a Knight or McGrath as one of the three. We don't have the midfield two to get away with playing three forwards.
Hourihane mostly likely will start since he started against Lithuania and Molumby didn't play a single minute that window. Could feel Molumby offers more energy in midfield but Knight would be there to drop in and help out if Hourihane starts.
I'd be shocked if Knight plays at the base of midfield. Playing him further forward is what allowed us to play two against Belgium. His pressing, his availability for the ball and general movement all are serious helps to us, and that is going forward- going backwards he shows immense effort too.
That's not to say he might not end up there or play there in the future. He may well do in another formation or if there is a player like him that can play further forward in his present position.
dont think knight has many of the attributes needed to play in that position at the base of midfield. kenny seems to like going 343 vs "weaker" nations id expect him to line out like that saturday, games tend to be a bit more open.
I think Molumby played well in the last few games of the season for West Brom so he'd be my choice. I think that Kenny will pick Hourihane though. Hendrick has been excellent for us so I think there is no doubt that he plays regardless of how his club situation went recently.
We really need the likes of Coventry, Kilkenny and Smallbone to kick on sooner rather than later to give us better options. If you could replace Browne and Hourihane with 2 of those lads the midfield options would start looking better.
Looks like Cullen has been cleared to play by UEFA on Saturday.
https://twitter.com/KennysKids/statu...E3E2Qs6TKNUeEg
That's good news but my favourite part is the idea of Obafemi playing through the middle. I've got really high hopes for him -- genuinely lethal pace and has shown recently he can be clinical as well.
Starting Obafemi at centre forward would be interesting. But would likely mean either Robinson or Ogbene being dropped as Knight will surely start in one of the three attacking positions to help out the midfield. Probably Robinson dropping out in that case.
Great news that Cullen has been cleared to play, but is there an argument not to start him anyway? With 4 games in such a short space of time its hard to imagine any player will play every game and Armenia might be the 1 game we can rotate more.
Ukraine have 5 games in 2 weeks so they could be knackered by the last game too
Last edited by Razors left peg; 02/06/2022 at 10:39 PM.
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