Nations League B/C Promotion/Relegation Playoffs - March 2025

**Eirambler** · 13/03/2025, 1:47 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Thats a very harsh assessment of Moran. He's playing in Championship every week (although not yesterday) and he hasn't been shown up to be too lightweight. He's eager for the ball and we don't have enough players that are.

Most Stoke fans would disagree I'd say. They see him as being more a part of their problems this season than a solution. He has plenty of time on his side, it's a shame he's just a few months overage for the next Under 21 campaign, otherwise that would be the best place for him for now.

**Ol� Ol�** · 13/03/2025, 1:48 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Confirmation that Vata and Abankwah are in the squad. Vata in particular is a big win as he is eligible for four countries who would all happily cap tie him at the first opportunity, so important that we do just that this month. Continues a long tradition of players from here in the west of Scotland playing for Ireland as well. Houghton, Slaven, Coyne, Coyle, McGeady, McCarthy, Johnston and now Vata that I can think of. (Edit: Charlie Gallagher in the 1960s as well, so Vata would/will be the ninth.)

I presume whichever twitter page it was that had got them panicking over in the asylum about Vata switching to Albania Under 21s had mixed up Vata and Zefi.

Great news regarding Vata.

His situation is interesting in the context of the names Eirambler references.

Slaven - Irish grandfather
Houghton - Irish father
Coyne - ???
McCarthy - Irish maternal grandfather referenced as his inspiration to play for us but paternal Irish surname
Johnton - Irish grandfather
McGeady - Irish paternal grandparents
Now, Vata - Irish grandmother

Plenty of lads in Scotland happy to play for us on the basis of one grandparent. I think the Celtic connection helps.

**Eirambler** · 13/03/2025, 1:53 PM

Yes, no coincidence that it's always lads in the west of Scotland that play for us. There isn't the same connection elsewhere in the country. Here in the southside of Glasgow the Irish community is relatively small and quite intertwined still, particularly through the catholic school system. Even as a blow-in myself, albeit married to a local from the Glasgow Irish community, I would have fairly close links to more than one of the players on that list.

**Razors left peg** · 13/03/2025, 2:04 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Most Stoke fans would disagree I'd say. They see him as being more a part of their problems this season than a solution. He has plenty of time on his side, it's a shame he's just a few months overage for the next Under 21 campaign, otherwise that would be the best place for him for now.

I've watched probably 6 or 7 Stoke games this season and any internet warrior that's blaming Moran for anything hasn't as clue about football

**Eirambler** · 13/03/2025, 2:12 PM

Honestly he's not that good. Tidy on the ball but offers nothing off it. We're more in need midfielders who can do a bit of both, even if they're a shade off Premier League quality. Plenty of time for him to develop though.

**ifk101** · 13/03/2025, 2:12 PM

Still feels experimental/ �getting to know you� for games we need to win. Some odd selections there imo. Not arguing against the merit of including Dunne and Abankwah, but why drop McGuinness who played the full 90 mins in the last game? Seems like a squad that could do with the experience of Browne and Robinson, rather than having a look at players like Armstrong � again these are games we need to win. Vata�s inclusion must surely be to tie him to us as don�t think he has done enough to merit inclusion. Understand he had an injury that slowed him down but hasn�t played many minutes since becoming available again. Not that I�d include him either, but think Aidomo Emakhu is as good an option as Vata if not better. Think Moran can feel aggrieved.

**Eirambler** · 13/03/2025, 2:57 PM

McGuinness has been in poor form lately. Personally I'd have had Robinson in there. But then I'd also have picked about 26 players, not 23. So maybe the same squad, but with Manning, Molumby and Robinson added in.

**Razors left peg** · 13/03/2025, 3:03 PM

Is the 23 man squad thing a cost saving exercise by the FAI?

**tetsujin1979** · 13/03/2025, 3:09 PM

Originally Posted by Demesne Lad

Couldn't complain if Max O'Leary declined to turn up if he is included in a future squad. EFL Championship games this season: 37, 10 clean sheets, average goals/game conceded 1.08
Bazunu preferred; Belgian Pro League games : 5, clean sheets 0, average goals/game conceded 2.4.

Bazunu may in time turn out to be the better 'keeper, but what is the point of including him in this particular squad?

in the press conference, Halgrimsson mentioned that O'Leary and his partner are expecting a child very soon and he was omitted because of this.

**SkStu** · 13/03/2025, 3:52 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Thats a very harsh assessment of Moran. He's playing in Championship every week (although not yesterday) and he hasn't been shown up to be too lightweight. He's eager for the ball and we don't have enough players that are.

Sykes offers us way more than Moran in terms of utility. And he has had a good season - last time i checked the fans love him but hes not chalking up the same level of G/A stats that he had been before. Moran would be behind Azaz (fair) and HH might also see Parrott as a stopgap in that position. I am fine with the call.

**Razors left peg** · 13/03/2025, 4:14 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

Sykes offers us way more than Moran in terms of utility. And he has had a good season - last time i checked the fans love him but hes not chalking up the same level of G/A stats that he had been before. Moran would be behind Azaz (fair) and HH might also see Parrott as a stopgap in that position. I am fine with the call.

I've just never seen Sykes have a standout game ever. Anytime I've watched a game he's playing you'd forget he's on the pitch. I'm just not sure what he offers in the squad. Even if we leave Moran aside I'd rather add Finn or Phillips for something different in physicality. I don't see what Sykes adds to the squad that's not covered by other, better players.

Edit: it is a minor complaint about the squad. We are talking about players who probably won't play anyway. I like the squad overall

**seanfhear** · 13/03/2025, 4:22 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

I've just never seen Sykes have a standout game ever. Anytime I've watched a game he's playing you'd forget he's on the pitch. I'm just not sure what he offers in the squad. Even if we leave Moran aside I'd rather add Finn or Phillips for something different in physicality. I don't see what Sykes adds to the squad that's not covered by other, better players.

Edit: it is a minor complaint about the squad. We are talking about players who probably won't play anyway. I like the squad overall

Can he play full-back in a pinch ?

**Razors left peg** · 13/03/2025, 4:29 PM

Originally Posted by seanfhear

Can he play full-back in a pinch ?

Maybe in a pinch... I'm not sure about on the pitch though!

**Eirambler** · 13/03/2025, 4:33 PM

Sykes is a wide right midfielder these days, so he's not really competing with Finn, Phillips or Moran for a squad place. He's in as a replacement for the injured Ebosele and also because Ogbene is injured. If he's not in the squad there is no other obvious wide right option other than to play someone out of position. It's possible that he may start against Bulgaria for this reason.

**Razors left peg** · 13/03/2025, 4:34 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Sykes is a wide right midfielder these days, so he's not really competing with Finn, Phillips or Moran for a squad place. He's in as a replacement for the injured Ebosele and also because Ogbene is injured. If he's not in the squad there is no other obvious wide right option other than to play someone out of position. It's possible that he may start against Bulgaria for this reason.

Is Vata not the replacement for the wide player missing?