QuoteRTÉ say "Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has elected to leave out the vast majority of EFL Championship players to aid rest and recovery in their off-season" - so that'd be why Cannon wasn't called up?Originally Posted by ~YTM~
Possibly gives us a clue as to what Hallgrimsson thinks of his defensive abilities!
RTÉ say "Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has elected to leave out the vast majority of EFL Championship players to aid rest and recovery in their off-season" - so that'd be why Cannon wasn't called up?
I got to say that my excitement levels for these games is at damp squib level. I think it's really important that they win both of these to start building some belief but also getting the energy levels up for the qualifiers. Win and a draw at the very least.
Players that didn't make it to the playoffs weren't selected because of the long gap between the end of the season and June. Brady being the exception but Cannon is playing in the playoffs.
To be fair, he was a winger/attacker for a lot of his career until the past few seasons.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
Fair enough - that's the opposite of what seems logical (that is, to at least leave out the guys in the play-offs as they've had a longer season).
But yeah, if that's the case then his omission is strange - though maybe it is fair to say he's behind Idah, Parrott, Ferguson and Sammy I guess.
Might have been a good chance to give Cashin a run, maybe even try him out at left full.
Said in his press conference today Szmodics might not even be fit to play in Junes games and that Parrott is optimistic he'll be fit for the games.
I'm surprised that Anselmo wasn't selected, given the issues at LB. I suppose it might have been felt that picking Honohan and Anselo would have been risky, but even from a perspective of having someone for Finn to bounce off for 2 weeks.
I'm excited to see Finn get a run out. Keeley is a decent keeper and given where we're at in that regard, he could be the highest ranking *playing* keeper next season with O'Leary.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
That midfield is a worry, even for friendlies.
Matt Healy was an ever present for the U21s in the last campaign, ahead of Philips. Don’t know how Healy is getting on at Rovers but looked a more accomplished player than Philips. Maybe a lot has changed in six months.
And not sure about Finn. Certainly has the physical attributes but very raw from the bits I’ve seen him play.
Conor Coventry (still playing in the playoffs with Charlton) was in a HH squad before, but overlooked here?
Questionable new midfield additions imo but I suppose those selections made in the absence of options.
I know he is having a tough time of it of late, but think there is a player in Cannon and he should be in there ahead of the injured Szmodics.
Cannon might still come in but his recent form since Christmas hasn't been good enough to demand a call up.
Agree Cannon cannot demand a squad position (either can Evan…), his current form has pushed him down the pecking order. Rather musings an injured player has been picked ahead of him. Feel the decision to include an injured and match unfit Szmodics is inconsistent with the decision to not select Championship players – and HH gave good reasoning for that decision. Better, imo, to give Szmodics the rest to ensure a full injury recovery and the extra time to work himself back to match fitness. But all irrelevant as we’ve going to the WC.
I liked HH's rationale for resting the Championship players and I totally agree. I particularly liked him saying they could do with a break now because they'll all be playing throughout next June!
In general I think HH's leadership style seems to be working. He's quietly assertive, charming and internally consistent and I think he has won over an initially sceptical press after a few gaffs suggested he wasn't in full control.
Last edited by Stuttgart88; 15/05/2025 at 11:56 AM.
I think we could do with a better manager, and while I'm still sceptical, he is impossible not to like.
Reading between the lines of what someone in the press corps wrote yday, is that he's cutting a lot of questions out by beginning the press day with a 'lengthy monologue' which provides clarity on any selection ambiguities. That's a clever move. I would imagine also that he's got the safety net of being Icelandic and probably given some greater respect than what an Irish person who hadn't managed in England would be given. that said, he is clearly comfortable in his own skin and there's a sensibility and calmness to him in front of the media. It's half the battle.
And his comments about next Summer are clever. Very clever. Could look ridiculous after the 2nd week in September mind you, but in terms of the short-term it lights a fire under the current guys in this squad to dangle a carrot and it focusses the minds of the lads excluded for R&R.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
The worry I'd have with those WC comments (because let's face it we're almost certainly not going to qualify for the World Cup) are that he might feel free to say it if he knows he's only going to be here for one campaign. Not unlike the McCarthy to Kenny shambles a few years ago I wouldn't be shocked if there's an agreement behind the scenes that Hallgrimsson is just taking this campaign and then O'Shea will get the Euros campaign. Just that we haven't been told about it this time.
Hopefully not but, even with Calamity Canham now gone, that kind of potential nonsense will concern me as long as O'Shea is still floating around Abbotstown like a ****e that won't flush.
Healy has started really wel I think and looks a very accomplished player who might add goals in the coming months once he finds his range. But he's very slight and maybe 5'11"(?), whereas Phillips is talller and stronger. If they were boxers they'd be different weight divisions. I think HH has commented on us lacking height and strength in the middle so this would explain it imho. Two different types of player imho.
I genuinely do like Healy but he was always about 6th choice for those two deep midfield slots in my view in the last group. So many games where Healy would be knackered and play 90 minutes. Another situation where two years down the line Jim Crawford's decisions look particularly bad.
Midfielders and minutes in those positions in competitive games (Lawal at centre back not included). This is of a total of 900 possible minutes.
1. Hodge 344
2. Finn 0
3. Lawal 90
4. Phillips 224
5. Adeeko 449
6. Healy 889
Of the four, he played. They all had slightly different attributes. Hodge had passing ability, composure under pressure and goalscoring from the edge of the box. Phillips had Molumby attributes on a much bigger frame - not technically the best or the best passer, first touch suspect at times, but could drive with the ball, fierce in a tackle and won all the 50/50s totally tenacious - better in the air and much more of a goal threat than Molumby though I'd still think Molumby is overall still the better footballer. Adeeko small, technically very good, lovely ball carrier, can turn in tight spaces and burst to break lines - probably needs a championship move to get the recognition he deserves. Healy similar to Hodge, but more limited - primarily a passer but more industrious than Hodge and more physically capable but less vision as a passer, more likely to keep things ticking over, nice midfielder all the same, very neat and tidy.
Kinda mental the way they were all handled.
Think Hallgrimson is here for the WC qualifiers unless he gets a better offer somewhere else.
I'm very much looking forward to this game.
I think this is a cracking squad. Very excited to see someone of the young players he's included make their debut against a decent quality side.
I suspect it will be Coleman's last game in Dublin, if not his last for us altogether, and that he'll pull the curtain down on his career after leading Everton out for their first game at Bramley Moore Dock. In years to come it could be a quiz question to name the Irish legend who made his debut in Coleman's last game.
I don't see Coleman going anyway. Moyes has said they're offering Coleman a new contract so he'll stick around until we're finished with the WC qualifiers and fingers crossed the tournament.
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